Listening
10 minutes"How does Ana spell her name? Now let's practice the alphabet!"
Dialogue: First day at a language school. A student gives her name at the reception.
Student and Receptionist
Here is the text from the listening. Read along and check your answers.
Comprehension:
1. What's the student's last name?
2. How does she spell it?
3. What's 'caderno' in English?
Language Focus
12 minutesGrammar Discovery: (recycling) verb be + new expressions: How do you spell it?, What's ___ in English?
Look at these useful questions. When do we use each one?
How do you spell it? → When you want to know the LETTERS.
What's 'caderno' in English? → When you don't know the WORD.
What page? → When you don't know the NUMBER.
Explain:
What do you say when you don't know a word in English?
What's 'caderno' in English? → It's a notebook. — Say the Portuguese word + 'in English?'
How do you spell 'notebook'? → N-O-T-E-B-O-O-K. — Ask for the spelling
Quick Check (oral):
1. Say: "You don't know how to write 'Santos'. You ask: '___?'"
Expected: How do you spell it?
If wrong: 'How do you spell it?' asks for the letters.
2. Say: "You don't know 'caneta' in English. You ask: '___?'"
Expected: What's 'caneta' in English?
If wrong: 'What's ___ in English?' asks for the translation.
3. Say: "You are late for class. You say: '___!'"
Expected: Sorry I'm late!
If wrong: 'Sorry I'm late!' — use this every time you arrive late.
Expressoes novas: 'How do you spell it?' = Como se soletra? 'What's ___ in English?' = Como se diz ___ em ingles? Usar em TODA aula.
Practice
15 minutes- Letters Brazilians confuse most: G /dʒiː/ vs J /dʒeɪ/, E /iː/ vs I /aɪ/, H /eɪtʃ/ (Brazilian says 'agá'), R /ɑːr/ (Brazilian vibrates the R).
- 'W' = double-you: explain 'It looks like two V's: VV = W = double-you.' Pronunciation: /dʌbəljuː/.
- 'How do you spell it?': teach as fixed expression. Student doesn't need to understand 'do' grammar yet (that's L15).
- Simon Says: FUN GAME. Don't rush. If the student is laughing, the exercise works. Can run longer than 10 min.
- 'What's ___ in English?': teach the student to use THIS PHRASE in EVERY class. Creates target-language communication habit.
- Email: @ = 'at', . = 'dot'. Brazilian says 'arroba' — correct to 'at'.
Which Letter?
Listen to your teacher. Which letter do you hear? Choose A or B.
1. B or V?
2. G or J?
3. E or I?
4. S or C?
5. D or T?
6. M or N?
Spell the Abbreviations
Spell each abbreviation out loud.
1. VIP → V-I-P
2. CNN → C-N-N
3. ATM → A-T-M
4. FBI → F-B-I
5. BMW → B-M-W
6. EU → E-U
7. Bonus: Spell your FULL name!
Classroom Phrases
Complete with words from the box.
1. Open
2. Close
3. page
4. Stand
5. Sit
6. Sorry
Name Spelling Race
Spell your full name out loud. Your teacher writes what they hear in the chat. Then swap: your teacher spells a name and YOU write it!
Scenario:
Practice the alphabet by spelling names — yours and your teachers — out loud, clearly.
Useful Expressions
Round 1 — Student spells
YOU: My name is Maria. That's M-A-R-I-A. TEACHER: (writes in chat) M-A-R-I-A. Correct!
Round 2 — Teacher spells
TEACHER: My name is Jennifer. That's J-E-N-N-I-F-E-R. YOU: (type in chat) J-E-N-N-I-F-E-R.
Round 3 — Challenge names
Spell a tricky name: your mother's, your best friend's, or a favorite celebrity. Go slow. Ask to repeat when needed.
Let's Talk
13 minutesLet's Talk!
Use what you learned today to answer these questions. Elaborate as much as you can!
Asking for words and spelling.
1. How do you spell your last name?
Follow-up: And your email? How do you spell it?
2. What's 'caneta' in English?
Follow-up: How do you spell 'pen'? P-E-N!
Self-Assessment
How did you do today?
- ✓I can spell my name in English.
- ✓I can ask: What's ___ in English? and How do you spell it?
- ✓I can understand classroom instructions.
Great work today!
Next class: Next class: things in your bag! Keys, phone, wallet...