A conversation programme for care homes in Ticino
A group activity designed for care homes. Images, simple words and memories guide a relaxed, unpressured conversation. No English is needed: every resident takes part at their own pace.
Illustrative images
What it is
English is the starting point, not the goal. It creates a fresh, curious situation in which residents talk, remember and listen to one another — supported by images and by a prepared facilitator.
Simple words, large images and easy questions give people a pleasant reason to start talking. No grammar, no tests, no corrections in front of the group.
A photograph, a postcard or a song brings back places, flavours and people. Residents share what they want to, in whichever language feels comfortable.
People listen, comment and laugh together. Those who speak little still take part by pointing, choosing, nodding or answering with a single word.
Benefits
Residents, the home and the person organising the calendar each want something different. The programme is built to answer all three.
How it works
Each session lasts 90 minutes and follows a recognisable structure. That repetition builds confidence: after the first meeting, residents already know what to expect.
It begins with a greeting and one simple question, the same for everyone. It breaks the ice and lets each person hear their own voice without any difficulty.
A photograph, a postcard, a map or a short piece of music introduces the theme of the day and brings back specific memories.
The group talks, chooses, points and compares. The activities are collaborative: no contest, no scoring, no correction in public.
It ends with a short round of words and a sociable moment, often over coffee or tea. What stays is the feeling of having spent good time together.
Each session lasts 90 minutes. The full programme is 10 sessions, one a week, adaptable to the home’s calendar.
In practice
No lecturing. Each session alternates listening, storytelling and play, with materials that are large, clear and easy to handle.
Images that bring back places, eras and familiar faces.
Short pieces that return people to particular moments and feelings.
Villages, valleys and journeys, each recounted in its own way.
Flavours and daily habits as a starting point for dialogue.
Personal accounts shared freely with the group.
Matching, riddles and stories built together.
One theme per session. The order can be adapted to the needs and pace of the group.
Organisation
Everything to do with preparing the activity is handled by Yessica. All that remains for the home is the room and the scheduling.
A whiteboard, blackboard or screen can be useful, but is not necessary.
All materials are included: there are no additional costs or preparations for the home.
Common doubts
These are the objections we hear most often. None of them is a problem: the programme was built with them in mind.
They don’t need to. The sessions use simple words, images, gestures, choices and short answers. Participation is guided step by step, and nobody has to translate or build complex sentences. Most groups start from zero.
The pace and materials are calibrated to the group, and adapt during the first session. There are no tests, assessments or public corrections: if something proves demanding, it is simplified on the spot.
It is the opposite of a lesson. The sessions work with memories, images, music, conversation and collaborative activities. There are no desks, grammar exercises, homework or marks.
Nobody is put on the spot. Listening, pointing, choosing, smiling or answering with a single word are all valid ways to take part. Quieter residents are encouraged gently and decide for themselves when to join in.
No. Yessica arrives with the session ready and all the materials. The home provides the room, the group and the scheduling. The preparation required from staff is minimal.
This combines novelty, conversation, memories and group experience in a format that is usually missing. The free trial session exists precisely for this: it lets your team judge whether it complements the current calendar, with no commitment.
Illustrated portrait
Who leads it
Language teacher, based in Ticino
For more than fifteen years Yessica has worked with people of widely different ages, backgrounds and goals in learning languages, across Mexico, Italy and Ticino. She holds a degree in Languages from the Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco and has completed extensive professional development in teaching methods, educational games, storytelling, digital tools and developing individual learners’ strengths.
She created and ran the English Conversational Club for the Comune di Origlio across three editions, a group conversation programme with adults that was positively received. She currently works with private language schools and educational organisations in Ticino.
Trial session
A full 90-minute session, free and without commitment, with a group of residents chosen by you. It is the simplest way to see whether the activity fits.
Contact
Fill in the form: Yessica replies personally, usually within a few working days, to agree a date that suits your home.
The form will open your email programme with the request already filled in, ready to send.
FAQ
No. The programme is built for people starting from zero or with distant school memories. It uses simple words, images and gestures, and every instruction is shown as well as spoken.
No. English is the tool, not the goal. The aim is conversation, sharing memories and the group experience. There is no grammar, homework or assessment.
90 minutes, including natural breaks. The pace is designed to stay comfortable and sustainable.
The ideal group is 8–10 residents: small enough that everyone has room to speak, large enough to create group dynamics.
A quiet room with chairs and a table, the group of residents, and scheduling. Nothing else: all materials are brought and prepared by Yessica.
Photographs, postcards, maps, menus, vocabulary images, illustrated cards and flashcards, photocopies and short pieces of music. All in large, highly legible formats.
With encouragement and without pressure. Pointing, choosing between two options, nodding or answering with a single word are all entirely valid forms of participation. Those who prefer to listen may do so.
Yes. A complete trial session, free and without commitment, with a group of residents chosen by the home.
Your team knows your residents best. The trial session lets you observe engagement, ease of participation and atmosphere directly, and decide on concrete evidence.
Yes. Themes, order, pace and materials can all be adjusted to the group, the timetable and the habits of the home.