Young Learners, Level 1 & 2. The verb ‘to like’

21st April 2023

What do you like? Learn food vocabulary | English Lesson 11 - YouTube

Today we use the verb ‘like’

I like ice cream and I like fruit.

To make your sentences longer:

I like strawberry or chocolate ice cream.

I like all fruit. My favourites are apples and bananas.

Now … Your Turn

Ask your friends or tell me: What do you like ?

I like …

Match the answers with the pictures:

swimming

milk tea

toys

movies

cakes

Now make your sentences longer:

I + like + verbing + noun

I like buying toys / I like eating cakes /

I like ___________ milk tea.

Do you go alone or with friends ?

I like going shopping with my sister.

I like drinking milk tea with my ______ .

I like swimming with my _________ .

I like eating cakes with my _____ .

Finally, tell we where you like to do these things ?

I like to drink milk tea with my friends in the mall.

I like to go shopping with my mum at the market.

I like to buy toys at the _______ (where ?)

I like to eat cakes with my _______ at the _________ .

Please Note: All photos are taken from Google Images or free photo sites, and are used for educational purposes only. No copyright infringement or offense is intended. If I have used your photo or image, and you wish me to remove it, just ask. This site is not monetized, I run it on my own dollar. Thank you.

Beginners’ English. Basic verb conjugation.

20th April 2023

I have a brown guitar.

You have many big books.

He has a new laptop.

She has a big teddy bear.

Mr John has an intelligent elephant.

We have a fun class.

Can you see how the verb ‘have’ changes ? Sometimes we use ‘have’, sometimes we use ‘has’.

I have
you have
he has
she has
Mr John has
we have // they have

Tôi có / bạn có /  anh ấy có /  
Cô bé có  / Ông John có
chúng ta có  / họ có

Now … your turn. We will use beach items, food and clothes.

First, at the beach …

I have a beach ball and I have an ice cream.

You ___ a beach ball and you ____ an ice cream.

He ___ a beach ball and he ____ an ice cream.

She ___ a beach ball and she ____ an ice cream.

Mr John ___ a beach ball and Mr John (he) ____ an ice cream.

We ___ a beach ball and we ____ an ice cream.

They ___ a beach ball and they ____ an ice cream.

NOW .. a new verb … ‘eat’

I eat delicious pizza

He eats a delicious doughnut (donut in USA)

Now … your turn

I eat delicious pizza.

You _____ delicious pizza.

He ____ delicious pizza.

She ____ delicious pizza.

Mr John _____ delicious pizza.

We _____ delicious pizza.

They _____ delicious pizza.

NOW .. a new verb … ‘wear’

I wear a blue shirt and I wear a colourful tie.

She wears a blue police uniform and she wears a black hat.

Now … your turn

I wear a school uniform.

You ____ a school uniform.

He ____ a school uniform.

She ____ a school uniform.

Mr John ____ a school uniform.

We _____ a school uniform.

They _____ a school uniform.

Now … for Top Cats – tell me about these pictures:

Jingo Harleyman. ‘Life in a Korean Movie’, Track No. 1

19th April 2023

The opening track on the new EP ‘Life in a Korean Movie’ has just been uploaded to YouTube:

The first track is a sound montage of western and Asian scales mixed with ambient sounds of the Seoul subway, some live K-pop bands addressing their fans, and audio clips from some recent Korean films.

I wanted a feeling of alienation among familiar aspects of city life; subways are similar yet the different languages and customs can be disconcerting.

Sounds appear, grab our attention then vanish, or are replaced by new audio experiences.

The music is non-profit, and I hope to introduce more audiences to Korean cinema and culture. All films are credited in the video. As such, I hope I may claim ‘Fair Use’, the video being for non-commercial artistic and educational purposes.

The next section is just for my own records and will be of no interest to anyone except maybe low-fi recording geeks.

The track is in the Key of E

Tempo is 110

I used two Korean scales:

Gye-mjun-jo pentatonic (E G A B D)

Kyemonjo (E G A B Db)

Garageband sequence

Track 1 Guzheng

Track 2 Pipa

Track 3 Ambient sounds

Track 4 House Drum Machine

Track 5 Substantial Kick (bass synth)

Gye-mjun-jo scale. Riff: E G A B AB AB G E

Track 6 Ambient sounds and film clips

Track 7 Sparkling Clean Guitar Amp

(Kyemonjo Scale)

Track 8 Guzheng

Track 9 Flute

(Kyemonjo Scale)

Track 10 Sunshine Drive Crunchy Guitar Amp

Use a Flange effect.

Chords: Em7 (G0 D1 A1 E0) – Am7 (G5 D6 A6 E5)

Coming soon … ‘Samaria Girl’

Young Learners, levels 3 & 4. Imagination AND grammar !

17th April 2023

We have talked and written about perfect cities, and used our imagination. Now let’s talk about cities of the future.

(I use Present Simple, Verb 1, not future tense due to the class ability and level)

What do they look like ?

How are they different ?

Look at this picture and then read my description.

In the future the city has many tall buildings called skyscrapers. People live high in the sky. They can see all the city from their apartment.

The city has a lot of shops. The shops are open all day and all night. They sell food, toys and new phones.

My city is very colourful with many beautiful lights at night. Nobody is allowed to smoke and all cars are electric so there is less pollution.

The buildings have shops, hospitals, cinemas, schools and sports centers. People do not need to go outside if it is raining.

Some buildings are old fashioned but most are very modern.

