Summary of "Beginner Levels - Lesson 15: What's the matter?"

Summary of “Beginner Levels - Lesson 15: What’s the matter?”

This lesson focuses on teaching beginner English learners vocabulary and expressions related to common health problems, how to describe symptoms, give advice using imperative verbs, and practice pronunciation, spelling, and listening comprehension.

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Main Ideas and Concepts

1. Health Problems Vocabulary

• Expressions to describe feeling unwell:
  • “I feel really bad,” “I feel sick”
  • Specific aches: headache, toothache, earache, backache, stomach ache
  • Other symptoms: fever, high temperature, cold, sore throat, sore eye, sore hand
  • Serious conditions: the flu, broken finger, broken leg
• Explanation that “ache” is used only with specific body parts (head, tooth, ear, back, stomach).

2. Asking About Health

• Common questions to inquire about someone’s health:
  • “What’s the matter?”
  • “What’s wrong?”

3. Imperative Verbs for Giving Advice

• Explanation of imperative verbs (commands or instructions) using the base form of the verb without “you.”
• Politeness by adding “please.”
• Examples include:
  • Stop, go, come here, be quiet, open the door
  • Take some aspirin, go to the doctor, sit down
• Practice activities where students give and follow commands involving body movements.

4. Matching Health Problems with Remedies

• List of health problems:
  • headache, cold, fever, backache, sore throat, stomach ache, earache, broken arm
• List of remedies:
  • call the doctor, call the dentist, drink tea with honey, go to bed, drink a lot of water, eat yogurt, take aspirin, drink milk, have chicken soup, take vitamins
• Practice matching problems with appropriate remedies (more than one answer possible).

5. Pronunciation Practice

• Focus on long “a” sound (e.g., say, they, date, age, break, late, pain, eight, ache).
• Focus on short “e” sound (e.g., neck, head, red, pen, let, when, get, tell, test, weather).
• Explanation of various spellings for the same sounds, highlighting English spelling complexities.
• Practice contrasting words with long “a” and short “e” sounds.
• Silly sentences for pronunciation practice, such as:

  “Oh great, you’re late again.” “There is red pepper on their paper.”

6. English Spelling and Silent ‘E’

• Explanation of the silent “e” at the end of words and how it changes vowel sounds (e.g., mat/mate, win/wine, pin/pine, hid/hide, not/note).
• Practice distinguishing pairs of words with and without silent “e.”

7. Listening and Writing Practice (Dictation)

• Words: headache, sore, throat, fever, flu
• Sentences:
  • “I have an earache and a sore throat.”
  • “Take aspirin and go to bed.”
  • “She broke her arm and her leg.”
  • “Call the doctor and go to the hospital.”
  • “He feels really bad.”

8. Story and Comprehension Questions

• Story about Nick who feels ill with headache, fever, and flu symptoms.
• Questions about Nick’s condition, what he is doing, and advice given by his friend Tom.
• Answers reinforce vocabulary and comprehension.

9. Role Play / Dialogue

• Characters discuss sore throat remedies (garlic with salt water, hot tea with lemon and honey).
• Alexi feels sick after the movie and receives advice on how to care for a cold.
• Discussion about upset stomach caused by overeating candy and chocolate.
• Nurse Angie advises rest, soda, lying down, and consulting a parent for medicine.
• Emphasis on moderation in eating snacks and taking care of health.

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Methodology / Instructions

• Vocabulary Introduction:

  • Introduce vocabulary related to aches and symptoms.
  • Repeat and practice pronunciation.
  • Clarify usage rules (e.g., “ache” with specific body parts).

• Question Practice:

  • Practice asking and answering “What’s the matter?” and “What’s wrong?”

• Imperative Verbs:

  • Explain the form and usage of imperatives.
  • Provide a list of common imperative verbs.
  • Practice commands with physical actions.
  • Add politeness with “please.”

• Matching Exercise:

  • List health problems.
  • List remedies.
  • Students match problems with appropriate remedies.
  • Encourage multiple answers per problem.

• Pronunciation Practice:

  • Focus on long “a” and short “e” vowel sounds.
  • Practice word lists and minimal pairs.
  • Use silly sentences for fluency and fun.

• Spelling Focus:

  • Explain silent “e” and its effect on vowel sounds.
  • Practice pairs of words with and without silent “e.”

• Listening and Dictation:

  • Listen carefully to words and sentences.
  • Write down what is heard.
  • Check answers together.

• Story Comprehension:

  • Listen to/read a short story about illness.
  • Answer comprehension questions.
  • Reinforce vocabulary and sentence structures.

• Role Play / Dialogue:

  • Act out scenarios discussing symptoms and remedies.
  • Practice conversational language and health advice.

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Speakers / Sources Featured

• Primary Teacher / Narrator: The main instructor guiding the lesson, introducing vocabulary, explaining grammar, and leading practice.
• Students / Assistants: Named participants include Susan, Ali, and Isabel, who practice speaking, giving commands, and answering questions.
• Characters in Dialogue / Story:
  • Nick (person feeling ill)
  • Tom (Nick’s friend giving advice)
  • Alexi (student with sore throat)
  • Sam (student)
  • Angie (nurse figure giving health advice)
  • Jack (student)

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This lesson is designed to build foundational English skills related to health, focusing on vocabulary, grammar (imperatives), pronunciation, spelling, listening, and speaking through interactive and practical activities.

Category

Educational

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