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💇 English Lesson: Let's Talk About Hair!

Level: Lower Intermediate (A2–B1)
Duration: 60 minutes

🎯 Objectives

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to:

Describe people's hair.

Talk about hair colour and hairstyles.

Explain if someone dyes their hair.

Ask and answer questions about appearance.

Use have/has got and used to naturally.

🗣️ Warm-up (8 minutes)

Ask your student:

1. What colour is your hair?

2. Is your hair straight, curly, or wavy?

3. Have you ever dyed your hair?

4. What hair colour would you like to try?

5. Do you know anyone who is bald?

6. Who has the nicest hair in your family?

Follow-up questions

How often do you cut your hair?

Do you like long or short hair?

Would you ever shave your head?

📚 Vocabulary

Hair Colours

black

brown

blonde / blond

ginger

grey

white

Hair Types

straight

curly

wavy

long

short

thick

thin

bald

Useful Verbs

to dye

To change the colour of your hair.

Examples:

She dyes her hair blonde.

My sister dyed her hair pink.

I have never dyed my hair.

📰 Reading

Phil's Hair Story

When Phil was a child, he had ginger hair. As he got older, his hair became darker and now it is brown.

Georgie asks Phil if he has ever dyed his hair.

Phil says no. His hair changed naturally.

Georgie says many people dye their hair because they want a different look. Some people dye it blonde, black, red, or even blue.

Phil says that when he gets older, his hair may become grey or white.

They also talk about different hairstyles. Some people have curly hair, while others have straight or wavy hair. Some people lose their hair and become bald.

Hair is something that makes every person look unique.

📖 Reading Comprehension

1. What colour was Phil's hair when he was young?

2. Does Phil dye his hair?

3. Why do people dye their hair?

4. What colour might Phil's hair become?

5. What hair types do they mention?

6. What does bald mean?

🗨️ Grammar Focus

Used to

We use used to to talk about the past.

Examples:

I used to have long hair.

She used to dye her hair.

He used to be blonde.

Now make sentences:

I used to...

My mother used to...

My father used to...

When I was a child...

Have/Has Got

Examples

I have got curly hair.

She has got long blonde hair.

They have got black hair.

Practice:

Describe:

yourself

your mother

your father

your best friend

💬 Useful Expressions

I have curly hair.

She has long brown hair.

He is bald.

My hair is wavy.

I dye my hair every year.

I have never dyed my hair.

I would like blonde hair.

I think curly hair looks nice.

🎯 Vocabulary Challenge

Complete the sentences.

1. My sister ______ her hair blonde every summer.

2. My grandfather is ______ because he has no hair.

3. My cousin has beautiful ______ hair.

4. My hair isn't straight. It's ______.

5. My friend has ______ hair. It's orange-red.

6. My father ______ to have black hair, but now it's grey.

🏠 Homework

Write 8–10 sentences about your hair.

Include:

your hair colour

your hairstyle

how often you cut it

if you have ever dyed it

what your hair was like when you were younger

what hairstyle you would like in the future

Challenge: Use at least three of these words: ginger, curly, wavy, bald, dye, blonde, and include one sentence with used to.

Answers

1. dyes

2. bald

3. curly

4. wavy

5. ginger

6. used

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BBC Learning English - Real Easy English / Talking about hair

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Georgie and Phil talk about the stuff that grows on the top of your head

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BBC Learning English - Real Easy English / Talking about chocolate

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Neil and Georgie talk about the delicious sweet treat that many of us love!

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Topic: Phone Habits

Length: 60 minutes

Lesson Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

Talk about their phone habits.

Use vocabulary related to technology.

Express opinions about screen time.

Understand a conversation about phone use.

Practice speaking with confidence.

1. Warm-up (8 minutes)

Ask your student:

How often do you use your phone?

I always use my phone, because I need it, I solve all my things on my phone. I really need to stick to the phone.

What is your favorite app on the phone?

my favourite app is instagram because I like to see posts and reels.

What is the first thing you do on your phone in the morning?

well, I see my emails, and I check on my messages at WhatsApp.

How many hours do you think you spend on your phone every day?

maybe 6 hours a day.

