Speaking Boost · A1 · Lesson 5 of 50
Speaking Boost A1 · Block 1: Hello and Me

Where do people speak English?

English is spoken in many countries, and a lot of people learn it as a second language. Review the verb to be, questions, my and your, and a and an, and give the final talk of Block 1.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

English in the world

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. Is English easy or difficult for you?
  2. Where are you from?
  3. What languages are you good at?
  4. Is your teacher from your country?
  5. Are you happy with your English?
  6. Why is English useful for you?
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 an language in many countries.
  2. A speaker learns a language as a child at home.
  3. A teacher can English to children.
  4. I like to to other countries.
  5. People use English in , for example in offices.
  6. On the , you can find many English videos.
  7. A is a person who visits a country for holidays.
  8. Children their first language at home.
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. official = accepted by the
  2. to teach = to help people
  3. to travel = to go to
  4. a tourist is a person on
  5. foreign = from
  6. a capital is the main
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to talk about languages and countries.

  • Where are you from?Звідки ти?Where are you from? I am from Ukraine.
  • I am a student.Я студент.I am a student. I learn English.
  • English is my second language.Англійська — моя друга мова.English is my second language.
  • He is a teacher.Він учитель.He is a teacher. His name is Tom.
  • They are tourists.Вони туристи.They are tourists from Spain.
  • It is an official language.Це офіційна мова.English is an official language in India.
  • Is it useful?Це корисно?Is English useful? Yes, it is.
  • It is important for...Це важливо для...English is important for work.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

English in the world

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

Where do people speak English?

English is a language of the world. About one and a half billion people speak it, but only about four hundred million of them are native speakers. Most people learn it as a second language.

English is an official language in many countries. It is official in the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It is also official in India, Nigeria and a lot of other countries. People in more than fifty countries use English in the law, in schools or in offices.

Why do so many people learn English? It is useful for business, for the internet and for travel. A tourist can ask for help in English in a lot of places. Many films, songs and books are in English.

Your English is a key to the world. Every lesson is a small step.

Where do you want to use English?

3.2

True or false?

  1. English is a language of the world.
  2. All people who speak English are native speakers.
  3. English is official in India.
  4. English is not useful for the internet.
  5. Many films and songs are in English.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Is English important for you?
  2. Is English the best language to learn?
  3. Is it good to speak two languages?
  4. Where is your English useful?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Review: to be and questions

Use am, is or are. In a question, put am, is or are before the person. Short answers: Yes, I am. No, he isn't.

I am a student. She is from Kyiv. They are tourists. Are you a teacher? Yes, I am. Where is he from?

Review: my / your and a / an

My, your, his, her, our and their go before a noun. Use a before a consonant sound and an before a vowel sound. For more than one thing, add -s.

My teacher is kind. His name is Tom. It is a useful language. It is an official language. They are tourists.

Block 1 review

Use the grammar from this block.

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

Common mistakes: am / is / are, question word order, my / his / her before a noun, and a / an. ✗ He are a teacher → He is a teacher. ✗ Where she is from? → Where is she from? ✗ an teacher → a teacher.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. She
    a teacher.
  2. We
    students.
  3. you from Kyiv?
  4. Where
    he from?
  5. teacher is kind.
  6. name is Anna.
  7. English is
    useful language.
  8. It is
    official language.
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. He are a teacher. →
  2. Where she is from? →
  3. I name is Tom. →
  4. It is an useful language. →
  5. They is tourists. →
  6. We am tourists. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer with full sentences. Use the grammar of Block 1.

  1. Where are you from?
  2. What is your first language?
  3. Is English useful for you?
  4. Who is your English teacher?
  5. What is your favourite English word?
  6. Where do you want to travel?
5

Three people and English, and a final talk

8 min
5.1

Three people and English

Three people talk about English. Compare them. Who uses English at work? Who learns English at school? Why is English useful for you?

Person 1

Priya, 29

  • Is from India
  • English is her second language
  • She works in business
  • Her family speaks Hindi
Person 2

Jack, 40

  • Is from the UK
  • English is his first language
  • He is a tourist guide
  • His city is London
Person 3

Olena, 33

  • Is from Ukraine
  • She is a student of English
  • Her teacher is kind
  • She uses English on the internet
5.2

Final talk of Block 1: me and the world

This is the final speaking task of Block 1. Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for two minutes.
  2. Part 1: say who you are and where you are from.
  3. Part 2: say your age and talk about your family (my, his, her).
  4. Part 3: say what is useful or important for you and why you learn English.
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. What is your name?
  2. Where are you from?
  3. How old are you?
  4. Are you a student?
  5. Is English easy for you?
  6. Is your family big?
  7. What is your favourite colour?
  8. Why is English important for you?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Who is your English teacher?
  2. Who is your best friend?
  3. Who speaks English in your family?
  4. Who is your favourite singer?
  5. Who is from another country?
  6. Which city is the capital of your country?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Is English difficult?
  2. Is English the language of the world?
  3. Is it good to learn languages?
  4. Are you happy with your English?
  5. Is English useful for work?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

Final talk: meeting a visitor

You

Speaker

A visitor (your teacher) is in your city. Talk to the visitor:
  • say hello and your name
  • say where you are from and how old you are
  • talk about your family and a friend
  • say why English is useful
Speak for at least 2 minutes in total. Use the grammar of Block 1.
Your teacher

Visitor

Says things like:
  1. Hello! What is your name?
  2. Where are you from?
  3. Is your family big?
  4. Why do you learn English?
7.2

At the airport

You

Passenger

You are at an airport. An officer (your teacher) asks you questions:
  • say your name
  • say where you are from
  • say your job or if you are a student
  • say it is a holiday or a work trip
You do most of the talking. Use: I am... · My name is... · I am from...
Your teacher

Officer

Says things like:
  1. What is your name?
  2. Where are you from?
  3. What is your job?
  4. Is it a holiday?
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

officialnativeteachtravelbusinessinternettouristlearn
  1. English is an language in many countries.
  2. A speaker learns a language as a child at home.
  3. A teacher can English to children.
  4. I like to to other countries.
  5. People use English in , for example in offices.
  6. On the , you can find many English videos.
  7. A is a person who visits a country for holidays.
  8. Children their first language at home.
H2

Block 1 review: choose the correct word

  1. I a student.
  2. She a doctor.
  3. they your friends?
  4. Where you from?
  5. mother is a teacher.
  6. name is Tom.
  7. It is orange.
  8. They are .
H3

Correct or incorrect? (Block 1 review)

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. She is a teacher.
  2. She are a teacher.
  3. Where is he from?
  4. Where he is from?
  5. My name is Anna.
  6. I name is Anna.
  7. It is a useful language.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. Where are
  2. I am
  3. English is my
  4. He is
  5. They are
  6. It is an
  7. It is important

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