Lesson 16: Childhood

DIALOGUE
In this lesson, your tutor will help you go over this topic: childhood. First, read the
following dialogue out loud with your tutor, then switch roles and try again.
Dorothy and Kevin are talking about childhood.
Dorothy:
Kevin, do you have memories of your childhood?
Kevin:
I have lots of memories, especially about my siblings.
Dorothy:
Do you remember your neighborhood?
Kevin:
Yes, I do. I had many friends, but I remember my best friend the most.
Dorothy:
Did you ever get away with something?
Kevin:
I got away with a lot, but nothing serious. Did you have a nickname?
Dorothy:
Yes, I did. Everyone called me Dora. What about you?
Kevin:
I was called Kev. Did you have a chore to do every day?
Dorothy:
I had a few chores, like sweeping the floor and washing dishes.
Kevin:
I didn’t have to do any chores. One thing I will always remember is the playgroundin
my hometown.
VOCABULARY
Go over the following vocabulary and expressions with your tutor. Read the
word/expression and definition out loud, and your tutor will go over anything you
do not understand. Practice creating a sentence or two to make sure you know
how to use the word/expression properly.
Vocabulary/ Expressions

memories (n – plural) things that are remembered; special events

or things that happened
My childhood memories are still with me today.

siblings (n – plural) brothers and sisters

I have five siblings; two brothers and three sisters.

neighborhood (n) a section in a town or city

I live in a small neighborhood.

best friend (n) one’s closest and dearest friend

My best friend and I hang out all the time.

get away with (phrase) doing something bad and not being punished for it
(something) or getting caught
I always got away with not cleaning my room.

nickname (n) not someone’s birth name; another name given to

someone
My nickname is Max.

chore (n) a small job that is done regularly

His chore is to take the trash out every night.

sweeping the floor (phrase) cleaning the floor with a broom

Sweeping the floor is a chore.

playground (n) an outdoor area where children play; usually has

swings and other equipment to play on
Her parents take her to the playground after school.

hometown (n) the city or town where you were born or grew up
I visit my hometown every year.

EXERCISE
 Practice answering the following questions with your tutor. You can use the
sample answers to help come up with your own answer.

1. What did you like to do when you were a child?

1. I loved to play with my friends outside. We played street hockey, basketball and just
hung out together.
2. I was more of an indoor person. I liked to play video games with my siblings and to visit
my grandparents.
3. Your answer:
2. Tell me about your hometown.
1. I grew up in a small town that was quiet and peaceful. Everybody knew each other so it
was hard to get away with something.
2. I’m from a big city with traffic jams and lots of noise every day. My home was close to
the supermarket.
3. Your answer:
3. What did you like about school?
1. I loved playing outside, especially soccer.
2. I never really liked school. My grades were okay, but I could have done better.
3. Your answer:
4. What did you like to eat as a child?
1. I liked to eat pizza, potato chips, and other snack type food. I didn’t like vegetables.
2. I loved to eat hamburgers and hotdogs as a child.
3. Your answer:
5. Who took care of you when you were little?
1. I have a lot of older siblings, so they took care of me.
2. We lived close to my grandparents, so they took care of us until our parents came
home from work.
3. Your answer:

CONVERSATION
Use the following questions as a guideline to form an interesting conversation
with your tutor. Feel free to diverge from these suggestions if anything interesting
comes up.

1. Tell me three memories you have of your childhood.

2. Did you have a nickname? If yes, what was it and how did you get it?
3. Did you have any chores? If yes, tell me about them.
4. Tell me about something you got away with in your childhood.
5. How many siblings do you have? Who’s the oldest, and who’s the youngest?