Now … your turn

Write about a future city. Remember to use adjectives:

clean / expensive / futuristic / high / interesting / modern / old fashioned

Check your grammar – I want it to be perfect !

From Fritz Lang’s ‘Metropolis’ 1927

Young Learners, Levels 3 & 4. What is your perfect city ?

11th April 2023

Singapore, Seattle or Shanghai ?

Today, you will write about your perfect city.

What would you like in your city ?

What don’t you like ?

First, the positives (the good things). Guess what these buildings are:

parks / shops / museums / sports centres / schools / hospitals / interesting buildings / transportation /

However, not everything in a city is fantastic:

What are the problems … and what are the solutions (the answers) ? For example, in Singapore, if someone litters (throws rubbish on the street), they have to pay a fine, pay money to the police.

Now … your turn:

Write about what you want in YOUR city and why. Use amazing adjectives, and tell me why you would like these things.

Also, tell me what you DO NOT want, and why. How would you punish people who broke rules ?

You may also draw, but do the writing first.

Good luck and have fun !

Young Learners, levels 3 & 4. I had a bad day … guess why.

7th April 2023

We have heard the story, Morning Glory: https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2023/03/24/whats-the-story-morning-glory-remastered/

Written about a bad student who becomes a rich businessperson: https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2023/03/31/young-learners-levels-3-4-tell-me-a-story/

Now it’s time to write about ourselves

I shall tell you about last Sunday – it was terrible and here’s why … but can you guess just by the pictures ?

(Grab is a taxi service accessed by phone app, similar to Uber)

(In Vietnam, wedding parties often have singers and then an open karaoke system)

Allow me to give you the plan of my day:

6.50 leave for work. Book Grab on my iPhone

7.40 – 9.40 Young Learners class, level 1 (21 students)

10.10 arrive home

10.11 – 14.30 wedding party across the street

10.30 – 12.00 prepare work online

17.00 – 21.30 another wedding party but much louder, more karaoke singers

18.00 go for coffee

BUT 23.30 Manchester United win 1- 0 so ‘All’s well that ends well.’

Now … your turn. Tell me about a terrible day. Remember to use amazing adjectives to explain how you felt and what was so awful.

To help you, maybe:

Good luck with your bad day !

Young Learners, Level 3. Let’s start a new country up.

6th April 2023

Yes, let’s, “Put our heads together, start a new country up.”

Today’s project is to create a new country. What do we need ? First, a country can have:

mountains, waterfalls, lakes, deserts, forests, beaches.

The cities may have old and interesting:

bridges, churches, shops, castles

Or maybe new and modern:

parks, museums, shopping malls, tall buildings, future buildings

Maybe some ancient buildings ?

Now, create your country … and have fun !

What’s in a name ?

5th April 2023

The Shins have a ‘Name for you’ … and I have some rules for students choosing English names for our English classes.

First, the name has to be ENGLISH, so no ‘Sans’ (a French preposition), no ‘Lavie’ (French for ‘life’, also the name of a bottled-water company).

No totally made-up names (Valhana is one example that comes to mind).

No titles (‘King’, ‘Christ’ … yes, I’m serious, one parent expects us to call his kid ‘Christ’)

and, in the name of all that’s gracious, no more:

Kelvin

Ken

Kenny

Nick

Nicky

The above names are DENIED

English is such a rich language, there is no need for every Tom, Dick & Harry to be called Ken (English humour).

Instead, choose from this list of short names:

Andy // Don // Fred // Guy // Ian // Jay // Jim // Len // Mark // Mick // Ray // Roy // Seb // Sid // Tim // Vic // Wes // Will// Zack

Young Learners, level 1: Review.

3rd April 2023

Practice makes perfect … so let’s review !

Adjectives:

big / huge // small / tiny // clever or smart

hungry / thirsty // cold / hot

fast / slow // strong / weak

bored / excited // yummy or delicious

noisy / quiet

An elephant is very big, strong and very smart

English teaching children games – Thay Paul's Notes — Mr Paul and his elephant friend

Exercises

A mouse is very ______ and ______

Pizza is ______ and ____________

A runner is very f — and very s —–

A doctor is ______ _____

Verbs

dance / draw / drink / eat / fly / go / jump / look / play / run / sit / sleep / stand / swim / talk / walk / work / write /

verb verb + ing

I drink // I am drinking

You drink // You are drinking

He drinks // He is drinking

She drinks // She is drinking

They drink // They are drinking

What are they doing ?

They are ________

He is________

Mighty Kicks Soccer Franchise Helps Kids Learn — prREACH Viral Social VIDEO Press Release Service

She is ________

He dances in the rain. He is dancing in the rain

She is ________

He is________

He is________

The live-action GIF may be viewed here: https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2020/10/10/young-learners-level-2-review/

What can you do ? What can’t you do ?

I can play guitar but I can’t play violin

She can play drums but she can’t play piano

He can speak Japanese however he can’t speak _____

A bird can ______ however a bird can’t _______

A fish can _______ however a fish can’t ______

Young Learners – our Pledge of Quiet

1st April 2023

For noisy and disrespectful classes – a short speech to be recited at the beginning of every lesson:

I PROMISE TO BE QUIET IN CLASS AND TO LISTEN TO THE TEACHERS

No talking, shouting, animal noises, clicking of pens, stamping of feet, slamming of books, whistling etc.

You will get ONE Black Star warning. The second Black Star means you go out of the class.

We can not help you improve your pronunciation if there is so much noise that we can not hear you.

You signed the Pledge … now keep to your word.