📖 Reading
Last year, I decided to learn English. I did not want to speak only my native language. In January, I went to a small school in my city. On the first day, the teacher asked, 'Why did you start this course?' I said that I wanted to travel and talk to new people. it was the beginning of a great journey.
In the classroom, we practiced many common phrases. We did not study only grammar; we spoke a lot! I learned how to say 'How are you?' and 'Where are you from?'. At first, I felt nervous, but the teacher was very kind. She told us that even small mistakes were okay. I saw my progress every week.
In July, I traveled to London for a short vacation. I saw the Big Ben and walked in the parks. I used my English for the first time in a restaurant. I did not use a translator on my phone. I ordered food and said 'Thank you' to the waiter. He understood me! I felt very happy because my hard work worked.
I returned home two weeks ago. Now, I study every night. I did not stop my lessons because I want to be fluent. Learning English changed my life last year, and it opened many doors for my future.
🗣️ Speaking — discussion
Context
- Learning English is a journey that starts in different ways for everyone.
- Many Brazilian adults studied English in school but didn't speak much.
- Technology changed how we learn: in the past we had books, now we have apps.
- Common phrases: 'How do you say... in English?' and 'I don't understand'.
Themes
- Past Experiences — How our history with the language affects us today.
- Motivation — The moment someone decides to change their life by learning.
- Evolution of Learning — Comparing how people learned before the internet versus now.
Personal Response soul
- Did you like English at school when you were a child?
- What did you do in your first English lesson?
- Did you see a movie in English last week?
Themes & Ideas
- Why did you start to study English now?
- What did you do yesterday to practice your English?
- Did you talk to any friends in English last month?
Critical Thinking
- In the past, was English important for your family? Why?
- Did you use the internet to learn things five years ago?
- Was it difficult to find English books when you were young?
🎭 Classroom activity
'My First Time' Interview: Students work in pairs. One student asks about the other's first English lesson or first trip abroad. The teacher provides a list of positive and negative verbs (liked, hated, studied, didn't want) to help.
✏️ Questions
- I ___ (want) to buy a new English dictionary yesterday.
- They ___ (not go) to the office last Friday because it was a holiday.
- ___ (you / see) that interesting documentary about London on TV last night?
- I ___ very happy when I started my first English course.
- My mother ___ a delicious chocolate cake for my birthday last week.
- What ___ (she / say) when you told her the good news?
- Why did the narrator start the English course?
- a) Because he wanted to move to London.
- b) Because he wanted to travel and talk to people.
- c) Because his teacher told him to start.
- d) Because he needed it for his job.
- What did the narrator do in the classroom?
- a) He only studied grammar rules.
- b) He used a translator all the time.
- c) He spoke a lot and practiced common phrases.
- d) He did not go to the classroom.
- Which question did the teacher ask on the first day?
- a) Do you start this course?
- b) Did you start this course?
- c) Started you this course?
- d) Was you start this course?
- How did the narrator communicate in the restaurant in London?
- a) He used a dictionary.
- b) He spoke his native language.
- c) He used a translator on his phone.
- d) He did not use a translator on his phone.
- How did the narrator feel after he used English in London?
- a) nervous
- b) sad
- c) happy
- d) tired
- What did the narrator do when he returned home?
- a) He stopped studying.
- b) He did not stop his lessons.
- c) He forgot all his English.
- d) He stayed in London.