Could you live without your phone for one day? Why or why not?

I think is okay for me to live without my phone for one day, because is a habit to check on the phone all time but I think I can resist to live without it.

Useful language

I usually...

I often...

I sometimes...

I rarely...

I never...

I think...

In my opinion...

2. Vocabulary (10 minutes)

screen time

The amount of time you spend looking at a phone, tablet, or computer screen.

Example:
"My screen time is about five hours a day."

notifications

Messages from apps that appear on your phone.

Example:
"I receive too many notifications every day."

doomscrolling

Reading bad or negative news on your phone for a long time.

Example:
"I was doomscrolling before I went to sleep."

addiction

A habit that is very difficult to stop.

Example:
"Some people have a phone addiction."

Extra Vocabulary

scroll

swipe

social media

check my phone

put my phone away

take a break

3. Vocabulary Practice (5 minutes)

Complete the sentences.

1. I spend too much __screen time__ on TikTok.

2. My phone sends lots of _notifications___ every day.

3. Reading bad news for hours is called _doomscrolling_________.

4. Some people have a phone __addiction________.

4. Pre-Listening Discussion (5 minutes)

Ask your student:

Do you enjoy using your phone?

Which app do you open the most?

Do notifications distract you?

Have you ever turned notifications off?

Is social media good or bad?

5. Listening

Play the BBC Learning English conversation between Neil and Becca.

Listening Task 1

Answer these questions.

1. What is the main topic of the conversation?

2. What makes people check their phones frequently?

3. What is doomscrolling?

4. Is phone addiction easy to stop?

Listening Task 2

Decide if the statements are True or False.

1. Neil never checks his phone. true

2. Notifications encourage people to use their phones. true

3. Doomscrolling usually makes people feel happier. false

4. Addiction is difficult to stop. true

Listening Task 3

Complete the sentences while listening.

1. People spend a lot of __screen time ________ on their phones.

2. Apps send __notifications________ to attract attention.

3. __doomscrolling________ means reading negative stories for a long time.

4. Some people develop a phone _addiction_________.

6. Grammar Focus (10 minutes)

Adverbs of Frequency

Review:

always

usually

often

sometimes

rarely

never

Examples:

I always check my messages after breakfast.

I usually watch YouTube at night.

I often use Instagram.

I sometimes forget my phone at home.

I rarely answer unknown calls.

I never use Facebook.

Practice/ homework

Complete the sentences with your own ideas.

I __________ check my phone before going to bed.

I __________ answer notifications immediately.

I __________ leave my phone in another room.

I __________ use social media while eating.

7. Speaking Practice (15 minutes)

Interview

Take turns asking and answering.

How much screen time do you have?

Which app do you use the most?

How many notifications do you receive every day?

Do you think you spend too much time on your phone?

Have you ever tried to reduce your screen time?

Do you ever doomscroll?

How do you feel after using your phone for a long time?

What would you like to change about your phone habits?

Discussion

Give your opinion.

Phones make life easier.

Social media is addictive.

Notifications are useful.

Everyone should spend less time on their phones.

People should not use phones during meals.

Phones should stay outside the bedroom at night.

Encourage the student to answer with complete sentences and explain their reasons.

Useful expressions:

I agree because...

I don't agree because...

I think...

In my opinion...

Maybe...

I'm not sure, but...

8. Pronunciation (5 minutes)

Practice saying these words slowly, then at natural speed.

screen time

notifications

doomscrolling

addiction

Then practice these sentences.

I spend too much screen time on my phone.

My phone sends too many notifications.

I don't like doomscrolling.

Phone addiction can be a problem.

9. Free Conversation (5–10 minutes)

Discuss the questions.

What is the best thing about smartphones?

What is the worst thing about smartphones?

Have phones changed our lives for the better?

If you could delete one app forever, which one would it be?

What is one phone habit you want to change?

Homework/ homework

write about your phone habits.

Include:

how much screen time you have;

your favorite apps;

how you feel about notifications;

whether you think phones can become an addiction;

one habit you would like to change.

