Category: Daily Life

Real Life English: I Need to Get My Bike Worked On

29/7/2018

Class Objectives

Do you have a bicycle or a car? Have you ever had problems with it and taken it to the shop? These aren’t necessarily everyday situations that most textbooks will teach. In this lesson, you will learn how to describe parts of a bicycle and how to get help fixing it.

By the end of the class, you will have:

learned and used new vocabulary for life situations
practiced expressions to become more fluent
learned and used the ‘causative have’
talked about your bicycle

Difficulty: White Belt and above

MODEL: I need to get my bike worked on…

The chain on my bike has been slipping while riding it. This has been going on for several weeks now, and I’ve been too lazy and forgetful to take it to the shop to get it fixed. It’s one of those things that just slipped my mind until it was time to ride my bike and feel the slipping again. Besides that, I hadn’t had much time to take it to the shop.

Last week, one of my classes was cancelled, so I had some extra time, so I finally decided to go to the bike shop to ask about the problem and get an estimate for the repair. I didn’t really know how to explain what was happening in Spanish (I live in Spain), so I would like to share some common bicycle problems.

It’s slipping gears. / The gears are slipping.
The brakes aren’t working. (The rear brake/ The front brake)
The brakes are squeaking.
I have a flat tire.
The chain is loose.
I need a new seat.
My handle bars are loose.
I had an accident.

What about you? Have you ever had one of these problems with your bicycle? Tell me about it in a lesson or write about it below.

VOCABULARY

Take notes about the following words so you can understand the meaning. Use context, dictionary definitions, synonyms, explanations, example sentences, pictures, or any other creative way to learn the new words and phrases. NOTE: Try NOT to use your language to understand the concept.

To slip

Forgetful (adj)

Bike shop

Several weeks

VOCABULARY ACTIVITY: Label the basic parts of the bicycle
(some extra words that you can add to the picture)

Seat
Handle bars
Chain
Tire
Wheel
Spokes
Gears
Pedals
Reflector

FLUENCY BUILDERS and EXPRESSIONS
These expressions will help you sound more fluent. Brainstorm and see how you can use these in your presentation.

… has been going on for… - to describe that something was happening for a period of time

It’s one of those things that… - Use this when you can’t really explain a common situation or feeling that you think most people will understand.

It slipped my mind – to forget to do something

GRAMMAR

Causative ‘have/get’ is a grammatical form we use when somebody else does something for you. We don’t use this if we do the action ourselves.

Let’s look at some grammar from the text.

I’ve been too lazy and forgetful to take it to the shop to get it fixed.

To have something done: More formal/ Speaking and Writing
To have + action + past participle

The mechanic is working on Johnny’s car, so he’s taking the bus this week.
Johnny is having his car worked on, so he’s taking the bus this week. (he’s not working on it)

To get something done: More informal/ Speaking
To get + action + past participle

The barber/hairdresser is going to cut my hair.
I have to go get my hair cut this weekend. (you’re not going to cut it)

Assignment: Write the causative have form for the following examples.
Keep the same grammar forms as the first sentence.

The housekeeper is cleaning my house at the moment.
____________________________________________________________________________________________.

Cara is at the nail salon now. They are doing her nails.
____________________________________________________________________________________________.

I need to go to the dentist so he can clean my teeth.
____________________________________________________________________________________________.

PREPARE

Brainstorm and write down ideas for your story of when you had to either take your bicycle or car to the shop. What went wrong and what did you have to have done?

YOUR TASK: Write About Your Story

Now it’s your turn to tell your story of when you had to take your bike/car to the shop. Describe what happened, what was wrong, and what did you have to have done. Use the grammar and expressions from this lesson if it’s applicable.

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

0 Comments

Introduce Yourself

1/6/2018

0 Comments

Introduce Yourself Worksheet
File Size:	991 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Class Objectives

Most of our language starts here. This class is created to help you be able to introduce yourself in English. You aren’t to only say who you are and where you’re from. I want more than that. I want you to talk about yourself. What do you do for a living? What are your hobbies and interests? What are your dreams? Use this target language to be able to introduce yourself with more detail.

A student's example

By the end of the class, you will have:

learned and used new vocabulary
practiced expressions to become more fluent
improved your use of past simple and present perfect
introduced yourself in detail

Difficulty:White Belt and above

MODEL : Introduce Myself

Hi, I am Jesse Sweed. I’m originally from the US, and I am 38 years old. I was born and raised in Pennsylvania, but I’ve also lived in South Korea and currently live in Spain. I have been an English teacher since 2006, and I’m the founder of Sweed Academy, an online English school.

Let me talk about some of my interests.
I'd like to tell you about some of my interests.

Something that I really enjoy is problem solving. I enjoy it when I see a problem... or several problems, and I have to find creative solutions to figure them out. For example, creating videos, lessons, and other ways to help people learn. My students have a problem or need, and we work together to find a solution for that problem. Problem-solving helps me in my teaching, but also parenting as well. As my kids learn and grow, I find myself learning a lot about myself, teaching, and life in general.

