This short blog introduces young learners to adjectives, and how they can start to build longer sentences.
First, let’s start an adjective word bank:
big // small
cute // dangerous
strong // clever
yummy // healthy
plus colours
Game 1:
Who can tell me a colour beginning with the letter y ?
Letter b ? Letter o ? g ? r ? p ? Letter w ?
Game 2:
Tell me an animal begins with the letter d Letter g Letter e Letter s Letter l Letter c Letter w Letter z
Game 3:
What is it ? Tell me about these animals. Use 2 adjectives.
EXAMPLE
It’s a cute white sheep
Now … your turn
Finally – tell me about the food
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Totem poles, which are large carved and painted logs, were created by Native Americans in western Canada and the north-west of the USA.
How many animals can you see ?
As you can see, they can be very beautiful, colourful and mysterious. Totem poles are usually made from only one piece of wood, mostly from the cedar tree.
Unfortunately the rainy climate destroys the paint, so most totem poles only last about 70 years.
How tall can they be ?
The tallest one still standing is Kalama, Washington, at 140 feet tall. However, that wasn’t made by a Native American.
In Alert Bay, British Columbia, a pole is 173 feet but that is constructed from two pieces of wood.
The thickest totem pole is in Duncan, British Columbia, at over 6 feet in diameter.
Centennial Pole from 1988, in Duncan, British Columbia.
What are they for ?
Totem poles can stand outside a home, and tell the story of that family. Some are used as grave markers. The word totem means a guardian or ancestor. They are respected by the family.
The interesting figures on the poles tell stories, and each animal has a meaning.
How to read a totem pole
You can see many animals carved here:
The thunderbird is a mythical creature. The bird is said to control the weather, and it represents power.
The raven is a symbol of the Creator.
The eagle means peace and friendship.
The whale shows strength.
The snake means change, and maybe also medicine and good harvest (because snakes shed their skins).
The wolf means loyalty and family (because wolves live in packs).
The beaver means determination and creativity (because they are amazing builders).
Finally, the bear represents strength and authority but also motherhood and teaching.
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A chance for younger students to watch short videos in order to practise their listening skills. After the clips, the teacher can ask basic comprehension questions.
Top Five Activities for Children in HCMC
What was the name of the first activity ?
What is special about the pictures ?
Where is the museum ?
How high is the climbing wall ?
How much does it cost ?
What can you hear at a water puppet show ?
On what day is the Water Park closed ?
How old was the youngest child on the bike tour ?
What would you like to do, and why ?
Is there any place you would not like to visit ? Tell me why.
Answers
Artinus 2. The pictures are 3-D 3. District 7 4. 20 metres 5. About $6 6. Singing (in Vietnamese) and traditional music. 7. Tuesdays 8. 2-years old.
Now to my home town: what can kids do in London ?
First, board some new words and expressions. The kids can shout out when they hear them spoken.
loads and loads / I reckon / really / very / amazing
What are the names of the kids from the UK ?
What can you see at the Natural History Museum ?
Where does the Queen live ?
What can people do on the South Bank ?
How many people can ride in the London Eye ?
What was the girl’s favourite waxwork ?
How much are the Crown Jewels worth ?
What is the name of the bus that can drive into the river ?
What films were made at Warner Brothers Studio ?
How can people travel around London ?
What is the most exciting thing for YOU in London ? Choose 3 things to want to do or see in London.
Answers
Robert, Jess, Lara & Olive 2. dinosaurs 3. Buckingham Palace 4. See buskers, shows and markets 5. 800 6. Hulk 7. 23 billion GBP 8. Duck Tours 9. Harry Potter 10. The Tube (subway) walk, bud, taxi, bicycle
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A compilation of animal videos for comprehension, information or just end-of-lesson entertainment.
First, a chance to practise superlatives.
What is the largest mammal ? // What is the smallest one ?
How much does a blue whale weight ?
What is the largest bird ? // What is the smallest one ?
What is the largest reptile ? // What is the smallest one ?
How long is the crocodile ? // How long is the dwarf gecko ?
What is the largest fish ? // What is the smallest one ?
How long is the whale shark ?
