The Korean actress Shin Min-an from the film ‘A Bittersweet Life’
Today’s task is to introduce yourself to your classmates. First give some basic information, then tell us what you like doing. Finally, what you would like to do in the future.
EXAMPLE
Hello, my name is John and I’m from Australia. I’m an English teacher, and I have been in Vietnam for about 2 years.
My hobbies are reading books, watching films and listening to music.
In Vietnam, I have been to Ha Noi and Hue. I was blown away by all the old buildings.
I really want to visit Hoi An and Halong Bay.
{Photo from Google Images}
Maybe you want to study abroad, in London, or the US ?
about: with time. I have been studying English for about 6 months.
really: adverbs I am happy / I am really happy [stronger and more interesting]
continuous verbs: I like to read / I like reading /
For speaking tests, students need to be able to speak at length, using long sentences with adjectives, linking words and maybe an expression or two … and it’s never too soon to start.
Higher Kindergarten classes can answer in short sentences, instead of single word answers. They can expand by using adjectives.
For example, a teacher will ask, “What is it ?”
The answer must be in the form of a sentence, “It’s a car.” Then we can expand … “It’s a red car,” “It’s a fast, red car.”
At higher levels, students need to feel confident to speak longer, and here’s a tip. This is a mind map with one main idea, then different ideas that students can speak about.
OK, as they say in Cinema, “Show, don’t tell.”
Some expressions:
I’m over the moon (I’m very, very happy)
I was blown away (I was very impressed by someone or something)
It cheers me up (Verb 1) cheered me up (Verb 2) (made me happy after I was sad)
Don’t forget to use the linking words
because // also // so // however // as well as
EXAMPLE:
My favourite sports are football and swimming because they are fun, exciting as well as healthy.
I play football at school with my classmates. My friend John is very good. He is better than me. I also play on weekends. However, I can’t play football alone.
I really enjoy swimming. I can swim alone. I often swim at weekends at a sports centre.
Sports can cheer me up when I am sad. If my teams win, I am over the moon.
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.
A writing exercise to help build narrative. We shall use signpost language, paragraphs, amazing adjectives, adverbs and linking words, as well as some new expressions.
I shall tell you about last Sunday – it was terrible and here’s why.
The plan of my day:
6.50 Book Grab on my iPhone and leave for work.
7.40 – 9.40 Young Learners class, level 1 (24 students)
10.10 Arrive home
10.11am – 2.30pm Wedding party across the street
10.30 – 12.00 Prepare work online
5.00pm – 9.30pm Another wedding party but much louder, more karaoke singers
6.00 Go for coffee
BUT 11.30pm Barcelona win 1- 0 so ‘All’s well that ends well.’
So what were the problems ?
“Hey, where is my bike ? I am late for work !”
I only have one class; I hope they are nice and quiet. OK, they are screaming, loudly ! But now I can go home and relax. Wait a moment …
A wedding party with singing and drinking and karaoke … for four hours ! No problems, I will wear headphones, listen to my music and prepare my work online.
I give up ! This is never going to happen. However, after 2.30pm it starts to be quiet. I can work, read and at 4.45 I started to sleep … until at 5.00:
These gentlemen do not sing beautifully, they sound like cats having a fight. I decide to go out to a quiet coffee bar. The server is very friendly … but then a man walks in …
My dreadful day was nearly over. At 11.30 I watch TV and see …
Yes, my team Barcelona are playing. I am blown away by how good they are and I am over the moon because they win the game. All’s well that ends well.
NOW … your turn
Write about Mr Paul’s terrible day.
TIPS
Use a short introduction, then a new paragraph for each new event.
Use signpost language (first, next, then, afterwards, finally).
The story is in the past so you have to use simple past (Verb 2). Noun & verb agreement (he is, he was)
End with a short conclusion.
Use new adjectives and synonyms (terrible, awful, dreadful, horrendous).
I insist that you use at least one new expression (over the moon, blown away, all’s well that ends well).
Let me kick start you:
Last Sunday was absolutely dreadful.
First, I booked Grab on my iPhone but he was extremely slow and late. My manager was …
now you finish my day
Good luck with my bad day
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.
Don’t take my word for it; here are some stills from a Korean film:
The film is ‘House of Hummingbird’ from 2019
So, do you want to be a house-owner or a housemaid ?
Roll up your sleeves, put your nose to the grindstone, burn the midnight oil, burn the candle at both ends, turn over a new leaf, hit the books, get down to it.
At every opportunity, read, speak, write English. Then, after you graduate, you can party !
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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:
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.
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
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.
Thay Paul's Notes 