Aside from teaching and creating videos, I’ve also studied and trained various martial arts for most of my life.
Besides teaching and creating videos, I’ve also studied and trained various martial arts for most of my life.
Other than teaching and creating videos, I’ve also studied and trained various martial arts for most of my life.

I started wrestling at nine (years old), and then I started tae-kwon-do when I was about twelve (years old) and trained until I became a black belt.

After that, I started coaching. In my adult years, I started training kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, and I’ve even started practicing yoga. I love jiu-jitsu, which is a martial art that I would recommend to anybody, especially girls and women because of the self-defense and confidence it can give you.

Between fathering and working, I don’t have much time for hobbies these days. I am a husband and a father of two children. I have a daughter who is 3 years old and a son who is only 5 months old at the time I'm writing this. I enjoy being a father more than I ever imagined I would, and I can’t really put into words how it feels, but it’s wonderful.

This is me, now I’d like to hear about you. Tell me about anything about yourself that you’d like. Tell me about where you live, what you like to do, your family, your friends, your dreams, or anything else you’d like to share. I look forward to meeting you!

VOCABULARY

Take notes about the following words so you can understand the meaning. Use context, dictionary definitions, synonyms, explanations, example sentences, pictures, or any other creative way to learn the new words and phrases. NOTE: Please do NOT use your language to understand the concept.

Originally (adv.) – This is used to talk about how something started.

The founder of (n) - The starter of a company or a business

Interest (n) - To enjoy doing something

Figure out (phrasal verb) - To solve something

As well - too/ also

Various (adj) - many different kinds of something

Even - Use this to emphasize

Father (n) (v) - This can be used as a noun or a verb

FLUENCY BUILDERS and EXPRESSIONS

These expressions will help you sound more fluent. Brainstorm and see how you can use these in your presentation.

To be born and raised -

I find myself ~ing -

Let’s talk about/ I'd like to tell you about ______ -

Aside from / Besides/ Other than ________

After that... -

Because of the... -

I don’t have much time for… -

Two years apart

By the time…

As I said before…

GRAMMAR

Past simple and Present perfect are used to talk about the past, but they are often confused by students. Here are some tricks that may help you.

-Past Simple-
Something in a specific time in the past.
I started wrestling at nine years old, and then I started taekwondo when I was about twelve years old.

-Present Perfect-
Abstract things in the past

I’ve also lived in South Korea and currently live in Spain.

or something that starts in the past and continues to present.

I’ve also studied and trained various martial arts for most of my life.

-FOR and SINCE-

For– talk about the DURATION of an action
Since– talk about the START of an action

I’ve worked as an English teacher for 12 years.
I’ve worked as an English teacher since 2006.

Use these grammar forms to tell me about yourself. You can certainly use both to talk about your past.
1. ________________________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________________________

Support Sweed Academy and Sign up for a FREE Lesson

YOUR TASK: Introduce Yourself

Now it’s your turn to introduce yourself. Use these fluency builders and forms of past simple and present perfect to give a proper introduction of yourself. Share your introduction with me on Facebook or in class.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

0 Comments

Real Life English: I Need to Get My Bike Worked On

Class Objectives

MODEL: I need to get my bike worked on…

VOCABULARY

FLUENCY BUILDERS and EXPRESSIONS
These expressions will help you sound more fluent. Brainstorm and see how you can use these in your presentation.

GRAMMAR

PREPARE

YOUR TASK: Write About Your Story

Introduce Yourself

Class Objectives

A student's example

MODEL : Introduce Myself

VOCABULARY

FLUENCY BUILDERS and EXPRESSIONS

GRAMMAR

YOUR TASK: Introduce Yourself

What are White Belt Lessons?

Become a Pro Member

FREE IELTS Writing Workshop.
(Click on the photo to register)

Archives

Categories

Speak English With Complete Confidence In Under 10 Weeks.

Real Life English: I Need to Get My Bike Worked On

Class Objectives

MODEL: I need to get my bike worked on…

VOCABULARY

FLUENCY BUILDERS and EXPRESSIONSThese expressions will help you sound more fluent. Brainstorm and see how you can use these in your presentation.

GRAMMAR

PREPARE

YOUR TASK: Write About Your Story

Introduce Yourself

Class Objectives

A student's example

MODEL : Introduce Myself

VOCABULARY

FLUENCY BUILDERS and EXPRESSIONS

GRAMMAR

YOUR TASK: Introduce Yourself

What are White Belt Lessons?

Become a Pro Member

FREE IELTS Writing Workshop.​(Click on the photo to register)

Archives

Categories

Speak English With Complete Confidence In Under 10 Weeks.

FLUENCY BUILDERS and EXPRESSIONS
These expressions will help you sound more fluent. Brainstorm and see how you can use these in your presentation.

FREE IELTS Writing Workshop.
(Click on the photo to register)