Learn ways to say “hello” in English
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Week of Dec. 15/25
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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 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?
- Can anyone tell me some common greetings in English?
Skill-building activities
- Practicing conversation starters* (Students work together to define common greetings, e.g, “How’s it going?,” and how to answer open-ended greetings.)
Skill-using tasks
- Pair matching* 🔊
- Match audio and words* 🔊
- Formal or informal greetings?* (Place the tiles under the “correct “Formal” or “Informal” headings.)
- Match greetings and responses*
Assessment/review tasks
FEATURED CONTENT
- Greetings and responses* (Match greetings with responses.)
- 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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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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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 a TESL Canada certified ESL teacher in Edmonton, Alberta, I specialize in teaching online classes of beginner ESL students.
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