You will be prompted to practice these Speaking & Conversation topics. First, read the introduction below:
Now, let’s talk about our extended families. This includes grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Describing these relationships will help us learn more about different family structures and the important roles these relatives play in our lives. Use descriptive words to make your stories come to life. Ready to start?
1. Family Members:
- Grandparents
- Aunts and uncles
- Cousins
- Great-grandparents
- In-laws
1. Family Members:
"My grandparents live in a small village and we visit them every summer. They always tell us fascinating stories about their childhood."
< Listen to audio >
2. Relationships:
- Close-knit
- Visit frequently
- Family gatherings
- Supportive
- Long-distance
2. Relationships:
"We have a very close relationship with our cousins. We often have family gatherings where we play games and enjoy each other's company."
< Listen to audio >
3. Roles and Influence:
- Role models
- Mentors
- Caretakers
- Storytellers
- Family history keepers
3. Roles and Influence:
"My aunt is a great role model for me. She is a successful doctor and always encourages me to follow my dreams."
< Listen to audio >
4. Weekly/Monthly Routines:
- Sunday brunch
- Family movie night
- Game night
- Weekend trips
- Monthly gatherings
- Barbecue
4. Weekly/Monthly Routines:
"Every Sunday, my family has a big brunch with pancakes, eggs, and fresh fruit. It's a great way to start the week and spend quality time together."
< Listen to audio >
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To teachers #1
Introduce the task by explaining that students will describe their extended family members, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. This activity will help them talk about different family structures and relationships.
To teachers #2
Provide a list of useful words and collocations for each aspect of the description to help students formulate their thoughts and responses.
Here are some engaging warm-up activities and prompts to get your students talking about their families:
1. Family Tree Presentation
Ask each student to draw a simple family tree and describe the members included. They can mention names, ages, occupations, or interesting facts about their family members.
2. Family Member Adjectives
Have students list three adjectives that describe each member of their family. For example, “My mom is caring, hardworking, and funny.” This activity will help them practice using descriptive language.
3. Photo Story
Encourage students to bring a family photo to class. They can show the photo to their classmates and tell a story about the moment captured. This can lead to discussions about family traditions or memorable events.
4. Interview a Classmate
Pair up the students and let them interview each other about their families using a set of guided questions, such as:
– How many people are in your family?
– What does your mom/dad do for a living?
– Do you have any siblings? What are their names and ages?
After the interview, they can introduce their partner’s family to the class.
5. Family Roles and Responsibilities
Discuss different roles and responsibilities each family member has at home. Students can describe what their typical day looks like and who does what chores. This helps them practice vocabulary related to daily routines and activities.
6. Favorite Family Tradition
Ask students to describe their favorite family tradition or celebration. They can talk about how their family celebrates birthdays, holidays, or other special occasions. This will also help them learn about cultural differences and similarities.
7. Guess Who?
Play a guessing game where students write a few sentences describing a family member without saying who it is. The rest of the class guesses which family member they are talking about. For example, “This person loves gardening and always makes delicious cookies. Who is it?”
8. Create a Family Superhero
Have students imagine that each of their family members has a special superpower. They can describe what those superpowers are and how each family member uses them in their everyday lives. This fun activity encourages creativity and imaginative thinking.