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Lesson 4: What Is It?


Summary

Anna is new to Washington, DC. She meets her friends to go out for coffee. Anna has many things in her bag.

Speaking

Listen and practice saying the new words for this lesson. Practice the grammar and question structures.

Pronunciation

Often English speakers do not say the word "and" carefully. Watch the video to learn about this reduced form in American English.

Conversation

Anna: Pete, hi! Hi, we are here!
Pete: Hi, Anna! Hi, Marsha!
Anna: Hi!
Pete: How are you two?
Marsha: I am great!
Anna: You know, Pete, I am new to D.C. The city is big.
Pete: Yeah. But you learn a little more every day. How's the new apartment?
Anna: The new apartment is great! Let's get coffee!
Marsha: Anna, do you have a pen?
Anna: Yes. I have a pen in my bag.
Anna: I have a …
Pete: It is not a pen. It is a book. It is a big book.
Anna: Yes. Yes it is, Pete. I know I have a pen, though…
Anna: I have a ....
Marsha: It is not a pen, Anna ... a toy?
Anna: I have a ....
Pete: And it is a pillow!
Anna: Pete, Marsha, I know I have a pen.
Marsha: Anna, it is a map.
Pete: Why do you have a map of the world?
Anna: Pete, Marsha. Now I know I have a pen.
Pete: And now you have a lamp.
Marsha: Anna.
Anna: I have a pen! Let’s get coffee!

Writing

Download the worksheet. Practice writing the names of common objects.

Lesson 4 Activity Sheet
Lesson 4 Activity Sheet

Learning Strategy

Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective.

This lesson's learning strategy is focus. Use this learning strategy when you need to get information from listening or reading. Decide what you need to learn and pay close attention when you listen or read.

Here is an example of how to use focus:

In the video, Anna has some strange things in her bag. Watch the video for this lesson and focus on the name of each thing she takes out of her bag. After you watch the video, try to say or write all the things in Anna's bag. If you cannot say five things, play the video again. Write a comment in the Comments section about how using this strategy worked for you. At the end of the video, can you write or say all the things in Anna's bag?

Focus is an important learning strategy because it helps you learn new information more quickly. See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for more details on using this strategy.

Listening Quiz

See how well you understand the lesson by taking this quiz. Each question has a video. Play the video and choose the correct answer.

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New Words

bag - n. a soft container used to hold money and other small things

big - adj. large in size

book - n. a set of printed sheets of paper that are held together inside a cover or a long written work

coffee - n. a dark brown drink made from ground coffee beans and boiled water

lamp - n. a device that produces light

little - adj. small in size

map - n. a picture or chart that shows the rivers, mountains, streets, etc., in a particular area

pen - n. a writing instrument that uses ink

pillow - n. a bag filled with soft material that is used as a cushion usually for the head of a person who is lying down

toy - n. something a child plays with

world - n. the earth and all the people and things on it

Free Materials

Word Book
Word Book

Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website.

Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom.

For Teachers

Lesson 4 Lesson Plan
Lesson 4 Lesson Plan

See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions.

Grammar Focus: BE + Noun; Be + Adjective + Noun; BE + Not + Noun; HAVE + Noun

Topics: Greetings; Names of common objects; Negation

Learning Strategy: Focus

Speaking and Pronunciation: Pronouncing reduced "and​;" BE + noun

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Now it's your turn. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of this lesson.

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Let's Learn English is a new course for English learners. Certified American English teachers designed the course for beginners. The course continues for 52 weeks.

Each week, there will be a new lesson with video showing the lives of young Americans. The lesson includes instruction in speaking, vocabulary and writing.

There are also printable worksheets, assessments and lesson plans for individual learners and English teachers. We encourage you to follow the weekly lessons and share your progress with us through comments and email.

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