Speaking Boost · A1 · Lesson 37 of 50
Speaking Boost A1 · Block 8: Weather and Seasons

Where is it snowing now?

At this moment it is snowing in one place and hot in another. In this lesson you say what is happening now. You use the Present Continuous: am / is / are + -ing.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Snow and rain

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. Is it snowing now?
  2. What are you doing now?
  3. Do you like snow?
  4. Is it raining today?
  5. Do you make a snowman in winter?
  6. What is your family doing now?
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. White and soft, it falls from the sky in winter and covers the ground: .
  2. One small white piece of snow is a .
  3. Children make a with a carrot nose.
  4. Water becomes when it is very cold.
  5. Strong wind, thunder and heavy rain together are a .
  6. You wear on your hands.
  7. You wear a round your neck in winter.
  8. You open an over your head when it is wet.
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. a snowflake is a small piece of
  2. a snowman is made of
  3. ice is frozen
  4. a storm has got strong
  5. gloves are for your
  6. freezing = very, very
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to say what is happening now.

  • It is snowing.Іде сніг.It is snowing now.
  • It is raining.Іде дощ.It is raining outside.
  • I am reading.Я читаю (зараз).I am reading a book now.
  • She is working.Вона працює (зараз).She is working at the moment.
  • They are playing.Вони граються (зараз).They are playing in the snow.
  • I'm not sleeping.Я не сплю.I'm not sleeping now.
  • He isn't working.Він не працює (зараз).He isn't working today.
  • We aren't going out.Ми не виходимо.We aren't going out in the storm.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

Snow around the world

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

Where is it snowing now?

Where is it snowing now? At every moment, it is snowing somewhere on Earth. In the north of the world, in the mountains and in many countries in winter, white snow is falling from the sky. At the same time, it is hot in the south, and people are swimming at the beach.

Some places are famous for snow. The city of Aomori in the north of Japan is often called one of the snowiest cities in the world. In winter, the snow there is very deep, and people use special machines to clean the roads. In the mountains of Switzerland and Austria, tourists are skiing and making snowmen.

A snowflake has got a beautiful shape. Most snowflakes have got six sides. People often say that there are no two snowflakes exactly the same, but nobody can check all of them.

When it is snowing, people put on a warm coat, gloves, a hat and a scarf. Children are running outside, and their parents are drinking hot tea at home. When the snow stops, the sun is shining on the white streets.

What is the weather like outside now? Is it snowing?

3.2

True or false?

  1. It is always winter everywhere.
  2. Aomori is in Japan.
  3. Most snowflakes have got six sides.
  4. People are swimming in the snow.
  5. At the same time, it is hot in some places and snowing in other places.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Do you like snow?
  2. Is snow fun or a problem?
  3. Where do you want to see snow?
  4. What do you do when it is snowing?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Present Continuous

Use the Present Continuous for what is happening now. Make it with am / is / are + verb + -ing. Spelling: snow - snowing, make - making, run - running.

It is snowing. I am reading. She is working. They are playing. He is running. We are making a snowman.

Negative

For the negative, use am not / isn't / aren't + verb + -ing.

I am not sleeping. It isn't raining. He isn't working. We aren't going out. They aren't playing.

Block 8 review

Use the grammar from this block.

weather words and What is the weather like? (L36)

Common mistakes: use am / is / are + verb with -ing, and isn't / aren't for the negative. ✗ It snowing now → It is snowing now. ✗ She doesn't working → She isn't working. ✗ He is runing → He is running.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. It
    snowing now.
  2. I
    reading.
  3. They
    outside.
  4. She
    working today.
  5. We
    sleeping.
  6. He is
    .
  7. It is
    .
  8. The children
    a snowman.
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. It snowing now. →
  2. I reading a book. →
  3. They is playing. →
  4. She doesn't working. →
  5. He is runing. →
  6. We are makeing a snowman. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer with full sentences. Use the Present Continuous.

  1. What are you doing now?
  2. Is it snowing in your city now?
  3. Is it raining now?
  4. What is your mother doing now?
  5. What are your friends doing now?
  6. What are you not doing now?
5

Three people and the weather now, and a short talk

8 min
5.1

Three people and the weather now

Three people say what they are doing now. Compare them. Who is playing in the snow? Who isn't going outside? What are you doing now?

Person 1

Kenji, 12

  • Lives in Aomori
  • Is playing in the snow
  • Is wearing a hat and gloves
  • Isn't going to school today
Person 2

Sara, 30

  • Is a tourist in the mountains
  • Is skiing
  • Is drinking hot tea
  • Is taking photos
Person 3

Jorge, 35

  • Lives in a hot country
  • Is swimming at the beach
  • Isn't wearing a coat
  • Is looking at photos of snow
5.2

Mini-talk: what is happening now

Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
  2. Part 1: say what you are doing now and what the weather is like.
  3. Part 2: say what your family is doing now.
  4. Part 3: say what you aren't doing now.
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. Is it snowing now?
  2. What are you doing now?
  3. Are you sitting or standing?
  4. What is the weather like now?
  5. What are you wearing?
  6. Is it raining?
  7. Who are you talking to?
  8. What aren't you doing now?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. What is your mother doing now?
  2. Who is working now?
  3. Who is sleeping now?
  4. Who is cooking now?
  5. Who is watching TV now?
  6. Who is studying now?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Is snow nice or boring?
  2. Is it good to play in the snow?
  3. Is a winter holiday better than a summer holiday?
  4. Do children like snow more than adults?
  5. Do you like snowy days?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

A phone call

You

Speaker

A friend (your teacher) calls and asks what you are doing:
  • say what you are doing now
  • say what the weather is like
  • say what your family is doing
  • ask your friend a question
Speak for at least 1 minute. Use the Present Continuous.
Your teacher

Friend

Says things like:
  1. What are you doing?
  2. What's the weather like?
  3. What is your family doing?
  4. I'm having tea.
7.2

In the snow

You

Tourist

You are in the mountains and call your friend (your teacher):
  • say that it is snowing
  • say what you are wearing
  • say what you are doing
  • say that you are happy
You do most of the talking. Use: It is snowing. · I am wearing... · I am...
Your teacher

Friend

Says things like:
  1. Is it snowing?
  2. What are you wearing?
  3. What are you doing?
  4. Great!
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

snowsnowflakesnowmanicestormglovesscarfumbrella
  1. White and soft, it falls from the sky in winter and covers the ground: .
  2. One small white piece of snow is a .
  3. Children make a with a carrot nose.
  4. Water becomes when it is very cold.
  5. Strong wind, thunder and heavy rain together are a .
  6. You wear on your hands.
  7. You wear a round your neck in winter.
  8. You open an over your head when it is wet.
H2

Choose the correct word

  1. It raining now.
  2. I reading.
  3. They outside.
  4. She working today.
  5. We sleeping.
  6. He is .
  7. It is .
  8. The children a snowman.
H3

Correct or incorrect?

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. It is snowing now.
  2. It snowing now.
  3. I am reading a book.
  4. I reading a book.
  5. She isn't working.
  6. She doesn't working.
  7. He is running.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. It is
  2. I am
  3. She is
  4. They are
  5. I'm not
  6. He isn't
  7. We aren't

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