A whale shark can be up to 10 meters long
The text book, which I follow, uses the USA spelling (meters not metres).
Activity: Make two crosses at the front of the class. Have two students stand on them; one will ask the question, the other answer. Repeat until all the class has participated.
Encourage full answers:
How long is the whale shark ?
“It’s up to 10 meters long.”
OR
“The whale shark can be up to 10 meters long.”
Answers:
The blue whale // the bumblebee bat // [up to] 200 tonnes // ostrich // hummingbird // saltwater crocodile // dwarf gecko // whale shark // stout infant fish
Bonus points for additional facts such as a hummingbird can fly backwards, an ostrich can’t fly.
Secondly, amazing facts about the animal kingdom
When do ants sleep ? How do dolphins sleep ?
What can’t elephants do ? Is a giraffe noisy ?
How many hearts does an octopus have ?
How do butterflies taste ?
Why do camels have three eyelids ?
What is different about a hummingbird ?
How does a man penguin ask a woman penguin to marry him ?
And now, just for fun. Does an orangutan appreciate magic ?
Can a gorilla play drums ?
What can make a panda jump ?
Everybody, thank you for visiting this blog.
Happy year of the Tiger
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Basic grammar is a continual problem with my online classes, that and the stubborn reluctance [contumacy for those who like to learn new words] to write down new words, or to learn from their mistakes.
Basic grammar is basically lacking.
Many older student will, I am sure, have traumatic memories of conjugating verbs endlessly, without ever applying them in real-life situations. Hence, I propose a synthesis; drilling of verb ending, and then applying them in simple sentences.
Enough preamble, let’s go to work !
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 ______
Secondly, let’s use a continuous verb (verb + ing)
reading / playing / swimming / watching TV / eating
I am reading
you ___ _______
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 / iPad / 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.
Happy 2022, the Year of the Grammar
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How many times does 4 go into 100 ? What goes into 100 4 times ?
Practice – how would you say these:
25 + 30 =
12 x 10 =
95 – 35 =
39 ÷ 13 =
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The English language, despite having a multitude of idioms, slang, vernacular, dialects, neologisms etc, can be easier to learn than other languages when it comes to the definite article. I am referring to the word ‘the’.
English nouns have no gender; the language doesn’t have the complex German structure of declension when the word ‘the’ changes depending if the noun is the subject, object or indirect object.
However, it’s not all plain sailing. English speakers employ declension when it comes to pronouns. Please allow me to illustrate:
A cuckoo clock, invented in Germany (not Switzerland, as is often believed).
I bought this clock from a friend so it now belongs to me. It is my clock, it is mine.
However, with the wrong declension:
Me bought this clock from a friend so it now belongs to mine. It is I clock, it is my.
Last night, a level 6 class (aged around 10) were having a lesson on conservation. The examples were all in the second person (your), and the students were having problems changing the pronoun. Hence, this blog:
Let’s go to work
Let’s keep it simple. There are three cases:
the subject, the object and the possessive
I, Me, Mine
In our example I bought this clock from my friend, the first noun is ‘I’ (subject)
so it now belongs to me. (object)
It is my clock, it is mine. (possessive)
Now … let’s practice
I // me // my or mine
you // you // your or yours
he // him // his
she // her // her or hers
we // us // our or ours
they // them // their or theirs
EXAMPLE: What can you do to stay healthy ?
I can exercise. Being healthy is important to me. These are my weights. They are mine.
How about changing the pronoun ? Tell me about this man:
He is very funny. Many people like him. It is his dog. The dog is his.
Tell me about this lady
— is very happy. I can not beat — in a game. — racket (bat) is very expensive. It is —-.
Let’s use ‘you’
— can wash your hair. I will buy some cologne for — . It is —- cologne, it is —– .
Tell me about these people
—- are American. If you go to the USA, maybe you will meet —-. This is —– flag, it is ——.
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Yes it, isn’t. i is hoping these answered you questions ,
When someone is learning a new language basic communication, making oneself understood, is the main factor.
However as one develops, the rules of grammar become increasingly important especially if students sit tests and are graded according to their command of the language.
