Speaking Boost · A1 · Lesson 40 of 50
Speaking Boost A1 · Block 8: Weather and Seasons

Which month is the best?

Every month is different. In this lesson you talk about months, seasons and weather, and you say which month is your favourite. Review weather words, the Present Continuous, the Present Simple and because, and give the final talk of Block 8.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Months and seasons

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. What month is it now?
  2. What is your favourite month?
  3. What is the weather like today?
  4. What are you wearing now?
  5. When is your birthday?
  6. Which season do you like?
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. January and May are each a .
  2. Spring, summer, autumn and winter are the four of the year.
  3. The season when flowers begin to grow is .
  4. The season when leaves fall from the trees is .
  5. The coldest season of the year is .
  6. A day when people do not work or study, for example New Year, is a .
  7. The day each year when you were born is your .
  8. The one that you like the most is your .
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. a month is one of
    parts of the year
  2. a season is one of
    parts of the year
  3. spring comes after
  4. a birthday is the day when you were
  5. favourite = the one you like the
  6. cool = a little
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to talk about months, seasons and favourites.

  • My favourite month is...Мій улюблений місяць — це...My favourite month is June.
  • My birthday is in...Мій день народження у...My birthday is in May.
  • I like... because...Мені подобається... тому що...I like July because it is hot.
  • In... it is...У... буває...In April it is rainy.
  • It is raining now.Зараз іде дощ.It is raining now.
  • I'm wearing...На мені...I'm wearing a jacket.
  • I usually... in...У... я зазвичай...I usually swim in July.
  • Which month is the best?Який місяць найкращий?Which month is the best?
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

The best month

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

Which month is the best?

Which month is the best? There is no one answer, because every person is different. Some people love July, because it is hot and sunny, and they can swim and have a holiday. Other people prefer October, because the weather is cool, and the trees are red and yellow. Some people like January, because it is snowy, and they can ski or make a snowman.

The weather is different in different parts of the world. In the north of the world, July is a summer month. In the south, for example in Australia, July is a winter month. People in Australia often celebrate Christmas in summer, on the beach.

In Ukraine, spring comes in March, April and May, and it is often rainy and windy. In summer, it is warm and sunny. In autumn, the weather is cool, and in winter it is cold and often snowy. Many people say that May and September are the best months, because the weather is warm but not too hot.

Birthdays and holidays also make a month special. You can love a month because your birthday is there, because of a holiday, or because of a happy memory.

Which month is your favourite, and why?

3.2

True or false?

  1. There is one best month for everybody.
  2. July is a winter month in Australia.
  3. In Ukraine, spring comes in March, April and May.
  4. Some people like January because it is snowy.
  5. A birthday cannot make a month special.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Which month is the best for a holiday?
  2. Is it better to live in a place with four seasons?
  3. Which season is the best for children?
  4. What is special about your birthday month?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Review: weather, Present Continuous, Present Simple

Use It's + a weather word to describe the weather. Use the Present Continuous for now and the Present Simple for facts and habits. Use in with months and seasons.

In July it's hot and sunny. It is raining now. I'm wearing a jacket. I usually swim in July. My birthday is in May.

Review: because and questions

Use because + a full sentence for a reason. Ask Why...? and Are you...? Put am / is / are before the person in questions.

I like July because it is hot. Why is the sky blue? What are you wearing? Is it raining? Are you reading now?

Block 8 review

Use the grammar from this block.

weather words and What is the weather like? (L36) · Present Continuous (L37) · Present Continuous questions (L38) · Present Simple or Continuous and because (L39)

Common mistakes: in with months and seasons, because + a full sentence, and the right tense for now or for habits. ✗ My birthday is on July → My birthday is in July. ✗ It rains now → It is raining now. ✗ I like July because of it is hot → I like July because it is hot.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. My birthday is
    July.
  2. It
    now.
  3. I like July
    it is hot.
  4. In winter it
    cold.
  5. you wearing a coat?
  6. She usually
    in July.
  7. What's the weather
    today?
  8. It's thirty
    .
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. My birthday is on July. →
  2. It rains now. →
  3. I like July because of it is hot. →
  4. Do you wearing a coat? →
  5. It are cold in winter. →
  6. She is usually swimming in July. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer with full sentences. Use the grammar of Block 8.

