Let’s talk about: Crime & Punishment

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The scene of a crime in New York City

Let’s talk about: Crime & Punishment

In this week’s club, we are talking about “Crime & Punishment”- This is a great moment to get to know the other Conversation Club members, and to practice speaking a wide variety of arguments, which will also help you increase your vocabulary and improve your comprehension skills.

All mpec courses are based on Conversation, Communication and Interaction and our main goal is to give our students the confidence to approach any topic or idea in English. In this week’s Club, other than practicing speaking English, our goal is to find and learn new vocabulary and put it to use immediately…

Idiomatic Expressions

  1. To do time: To serve time in prison, to serve a prison sentence.
  2. If you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime: You shouldn’t do something if you are not willing to handle the consequenses.
  3. To catch someone red-handed: To discover someone while they are actually doing something ‘wrong’.
  4. To cover one’s tracks: To hide or eliminate incriminating evidence.
  5. To come clean: To confess to something, to tell the truth.
  6. An inside job: a crime committed by someone who is part of the company, group or organisation.
  7. A rotten apple: A bad or corrupt person, often in a group, who will negatively influence others.
  8. To spill the beans: To reveal the truth (or a secret), to tell the authorities everything (intentionally or by accident).
  9. To point the finger at someone: To indicate a person, to accuse them of something.
  10. To be in hot water: To be in serious trouble
Police tape used to cordon off areas.

Vocabulary & collocations.

  1. To break the law – do something illegal
  2. To commit a crime – to do something illegal.
  3. To get a fine (USA: get a ticket) – to receive a financial penalty, e.g. for parking illegally or speeding.
  4. To report a crime – to make an official statement at a police station.
  5. To be mugged – when someone steals something from you, usually in the streets, it can be violent and frightening.
  6. To be robbed – when someone steals something from you, but usually without fear or violence, and it can also be in your absence.
  • A thief – a general term for someone who steals.
  • A criminal – a general term for someone who regulary or intentionally breaks the law.
  • A mugger – someone who steals from you in the streets, very often in a threatening/violent way.
  • A police officer – a person who works for the police
  • A Judge – the person who presides over a lawsuit /case in the courts
  • A lawyer/solicitor/advocate – the professionals who defend and prosecute in a court of law.
  • Organised Crime – used to talk about criminals that work in gangs, almost in a business like way e.g. The Mafia, The Triad etc.
  • Petty Crime – a term used to describe small, insignificant crimes.

Let’s get the ball rolling!

  1. Have you or anyone you know ever been the victim of a crime? Can you tell us about it?
  2. What do you think are the main reasons people commit crimes?

If you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime.

A Judge’s Gavel – the small hammer/mallet used by a Judge
  1. Do you think criminals are punished sufficiently? Why/Why not?
  2. Should all crimes be judged in exactly the same way?
  3. Do you think the police and the judicial system are managing crime in your country well?
  4. What else do you think can be done to reduce crime?
  5. Should those involved in organised crime receive different treatment from the judicial system? Why / Why not?

How does crime make us feel?

  • How do you think victims feel immediately after a crime?
  • How do you think a criminal feels immediately after a crime?
  • Do you think victims should be allowed to confront criminals after they have been caught?
  • Do you think that criminals can really be rehabilitated?
  • Does everyone deserve a second chance? Why / Why not?

All mpec students are welcome to join our Conversation Club Zoom Sessions which take place every Tuesday, 6pm to 6.30 pm and Thursday from 1 to 1.30 pm from October to June. If you are not a part of the mpec community yet, please get in touch with us and we will partner with you to create the right course for your needs and goals. Live English Courses via Streaming

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