Try to use these four words in your paragraph:

screen time

notifications

doomscrolling

addiction

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BBC Learning English - Real Easy English / Talking about phone habits

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Neil and Becca talk about how we spend our time on our phones.

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Objectives

Students will:

talk about their names and nicknames

use the expressions named after, common, and unusual

read and discuss a short text about names in Brazil today

practice speaking through a dialogue

Warm-up

Ask students:

What’s your full name?

Miriam Chirley de Sales

Do people call you by your full name or nickname?

Miriam * Mariam/ they call me Mariam

my name is EDUARDO but my nickname is EDU.

Who chose your name?

My sister, muy older sister chose my name. her name is Lene, this is her nickname. her real name is EDELENE.

Were you named after someone?

NOPE.

Is your name common or unusual in Brazil?

it's common.

Do you like your name?

not very much but Miriam.

Give students a few minutes to discuss in pairs before sharing with the class.

Vocabulary

nickname
an informal name used by family and friends

Example: My nickname is Ju.

to name someone
to give someone a name

Example: My parents named me Pedro.

named after
to have the same name as another person because of them

Example: I was named after my grandfather.

common
used by many people

Example: Gabriel is a common name in Brazil.

unusual
different or not very common

Example: Her name is unusual.

story/ stories

history/ relatives/parents/

Reading

Names in Brazil Today

Names in Brazil tell stories about family, culture, and now technology too.

In the past, many Brazilian children were named after relatives. It was very common for a son to have his father’s name or for a daughter to be named after her grandmother. Names like Maria, José, João, and Ana were everywhere.

Today, society is different. Technology connects people to the world every day through phones, social media, music, movies, and games. Because of this, parents hear many new names from other countries and cultures.

Some parents still choose traditional family names. Others prefer modern or unusual names because they want something unique. English-inspired names have become more common in Brazil, and some parents even create new spellings to make a name feel more personal.

Nicknames are also an important part of Brazilian culture. Many people use nicknames more than their real names. A Beatriz becomes Bia. An Eduardo becomes Duda. A Fernando becomes Nando.

Today, a name can carry family history, but it can also reflect the modern digital world we live in.

Reading questions

Ask students:

1. How were many children named in Brazil in the past?

2. children were named after their relatives.

3. What has changed the way parents choose names today?

4. now parents choose names through spelling and through social media , celebrities, etc.

5. Why do some parents choose unusual names?

6. Why are nicknames important in Brazil?

7. Do you think technology influences names? Why or why not?

yes, because parents have a motivation to create more personal names for their kids.

Conversation – Phil and Georgie

Phil: Hi Georgie. Can I ask you something?

Georgie: Sure.

Phil: Were you named after anyone?

Georgie: Yes, I was named after my grandmother. Her name was Georgia.

Phil: That’s nice. And Georgie is your nickname?

Georgie: Yes. My family always calls me Georgie.

Phil: I like it. My full name is Philip, but everyone calls me Phil.

Georgie: Is Philip common where you’re from?

Phil: Yes, it’s pretty common.

Georgie: Mine feels a little unusual.

Phil: Do you have any other nicknames?

Georgie: My little brother calls me “G.” It’s funny, but I like it.

Phil: That’s a good one.

Georgie: What about you?

Phil: My uncle calls me Philly. Only him.

Speaking practice

Students work in pairs.

Student A asks:

What’s your full name?

Do you have a nickname?

Who named you?

Were you named after someone?

Student B answers and then switches roles.

Final speaking task

Students introduce themselves to the class:

Example:

“My name is Lucas, but my friends call me Lu. My parents named me after my uncle. Lucas is a common name in Brazil. I like my name because it is simple and easy to say.”

Optional homework

Write 6–8 sentences answering:

What is the story behind your name?

Include:

your full name

nickname

who named you

if you were named after someone

if your name is common or unusual

if you like it and why

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BBC Learning English - Real Easy English / Talking about names

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Georgie’s nickname is Silly Billy - learn ‘nickname’ and more

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ESL Lesson Plan: Memories and Remembering Things

Level: Lower Intermediate (B1)
Duration: 60–75 minutes

Lesson Objectives

By the end of the lesson, the student will be able to:

Talk about memories from the past.