  1. What is your favourite month?
  2. Why do you like it?
  3. When is your birthday?
  4. What is the weather like in your favourite month?
  5. What are you wearing now?
  6. What do you usually do in summer?
5

Three people and their favourite months, and a final talk

8 min
5.1

Three people and their favourite months

Three people tell about their favourite month. Compare them. Who likes the cold? Who likes the sun? Which month is your favourite?

Person 1

Anna, 25

  • Likes July
  • Says it is hot and sunny
  • Is planning a holiday at the beach
  • Isn't wearing a coat
Person 2

Pavlo, 40

  • Likes October
  • Says the weather is cool
  • Loves the red and yellow trees
  • Is wearing a sweater
Person 3

Chloe, 12

  • Likes January
  • Says it is snowy
  • Is making a snowman now
  • Loves her birthday in January
5.2

Final talk of Block 8: my favourite month

This is the final speaking task of Block 8. Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for two minutes.
  2. Part 1: say which month is your favourite and why (use because).
  3. Part 2: say what the weather is like in that month and what you usually do.
  4. Part 3: say what you are doing and wearing now and ask your teacher one question.
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. What is your favourite month?
  2. Why do you like it?
  3. When is your birthday?
  4. What is the weather like in your favourite month?
  5. What do you usually do in summer?
  6. What are you wearing now?
  7. Is it raining now?
  8. Which season do you not like?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Who in your family has a birthday in winter?
  2. Who likes the snow?
  3. Who likes the sun?
  4. Whose birthday is next?
  5. Who always checks the weather?
  6. Who is wearing a coat now?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Which month is the best for a holiday?
  2. Is winter better than summer?
  3. Is it good to live in a country with four seasons?
  4. Is a birthday month special?
  5. Do you like the weather in your country?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

Final talk: my favourite month

You

Speaker

A friend (your teacher) asks about your favourite month:
  • say which month is your favourite
  • say why with because
  • say what the weather is like and what you usually do
  • say what you are doing and wearing now
Speak for at least 2 minutes in total. Use the grammar of Block 8.
Your teacher

Friend

Says things like:
  1. Which month is your favourite?
  2. Why?
  3. What do you usually do?
  4. What are you doing now?
7.2

Planning a holiday

You

Traveller

You plan a holiday with a friend (your teacher):
  • say which month you want to go
  • say what the weather is like then
  • say what you wear then
  • ask your friend a question
You do most of the talking. Use: In... it is... · I like... because...
Your teacher

Friend

Says things like:
  1. Which month do you want?
  2. What's the weather like?
  3. What do you wear?
  4. I like July.
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

monthseasonsspringautumnwinterholidaybirthdayfavourite
  1. January and May are each a .
  2. Spring, summer, autumn and winter are the four of the year.
  3. The season when flowers begin to grow is .
  4. The season when leaves fall from the trees is .
  5. The coldest season of the year is .
  6. A day when people do not work or study, for example New Year, is a .
  7. The day each year when you were born is your .
  8. The one that you like the most is your .
H2

Block 8 review: choose the correct word

  1. My birthday is May.
  2. It now.
  3. I like winter it is snowy.
  4. In summer it hot.
  5. you reading now?
  6. He usually in summer.
  7. What's the weather today?
  8. It's twenty .
H3

Correct or incorrect? (Block 8 review)

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. My birthday is in July.
  2. My birthday is on July.
  3. It is raining now.
  4. It rains now.
  5. I like July because it is hot.
  6. I like July because of it is hot.
  7. Are you wearing a coat?
H4

Match the two halves

  1. My favourite month
  2. My birthday
  3. I like July
  4. In April
  5. It is
  6. I'm
  7. Which month

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