EF Lesson
1. Greeting and self-introduction
- Hello / Hi
- My name is...
- I am...
- Nice to meet you.
- You can call me...
- What's your name?
2. Personal background information
Nationality and hometown
- Country
- City
- I'm from...
- I come from...
- Where are you from?
- Hometown
Living and working
- Live
- Work
- Job
- I live in...
- I work in...
- I am a/an...
- Student
- Teacher
- Engineer
- Doctor
- Manager
3. Hobbies
- Like
- Enjoy
- Love
- Hobby
- My hobby is...
- I like...
- Music
- Movie / Film
- Book
- Sport
- Travel
- Food
- What do you like to do?
4. Learning related
Learning objectives and reasons
- Learn
- English
- Improve
- Practice
- Because
- I want to learn English because...
- For work
- For travel
- For fun
Classroom and Curriculum
- Class
- EF course
- Teacher
- Student
- Classmate
- Lesson
- Today's lesson
- Topic
- Question
- Answer
5. Communication and interaction
Basic communication terms
- Sorry / Excuse me
- Pardon?
- Can you repeat that?
- I don't understand.
- What does ... mean?
- How do you say ... in English?
- Can you help me?
Encouragement and approval
- Good!
- Great!
- Interesting
- I think so.
- Me too.
6. Actions and Instructions
Common classroom actions
- Listen
- Speak
- Read
- Write
- Talk
- Discuss
- Practice
- Work in pairs
- Work in groups
- Open your book
- Turn to page...
- Look
7. Describe your personal situation and feelings
Personality and appearance (simple)
- Friendly
- Outgoing
- Quiet
- Shy
- Tall
- Short
- Long hair
- Short hair
Feeling
- Happy
- Excited
- Nervous
- Tired
- Fine
- So-so
- I feel a little nervous.
8. Classroom interaction and learning
Understanding and Response
- I understand.
- I don't know.
- I think...
- What do you think?
- I agree.
- I disagree.
- Can you speak slowly?
Discussing course content
- Easy
- Difficult / Hard
- Interesting
- Boring
- Useful
- Today’s topic is...
- My opinion is...
9. Time and Date
- Now
- Today
- Tomorrow
- Yesterday
- Week
- Weekend
- What time is it?
- It’s ... o’clock.
10. Common locations and directions
Place
- School
- EF center
- Home
- Restaurant
- Park
- Supermarket
- Bank
Prepositions of location
- In
- On
- At
- Next to
- Near
11. Common verb phrases
- Come from
- Live in
- Work as
- Go to
- Want to
- Need to
- Like to
- Practice speaking
- Listen carefully
12. Useful short phrases to continue a conversation
Ask for more details
- Really?
- Why?
- How about you?
- Tell me more.
- What kind of...?
Respond and connect topics
- That's great!
- That's interesting.
- Me too.
- Same here.
- That's a good question.
EF's daily high-frequency situational dialogues
Scene 1: First meeting before class
A: Hi, my name is Alex. What's your name?
B: Hello Alex, I'm Sarah. Nice to meet you.
A: Nice to meet you too. Where are you from, Sarah?
B: I'm from Beijing. How about you?
A: I'm from Shanghai. So, what do you do?
B: I'm a student. I want to improve my English for traveling.
A: That's great! Good luck to us!
Key points of the dialogue:
Scene 2: Exchanging hobbies
A: So Sarah, what do you like to do in your free time?
B: I really enjoy watching movies and listening to music. How about you?
A: Me too! What kind of music do you like?
B: I like pop music. My favorite singer is Taylor Swift.
A: Really? I like her too! Maybe we can go to a concert together someday.
B: That sounds like a great idea!
Scenario 3: In the Classroom - Group Practice
Teacher: Okay everyone, please work in pairs and discuss your favorite holiday.
A: (To B) So, what's your favorite holiday?
B: My favorite holiday is Christmas. I love the food and the atmosphere. What about you?
A: I like the Spring Festival because all my family gets together.
B: I see. Can you tell me more about it?
A: Sure. We eat dumplings, give lucky money, and...
Scenario 4: Seeking Help and Clarification
B: Excuse me, teacher. I have a question.
Teacher: Yes, what is it?
B: What does "atmosphere" mean?
Teacher: It means the feeling or mood in a place. For example, a restaurant can have a romantic atmosphere.
B: I see. Can you repeat that, please?
Teacher: Of course. "Atmosphere" is the feeling of a place.
B: Thank you.
Scene 5: Saying Goodbye and Planning After Class
A: That was a good class.
B: Yes, it was very interesting. The topic was fun.
A: Are you coming to the next class?
B: Yes, I'll see you next week. Have a good weekend!
A: You too! Bye!
B: Bye!
Key points of the dialogue:
Scene Six: Chance Encounters and Casual Chats
A: Hey Sarah! Fancy meeting you here!
B: Oh, hi Alex! Yeah, I live in this neighborhood.
A: This is a great coffee shop. I come here often to study.
B: Me too! Maybe we can practice English together here sometime.
A: That's a great idea! Let's exchange WeChat.
B: Sure! Here is my QR code.
EF's Frequently Used Contextual Dialogues (Advanced)
Scene 7: In-depth inquiry into work and commute
A: So, where do you work?
B: I work at a tech company near Jing'an Temple. It's a software developer.
A: Oh, that's interesting! How do you get to work every day?
B: I usually take the subway. It's very convenient. How about you? What's your job?
A: I'm a marketing manager. I drive to work, but the traffic is sometimes heavy.
B: I understand. Driving in the city can be stressful.
Scene 8: Talking about current residence and hometown
A: You said you're from Beijing, but where do you live in Shanghai?
B: I live in Pudong. It's a modern area with many new buildings. Do you live nearby?
A: No, I live in Xuhui District. It's an old but very charming area with many trees and cafes.
B: That sounds lovely. Do you miss your hometown?
A: Sometimes. I miss my friends and family there.
Scene Nine: Describe the scenery and food of your hometown.
A: Can you tell me about your hometown? What's it like?
B: Sure! I'm from Guilin. The scenery there is famous. There are many beautiful mountains and rivers.
A: Wow, I've heard it's like a painting! What about the food?
B: The food is amazing! You must try Guilin rice noodles. They are delicious and a little spicy.
A: My mouth is watering! I will definitely try it if I go there.
B: You should! It's a great place for travel.
Scene 10: Discussing English learning habits
A: How long have you been studying at EF?
B: For about three months. How about you?
A: I just started two weeks ago. So, how often do you study English outside of class?
B: I try to practice every day. Usually, I spend around 30 minutes on the EF app.
A: That's a good habit. I only study before class. I need to be more like you!
B: Haha, it's never too late to start! Maybe we can be study partners.