Describe being forgetful or having a good memory.

Discuss objects that have sentimental value.

Use vocabulary related to memory and remembering.

Practice speaking using the Past Simple and Present Perfect.

Warm-Up (10 minutes)

Discussion Questions

1. Do you have a good memory?

2. What is your earliest memory?

3. Are you a forgetful person?

4. What things do you usually forget?

5. Do you keep old photos or souvenirs?

Follow-up Questions

Why do you keep them?

Where are they from?

How do they make you feel?

Key Vocabulary

Memory

A memory is something you remember from the past.

Examples:

My childhood memories are very happy.

I have many memories of school.

Forgetful

Someone who often forgets things.

Examples:

I'm very forgetful with names.

My dad is forgetful and often loses his keys.

Reminisce

To talk about happy memories from the past.

Examples:

We reminisced about our school days.

My grandparents love reminiscing about their childhood.

Memento

An object that reminds you of a person, place, or experience.

Examples:

I bought a small memento from Japan.

This photo is a memento from my wedding.

Useful Verbs for Talking About Memories

Remember

I remember my first day at school.

Forget

I always forget people's birthdays.

Remind

This song reminds me of my childhood.

Keep

I keep old photos in a box.

Collect

She collects souvenirs from her travels.

Lose

I lost many old photos during a move.

Treasure

I treasure the letters my grandmother wrote to me.

Celebrate

We celebrated many birthdays together.

Share

We often share old memories when we meet.

Recall

I can't recall his name.

Vocabulary Practice

Complete the sentences:

1. This photo ______ me of my childhood.

2. My grandmother likes to ______ about the past.

3. I am very ______ and often lose my keys.

4. I bought a small ______ during my trip.

5. I can still ______ my first teacher's name.

6. We like to ______ memories when we meet old friends.

Speaking Activity: Memory Quiz

Ask the student:

What was your favorite toy as a child?

Who was your best friend at school?

What was your first job?

What was your favorite subject?

What is your happiest childhood memory?

Encourage full answers.

Example:

My happiest childhood memory was spending summers at my grandparents' house.

Reading

Read together:

Memories are an important part of our lives. Some people remember details very clearly, while others are more forgetful. Many people keep photos, souvenirs, and other mementos to help them remember special moments. When friends or family get together, they often reminisce about happy experiences and funny stories from the past.

Comprehension Questions

1. Why are memories important?

2. What is a forgetful person?

3. Why do people keep mementos?

4. What do people often do when they meet old friends?

5. What kinds of things can become mementos?

Grammar Focus

Past Simple vs Present Perfect

Past Simple

For specific finished events.

Examples:

I visited Paris in 2018.

I met my best friend at school.

Present Perfect

For life experiences.

Examples:

I have visited many countries.

I have kept photos from my travels.

Practice

Choose the correct form:

1. I ______ my first bicycle when I was six.

2. I ______ never forgotten my first teacher.

3. We ______ many happy memories together.

4. She ______ a photo album last year.

(Answers: had/got, have, have shared, created/made)

Discussion: Mementos

Ask:

1. Do you keep souvenirs from your travels?

2. What is the most meaningful object you own?

3. Do you have old photos at home?

4. What object reminds you of your childhood?

5. If your house caught fire, what personal item would you save first?

Functional Language

Talking About Memories

Useful phrases:

I remember...

I'll never forget...

This reminds me of...

One of my favorite memories is...

When I was younger...

Back then...

We used to...

That brings back memories.

I still have...

It means a lot to me.

Speaking Activity: Show and Tell

Ask the student to describe an object they own that has sentimental value.

Questions:

What is it?

Where did it come from?

How long have you had it?

Why is it special?

What memory does it bring back?

Role Play

Meeting an Old Friend

Imagine you meet a school friend after 15 years.

Discuss:

School memories

Teachers

Funny stories

Old hobbies

What has changed since then

Try to use:

remember

forget

remind

reminisce

memory

memento

Conversation Questions

1. Do you think people remember childhood better than adulthood?

2. Why do some memories stay with us forever?

3. What smell reminds you of your childhood?

4. Do you prefer photos or videos for preserving memories?

5. What is a memory you would like to relive?

6. What memory always makes you smile?

Homework

Writing Task (150–180 words)

Topic: A Special Memory

Write about:

A memorable experience from your past.

