Jim Haynes: A man who invited the world over for dinner

This is a list of key vocabulary and expressions from the article in order of how useful they are. The student must choose 6 items from the list to study in the lesson.

Random

To wonder

To manage (to do something) 

Likely

To be up for (doing) something 

To get in touch (with someone)

To get hold of (something/ someone)

To sign up (for something)

Out of the blue

Brief 

Court

Yet (meaning despite that)

Help yourself

To squeeze

To dish out

To be intrigued

A lecturer

Fond memory

To strike up a conversation

A stint 

Right up someone’s street

To mingle

To dwindle

To get/ catch wind (of something) 

To mill around

15 conversation-provoking questions related to the article.

1. Who was Jim Haynes, and what was he famous for?

2. What happened when the author, Vicky Baker, went to one of Jim’s dinner parties?

3. Why did Seamus McSwiney say that ‘the internet both ruined and saved the dinners’?

4. What was ‘People to People’?

5. ‘I would absolutely love to go to a dinner party like this, it’s my dream!’ Is this true for you?

6. ‘I would love to have the lifestyle that Jim had.’ Is this true for you?

7. ‘All restaurants should allow customers to pay a voluntary donation instead of forcing them to pay a bill.’ Do you agree?

8. ‘Atmosphere is more important than food in a restaurant.’ Do you agree?

9. ‘I would love to host foreign tourists in my house, like in the People to People project.’ Is this true for you?

10. ‘House parties are far more interesting than restaurants, bars and nightclubs.’ Do you agree?

11. ‘A trip to Paris doesn’t appeal to me.’ Is this true for you?

12. ‘Generally speaking, it’s better to be a guest than a host.’ Do you agree?

13. ‘It’s almost impossible to make new friends after the age of 25.’ Do you agree?

14. ‘Food is not an important part of my social life.’ Is this true for you?

15. ‘Meeting people from different countries is much more interesting than meeting people from your own country.’ Do you agree?