Speaking Boost · A2 · Lesson 28 of 50
Speaking Boost A2 · Block 6: Stories from the Past

Where were you when people walked on the Moon?

In 1969, millions of people watched the first steps on the Moon, and many still remember where they were. Learn to talk about a day you remember with was / were and irregular verbs, and tell your own story.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

A day I remember

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. What day do you remember very well?
  2. Where were you on your last birthday?
  3. Who were you with?
  4. What was the best day of your childhood?
  5. Do you remember the first time you used a computer?
  6. Were you afraid of anything at school?
2

Words and phrases

12 min
2.1

New words

Read each word and the example. Then say a sentence about a day you remember.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word that fits.

  1. An travels in space.
  2. The plane at six o'clock yesterday.
  3. Millions of people it on TV.
  4. It was a special in my life.
  5. The birthday party was a big .
  6. I was of the dark when I was little.
  7. My parents were very of me.
  8. , the lights went out.
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. to laugh ↔ to
  2. A person who travels in space is an
  3. One movement of your foot is a
  4. Unforgettable = impossible to
  5. Happy about your success =
  6. A live programme is on
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to tell a story about a day you remember.

  • Where were you when...?Де ти був(ла), коли...?Where were you when the news came?
  • I was at home / at work.Я був(ла) вдома / на роботі.I was at work, and I saw it on my phone.
  • I remember it clearly.Я це чітко пам'ятаю.I remember that day clearly.
  • It happened in...Це сталося в...It happened in 1969.
  • I couldn't believe it!Я не міг(ла) повірити!The news was amazing. I couldn't believe it!
  • Suddenly...Раптом...Suddenly, the phone rang.
  • At that time...У той час...At that time I lived in Odesa.
  • It was unforgettable.Це було незабутньо.We danced all night. It was unforgettable.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

One small step

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

Where were you when people walked on the Moon?

On 20 July 1969, the American astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the Moon. Later, his colleague Buzz Aldrin joined him. A third astronaut, Michael Collins, stayed in the spacecraft.

Millions of people watched this moment live on TV, and many people still remember where they were and who they were with.

Armstrong said, “That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” The two men collected rocks and took photos.

Then they flew back and came to Earth four days later.

Do you remember a big day like this? Where were you?

3.2

True or false?

  1. Neil Armstrong was the first person to walk on the Moon.
  2. This happened in 1969.
  3. Only Americans watched it on TV.
  4. Armstrong and Aldrin collected rocks and took photos.
  5. All three astronauts walked on the Moon.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Do you remember a big news story from your life? Where were you?
  2. Why do people remember big events so well?
  3. Would you like to travel in space? Why or why not?
  4. Do you prefer watching big events live or reading about them later?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Was / were

Use was with I, he, she, it and were with you, we, they.

I was at home. They were happy. Where were you at nine? I wasn't at work.

Irregular Past Simple

Many common verbs are irregular: go – went, see – saw, have – had, take – took, come – came.

I went home. We saw it on TV. She had a surprise. He took photos.

Block 6 review

Use the grammar from this block.

regular Past Simple, time expressions (L26) · used to (L27)

Common mistakes: was / were and irregular verbs. ✗ We was at home → We were at home. ✗ I goed home → I went home.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. I
    at work.
  2. We
    at home.
  3. They
    very happy.
  4. Where
    you at nine?
  5. I
    it on TV.
  6. She
    to bed early.
  7. We
    a big surprise.
  8. He
    a lot of photos.
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. We was at home. →
  2. I goed to the party. →
  3. She seed the news. →
  4. They was very proud. →
  5. He taked a photo. →
  6. I haved a surprise. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer in detail. Use was / were and irregular verbs.

  1. Where were you yesterday at 8 p.m.?
  2. What was the best day of your life?
  3. Where were you when you heard some big news?
  4. What did you see on TV that you remember?
  5. Who were you with on your last birthday?
  6. What surprise did you have in your life?
5

Three days to remember and a short talk

8 min
5.1

Three days to remember

Three people tell you about a day they remember. Whose day was the most exciting? What questions can you ask each person?

Person 1

Ira

  • Was at school
  • Saw a rocket on TV
  • Was afraid and excited
  • Told her friends
Person 2

Pavlo

  • Was at his wedding
  • Cried with happiness
  • Had a big surprise
  • Took many photos
Person 3

Mrs Hanna

  • Was in the kitchen
  • Heard the news on the radio
  • Went to her neighbours
  • Stayed up all night
5.2

Mini-talk: a day I remember

Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
  2. Part 1: what day it was and where you were.
  3. Part 2: who you were with and what happened (was / were, irregular verbs).
  4. Part 3: how you felt and why you remember it.
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. What day do you remember very well?
  2. Where were you on your last birthday?
  3. Who were you with?
  4. What did you see on that day?
  5. What surprise did you have in your life?
  6. What was the best day of your childhood?
  7. Were you afraid of anything at school?
  8. What was your proudest moment?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Where were your parents at 8 p.m. yesterday?
  2. Who was with you on your last holiday?
  3. What day does your family remember well?
  4. What was the last big news in your family?
  5. Who cried at your last family party?
  6. Where were your friends on Friday night?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Why do we remember some days so well?
  2. Is it better to watch big events live or later?
  3. Should we film everything on our phones?
  4. Do big news events bring people together?
  5. Is space travel worth the money?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

A day to remember

You

Storyteller

A friend (your teacher) asks about a special day in your life. Tell the story:
  • say when it was and where you were
  • say who was with you
  • say what happened
  • say how you felt
Speak for at least 2 minutes in total. Use was / were and irregular verbs.
Your teacher

Friend

Says things like:
  1. Tell me about a day you remember.
  2. Where were you?
  3. Who was with you?
  4. Wow! What happened next?
7.2

Where were you?

You

Reporter

You are a TV reporter. Ask a person (your teacher) about a big event:
  • ask where they were
  • ask who they were with
  • ask what they saw
  • ask how they felt
You do most of the asking. Use: Where were you...? · Who was with you? · What did you see?
Your teacher

Eyewitness

Says things like:
  1. I was at home.
  2. I was with my family.
  3. I saw it on TV.
  4. I was very excited.
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

astronautlandedwatchedmomentsurpriseafraidproudSuddenly
  1. The first on the Moon was Neil Armstrong.
  2. Our plane in Kyiv at midnight.
  3. We the match on TV.
  4. It was a very special for our family.
  5. The flowers were a lovely .
  6. Don't be ! The dog is friendly.
  7. She was of her son.
  8. , someone knocked on the door.
H2

Block 6 review: choose the correct form

  1. I at work.
  2. They very proud.
  3. We it on TV.
  4. I live in a village.
  5. She to the party.
  6. He a lot of photos.
  7. We my aunt last weekend.
  8. Where you at nine?
H3

Correct or incorrect? (Block 6 review)

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. We were at home.
  2. I goed to the party.
  3. She was very happy.
  4. They was proud of him.
  5. I saw a great film yesterday.
  6. He taked a photo.
  7. Where were you last night?
H4

Match the two halves

  1. Where were you
  2. I was at work,
  3. I remember
  4. It happened
  5. Suddenly,
  6. At that time
  7. We danced all night.

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