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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 11 · Basic · A2
Talking about your family
Talk about the people in your family and ask others about theirs.
Welcome, !
Warm-up · talk with a partner
Who is in your family? Who do you talk to most often?
Key phrase 1 of 8
I've got two kids.
'I've got' is very common in Australian English. It means 'I have'.
Key phrase 2 of 8
My son is seven and my daughter is four.
Say ages with 'is' + number.
Key phrase 3 of 8
Are you married?
A common question. You can answer briefly.
Key phrase 4 of 8
My partner works in IT.
'Partner' is used for a husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend.
Key phrase 5 of 8
My parents live in Vietnam.
Talk about family overseas.
Key phrase 6 of 8
Do you have any brothers or sisters?
Ask about siblings.
Key phrase 7 of 8
I'm the oldest.
Also: the youngest, the middle child.
Key phrase 8 of 8
We video call every Sunday.
Talk about keeping in touch.
Conversation
Sarah and Minh
Listen to the whole conversation first. Then we go line by line.
Conversation · line 1 of 8
Sarah
Is that a photo of your kids?
Conversation · line 2 of 8
Sarah: Is that a photo of your kids?
Minh
Yes! That's my son, Bao. He's seven. And my daughter, Lily. She's four.
Conversation · line 3 of 8
Minh: Yes! That's my son, Bao. He's seven. And my daughter, Lily. She's four.
Sarah
They're gorgeous. Are they at school?
Conversation · line 4 of 8
Sarah: They're gorgeous. Are they at school?
Minh
Bao is in Year 2. Lily goes to childcare three days a week.
Conversation · line 5 of 8
Minh: Bao is in Year 2. Lily goes to childcare three days a week.
Sarah
Do you have family here in Australia?
Conversation · line 6 of 8
Sarah: Do you have family here in Australia?
Minh
Just my partner and the kids. My parents live in Vietnam.
Conversation · line 7 of 8
Minh: Just my partner and the kids. My parents live in Vietnam.
Sarah
You must miss them.
Conversation · line 8 of 8
Sarah: You must miss them.
Minh
I do. We video call every Sunday, so the kids can see their grandparents.
Your turn · role-play
Work with a partner
Student A is Sarah. Student B is Minh. Read the conversation together, then swap. Then try it again with your own details.
Your turn · say it 1 of 3
I've got … kids. My son is … and my daughter is …
Use your own details where you see “…”. Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 2 of 3
My parents live in …
Use your own details where you see “…”. Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 3 of 3
Do you have any brothers or sisters?
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Quiz · question 1 of 5
What does 'I've got two kids' mean?
- A I have two children.
- B I'm getting two children.
- C I had two children.
✓ A: 'I've got' = 'I have'. It's very common in Australia and the UK.
Quiz · question 2 of 5
In Australia, what can 'my partner' mean?
- A Only a business partner
- B Husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend
- C A coworker
✓ B: 'Partner' is a neutral word for the person you're in a relationship with.
Quiz · question 3 of 5
Choose the correct sentence.
- A My daughter has four years.
- B My daughter is four.
- C My daughter four years old.
✓ B: In English, use 'be' for age: She is four (years old).
Quiz · question 4 of 5
Someone says 'You must miss them.' What do they mean?
- A You have to miss them.
- B I think you miss them.
- C Don't miss them.
✓ B: 'Must' here means the speaker thinks it's very likely.
Quiz · question 5 of 5
Which question asks about siblings?
- A Are you married?
- B Do you have any brothers or sisters?
- C Where do your parents live?
✓ B: Siblings = brothers and sisters.
Good to know in Australia 🇦🇺
Many Australians are happy to chat about their kids, but some questions (like 'How much do you earn?' or 'Why don't you have children?') are seen as too personal.
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: "Who is in your family? Who do you talk to most often?" 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 Sarah and student B is Minh. 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: Sarah is read by Mel and Minh by Josh. 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
Many Australians are happy to chat about their kids, but some questions (like 'How much do you earn?' or 'Why don't you have children?') are seen as too personal.
After class
- Learners can do the full lesson at home, free and with no sign-up: Talking about your family. 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 11: Talking about your family
Talk about the people in your family and ask others about theirs.
A. Key phrases: fill the gaps
Word bank: brothers · daughter · kids · married · oldest · parents · partner · video
- I've got two . ('I've got' is very common in Australian English. It means 'I have')
- My son is seven and my is four. (Say ages with 'is' + number)
- Are you ? (A common question. You can answer briefly)
- My works in IT. ('Partner' is used for a husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend)
- My live in Vietnam. (Talk about family overseas)
- Do you have any or sisters? (Ask about siblings)
- I'm the . (Also: the youngest, the middle child)
- We call every Sunday. (Talk about keeping in touch)
B. Listen to the conversation and fill the gaps
- Sarah: Is that a of your kids?
- Minh: Yes! That's my son, Bao. He's . And my daughter, Lily. She's four.
- Sarah: They're . Are they at school?
- Minh: Bao is in Year 2. Lily goes to three days a week.
- Sarah: Do you have here in Australia?
- Minh: Just my partner and the kids. My parents in Vietnam.
- Sarah: You miss them.
- Minh: I do. We video call every Sunday, so the kids can see their .
C. Quick quiz: circle the best answer
What does 'I've got two kids' mean?
a) I have two children.b) I'm getting two children.c) I had two children.
In Australia, what can 'my partner' mean?
a) Only a business partnerb) Husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriendc) A coworker
Choose the correct sentence.
a) My daughter has four years.b) My daughter is four.c) My daughter four years old.
Someone says 'You must miss them.' What do they mean?
a) You have to miss them.b) I think you miss them.c) Don't miss them.
Which question asks about siblings?
a) Are you married?b) Do you have any brothers or sisters?c) Where do your parents live?
D. My sentences
Finish these with your own details. Then write two more sentences you can use this week.
- I've got kids. My son is and my daughter is
- My parents live in
- Do you have any brothers or sisters?
Free lesson with audio: englishcoaching.au/learn-english/everyday-english/talking-about-your-family/ · Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Answer key · Lesson 11: Talking about your family
A. Key phrases
- I've got two kids.
- My son is seven and my daughter is four.
- Are you married?
- My partner works in IT.
- My parents live in Vietnam.
- Do you have any brothers or sisters?
- I'm the oldest.
- We video call every Sunday.
B. Conversation gaps
- photo
- seven
- gorgeous
- childcare
- family
- live
- must
- grandparents
C. Quiz
- a) I have two children.
- b) Husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend
- b) My daughter is four.
- b) I think you miss them.
- b) Do you have any brothers or sisters?
englishcoaching.au/learn-english/everyday-english/talking-about-your-family/
Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Frequently asked questions
How do I teach talking about your family 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 11 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/talking-about-your-family/. 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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