To be or not to be … To have and have not.

10th November 2025

The verb ‘to be’

Only teach constructions in upper level classes

I am // I’m

you are // you’re

he is // he’s

she is // she’s

it is // it’s

Mr John is // Mr John’s

we are // we’re

they are // they’re

Have students repeat until their grammar is perfect. Make games, see who can conjugate the verbs clearest and quickest.

Now … practice:

First let’s use an adjective:

happy / sad / lucky / hard-working / lazy

Let’s start with the adjective ‘happy’

I am happy // I’m happy

you are happy // you’re _______

he _____ \

she ______ \

it _______\

Mr John ______ \

we ____ \

they ______

The verb ‘to have’

I have

you have

he has

she has

it has

Ms Jane has

we have

they have

Now … practice:

Let’s use some common nouns

sister (or twin sister) / piano / dog / new book

I have a ____

you ____ ______

he ___ _________

she ___ _______

Ms Jane ____ _______

we ____ ______

they ____ _______

OK, Snoopy, enough is enough … but we have just started; more blogs to follow.

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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 ?

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!

Please, Sir … I want to write some more.

22nd August 2024

Today, we will learn how to write a review.

A review is what you think about a film, book, comic, video game, theatre piece, concert etc.

Your review will be in two parts:

Part One will have information, Part Two will have your opinions – what YOU think.

First, let’s watch a short clip from the film ‘Oliver’.

Here are the facts:

Film Name: Oliver Year: 1968 Country: UK

Director: Carol Reed Oliver Actor: Mark Lester

Genre: Musical

Now, write about the film:

How old is Oliver ? Where does he live ? Is his room comfortable or dirty ?

What does he do ? What does he see ? What are the people outside doing.

Remember to use lots of amazing adjectives, long sentences, and excellent expressions.

English essay writing; turning silver into gold.

19th August 2024

How to turn some wonderful writing to a perfect piece of prose!

First, we need to arrange the text into paragraphs

Paragraph 1 – introduction

Paragraph 2 – first idea (what Princess L likes doing)

Paragraph 3 – second idea (what she wants to do in the future)

Paragraph 4 – conclusion (a short ending)

Second, we need to correct the grammar and alter any mistakes.

So, without any further ado … get to work!

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, Level 4: to be, Verb 1, Verb 2 and infinity

22nd May 2023

Friends, students, colleagues, lend me your ears.

Before younglings graduate from the Superkids Level, they have to, absolutely have to, master the most basic verb in English, the verb ‘to be’ – so, let’s go to work !

Let’s go to work

BAAM ! Easy !

Now … let’s practise

Make it a game, put the class in teams

I shall read a short sentence. I want the correct Verb 1, Verb 2 & the infinite.

EXAMPLE: I say, “I is happy.”

Team 1 writes I am happy,

Team 2 I was happy

Team 3 using the helping verb ‘want’ will write I want to be happy.

OK, I dig, Man, let’s go to work !

You is sad // He am angry // She are intelligent // It is cold // Ms Huong am cute // We am hungry // They is furious.

Change the helping verb to like or need

I is better // You is taller // Ms Huong over the moon // He am a tough guy // She weres colourful // It iss rich // We to be free // They on holiday.

Bring it on !

Young learners, Starter & Beginners. The verb ‘to be’

24th April 2023

We start to learn English grammar.

First, the verb to be

I am // you are // he is // she is // it is // Ms Jane is // we are // they are

Now … let’s speak !

We use the verb ‘to be’ + the adjective ‘happy‘

I am happy // you are happy //

he is happy // she is happy //

it is happy // Ms Jane is happy //

we are happy // they are happy

I am happy // you are happy //

he is happy // she is happy //

it is happy // Ms Jane is happy

we are happy // they are happy

Now … the adjective: hungry

I am hungry / you _____ hungry

he ____ hungry // she ____ hungry

it ____ hungry // Ms Jane ___ hungry

we ____ hungry // they ____ hungry

Now … let’s practise with a song.

Are you ready ?

“We are the robots.”

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: