Write five sentences about yourself and your family in the present simple. Each time use one of the words/expressions in the box below.

quite frequently/about two times a year/very often/ from time to time hardly ever/as often as I can/never/once a week/more often than I want to

 

Example: I visit my grandmother as often as I can.

Do you have friends? What do you usually do together?

Complete these sentences in pairs.

We usually ________________________________

We often__________________________________

We always_________________________________

We never__________________________________

Sometimes we _____________________________

 

Key words: go to the cinema, eat out, go to the library, play games, chat on the phone, send SMS, argue, listen to music, dance, do sports

 

Choose the correct form.

How often do/does you go to the library with your classmates?

Where do/ does your close friend live?

Where do/does you usually spend your free time?

What kind of music do/does your roommate usually listen to?

What do/does your boy friend do?

How often do/does your pen friend write you?

Work in a group with two other students. Describe your typical chores at the weekend. Focus on the main things to do during the weekend.

E.g.: I usually get up at about 7.00 a.m. and have a shower. Then I …

Pronunciation: final –s

1. Listen to the pronunciation of final – s in these words. There are two ways of pronouncing the letter s at the end of singular verbs and plural nouns.

/z/ goes lives dances days friends words

/s/ likes wants makes books streets cats

Listen and repeat

1. Practice reading the final –s correctly. How do you pronounce the final –s in these words?

learns maps goes parties facts answers breaks

talks writes states things brings lasts costs bends

Listen to the recording to check the pronunciation of the final -s.

Reading and listening

1. Answer the following questions.

Do you like your name? Is it old-fashioned/traditional/modern?

Do you have a nickname?

Which names are popular in your country?

What names do you like?

 

Which of these names below are unusual and which are usual?

4real Mary Superman Aziada Mels Arsenal Jordan Tiaamii Summit Saule

 

1. Read this text quickly, then in groups of 3-4 students

- give examples of unusual names

- name the countries which have strict rules about names

- give the most popular names in Britain

What’s in a name?

 

A family in New Zealand wants to name their baby son 4Real. In New Zealand they do not allow giving names which begin with a number. So the family decides to call their baby Superman.

 

In many countries, unusual names for children are popular. Some parents choose names from popular culture and sports. For example, there are 36 children named Arsenal after the football team.

 

Other parents like to make up names, or combine names. They want to make unique names. For example, Jordan, the British model, invented the name Tiaamii for her daughter. She combined the names Thea and Amy (their two grandmothers).

 

Other countries have stricter rules of naming children. In Japan, Denmark, Spain, Germany and Argentina there is a list of allowed names. In China parents cannot add foreign letters or symbols to names of their children.

 

In Britain, some old-fashioned names are popular again, such as Maisie or Ella for a girl, or Alfie or Noah for a boy. But the most popular names are traditional – Jack, Charlie and Thomas for boys and Grace, Ruby and Jessica for girls.

 

1. Match these questions with the answers below.

 

a) Why does the family name their son Superman?

b) How do parents make unique names?

c) What does Tiaamii mean?

d) Can parents in China add foreign letters to names of their children?

e) What are the most popular names in Britain?

 

 

1) Because they cannot give the names which begin with numbers.

2) No, they cannot.

3) Mostly traditional names.

4) They make up or combine names.

5) It is the combination of the names Thea and Amy.

 

1. Read the text again and write five questions. Ask and answer the questions in small groups.

1. Check your memory. How are these words used in the text? Make sentences in pairs.

- 4Real

- Superman

- popular culture and sports

- 36 children

- unique

- foreign

- popular

 

Listen to four people talking about their first names. Complete the table.

Questions
How do you spell your name?
Are you happy with your name?
Do you want to change your name?

1. Work with your partner asking and answering the questions from the table.

 

Discuss the following question as a class

 

How do people give names in your country?

a) Parents choose names of popular people.

b) Some parents make up names.

c) Our country has a list of allowed names.

d) We name children after their grandparents.

 

Project work