Who was with you.

Why it was special.

Whether you have a photo or memento from that day.

How you feel when you think about it now.

Try to use these words:

memory, remember, forget, remind, reminisce, memento, collect, keep, share, treasure.

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Introduction

Becca and Georgie have a real conversation in easy English about memory - our ability to remember things from the past. Learn to talk about being forgetful, collecting mementos and reminiscing with friends.

Vocabulary

memory
general ability to remember things; specific experience you remember from the past

forgetful
not good at remembering things

reminisce
talk about happy memories from the past

memento
an object that helps you think of a particular memory

Transcript

Becca
Hello and welcome to Real Easy English. In this podcast, we have real conversations in easy English to help you learn. I'm Becca.

Georgie
And I'm Georgie. You can find a video version of this podcast with subtitles to help you learn on our website. Go to bbclearningenglish.com.

Becca
Hi Georgie.

Georgie
Hello there.

Becca
How are you doing today?

Georgie
I'm pretty good, thank you. How are you?

Becca
Good. Yeah, I'm also pretty good. But I forgot my lunch today...

Georgie
No!

Becca
...which is a bit annoying. But today we are actually talking about forgetting things and memory, so it's a good topic...

Georgie
It is!

Becca
...for today's podcast!

Georgie
Yes. And memory is your ability to remember things. So, Becca, do you have a good memory?

Becca
I usually do. This morning - not so much. Yes, I usually do have an alright memory but it depends on what I'm trying to remember. So, I will remember experiences and people very well, but when it comes to tasks or things that I have to do for myself, I must write them down or I will forget them. I won't remember them.

Georgie
I'm a very forgetful person. I... Yes, everyone knows me to leave things in the house that I needed to bring or when I... For example, an umbrella - if I take that out, it will get lost 100%. So, I have a terrible memory.

Becca
So, you don't have a great memory, Georgie? Memory we use to talk about the ability to remember something, but we can also refer to things from the past - our memories from the past. So, do you have any great memories?

Georgie
I've got lots of good memories. I think the best memory I have was when I was about eight years old. I went to a concert. And I went to this concert with my dad, my best friend and her dad, and it was outside - a summer's day. It was, kind of, sunset time. We were both on our dads' shoulders, singing, dancing. And she has the exact same memory, so I know that it's... I know that it's real. It's not fake.

Becca
You didn't dream it.

Georgie
No, I didn't dream it. But that's one of my favourite memories. Yeah. What about you?

Becca
I remember my first ever, kind of, live music, concert experience as well was around the time of November 5th. And here in the UK, we often go to see fireworks. And it was the first time seeing fireworks.

Georgie
Wow.

Becca
So, yeah. And also my first time, like, seeing a band play on a stage and, yeah, it was a great experience. That's probably why we remember these things, because they do bring us so much happiness and joy when we talk about them.

Georgie
Yeah, exactly. Do you like to think about the past and memories? I know some people don't like to.

Becca
Mmm. Yeah, I do. I think it's really lovely to be able to remember - especially the good things from the past. How about you?

Georgie
Yeah, I like to... I like to reminisce and reminisce means that we talk about things from the past, about memories with happiness. And that's really fun to do, especially with childhood friends.

Becca
Yeah.

Georgie
When I meet up with friends from school, it's a lot of fun to, kind of, think about the good times from school and talk about people that we used to know. Yeah, reminiscing is a fun activity.

Becca
Yeah, I enjoy it too.

Georgie
So, we can talk about things from the past. But some people also like to keep things, collect things from the past - mementos. That's what those are called. Do you like to keep mementos?

Becca
I love to keep mementos.
Georgie
What kinds of things?

Becca
I... So, I started a collection of fridge magnets from my first solo adventure. And so, you know, I get to see those little mementos every day and I'm reminded all of the places that I've been. It's nice to look at these mementos, and then we reminisce.

Georgie
Yeah.

