Speaking Practice – Intermediate level [PVL 3a]

2nd August 2026

A major problem for students is pronunciation and having the confidence to talk.

This activity helps with both issues.

Arrange the class in small groups and hand each member a card {The cards are at the bottom of this blog}.

The students have to read out the information, while other students try to understand what they hear. Students can also make notes.

The exercise encourages slow, clear and careful pronunciation.

If you need to hear something again, use expressions such as:

Can you speak slower, please.

Would you mind speaking slower, please.

How do you spell that ?

Could you repeat that, please.

Sorry, I didn’t catch the phone number.

Let me confirm …

Is that ‘b’ as in blue or ‘p’ as in pink ?

Now … practice!

Either print out these cards, or let each student read from the blog while others look away – no cheating !

Asian Women Are Not For You. Many years ago, at a tech/startup… | by J Li | Medium

Hi, my name is Jane

I’m 22 and work as DJ

I’m really into dancing and parties

I don’t like reading or housework

I hang out with my best besties

We go to clubs and bars

I get there by motorbike or taxi

My email is jane98@aol.com

25-Year-Old Black Man Running Through Suburban Georgia Neighborhood Killed By Two White Men

Hi, I’m James

I’m 27 and I’m a football coach

I like to watch films. I’m a gamer

I’m not into shopping or dancing

I meet up with my brother

I go to the gym and the cinema

I have my own motorbike, Yamaha

My mobile is 098 724 5628

My name is Harry Brown,

I come from Berlin, Germany

I listen to music and play football

I love shopping with my girlfriend

I usually grab a taxi home

My phone is 39 402 4951

Hello my name is Anna /

I have just turned 19

I’m studying chemistry

In my free time, I eat out I love hanging out with my friends

My blog is AnChem@wordpress

Chinese Students Need Faith | Christian Reformed Church

My name is Eric

I am only 18

I love football and playing piano

I never read books or go shopping

My iPhone was stolen in the park

French Style Slouchy Wool Felt Beret Women Fashion British Chic Girls Beret Hat Lady Solid Color Winter Hats Women Dropshipping|Women's Berets| - AliExpress

Hi. You can call me Billie

I don’t want to say my age !

I am a professional dancer

My partner gives me a lift to work

I want to work in the theatre

Contact on billie09@gmail.com

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.

Is grammar important ? [PVL1]

31st July 2026

Learning a new language can be very exciting; being able to say basic words and being understood … but soon we have to learn the rules of grammar.

Let’s see how words go together, so we can sound like native speakers.

Today we shall start with some simple questions and learn a little about how grammar works.

Question 1: What is it ?

A simple question with three words and a question mark [?]

Let’s answer in a sentence:

It is a banana.

See how we change the words of the question ?

What is it ? It is …

Now, it is one or more ? For one we use a or an.

Finally, we have the noun – a banana, and our answer

It is a banana.

See how we always start a sentence with a capital letter, then end with a full stop.

Shall we have more fun ? OK, let’s add an adjective.

It is a yellow banana.

Here is a list of adjectives

big // small // old // new // yellow // red // black // green

NOW … YOUR TURN.

ASK YOUR FRIENDS WHAT IS IT ?

Try to use two adjectives.

What are you doing ? Present continuous

17th March 2026

We use present simple [verb 0 or base verb] to talk about things that we do all the time, to talk about things that do not change often in our life.

EXAMPLE:

I live in London / I study English / I work in a hospital / I am a student /

You eat vegetarian food, you don’t eat meat / He plays football /

She plays tennis / We go to the beach on holiday

The present continuous is for things we are doing NOW

EXAMPLE:

I live in London [present simple] = I am living in London

We form the present continuous by:

Subject + verb ‘to be’ + verbing

I am eating // You are drinking // He is watching // She is studying // It is working//

Ms Quyen is laughing // We are dancing //

They are playing.

NOW … your turn

Change present simple into present continuous

1. I swim 2. You buy pizza 3. He plays tennis

4. She learns science 5. We talk quietly

6. They visit Wales

Answers:

I am swimming // You are buying pizza //

He is playing tennis // She is learning science //

We are talking quietly // They are visiting wales.

Renoir ‘Luncheon of the Boating Party’ 1881

Time to use English ! Look at the painting and tell me what you see … use present continuous and amazing adjectives.

EXAMPLE: The tall, strong man with a yellow hat is standing by the gate.

What are these people doing ?

Level 2: end of book test

6th March 2025

Activity sheet

1) Write five buildings that you find in a city.

2) Write three words that begin with

th … / ch … / sh …

3) On a clock, show: 10.15 / 2.30 / quarter to five

4) Draw a bald man playing guitar wearing an orange jumper and black pants.

5) Tell me three things you like to do after school.

6) What does Teacher Paul like ? Write two things.

7) A doctor works in a hospital. Write a sentences for:

Where does a teacher work ? / Where does a cook work ?

