Lesson 4: What Is It?
Let’s Learn English is a new course for English learners. Certified American English teachers designed the course for beginners. The course continues for 52 weeks.
Each week, there will be a new lesson with video showing the lives of young Americans. The lesson includes instruction in speaking, vocabulary and writing.
There are also printable worksheets, assessments and lesson plans for individual learners and English teachers. We encourage you to follow the weekly lessons and share your progress with us through comments and email.
Summary
Anna is new to Washington, DC. She meets her friends to go out for coffee. Anna has many things in her bag.
Conversation
ANNA: Pete, hi! Hi, we are here!
PETE: Hi, Anna! Hi, Marsha!
ANNA: Hi!
PETE: How are you two?
MARSHA: I am great!
ANNA: You know, Pete, I am new to D.C. The city is big.
PETE: Yeah. But you learn a little more every day. How’s the new apartment?
ANNA: The new apartment is great! Let’s get coffee!
MARSHA: Anna, do you have a pen?
ANNA: Yes. I have a pen in my bag.
ANNA: I have a …
PETE: It is not a pen. It is a book. It is a big book.
ANNA: Yes. Yes it is, Pete. I know I have a pen, though…
ANNA: I have a ….
MARSHA: It is not a pen, Anna … a toy?
ANNA: I have a ….
PETE: And it is a pillow!
ANNA: Pete, Marsha, I know I have a pen.
MARSHA: Anna, it is a map.
PETE: Why do you have a map of the world?
ANNA: Pete, Marsha. Now I know I have a pen.
PETE: And now you have a lamp.
MARSHA: Anna.
ANNA: I have a pen! Let’s get coffee!
Learning Strategy
Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective.
This lesson’s learning strategy is focus. Use this learning strategy when you need to get information from listening or reading. Decide what you need to learn and pay close attention when you listen or read.
Here is an example of how to use focus:
In the video, Anna has some strange things in her bag. Watch the video for this lesson and focus on the name of each thing she takes out of her bag. After you watch the video, try to say or write all the things in Anna’s bag. If you cannot say five things, play the video again. Write a comment in the Comments section about how using this strategy worked for you. At the end of the video, can you write or say all the things in Anna’s bag?
Focus is an important learning strategy because it helps you learn new information more quickly. See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for more details on using this strategy.
Listening
Click on the video below to practice your listening skills. Each question has a video. Play the video and choose the correct answer.
Speaking Practice
Listen and practice saying the new words for this lesson. Practice the grammar and question structures.
Pronunciation Practice
Often English speakers do not say the word “and” carefully. Watch the video to learn about this reduced form in American English.
Writing
Download the worksheet. Practice writing the names of common objects.
New Words
bag – n. a soft container used to hold money and other small things
big – adj. large in size
book – n. a set of printed sheets of paper that are held together inside a cover or a long written work
coffee – n. a dark brown drink made from ground coffee beans and boiled water
lamp – n. a device that produces light
little – adj. small in size
map – n. a picture or chart that shows the rivers, mountains, streets, etc., in a particular area
pen – n. a writing instrument that uses ink
pillow – n. a bag filled with soft material that is used as a cushion usually for the head of a person who is lying down
toy – n. something a child plays with
world – n. the earth and all the people and things on it
For Teachers
See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions.
Additional practice material: Printable Activity Worksheet on common objects.
Grammar Focus
BE + Noun
Be + Adjective + Noun
BE + Not + Noun
HAVE + Noun
Topics
Greetings
Names of common objects
Negation
Source: Let’s Learn English