Becca
Let's recap the language that we learn in that conversation, starting with memory. So, memory is the ability to remember something. But we can also have memories. And memories are things that we remember from the past. For example, I have a lot of good memories from when I was a child.

Georgie
We also heard forgetful, which describes a person who does not have a very good memory. I am a forgetful person.

Becca
If we reminisce about something, we talk about our memories from the past - memories that make us happy.

Georgie
And we heard memento, which is an object which makes you think of a particular memory, place or event.

Becca
For example, I collect fridge magnets, which are a memento of all of the places that I've travelled to.

Georgie
And that's it for this episode of Real Easy English. We'll be back next week with another conversation in easy English. And don't forget to test what you've learned with the worksheet on our website. Go to bbclearningenglish.com.

Becca
And what would you like us to talk about on this podcast? You can send us a question at learningenglish@bbc.co.uk. Bye for now!

Georgie
Goodbye.

Now try this...

Watch The London Letter Challenge.

Download a free worksheet.

Discover more programmes for your level.

Find all our latest programmes.

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BBC Learning English - Real Easy English / Talking about memory

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Becca and Georgie talk about our ability to remember things from the past

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1. i am feeling very happy learning English

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OLD FRIENDS – KEEPING IN TOUCH

Level: Lower Intermediate (B1-)
Duration: 60 minutes

Lesson Objectives

By the end of the lesson, the student will be able to:

Talk about old friends and friendships.

Use expressions related to friendship and communication.

Discuss personal experiences with friends.

Practice present perfect and past simple naturally in conversation.

1. Warm-up (5–10 min)

Conversation Starter

Ask the student:

Do you have any old friends?

yes I do , I have many friends I dont want to call them old I want to call them very good friends.

Who is your oldest friend?

I think my oldest friend is Anggela.

How long have you known her?

I think nearly 30 years. a long journey.

How often do you talk to her?

I think we talk 3 times a month because she lives in another country.

Do you think it is easy to stay friends for many years?

I think nowadays with much technology is easy to stay friends with other people.

Follow-up Questions

Where did you meet Anggela?

I met Anggela in school and I was 14 years old

What do you usually talk about with Anggela nowadays?

nowadays we talk about our family, children, our jobs and our future.

Do you see each other often?

unfortunately, we dont see each other often because she lives in Brasil and we are very far from Dubai.

Has your friendship changed over time?

yes our friendship is more mature and we are experienced women now.

woman 1

women 2.4

man

men

2. Vocabulary (10 min)

Key Expressions

Old friend
A friend you have known for a very long time.

Example: My oldest friend and I met at primary school.

In touch
Having regular communication with someone.

Example: I’m still in touch with many university friends.

Keep in touch / Stay in touch
To continue communicating over time.

Example: We live in different countries, but we keep in touch.

Lose touch
To stop communicating with someone.

Example: We lost touch after graduation.

Get back in touch
To start communicating again after a period of no contact.

Example: We got back in touch through Facebook.

Stay friends
To continue being friends over a long period.

Example: We’ve stayed friends for more than twenty years.

3. Vocabulary Practice

Complete the sentences:

1. My best friend moved abroad, but we still __keep in touch________.

2. After university, we slowly ___lose touch_______.

3. Last year, I __got back in touch________ with an old classmate.

4. Ana is an __old friend________ from school.

5. Good communication helps people _stay friends_________.

(Answers: stay in touch / lost touch / got back in touch / old friend / stay friends)

4. Reading

Old Friends

Becca and Phil are talking about old friends.

Becca: Do you still talk to your old school friends?

Phil: Yes, I do. I’m still in touch with some of them.

Becca: How do you keep in touch?

Phil: Mostly through WhatsApp and social media.

Becca: Have you ever lost touch with a friend?

Phil: Yes. One of my best friends moved away and we stopped talking for several years.

Becca: Did you ever get back in touch?

Phil: Yes! He sent me a message last year, and now we talk regularly again.

Becca: Why do you think some friendships last so long?

Phil: I think trust, communication, and shared memories help people stay friends.

