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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 3 · Starter · A1
Time, days and making plans
Tell the time, talk about days and dates, and make plans with someone.
Welcome, !
Warm-up · talk with a partner
What do you usually do on Saturday? What time do you get up?
Key phrase 1 of 8
What time is it?
Ask the time.
Key phrase 2 of 8
It's half past three.
3:30. You can also say 'three thirty'.
Key phrase 3 of 8
It's quarter to nine.
8:45.
Key phrase 4 of 8
Are you free on Saturday?
Ask if someone is available.
Key phrase 5 of 8
How about 10 o'clock?
Suggest a time.
Key phrase 6 of 8
That works for me.
Agree to a plan.
Key phrase 7 of 8
Sorry, I can't make it.
Say no politely.
Key phrase 8 of 8
Let's catch up next week.
'Catch up' means meet and talk.
Conversation
Sam and Lina
Listen to the whole conversation first. Then we go line by line.
Conversation · line 1 of 8
Sam
Are you free on Saturday?
Conversation · line 2 of 8
Sam: Are you free on Saturday?
Lina
In the morning, yes. Why?
Conversation · line 3 of 8
Lina: In the morning, yes. Why?
Sam
Let's catch up for a coffee.
Conversation · line 4 of 8
Sam: Let's catch up for a coffee.
Lina
Sounds good. What time?
Conversation · line 5 of 8
Lina: Sounds good. What time?
Sam
How about half past ten?
Conversation · line 6 of 8
Sam: How about half past ten?
Lina
That works for me. Where?
Conversation · line 7 of 8
Lina: That works for me. Where?
Sam
The café near the station.
Conversation · line 8 of 8
Sam: The café near the station.
Lina
Perfect. See you Saturday!
Your turn · role-play
Work with a partner
Student A is Sam. Student B is Lina. Read the conversation together, then swap. Then try it again with your own details.
Your turn · say it 1 of 3
Are you free on Saturday?
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 2 of 3
How about half past ten?
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 3 of 3
Sorry, I can't make it. How about Sunday?
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Quiz · question 1 of 5
What time is 'quarter past two'?
- A 2:15
- B 1:45
- C 2:45
✓ A: Quarter past = 15 minutes after the hour.
Quiz · question 2 of 5
What does 'catch up' mean?
- A Run faster
- B Meet and talk
- C Finish work
✓ B: 'Let's catch up' is a very common way to suggest meeting.
Quiz · question 3 of 5
Which answer agrees to a plan?
- A That works for me.
- B Sorry, I can't make it.
- C What time is it?
✓ A: 'That works for me' means the time is good for you.
Quiz · question 4 of 5
How do Australians write 5 March 2026?
- A 03/05/2026
- B 05/03/2026
- C 2026/05/03
✓ B: Australia writes day/month/year: 05/03/2026.
Quiz · question 5 of 5
'Arvo' means…
- A morning
- B afternoon
- C evening
✓ B: 'This arvo' = this afternoon. See our Aussie slang dictionary.
Good to know in Australia 🇦🇺
Dates are written day/month/year in Australia, so 04/07 is 4 July, not April 7. Many Australians say 'this arvo' for 'this afternoon'.
Well done, !
Practise at home
The same lesson, free, no sign-up:
englishcoaching.au/
Free lessons at englishcoaching.au
· englishcoaching.au
Teacher notes
Level: Starter · A1 · 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 do you usually do on Saturday? What time do you get up?" 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 Sam and student B is Lina. 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: Sam is read by Josh and Lina 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
Dates are written day/month/year in Australia, so 04/07 is 4 July, not April 7. Many Australians say 'this arvo' for 'this afternoon'.
After class
- Learners can do the full lesson at home, free and with no sign-up: Time, days and making plans. 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 3: Time, days and making plans
Tell the time, talk about days and dates, and make plans with someone.
A. Key phrases: fill the gaps
Word bank: about · catch · free · make · quarter · three · time · works
- What is it? (Ask the time)
- It's half past . (3:30. You can also say 'three thirty')
- It's to nine. (8:45)
- Are you on Saturday? (Ask if someone is available)
- How 10 o'clock? (Suggest a time)
- That for me. (Agree to a plan)
- Sorry, I can't it. (Say no politely)
- Let's up next week. ('Catch up' means meet and talk)
B. Listen to the conversation and fill the gaps
- Sam: Are free on Saturday?
- Lina: In the , yes. Why?
- Sam: Let's catch up for a .
- Lina: Sounds . What time?
- Sam: How about past ten?
- Lina: That works me. Where?
- Sam: The café near the .
- Lina: Perfect. See Saturday!
C. Quick quiz: circle the best answer
What time is 'quarter past two'?
a) 2:15b) 1:45c) 2:45
What does 'catch up' mean?
a) Run fasterb) Meet and talkc) Finish work
Which answer agrees to a plan?
a) That works for me.b) Sorry, I can't make it.c) What time is it?
How do Australians write 5 March 2026?
a) 03/05/2026b) 05/03/2026c) 2026/05/03
'Arvo' means…
a) morningb) afternoonc) evening
D. My sentences
Finish these with your own details. Then write two more sentences you can use this week.
- Are you free on Saturday?
- How about half past ten?
- Sorry, I can't make it. How about Sunday?
Free lesson with audio: englishcoaching.au/learn-english/everyday-english/time-days-and-making-plans/ · Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Answer key · Lesson 3: Time, days and making plans
A. Key phrases
- What time is it?
- It's half past three.
- It's quarter to nine.
- Are you free on Saturday?
- How about 10 o'clock?
- That works for me.
- Sorry, I can't make it.
- Let's catch up next week.
B. Conversation gaps
- you
- morning
- coffee
- good
- half
- for
- station
- you
C. Quiz
- a) 2:15
- b) Meet and talk
- a) That works for me.
- b) 05/03/2026
- b) afternoon
englishcoaching.au/learn-english/everyday-english/time-days-and-making-plans/
Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Frequently asked questions
How do I teach time, days and making plans 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?
Starter level, about CEFR A1. It is lesson 3 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/time-days-and-making-plans/. 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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