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Classroom slides
Show these on a projector or TV. Use the arrow keys, or tap the right side of a slide to go forward and the left side to go back. Press ▶ to play the recording, F for full screen and P to play the slide's audio.
Everyday English · Lesson 20 · Basic · A2
Filling in forms and giving your details
Give your personal details clearly and understand common form words.
Welcome, !
Warm-up · talk with a partner
What forms have you filled in lately? What was hard about them?
Key phrase 1 of 8
Could you spell that, please?
You'll hear this a lot.
Key phrase 2 of 8
My date of birth is the third of May, 1990.
Say dates as day, then month.
Key phrase 3 of 8
My surname is Nguyen.
Surname = family name = last name.
Key phrase 4 of 8
My given name is Thi.
Given name = first name.
Key phrase 5 of 8
I live at 22 Smith Street, Parramatta.
Number, street, suburb.
Key phrase 6 of 8
The postcode is 2150.
A four-digit number for your area.
Key phrase 7 of 8
My mobile is 0412 345 678.
Say numbers in small groups.
Key phrase 8 of 8
Do I sign here?
Ask where to sign.
Conversation
Receptionist and Linh
Listen to the whole conversation first. Then we go line by line.
Conversation · line 1 of 8
Receptionist
Can I get your surname, please?
Conversation · line 2 of 8
Receptionist: Can I get your surname, please?
Linh
Nguyen. N-G-U-Y-E-N.
Conversation · line 3 of 8
Linh: Nguyen. N-G-U-Y-E-N.
Receptionist
Thanks. And your given name?
Conversation · line 4 of 8
Receptionist: Thanks. And your given name?
Linh
Thi Linh.
Conversation · line 5 of 8
Linh: Thi Linh.
Receptionist
Date of birth?
Conversation · line 6 of 8
Receptionist: Date of birth?
Linh
The third of May, nineteen ninety.
Conversation · line 7 of 8
Linh: The third of May, nineteen ninety.
Receptionist
And your mobile number?
Conversation · line 8 of 8
Receptionist: And your mobile number?
Linh
Oh four one two, three four five, six seven eight.
Your turn · role-play
Work with a partner
Student A is Receptionist. Student B is Linh. Read the conversation together, then swap. Then try it again with your own details.
Your turn · say it 1 of 3
My surname is … That's …
Use your own details where you see “…”. Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 2 of 3
My date of birth is the … of …
Use your own details where you see “…”. Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 3 of 3
My mobile number is …
Use your own details where you see “…”. Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Quiz · question 1 of 5
What is a 'surname'?
- A Your first name
- B Your family name
- C Your nickname
✓ B: Surname = family name = last name.
Quiz · question 2 of 5
On an Australian form, what does 05/03/1990 mean?
- A 5 March 1990
- B 3 May 1990
- C May 1990
✓ A: Australia writes dates as day/month/year.
Quiz · question 3 of 5
How do Australians usually say 0 in phone numbers?
- A Oh or zero
- B Nothing
- C Nil
✓ A: Both 'oh' and 'zero' are common.
Quiz · question 4 of 5
What is a 'postcode'?
- A A four-digit number for your area
- B A post office
- C Your street number
✓ A: Australian postcodes have four digits.
Quiz · question 5 of 5
What's another word for 'given name'?
- A First name
- B Surname
- C Middle name
✓ A: Given name = first name.
Good to know in Australia 🇦🇺
Practise spelling your name with the English alphabet, especially the letters people often confuse: A/E/I, G/J and B/V. It saves a lot of time on the phone.
Well done, !
Practise at home
The same lesson, free, no sign-up:
englishcoaching.au/
Free lessons at englishcoaching.au
· englishcoaching.au
Teacher notes
Level: Basic · A2 · Time: about 60 minutes · You need: this page on a screen with sound, and one printed worksheet per learner.
Warm-up (5 minutes)
Show the warm-up slide and ask: "What forms have you filled in lately? What was hard about them?" Learners talk in pairs for two minutes, then a few share with the class.
Three steps
- Key phrases (15 minutes). Show each phrase, press ▶ and let learners listen once, then repeat together, then one by one. Check meaning with the note on the slide: "When would you say this?"
- The conversation (15 minutes). Play the whole conversation once with worksheets face down. Then go line by line while learners fill the gaps in part B of the worksheet. Check answers, then learners read it in pairs.
- Your turn and the quiz (20 minutes). Learners say the "Your turn" sentences with their own details, do the role-play below, then answer the quiz slides in pairs before you press "Show answer". Finish with part D of the worksheet (their own sentences).