5. Reading Comprehension

Ask:

1. Is Phil still in touch with his school friends?

2. How does he communicate with them?

3. Did he lose touch with a friend?

4. Why did they stop talking?

5. How did they reconnect?

6. What helps people stay friends?

6. Language Focus

Present Perfect

We use the present perfect to talk about life experiences and situations connected to the present.

Examples:

I have known my best friend for ten years.

We have stayed friends since school.

I have lost touch with some friends.

Past Simple

We use the past simple for finished actions in the past.

Examples:

We met in 2012.

He moved to another city.

We got back in touch last year.

7. Speaking Practice

Tell Me About a Friend

Ask the student to talk about:

Their oldest friend.

How they met.

How long they have known each other.

How often they communicate.

What they enjoy doing together.

Encourage longer answers.

8. Discussion Questions

1. Why do some friendships last for many years?

2. Is it easier to keep in touch today than in the past?

3. What can damage a friendship?

4. Have social media changed friendships?

5. Can two people stay close friends if they live far apart?

6. Is it possible to become friends again after losing touch?

9. Personal Story Activity

Tell the student:

“Think of a friend you haven’t spoken to in a long time.”

Ask:

When did you meet?

Why did you lose touch?

Would you like to get back in touch?

What would you say to them today?

10. Role Play

Situation

You meet an old friend at a café after ten years.

Include:

Greetings

What you’ve been doing

Family and work

Friends you still talk to

People you’ve lost touch with

Plans to stay in touch

Homework

Write about an old friend (120–150 words).

Include:

Who the person is

How you met

How long you’ve known them

Whether you stay in touch

A special memory

Why the friendship is importa

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BBC Learning English - Real Easy English / Talking about old friends

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Phil and Becca talk about friends they have known for a long time.

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Topic: Beaches ☀️🏖️

Student Profile

New student

Basic English level

Living in Dubai

May already hear and use some English in daily life

Goal of the class: build confidence, assess speaking ability, and create a positive first experience

Class Length: 45–50 minutes

1. Welcome & Icebreaker (5 minutes)

Introduce yourself and encourage simple answers.

Questions

What's your name?

Miriam sales

Where are you from? your country

from Brazil

How long have you lived in Dubai?

3 years

Do you use English every day?

yes I do

Do you like learning English?

yes ido.

what did you do yesterday at 3pm?

I went to shopping mall, I didnt find nothing to buy? I was looking for one jacket but unfortunately I didnt find.

If she needs support, provide options:

Do you like English?

a) Yes, I do.

b) A little.

c) Not really.

This helps you evaluate her confidence level.

2. Warm-up Discussion: The Beach (5 minutes)

Show a beach picture or ask:

Questions

Do you like going to the beach in DUBAI?

Sometimes, I like to walk at the beach.

What do you usually do at the beach?

I go to the beach twice in a month and I go to relax and have a sunbathe. Dubai is very hot and I normally go after the sunset.

Do you go with family or friends?

i have a daughter. she works at emirates company as a flight attendant. so I go with her sometimes.

Teach naturally through conversation.

Example answers:

I like the beach.

I go with my family.

I swim.

I relax.

3. Vocabulary Introduction (10 minutes)

Introduce the key words from the video.

sunbathe

To sit or lie in the sun.

Example:

I like to sunbathe on holiday.

normally I sunbathe around 3pm because the sun is hitting less so, it is really good to sunbathe at that time.

cool down

To become/get less hot.

Example:

It's very hot in Dubai, so I drink water to cool down/ to refresh/ calm down

its very hot at the beach, and everyone is drinking cold water to cool down in this summer.

go for a swim

To spend time swimming.

Example:

I go for a swim when it's hot.

I always go for a swim but not at the beach instead/of that I go to the pool.

pebbly beach

A beach with small stones.

example

i rarely go to a pebbly beach I prefer sandy beach.

sandy beach

A beach with sand.

picnic

A meal you eat outside.

Example:

My family has a picnic at the beach.

4. Prediction Activity (5 minutes)

Before watching the video, ask:

What do you think Neil likes?

Sandy beaches or pebbly beaches?

What problems can you have at the beach?

Is it easy to have a picnic on the sand?

Encourage simple guesses.

5. Video Listening Task (8 minutes)

Watch the video once.

