Dialogue at Home – English Standard Four

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, a pupil should be able to identify common vocabulary used at home, use common expressions in conversations at home, understand simple dialogues and participate in conversations with family members.

Common Vocabulary

Learn these words commonly used when people communicate at home.

• Mother – Mama
• Father – Baba
• Parents – Wazazi
• Brother – Kaka / ndugu wa kiume
• Sister – Dada
• Family – Familia
• Child – Mtoto
• House – Nyumba
• Kitchen – Jikoni
• Bedroom – Chumba cha kulala
• Sitting room – Sebule
• Food – Chakula
• Water – Maji
• Breakfast – Kifungua kinywa
• Lunch – Chakula cha mchana
• Dinner – Chakula cha jioni
• Clean – Safi / kusafisha
• Cook – Kupika
• Wash – Kuosha
• Sweep – Kufagia

Common Expressions Used at Home

• Good morning, Mum. – Habari za asubuhi, Mama.
• How are you, Dad? – Habari yako, Baba?
• I am fine, thank you. – Sijambo, asante.
• May I come in? – Naweza kuingia?
• Please give me some water. – Tafadhali nipe maji.
• What is for breakfast? – Kuna nini kwa kifungua kinywa?
• I am hungry. – Nina njaa.
• I am thirsty. – Nina kiu.
• Can I help you? – Naweza kukusaidia?
• Thank you very much. – Asante sana.
• You are welcome. – Karibu.
• Good night. – Usiku mwema.

Sample Dialogues

Dialogue 1: A Child and His Mother

Mother: Good morning, John.
John: Good morning, Mum.
Mother: How are you today?
John: I am fine, thank you. How are you?
Mother: I am fine too. Are you hungry?
John: Yes, Mum. I am hungry.
Mother: Breakfast is ready. Come and eat.
John: Thank you, Mum.
Mother: You are welcome.

Dialogue 2: A Father and His Daughter

Father: Mary, what are you doing?
Mary: I am sweeping the sitting room, Dad.
Father: That is good. Have you cleaned your bedroom?
Mary: Yes, Dad. I have cleaned it.
Father: Well done! Can you bring me some water?
Mary: Yes, Dad. Here is your water.
Father: Thank you, Mary.
Mary: You are welcome, Dad.

Comprehension Questions

1. Who greeted John in Dialogue 1?
2. How was John?
3. What was ready for breakfast?
4. What was Mary doing?
5. Which room had Mary cleaned?
6. What did Mary’s father ask her to bring?

Practice Activities

Activity A: Match the words with their meanings

1. Mother    A. Maji
2. Water    B. Mama
3. Bedroom    C. Chakula
4. Food    D. Chumba cha kulala

Activity B: Fill in the blanks

Use these words: hungry, water, morning, welcome, sweeping.

1. Good __________, Mum.
2. I am __________. I want some food.
3. Please give me some __________.
4. You are __________.
5. Mary is __________ the sitting room.

Activity C: Complete the dialogue

Mother: Good morning, Peter.
Peter: __________________________.
Mother: How are you?
Peter: __________________________.
Mother: Are you hungry?
Peter: __________________________.

Answer Guide

Comprehension Questions

1. John’s mother.
2. He was fine.
3. Breakfast.
4. She was sweeping the sitting room.
5. Her bedroom.
6. Some water.

Activity A

1–B, 2–A, 3–D, 4–C.

Activity B

1. morning; 2. hungry; 3. water; 4. welcome; 5. sweeping.

Activity C

Accept appropriate responses, for example: “Good morning, Mum.” “I am fine, thank you.” “Yes, Mum. I am hungry.”

Speaking Practice

Work in pairs. One pupil acts as a parent and another acts as a child. Practise greeting each other, asking about food, requesting water and offering help at home. Then change roles.

Support for Slow Learners

• Help pupils pronounce the vocabulary through repetition.
• Use pictures to explain words such as kitchen, bedroom and sitting room.
• Let pupils practise short expressions before reading the full dialogue.
• Pair slow learners with supportive classmates during speaking activities.

Learning Outcome

A pupil should be able to use common vocabulary and simple expressions to participate in conversations with family members at home.

Prepared for English Language – Standard Four, under Specific Competence 2.1: Respond appropriately in a familiar communicative context.