Look at the photo and How do these men know What do you think they

answer the questions:

1 each other? 2 are talking about?

Look at the photo and describe the place.

Would you like to go there? Why?

What is the title of this unit? What are the men

doing?

Goal A: When do we talk about ourselves? Introductions, interviews, etc. Marine biologist chats
with local salmon
fisherman in Scotland.
What kinds of things do we say?

Goal B and C: We talk about ourselves at a party when we meet people we

don’t know well.
UNIT 2 GOALS
What might you talk about with people you don’t know well? A. Talk about Yourself
B. Make Small Talk with New People
the weather, the food (at the party), the city, etc.
C. Start a Conversation
How can you start a conversation? D. Discuss Endangered Languages
E. Give Examples
Goal D: Do you know of any endangered languages? Scottish Gaelic
A WARM-UP Talk about Yourself Unit 2

Look at the photo and the caption. Do you take a lot of selfies? Are you
usually with someone or by yourself? Why are selfies an important part
of how we talk about ourselves?

They tell people about us and our experiences.

What are they telling us about themselves?

The father and son spend time together

______________________________________
They’re happy
______________________________________
They like swimming
______________________________________
They like taking photos in interesting places
______________________________________

Selfies are an important part of

how we talk about ourselves now!
A WARM-UP Talk about Yourself Unit 2

A Read.

Every culture around the world has different customs and different ways of
communicating. So when you learn a language, you learn more than words.
People use language to communicate many different things. Greetings, such as
“Hello” or “How are you?,” show that we are friendly or polite. We also use language
to connect with each other. Using the right words can show our family members that
we love them, for example. We might also become friends with people who we speak
to every day. Another good way to connect with people is by talking about our
personal experiences.
In some cultures, it is common to ask questions when you meet someone for the
first time. You might ask a new neighbor, “Have you recently moved to this city?” This
kind of conversation can increase feelings of trust between people. In other cultures,
though, asking this kind of question could make people uncomfortable. Once you
have learned the rules of a language, you can communicate more easily and avoid
communication problems.

Why do we talk about personal experiences with people? Why do we need

to understand the rules of communicating when we learn a language?

Look at the words in blue and identify the parts of speech (adjective, noun, verb, etc.)
Selfies are an important part of
how we talk about ourselves now!
A GOAL Talk about Yourself Unit 2

Vocabulary
B Circle the correct word or phrase. You may use a dictionary to help you.
1. A custom is something that few / most people in a certain place or culture do.
Word Bank: Communication
2. The way we do something is how / why we do it.
bow
3. When you communicate with someone, you share money / information with them. chat
4. A polite person has good manners and is not rude / nice to other people. congratulate
5. When you connect with other people, you feel closer / not as close to them. get to know (someone)
hug
6. After a long day at work or school, most people become sad / tired. introduce
7. Your experiences are things that you do or that return / happen to you. kiss on the cheek
8. If something happens often / rarely, it is common. keep in touch with (someone)
shake hands
9. If the amount of something increases, there is more / less of it. spend time with (someone)
10. Most people avoid things they like / don’t like.
In English, it is polite to say please
and thank you.

What foods do you usually avoid?

What has been your best experience

so far this year?
UNIT

2 Express Yourself

Vocabulary
Practice
A WARM-UP Unit
2
Think about the ways in which we express ourselves
A Vocabulary Unit 2

customs common ways of doing something

A Vocabulary Unit 2

ways to communicate methods of greeting/talking to people

A Vocabulary Unit 2

polite being kind and sincere to people

A Vocabulary Unit 2

connect to join together

A Vocabulary Unit 2

experiences observation of events

A Vocabulary Unit 2

common occurring and done often/ generally expected

A Vocabulary Unit 2

increase to become greater in size, amount, or intensity

A Vocabulary Unit 2

avoid to keep away or stop oneself from doing something

What are some important customs from your country? Unit 2

Which custom do you particularly appreciate? Are there any

you dislike?
Which way do you use most to communicate on a What types of people do you try to avoid?
daily basis?
How do you usually connect with new friends? What things do you try to avoid in order
to be healthy?
How would you connect to a new university club(s)?
What has been your greatest experience?
What experience would you like to have?

Where is a common place to meet your friends?

What do you commonly do together?

How would you increase your trust in someone?

How would you increase your finances?
A GOAL Talk about Yourself Unit 2

Grammar

When did you meet your best friend? What did we do on the first day of class?
met – simple past
I met my best friend in middle school.
_______________________________________
went – simple past
We went through the syllabus and class requirements.
_______________________________________
I have known my best friend for more than 20 years. have known – present perfect
_______________________________________

Identify the verb forms in the sentences.