After watching, ask:

General Understanding

What are they talking about?

they are talking about the beach.

Do they like beaches?

yes, Neil likes the beach and Beca as well./too/ also

What kind of beaches do they mention?

they mention sandy beach and pebbles beach/ rocky beach.

What do people do when they feel hot?

people when they feel hot, they cool down in the beach or in the pool.

Allow answers in simple English.

6. Speaking Practice (10 minutes)

Which do you prefer?

Ask:

Sandy beaches or pebbly beaches?

Swimming pool or beach?

Sunbathing or swimming?

Picnic or restaurant?

Model answers:

I prefer sandy beaches.

I like swimming.

I don't like sunbathing.

I prefer restaurants.

7. Personalization Activity (5 minutes)

Ask the student to describe her ideal beach day.

Provide prompts:

Where are you?

Who are you with?

What are you doing?

What are you eating?

How is the weather?

Example:

I'm at the beach with my friends.

It's sunny.

We're swimming.

We're having a picnic.

We're happy.

8. Assessment & Feedback (2–3 minutes)

Ask three final questions:

1. What new words did you learn today?

2. Do you prefer sandy or pebbly beaches?

3. Would you like to visit a beach this weekend?

This helps evaluate:

Listening comprehension

Vocabulary retention

Speaking confidence

Sentence formation

Optional Homework

Write 5 sentences about your favorite beach.

Example:

My favorite beach is beautiful.

It has white sand.

I go there with my family.

I like swimming.

I have picnics there.

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BBC Learning English - Real Easy English / Talking about the beach

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Neil and Becca talk about the area of sand, or pebbles, where the land meets the sea

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What is ‘tense’?

Tense is the form of a verb which tells you when something happened. Look at the verb ‘talk’ for example.

If you say ‘I talk’, you are either telling us a fact or talking about your routine.

If you say ‘I talked’, you are telling us about a finished action in the past.

I like to cook.

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On a basic timeline, you have the past, present and future. At each of these points in time, there are four different verb structures: simple, continuous, perfect, and perfectcontinuous.

Technically, there are only two grammatical tenses in English: present and past. To talk about the future, we actually use the present tense. However, it can be useful to separate the verb structures into 12, like this:

1. Present simple e.g. I walk

2. Present continuous e.g. I am walking

3. Present perfect e.g. I have walked

4. Present perfect continuous e.g.  I have been walking

5. Past simple e.g. I walked

6. Past continuous e.g. I was walking

7. Past perfect e.g. I had walked

8. Past perfect continuous e.g. I had been walking

9. Future simple e.g. I will walk

10. Future continuous e.g. I will be walking

11. Future perfect e.g. I will have walked

12. Future perfect continuous e.g. I will have been walking

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Tense is the form of a verb which tells you when something happened. Look at the verb 'talk' for example.

If you say 'I talk', you are either telling us a fact or talking about your routine.

If you say 'I talked', you are telling us about a finished action in the past.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On a basic timeline, you have the past, present and future. At each of these points in time, there are four different verb structures: simple, continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous.

Technically, there are only two grammatical tenses in English: present and past. To talk about the future, we actually use the present tense. However, it can be useful to separate the verb structures into 12, like this:

1. Present simple e.g. I walk

2. Present continuous e.g. I am walking

3. Present perfect e.g. I have walked

4. Present perfect continuous e.g. I have been walking

5. Past simple e.g. I walked

6. Past continuous e.g. I was walking

7. Past perfect e.g. I had walked

8. Past perfect continuous e.g. I had been walking

9. Future simple e.g. I will walk

10. Future continuous e.g. I will be walking

11. Future perfect e.g. I will have walked

12. Future perfect continuous e.g. I will have been walking

In the other videos in this series, you will learn about each of the 12 structures: how they are used and how they are formed.

To do

Practise by using the worksheet on this page, and continue to the next videos.

NEXT

Try some of our other grammar programmes

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BBC Learning English - Tenses with Georgie / Tenses: What are they?

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Georgie introduces you to the English tenses

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BBC Learning English - English in a Minute Series 5 / Phrases with ‘work’

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Get to work learning these four ‘work’ phrases!