8) Conjugate the verb ‘to be’

I am / you … / he … / she … / it … /

Ms Huong / we … / they …

9) “What’s the story ____________ ______________,”

10) Tell me your favourite animal and why.

11) Look at the picture: Which flag is which country ?

Brazil / South Korea / Canada / Egypt

12) What do you eat for breakfast ?

13) What did Mr Mark eat for breakfast ? Did he like it ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crPVJ3CXs1g&list=PL97HViQblvdEM3zsauRxnIg1baFTNmsDM&index=21&ab_channel=MarkWiens

What words did he use ? Can you smile like him ?

The hyperspace hypertest: vocabulary, grammar and creativity.

3rd March 2025

Students around the ages of 10 or 11 move up to a higher level, and a harder book. To ensure that the students are able to deal with these increased demands, I’ve prepared a short test.

Most of the questions are based on work covered in the previous blocks, along with some extra questions based on grammar and vocabulary that I have taught.

Students will sit apart. Anyone caught cheating will receive a ZERO score. I am serious.

Best of British !

1) Tell me three things you can see in the night sky [3 points]

2) Use present continuous (verb + ing)

EXAMPLE:

I read (verb 1) = I am reading (continuous)

You eat // He plays // She watches // [3 points]

3) Tell me something you:

always do // sometimes do // never do

[3 points]

4) Name the instrument AND write a sentence in the simple past (Verb 2)

EXAMPLE: g______ / (guitar)

I played guitar last week.

c_____ / d______ / f_____ / p_______ [8 points]

5) Use adverbs of manner. Turn the adjective into an adverb:

The children spoke (quiet) //

The drummers banged (loud) [2 points]

6) If you write a review of a book, show or film, what information do you use ? [5 points]

7) What is simple past (V 2) for these Verbs ?

eat / give / go / have / make / put / see [7 points]

8) Write three questions with ‘wh’ words [where / what / why etc] [6 points]

9) Tell me something a penguin can do and something a penguin can’t do. Be creative and funny [4 points]

10) Object pronouns

EXAMPLE: Can you help I = Can you help me

Nobody saw (he) // Did you see (we) //

He couldn’t talk to (she) [3 points]

11) Use these adjectives in amazing sentences:

interesting // gruesome // xenophobic // popular // important [10 points]

12) Tell me what you like to do, and what job you would like in the future [10 points]

Young Learners, level 2: Senses working overtime (Revisited)

6th February 2025

Tell me about these people. He is or she is …

Premium Photo | Happy asian woman excited with thumb up taking selfie in city street — She is ……….

She is young and happy.

Close Up Of Cute Tired Child Boy Sleeping On Sofa. Stock Photo, Picture And Royalty Free Image. Image 16960148. — He is ……

He is tired.

Bored indian kid pic Stock Photos - Page 1 : Masterfile — He is very …..

He is very bored and unhappy.

Premium Photo | Korean red chili powder — She is very ….

She is very ill and unhappy.

Top Cats are able to form basic sentences such as:

I can run however I can’t fly

Warm Up: What can he or she do ?

What can you do ? What can’t you do ?

Ask your partner what he or she can do

Here, my wonderful TA will ask me, then tell the class, in order to model how to answer

Thay Paul, what can you do ?

“I can play guitar however I can’t play piano.”

Tell the class:

He can play guitar however he can’t play piano.

New vocabulary: the five senses

s — // h – – – // s – – – – // t a – – – // t o – – –

Next, use the new vocabulary in sentences.

What can he or she do and what can’t they do ?

Example:

Korean+butterfly Images, Stock Photos & Vectors | Shutterstock

She can see a butterfly however she can’t hear a butterfly.

She can touch a butterfly however she can’t smell a butterfly.

Teen girl with pizza stock photo. Image of eating, dinner - 156547378

She can __________ a pizza however she can’t __________ a pizza.

Metallica Nothing Else Matter (cover by azry) - YouTube

He can ________ a guitar _______________________ .

5027-a-beautiful-african-american-teen-girl-smelling-a-flower-pv.jpg - Member Albums - RISING PHOENIX GAMING an rpg play by post community

She can ______________________________ .

I Wish Someone Would Look At Me The Way Dogs Look At Food | Funny animal photos, Funny dog pictures, Funny animal pictures

The dog can __________________________________ .

Tell me more …

He is a dog.

He is a big, hungry dog.

He is a very hungry dog.

He is not (isn’t) a cat.

Adjective word bank

young / old / beautiful / happy / unhappy / clever / excited

She is a …

She is a doctor. She isn’t a teacher.

Flying high as first Saudi pilot of world's largest aircraft | Arab News

He is a …

He is a pilot. He isn’t a doctor.

Undergraduate Torah Studies: James Striar School | Yeshiva University

She is a …

She is a student. She isn’t a pilot.

Some or Any ? Young Learners, Level 2

2nd December 2024

We use ‘some’ for a statement

There are some great websites for learning English.

[websites are plural and countable]

There is some ice-cream at VinMart.

[ice-cream is uncountable]

We use ‘any’ for a negative or a question

There aren’t any parks near my home.

