Speaking Boost · A1 · Lesson 2 of 50
Speaking Boost A1 · Block 1: Hello and Me

Why do people all over the world say "OK"?

The word "OK" is used in almost every language. Where does it come from? In this lesson you ask and answer questions with the verb to be: Are you...? Is it...? Where is...? Yes, I am. No, it isn't.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Words and languages

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. Is English difficult for you?
  2. Are you a good student?
  3. Is your phone near you?
  4. Where is your best friend now?
  5. Are you happy today?
  6. Is OK a good word?
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. English is a .
  2. OK is a very short .
  3. In this language, people OK a lot.
  4. OK is a word. It has only two letters.
  5. A story that makes you laugh is .
  6. A text about things that happen is a .
  7. The opposite of difficult is .
  8. The answer for something that is right is .
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. a language is something you
  2. funny = it makes you
  3. easy is the opposite of
  4. true =
  5. a newspaper has
  6. different = not the
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to ask and answer questions.

  • Are you...?Ти...?Are you a student?
  • Is it...?Це...?Is it a new word?
  • Where is...?Де...?Where is OK from?
  • Yes, I am.Так, це так (я).Are you a student? Yes, I am.
  • No, I'm not.Ні, я ні.Are you tired? No, I'm not.
  • Yes, it is.Так, воно є.Is it true? Yes, it is.
  • No, it isn't.Ні, це не так.Is it a long word? No, it isn't.
  • What is...?Що таке...?What is OK?
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

The word OK

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

Why do people all over the world say "OK"?

"OK" is a very short word, but it is everywhere. People in many countries say "OK". It is in English, in Spanish, in Ukrainian and in a lot of other languages. It is in phones, in films and in songs.

Where is the word from? It is from the USA. It is from the 1830s, so it is almost 200 years old. Many people say that it is a short form of "oll korrect". It was a joke: people wrote the words in a funny way in newspapers. "Oll korrect" is a funny way to write "all correct".

Is the story completely true? Not everybody is sure. But the story is popular.

The word is easy, and it is useful. You can say it to a friend, a teacher or a stranger. It means "yes", "good" or "all right".

Is "OK" a word that you use?

3.2

True or false?

  1. OK is a long word.
  2. The word is from the USA.
  3. OK is only in English.
  4. The text says OK is easy to say.
  5. Everybody is sure that the story is true.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Are you a person who says OK a lot?
  2. Is OK in your language?
  3. What other words are the same in many languages?
  4. Why is a short word useful?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Questions with to be

In a question, put am, is or are before the person. Answer with Yes or No and a short answer.

Are you a student? Yes, I am. Is it a long word? No, it isn't. Is she from Lviv? Yes, she is.

Question words with to be

What, Where, Who and How come before is or are.

What is your name? Where are you from? Who is your teacher? How are you?

Block 1 review

Use the grammar from this block.

the verb to be (L1)

Common mistakes: in questions, put am / is / are before the person. ✗ You are a student? → Are you a student? ✗ Where she is? → Where is she? ✗ Yes, I'm → Yes, I am.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. you a student?
  2. she from Lviv?
  3. they at home?
  4. it a long word?
  5. Are you tired? Yes, I
    .
  6. Is he your friend? No, he
    .
  7. Where
    your phone?
  8. your teacher?
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. You are a student? →
  2. Where she is? →
  3. Yes, I'm. →
  4. Is you tired? →
  5. Are she your friend? →
  6. What are your name? →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer with full sentences. Ask and answer questions with am, is and are.

  1. Are you a student?
  2. Is English easy for you?
  3. Where is your phone now?
  4. Who is your best friend?
  5. Is your city big?
  6. How are you today?
5

Three people and the word OK, and a short talk

8 min
5.1

Three people and the word OK

Three people talk about the word OK. Compare them. Who likes the word? Who is from another country? Who uses it at work?

Person 1

Tom, 35

  • Is from the USA
  • Is a teacher
  • Says OK all day
  • Is happy with the word
Person 2

Elena, 40

  • Is from Spain
  • Is a doctor
  • Says OK in Spanish too
  • Thinks it is easy
Person 3

Kenji, 22

  • Is from Japan
  • Is a student
  • Hears OK in films
  • Asks where the word is from
5.2

Mini-talk: questions and answers

Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
  2. Part 1: ask three questions with Are you...? to your teacher.
  3. Part 2: answer three questions with Yes, I am. or No, I'm not.
  4. Part 3: tell about the word OK.
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. Are you a student?
  2. Are you at home now?
  3. Is your phone new?
  4. Is your family big?
  5. Is English easy for you?
  6. Are you happy today?
  7. Is your teacher kind?
  8. Are you tired?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Who is your teacher?
  2. Who is your best friend?
  3. Where is your best friend now?
  4. Where are your parents?
  5. How is your mother?
  6. How are your friends?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Is OK a good word?
  2. Is it easy to learn a language?
  3. Are short words better?
  4. Is English difficult?
  5. Are you good at languages?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

Asking questions

You

Student

You meet a new student (your teacher). Ask questions:
  • ask if he or she is a student
  • ask where he or she is from
  • ask if the city is big
  • ask if he or she is happy
Speak for at least 1 minute. Use Are you...? Is it...? Where...?
Your teacher

New student

Says things like:
  1. Yes, I am.
  2. I am from Kyiv.
  3. Yes, it is.
  4. Yes, I am happy.
7.2

At a party

You

Guest

A person (your teacher) asks you about yourself:
  • answer if you are a student
  • answer where you are from
  • answer if you are tired
  • ask one question
You do most of the talking. Use: Yes, I am. · No, I'm not. · Where are you from?
Your teacher

Teacher

Says things like:
  1. Are you a student?
  2. Where are you from?
  3. Are you tired?
  4. Is it your first party?
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

languagewordsayshortfunnystoryeasytrue
  1. English is a .
  2. OK is a very short .
  3. In this language, people OK a lot.
  4. OK is a word. It has only two letters.
  5. A story that makes you laugh is .
  6. A text about things that happen is a .
  7. The opposite of difficult is .
  8. The answer for something that is right is .
H2

Choose the correct word

  1. you a student?
  2. he your teacher?
  3. they happy?
  4. Where my phone?
  5. Is she tired? No, she .
  6. Are you from Kyiv? Yes, I .
  7. it a long word?
  8. your friend?
H3

Correct or incorrect?

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. Are you a student?
  2. You are a student?
  3. Where is she?
  4. Where she is?
  5. Is it a long word?
  6. Is you tired?
  7. Yes, I am.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. Are you
  2. Is it
  3. Where is
  4. Yes,
  5. No,
  6. No, it
  7. What is

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