Learn ways to say “hello” in English
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THIS WEEK’S FEATURED POST
Week of Aug. 10/26
This lesson plan offers engaging activities for your first day of class, focusing on classroom rules, introductions, and cultural exchanges.
The plan includes lesson objectives, warm-up exercises, two short videos, and a range of…
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Lesson plan overview
| Task | To learn ways to say “hello” in Canada and how to respond to these greetings. |
| CLB level | CLB Stage I (CLB 1-3) |
| Delivery method | Online |
| Class size | 10-15 students (vary the number of activities according to your class size) |
| Estimated time | 1.5 hours (depending on class size) |
| CLB Skills and Competencies | Speaking: Interacting with others Sharing information Listening: Interacting with others Comprehending information Reading: Comprehending information |
| Language focus | Learn the vocabulary needed to understand this topic. Students learn some of the differences between formal and informal English. Use the appropriate grammar structures and vocabulary to respond personally to the reflection questions. (Encourage students to respond in full sentences.) |
| Cultural focus | Students will discuss cultural differences in greetings. |
| Specific task learning objectives | Students learn some of the many ways to greet people in English. Students learn appropriate responses to various greetings. Students learn the difference between formal and informal greetings. |
| ESL Directions original video (🎥) and audio (🔊) activities? | This lesson includes original video (🎥) and audio (🔊) activities. |
| Resource attribution | ESL Directions original resources are marked below with an asterisk (*). Feel free to use these, but please give credit to ESL Directions. |
Lesson plan
Warm-up: Introducing the topic and defining our terms
- Today, we’re going to practice saying hello in English (and how to respond to these greetings).
- What does “hello” mean?
- What does “greeting” mean?
- What does “response” mean?
- Can anyone tell me some common greetings in English?
Skill-building activities
- Put together the greeting and response:
Skill-using tasks
FEATURED CONTENT
- Saying hello 🎥
- Listen to the greetings and responses again* 🔊
- Match greetings and responses:
- Formal or informal greetings?* (What does “formal” mean? What does “informal” mean? Place the tiles under the “correct “Formal” or “Informal” headings.)
- Greetings and responses* (Match greetings with responses.)
Assessment/review tasks
- Practicing conversation starters*
- Greetings conversation cards* (Respond to these open-ended greetings.)
Reflection questions
- What are three words or phrases that you learned today?
- Are there many different ways of greeting people in your home country?
- In Canada, we usually shake hands when greeting people (although Covid made this more optional). Do you greet people another way (e.g., kissing or bowing) in your home country?
- Are there formal and informal greetings in your home country?
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COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBOURS WORDWALL ACTIVITIES
Wordwall is a very useful interactive lesson-creation site. If you sign up for a free Wordwall account, you will be able to see our “Community and neighbours” folder, which includes ESL Directions activities that you can add to your lessons.
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ABOUT ESL DIRECTIONS
Kathy Garnsworthy, the creator of ESL Directions, is an ESL teacher, movie buff, constant reader, and former editor and communications pro. Now a graduate of the Teaching English as a Second Language program at the University of Manitoba and an ESL teacher in Edmonton, Alberta, she specializes in teaching online classes of beginner ESL students.
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