There isn’t any French cheese.

Are they any good films playing?

Do you have any English tea?

NOW … YOUR TURN

1 Do you have ______ questions about the new project?

2 Let me give you _______ advice.

3 You don’t need to bring ____ paper. There will be ______ print-outs available.

4 There will be _____ visitors from Germany coming. Do you know ____ German?

For Top Cats

Speaking practice:

Jim I can’t wait for Tet. Do you have any plans?

Ann Of course! I’m going to watch some films and get some rest.

Jim Have you bought any special food?

Ann I don’t have any time for shopping. I’ve still got some juice. How about you?

Jim I need to buy some fruit, some biscuits, and do I need any special food for Tet?

Ann Absolutely ! You must buy some cakes and some sweets.

Jim Anything else? I need some advise.

Ann Just make sure you have some beer. A LOT of beer. Cheers!

Introducing my Jedi Master, Princess L.

18th August 2024

The test results are in, Midichlorian counts checked and rechecked, and we have some new Jedi Masters, Jedi Knights and Padawans.

Here is one great example which I print verbatim, no corrections or additions. Welcome to the Jedi Council, Princess L.

Tell me what you like to do, and what job you would like in the future

Today, I introduce and tell you about what I like to do and my favorite job in the future. I like to play the piano and read comic books because is helps me relax and when I do this I’m over the moon. My favorite song to play the piano is baby shark and happy birthday song. But I want to play proud of you song however is very difficult. I always play the piano with my sister and my cousin.

I can play a lot of song I like because I always practises the piano every day should when I do this song is piece of cake. And in the future I want to be a piano teacher because I want children can play a lot of song like me. Because in my opinion, the piano is a best and easy instruments for everyone want to play. It the end and what you like to do and what job you would like to be in the future. Goodbye!

The jump into scholastic hyperspace

10th August 2024

Students around the ages of 10 or 11 move up to a higher level, and a harder book. To ensure that the students are able to deal with these increased demands, I’ve prepared a short test.

Most of the questions are based on work covered in the previous blocks, along with some extra questions based on grammar and vocabulary that I have taught.

Students will sit apart. Anyone caught cheating will receive a ZERO score. I am serious.

Best of British !

1) Tell me three things you can see in the night sky

2) Use present continuous (verb + ing)

EXAMPLE: I read / I am reading

You eat // He plays // She watches //

3) Tell me something you:

always do

sometimes do

never do

4) Name the instrument AND write a sentence in the simple past (Verb 2) g______ / (guitar)

c_____ / d______ / f_____ / p_______

EXAMPLE: I played guitar last week.

5) Use adverbs of manner. Turn the adjective into an adverb:

The children spoke (quiet) // The drummers banged (loud)

6) If you write a review of a book, show or film, what information do you use ?

7) What is simple past (Verb 2) for these Verbs ?

eat / give / go / have / make / put / see

8) Write three questions with ‘wh’ words [where / what / why etc]

9) Tell me something a penguin can do and something a penguin can’t do.

10) Object pronouns

EXAMPLE: Can you help (I) = Can you help me

Nobody saw (he) // Did you see (we) // He couldn’t talk to (she)

11) Use these adjectives in amazing sentences:

interesting // gruesome // xenophobic // popular // important

12) Tell me what you like to do, and what job you would like in the future

Young Learners, pre-teens: introduction lesson.

2nd April 2024

I begin by eliciting class rules then a good old STB, replacing ‘bus’ with ‘taxi’. What do they know about UK ?

This leads to …

Try the birthday horseshoe game: here, one part of the room represents January, the opposite, December. The students must stand in a horse-shoe shape, according to when their birthday falls.

This leads to …

A run & write activity. I write incorrect sentences on the board. Split class into teams), and one member must rewrite the sentence correctly:

What are your name ?

I eats fruit

How old is you ?

What is your hobbies

He like swim

What you do think

There isn’t a chocolate

Why is your friend

Today’s theme is Free Time. The warm-ups should review previous lessons and

This lead to …

Word Bomb – Hobbies – what do they do in their free time ?

Listen out for mistakes, encourage full sentences and drill collocations

(Play sports / do homework / make models / go swimming)

Students can mime an activity, and drill full collocation:

play piano play table tennis listen to music read a book go swimming

Then use the Mingle – interview sheet. This will get the class up and active before break time, and after sitting through book work and listening exercises. The exercise can also encourage students to introduce themselves:

Find 3 people who:

Name

Hobby

Play an instrument
Draw or paint
Read books
Watch films
Learn English
Have a pet What pet ?

Pronunciation – phonemes

ɑ ɔː əʊ

Point to the correct phoneme

In teams, read out:

model disco show on door go walk

Players must identify the correct phoneme

Pre-teaching: Match the words with the meanings

describe planned, in order, not a mess

imagine having to do too many things

typical feeling you have too much work

pressure normal, usual

organised to tell what something looks or like

community to think about something

stressed the place or area where you live