English with Jo

This is the preparation material for an English conversation lesson about dreams.  Dreams are images, thoughts, sounds and voices, experienced when we sleep.  They may include people you know, people you've never met, places you've been, and places you've never even heard of.  Sometimes they're as simple as recalling events that happened earlier in the day.  At other times they can be strange and mysterious.  Some people believe that dreams give us special messages, others believe they reveal our fears and worries. Most scientists believe that dreams are a way for our brains to consolidate all the information we accumulate in our day-to-day lives.

Video about Interpreting Dreams

• Do you agree that dreams have significance?
• What do you think about dream interpretation?

Vocabulary 

Idioms and Expressions

• A dream come true – when a desire or wish is fulfilled. “My new job is a dream come true”
• To be in a dream world - to have ideas or hopes which are unrealistic.  “Stop living in a dream world.  You cannot travel the world if you have not saved any money”
• Beyond one’s wildest dreams -  when something happens that is far better than hoped for or imagined. Example: “Receiving a scholarship to a top university was beyond my wildest dreams”
• Broken dreams - wishes or desires that cannot be fulfilled.  Example: “My life has been full of broken dreams”

 Dreams

• Do you remember your dreams?
• Why do you think some people remember their dreams and others don’t?
• What are your dreams like? For example, are they very vivid and realistic or vague and abstract?
• Do you dream about things which happened during the day?
• What is the strangest dream you have ever had?
• Do you ever get nightmares? What are they typically about?
• Does having a dream affect the way you feel when you wake up?
• Do you record your dreams?
• Can you control your dreams?
• Have you ever had recurring dreams?
• Do you think that we can learn anything from dreams?
• Do you think dreams can be explained scientifically?
• Have you ever had a dream which seemed to come true? What happened?
• Do you like to interpret or analyse your dreams?
• Do you usually dream in colour or only in black and white?
• Do you tell other people about the dreams you have?
• Do you talk in your sleep when you dream?
• Do you daydream?
• Have you ever woken up and believed you’re still in your dream?
• Have you ever dreamt in English? What were you dreaming about?
• Do you think animals dream?