Here, then, are some incorrect sentences that the students can correct. For online classes, students can type in their Chat Box, and that way, everyone is kept busy and productive.
Let’s start with a Level 1 Class
The students have just been introduced to basic sentences, so the aim is to get them using multiple words, not just shouting out single word answers.
Game 1
EXAMPLE: What is it ?
It is a yellow banana.
It’s a yellow banana.
First letter is BIG (a capital letter).
Use an adjective before the noun.
End with a full stop (.)
NOW … Your turn
Write the answers in your Chat Box
Number 1
Number 2
Number 3
Number 4
Game 2
EXAMPLE: Who’s this ?
this me grondfather … NO
This is my grandmother.
NOW … Your turn
Write the answers in your Chat Box
Number 1
this is my Brotherr
Number 2
this is m grandFATHr ?
Number 3
th is is me mother
Game 3
EXAMPLE: I like … I don’t like
I like chicken I no like fish … NO
I like chicken. I don’t like fish.
NOW … Your turn
i liek pizzza i do no like chicen
I like iceream i like cake no
I like breadd I like don’t ricee
Game 4
EXAMPLE: What can you see ?
I can see a dog. I can see a happy black dog.
I can see 2 dogs
NOW … Your turn
Bye bye, see you soon.
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.
Recent online classes have revealed a distressing lack of ability using basic verbs in the past tense or Verb 2 as they are called in my neck of the woods.
In Vietnamese, the past tense is formed differently.
The verb remains the same but other words are added to indicate the tense. Alternately, time indicators are employed. Very briefly, a literal translation from the Vietnamese could be:
Yesterday I eat rice
Therefore a language teacher needs to be aware of the linguistic differences. Be that as it may let’s Get Back to basics.
Activity 1
What is the past tense (Verb 2) of these verbs:
eat / drink / do / play / see / go
Activity 2
help / visit / work / ride / talk
Activity 3
‘to be’:
I am / I was
you are / you were
he is / he was
she is / she was
Let’s use past tense (verb 2) with an adjective
Tell me what is the sentence if we use verb 2
EXAMPLE: I am happy. = I was happy.
NOW … YOUR TURN
You are sad = You ______ sad.
He is tired = He _______ tired.
She is funny = She _______ funny.
I am shy = I ______ shy.
He is small = He ______ small.
She is big = She _____ big.
You are young = You ______ young.
Activity 4
What did you do today ?
Each student takes a turn. Use these photos to help you.
Extra practice:
buy / drink / surf the internet / help parents / cook / do homework / wake up
Present tense ——– Past tense
act —— acted
go —- went
learn —— learned OR learnt
play — played
read —– read (pronounced ‘red)
ride —— rode
sleep —– slept
watch —- watched (pronounced ‘watch -t‘)
win —- won
What is the past tense (Verb 2) ?
I act in a film. Last week I ______ in a film.
I go to London. Last year I _______________ to London.
I ride an elephant. Last month I ___________ an elephant.
I learn English. Last Saturday, we ___________ English with Mr Paul.
The monkey plays piano.
Last night, the monkey _________ piano.
She reads a book. Last Sunday she _____ a book.
He sleeps all day. Yesterday he _______ all day.
I watch the amazing Spiderman.
Last week I ______ the amazing Spiderman.
Put these verbs into the past tense, then complete the sentences:
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I have + adjective + noun. Pronouns + is + adjectives
EXAMPLE: I have a Japanese friend. She is clever and shy.
Royalty-free image from Google
The sentence has 3 adjectives. Tell me about your friend:
I have a … friend. He or She is … and …
Tell me about these people:
This man is Greek. I have a Greek friend. He is …
Royalty-free image from Google
This lady is English. I have an ….
Royalty-free image from Google
This man is Japanese. I have a …
Royalty-free image from Google
Now, let’s talk about pets.
Royalty-free image from Google
I have a cute puppy. He is small, quick and happy.
Tell me about your pet.
Tell me about these animals:
Royalty-free image from Google
Royalty-free image from Google
Royalty-free image from Google
Royalty-free image from Google
Bye bye from the friendly bear.
Please Note: All photos are taken from Google Images and are used for educational purposes. 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 