DIALOGUE
In this lesson, your tutor will help you go over this topic: childhood. First, read the following dialogue out loud with your tutor, then switch roles and try again.
Dorothy and Kevin are talking about childhood.
Dorothy: Kevin, do you have memories of your childhood?
Kevin: I have lots of memories, especially about my siblings.
Dorothy: Do you remember your neighborhood?
Kevin: Yes, I do. I had many friends, but I remember my best friend the most.
Dorothy: Did you ever get away with something?
Kevin: I got away with a lot, but nothing serious. Did you have a nickname?
Dorothy: Yes, I did. Everyone called me Dora. What about
you?
Kevin: I was called Kev. Did you have a chore to do every day?
Dorothy: I had a few chores like sweeping the floor and washing dishes.
Kevin: I didn’t have to do any chores. One thing I will always remember is the playground in my hometown.
VOCABULARY
Go over the following vocabulary and expressions with your tutor. Read the word/expression and definition out loud, and your tutor will go over anything you do not understand. Practice creating a sentence or two to make sure you know how to use the word/expression properly.
Vocabulary/ Expressions
| memories | (n – plural) things that are remembered; special events or things that happened
My childhood memories are still with me today. |
| siblings | (n – plural) brothers and sisters
I have five siblings; two brothers and three sisters. |
| neighborhood | (n) a section in a town or city
I live in a small neighborhood. |
| best friend | (n) close and dearest friend
My best friend and I hang out all the time. |
| get away with (something) | (phrase) doing something bad and not being punished for it or getting caught
I always got away with not cleaning my room. |
| nickname | (n) not someone’s birth name; another name that’s given to them
My nickname is Max. |
| chore | (n) a small job that is done regularly
His chore is to take the trash out every night. |
| sweeping the floor | (phrase) cleaning the floor with a broom
Sweeping the floor is a chore. |
| playground | (n) an outdoor area where children play; usually has swings and other equipment to play on
Her parents take her to the playground after school. |
| hometown | (n) the city or town where you were born or grew up
I visit my hometown every year. |
EXERCISE
Practice answering the following questions with your tutor. You can use the sample answers to help come up with your own answer.
- What did you like to do when you were a child?
- I loved to play with my friends outside. We played street hockey, basketball and just hung out together.
- I was more of an indoor person. I liked to play video games with my siblings and to visit my grandparents.
- Your answer:
- Tell me about your hometown.
- I grew up in a small town that was quiet and peaceful. Everybody knew each other so it was hard to get away with something.
- I’m from a big city with traffic jams and lots of noise every day. My home was close to the supermarket.
- Your answer:
- What did you like about school?
- I loved playing outside, especially soccer.
- I never really liked school. My grades were okay, but I could have done better.
- Your answer:
- What did you like to eat as a child?
- I liked to eat pizza, potato chips, and other snack type food. I didn’t like vegetables.
- I loved to eat hamburgers and hotdogs as a child.
- Your answer:
- Who took care of you when you were little?
- I have a lot of older siblings, so they took care of me.
- We lived close to my grandparents, so they took care of us until our parents came home from work.
- Your answer:
CONVERSATION
Use the following questions as a guideline to form an interesting conversation with your tutor. Feel free to diverge from these suggestions if anything interesting comes up.
- Tell me three memories you have of your childhood.
- Did you have a nickname? If yes, what was it and how did you get it?
- Did you have any chores? If yes, tell me about them.
- Tell me about something you got away with in your childhood.
- How many siblings do you have? Who’s the oldest, and who’s the youngest?
WRAP-UP
Go over any new expressions or vocabulary that you learned today.