The Present Perfect vs. The Simple Past

Use the present perfect to talk about actions that:

1. began in the past and continue until the present. 1. They have known each other since the first grade.
2. happen at an indefinite past time and affect the 2. Tim has traveled alone before, so he’s not nervous about
present. his trip to India.
3. happened more than once in the past. 3. Ken and Takako have been to Peru five times.
Use the simple past for completed actions or They have become parents in 2017.
situations at a specific past time. They became parents in 2017.

Grammar Reference: p171

A GOAL Talk about Yourself Unit 2

Grammar
C Complete each sentence with the present perfect or simple past form of the verb.
1. I think Lee will do well on the test. He _____________
has studied (study) a lot for it. indefinite Grammar Practice: The Present Perfect
2. Elena _____________
took (take) the same test last year. specific vs. The Simple Past
Write at least five sentences describing
3. Sam _____________
has traveled (travel) to Argentina four times. He loves it there! repeated
past actions or situations using the
4. Jason doesn’t want to call his mother tonight. He _____________
has called (call) her every simple past and present perfect. Then
*
night for the past week. repeated rewrite the sentences with blank spaces
instead of verbs. Exchange your paper
5. We _____________
learned (learn) some Arabic greetings and polite phrases before our with a partner and complete their
trip to Qatar last year. specific sentences with a verb in present perfect
or simple past. Check and discuss the
Can you find clue words (hints) that helped you choose the right form? answers together.
The words for, since, ever, never, just, yet, before, and already are commonly used
with the perfect tense.
Grammar: The Present Perfect vs. The Simple Past
In English, there are multiple ways of talking about actions in the past. The simple past is
for finished actions at specific times in the past, while the present perfect shows the
connection between the past and present situations by describing actions that began in
the past and continue in the present. The present perfect is also used to describe past
experiences when the exact time isn’t important.
A GOAL Talk about Yourself Unit 2

Grammar
What experiences have you had? Have you run a marathon? Have you met a famous person?

I have never run a marathon, but I have run a 10km race. Yes, I have. I met George Foreman (a famous boxer).

We use the present perfect to talk about past experiences when we don’t say exactly when we did them.

D Complete the questions. Ask a partner. If the answer is “yes,” ask, “When?”
Have you ever talked
Have you ever… to a movie star?
1. eaten ______________
Mexican food? 4. played ______________
chess ?
2. seen a movie from ______________
India 5. talked to ______________
a pigeon ?
Yes, I have.
(country)?
3. gone to ______________
Jeju Island ?
GOAL CHECK Talk about Yourself Unit 2

Use the questions to interview a partner. Ask at least four questions. Then switch roles.

Interview Questions Word Bank: Communication

1. What is a custom from your culture that you really like? bow
2. What are some things you have done just to be polite? chat
3. When you meet new people, do you avoid talking to them, or do you try congratulate
to communicate with them? Explain. get to know (someone)
hug
4. Talk about some of your closest friends. How did you become friends introduce
with them? kiss on the cheek
5. What was your favorite way to spend time with the people in your keep in touch with (someone)
family? shake hands
6. Talk about an important experience in your life. How has it affected you? spend time with (someone)
Paul Hourigan
English Instructor

[email protected]
A GOAL Talk about Yourself Unit 2

Grammar Reference

The Present Perfect vs. The Simple Past

Form the present perfect I have traveled in Europe. Time expressions we often We’ve known each other
with the correct form of She has been a teacher for use with the present for 10 years.
the verb have (not) + past five years. perfect: for and since We’ve known each other
participle of the verb. He’s visited the US many since 2010.
Note that you can use times.
Time expressions we often We met 10 years ago.
contractions. I haven’t been to the US.
use with the simple past: We had dinner together
For the past participle of carry - carried visit - ago last month.
regular verbs, add –ed to visited work - worked last week / month / year We took a trip together in
the base form. in + month / year June. / in 2017.
on + day or date We had dinner on Friday
Some verbs have irregular be - been become -
night.
past participles. become eat - eaten
drink - drunk know - known
take - taken
Yes / No Questions:
Has / Have + subject + Have you ever eaten
past participle of the verb tacos? Yes, I have.
A GOAL Talk about Yourself Unit 2

Grammar Reference

A Circle the correct form. B Write the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

1. We ate / have eaten at this restaurant last week. 1. Juan and Jorge ______________
met two years ago
in college. (meet)
2. They took / have taken several trips together
since 2018. 2. They ______________
have studied English for two years and
are in the same class this year. (study)
3. I went / have gone on vacation in July.
3. Last year, they ______________
took a trip to
4. He started / has started his new job a week a ago.
London. (take)
5. Did she live / Has she lived in Canada since she
was a child? 4. They ______________
have never been to Canada, but they would
like to go next year. (never be)

Grammar Exercises: p19

Paul Hourigan
English Instructor

[email protected]