Speaking Boost · A1 · Lesson 1 of 50
Speaking Boost A1 · Block 1: Hello and Me

What is the most popular name in the world?

Every person has a name. Some names are very popular. In this lesson you say your name, where you are from and what you are like. You use the verb to be: I am, you are, he is.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Names and people

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. What is your name?
  2. Where are you from?
  3. Is your name popular in your country?
  4. Who is your best friend?
  5. How old are you?
  6. Are you a student or do you work?
2

Words and phrases

12 min
2.1

New words

Read each word and the example. Then say one sentence with the word.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word that fits.

  1. Anna is my first .
  2. My is Kovalenko. It is my family name.
  3. A name that many people like is .
  4. Ukraine is a in Europe.
  5. There are many countries in the .
  6. A young female person is a .
  7. A young male person is a .
  8. The name Sofia "wisdom".
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. a first name is the name
  2. a surname is your
  3. popular =
  4. a country is a place like
  5. long is the opposite of
  6. people = men, women and
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to meet a new person.

  • My name is...Мене звати...My name is Anna.
  • I am from...Я з...I am from Ukraine.
  • Nice to meet you.Приємно познайомитися.Hello, Tom. Nice to meet you.
  • What is your name?Як вас звати?What is your name?
  • He is a boy.Він хлопчик.He is a boy. His name is Max.
  • How do you spell it?Як це пишеться?How do you spell your surname?
  • It means...Це означає...It means "wisdom".
  • It is a popular name.Це популярне ім'я.Anna is a popular name.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

Names around the world

Read the text. Hover over the dotted words for help.

What is the most popular name in the world?

Every person has a name. In every country, some names are very popular. Many lists say that Muhammad is the most popular first name in the world. Maria and Anna are also popular in many countries.

In Ukraine, a lot of girls are called Anna, Maria or Sofia. A lot of boys are called Oleksandr or Andrii. The lists are not the same, so we cannot say the exact number.

Names have meanings. Sofia means wisdom. Viktor means "winner". Some names are short, like Ann or Max. Some names are long, like Oleksandra.

Your name is a small story about you and your family.

What does your name mean?

3.2

True or false?

  1. Every person has a name.
  2. All the lists are the same.
  3. Sofia means wisdom.
  4. The text says all names are long.
  5. Maria and Anna are popular in many countries.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Is your name popular?
  2. Do you like your name?
  3. Who gave you your name?
  4. What name do you like for a pet?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

The verb to be

Use am with I, is with he, she and it, and are with you, we and they. We use to be for names, places, jobs and age.

I am Anna. He is a boy. She is from Kyiv. It is a popular name. We are friends. They are students.

Negative and short forms

Add not after am, is and are. Short forms: I'm, you're, he's, she's, it's, we're, they're, isn't, aren't.

I am not a teacher. He isn't a student. They aren't from Poland. I'm Max. She's from Lviv.

Block 1 preview

Grammar you will use in this block.

the verb to be (L1) · questions with to be (L2) · my, your, his, her (L3) · a / an and plural nouns (L4) · review (L5)

Common mistakes: use am / is / are and do not forget the verb. ✗ I Anna → I am Anna. ✗ She are Maria → She is Maria. ✗ We is friends → We are friends.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. I
    Anna.
  2. He
    a boy.
  3. She
    from Kyiv.
  4. We
    friends.
  5. They
    students.
  6. It
    a popular name.
  7. You
    my teacher.
  8. The girls
    from Odesa.
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. I Anna. →
  2. She are Maria. →
  3. We is friends. →
  4. He am a boy. →
  5. They is from Poland. →
  6. It are a long name. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer with full sentences. Use am, is and are.

  1. What is your name?
  2. Where are you from?
  3. Is your name short or long?
  4. What is your friend's name?
  5. Are you a student?
  6. Who is a famous person with a popular name?
5

Three people with popular names and a short talk

8 min
5.1

Three people and their names

Three people say their names. Compare them. Who is from Ukraine? Who is a student? Whose name is the most popular in your country?

Person 1

Anna, 25

  • Is from Ukraine
  • Is a teacher
  • Her name is popular
  • Her friend is Max
Person 2

Muhammad, 30

  • Is from Egypt
  • Is a doctor
  • His name is the most popular
  • His family is big
Person 3

Sofia, 8

  • Is from Italy
  • Is a girl
  • Her name means wisdom
  • Her brother is Marco
5.2

Mini-talk: my name

Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
  2. Part 1: say your name and where you are from.
  3. Part 2: say what your name means or if it is popular.
  4. Part 3: say the name of a friend and tell about him or her.
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. What is your first name?
  2. What is your surname?
  3. Where are you from?
  4. Are you a student?
  5. Is your name popular?
  6. Is your name short or long?
  7. Are you happy today?
  8. Is your family big?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Who is your best friend?
  2. Who is in your family?
  3. Who is a famous girl in your country?
  4. Who is a famous boy in your country?
  5. Who is your teacher?
  6. Who is from another country?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Is a long name good?
  2. Is it good to have a popular name?
  3. Are names important?
  4. Is it easy to spell your name?
  5. Are you from a big city?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

Meeting a new person

You

New friend

You meet a new person (your teacher) at a party:
  • say hello
  • say your name
  • say where you are from
  • say nice to meet you
Speak for at least 1 minute. Use am, is and are.
Your teacher

Teacher

Says things like:
  1. Hello! What is your name?
  2. Where are you from?
  3. Is it a popular name?
  4. Nice to meet you.
7.2

Introducing a friend

You

Speaker

You introduce a friend to your teacher:
  • say your friend's name
  • say where he or she is from
  • say if he or she is a student
  • say one more thing
You do most of the talking. Use: This is... · He is... · She is...
Your teacher

Teacher

Says things like:
  1. Who is this?
  2. Where is she from?
  3. Is he a student?
  4. Nice to meet you.
8

Homework

at home

Your homework score

Do all four exercises, then press Check all homework. Correct answers will appear next to your mistakes.

– / 30
H1

Complete with a word

namesurnamepopularcountryworldgirlboymeans
  1. Anna is my first .
  2. My is Kovalenko. It is my family name.
  3. A name that many people like is .
  4. Ukraine is a in Europe.
  5. There are many countries in the .
  6. A young female person is a .
  7. A young male person is a .
  8. The name Sofia "wisdom".
H2

Choose the correct word

  1. I a student.
  2. She from Lviv.
  3. We friends.
  4. He a doctor.
  5. They at home.
  6. You my friend.
  7. It a short name.
  8. My parents teachers.
H3

Correct or incorrect?

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. I am Anna.
  2. I Anna.
  3. She is from Kyiv.
  4. She are Maria.
  5. We are friends.
  6. We is friends.
  7. They are students.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. My name
  2. I am
  3. Nice to
  4. What is
  5. He is
  6. How do you
  7. It is a

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© Yevheniia Kolesnykova, Academy of Languages. All rights reserved. No copying or reuse without written permission.