Pair work
Student A is Receptionist and student B is Linh. Pairs read the conversation, swap roles, then turn the worksheet over and do it again from memory, changing the details (names, times, places, prices). Stronger pairs add two lines of their own; newer learners can keep the worksheet in front of them.
Using the audio
- Every phrase and conversation line is recorded with natural AI voices: Receptionist is read by Josh and Linh by Mel. Press ▶ on a slide or press P.
- Play each phrase twice: once to listen, once for the class to repeat. On the conversation slides, pause after each line so learners can repeat it.
- Test the sound before class. If the internet is slow, open the slides a few minutes early and play the first phrase once.
Good to know in Australia
Practise spelling your name with the English alphabet, especially the letters people often confuse: A/E/I, G/J and B/V. It saves a lot of time on the phone.
After class
- Learners can do the full lesson at home, free and with no sign-up: Filling in forms and giving your details. The last slide has a QR code to it.
- Running a course? Print certificates of participation when your group finishes a level.
Printable worksheet
One A4 worksheet per learner: the key phrases and the conversation with gaps, the quiz, and space for their own sentences. The answer key prints on a separate page.
Name: Date:
Everyday English · Lesson 20: Filling in forms and giving your details
Give your personal details clearly and understand common form words.
A. Key phrases: fill the gaps
Word bank: birth · given · live · mobile · please · postcode · sign · surname
- Could you spell that, ? (You'll hear this a lot)
- My date of is the third of May, 1990. (Say dates as day, then month)
- My is Nguyen. (Surname = family name = last name)
- My name is Thi. (Given name = first name)
- I at 22 Smith Street, Parramatta. (Number, street, suburb)
- The is 2150. (A four-digit number for your area)
- My is 0412 345 678. (Say numbers in small groups)
- Do I here? (Ask where to sign)
B. Listen to the conversation and fill the gaps
- Receptionist: Can I get surname, please?
- Linh: Nguyen. N-G-U-Y-E-N.
- Receptionist: Thanks. And your given ?
- Linh: Thi Linh.
- Receptionist: Date of birth?
- Linh: The third of May, ninety.
- Receptionist: And your mobile ?
- Linh: Oh four one two, four five, six seven eight.
C. Quick quiz: circle the best answer
What is a 'surname'?
a) Your first nameb) Your family namec) Your nickname
On an Australian form, what does 05/03/1990 mean?
a) 5 March 1990b) 3 May 1990c) May 1990
How do Australians usually say 0 in phone numbers?
a) Oh or zerob) Nothingc) Nil
What is a 'postcode'?
a) A four-digit number for your areab) A post officec) Your street number
What's another word for 'given name'?
a) First nameb) Surnamec) Middle name
D. My sentences
Finish these with your own details. Then write two more sentences you can use this week.
- My surname is That's
- My date of birth is the of
- My mobile number is
Free lesson with audio: englishcoaching.au/learn-english/everyday-english/filling-in-forms/ · Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Answer key · Lesson 20: Filling in forms and giving your details
A. Key phrases
- Could you spell that, please?
- My date of birth is the third of May, 1990.
- My surname is Nguyen.
- My given name is Thi.
- I live at 22 Smith Street, Parramatta.
- The postcode is 2150.
- My mobile is 0412 345 678.
- Do I sign here?
B. Conversation gaps
- your
- –
- name
- –
- –
- nineteen
- number
- three
C. Quiz
- b) Your family name
- a) 5 March 1990
- a) Oh or zero
- a) A four-digit number for your area
- a) First name
englishcoaching.au/learn-english/everyday-english/filling-in-forms/
Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Frequently asked questions
How do I teach filling in forms and giving your details to adult English learners?
Start with a warm-up question, present the 8 key phrases with the recorded audio, play the conversation line by line, let learners role-play it with their own details, and finish with the quiz. The teacher notes on this page give timings for a 60-minute class.
What level is this lesson?
Basic level, about CEFR A2. It is lesson 20 of 42 in our free Everyday English course, so you can follow the course week by week or pick the topics your learners need.
Do learners need an account?
No. Learners can do the same lesson at home for free, with no sign-up, at /learn-english/everyday-english/filling-in-forms/. Their progress is saved only on their own device.
Can I print the worksheet?
Yes. Press 'Print the worksheet' to print it or save it as a PDF on A4 paper. It has the key phrases and the conversation with gaps, the quiz, space for learners' own sentences and an answer key on a separate page.
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