Dialogue at School – English Standard Four

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, a pupil should be able to: identify common words used at school; use polite expressions when speaking to teachers and classmates; participate in a simple dialogue about school activities; and answer questions about a dialogue.

Common Vocabulary

School – shule; classroom – darasa; teacher – mwalimu; pupil – mwanafunzi; headteacher – mkuu wa shule; classmate – mwanafunzi mwenzako; lesson – somo; book – kitabu; exercise book – daftari; pen – kalamu; pencil – penseli; blackboard – ubao; chalk – chaki; desk – dawati; chair – kiti; school bag – begi la shule; homework – kazi ya nyumbani; examination – mtihani; break time – muda wa mapumziko; library – maktaba; playground – uwanja wa michezo; toilet – choo; assembly – mkusanyiko wa shule.

Common Expressions

• Good morning, teacher. – Habari za asubuhi, mwalimu.
• May I come in? – Naweza kuingia?
• May I go out? – Naweza kutoka nje?
• Please, may I borrow your pen? – Tafadhali, naweza kuazima kalamu yako?
• Here you are. – Hii hapa.
• Thank you very much. – Asante sana.
• You are welcome. – Karibu.
• Have you done your homework? – Umemaliza kazi yako ya nyumbani?
• Yes, I have. / No, I have not. – Ndiyo, nimemaliza. / Hapana, sijamaliza.
• Let us go to the library. – Twende maktaba.

Sample Dialogue 1: A Pupil and a Teacher

Teacher: Good morning, Amina.
Amina: Good morning, teacher.
Teacher: Why are you late today?
Amina: I am sorry, teacher. The bus was late.
Teacher: What time did you arrive at school?
Amina: I arrived at half past seven.
Teacher: Please try to come to school early.
Amina: I will, teacher. Thank you.

Sample Dialogue 2: Two Classmates

Asha: Good morning, Juma.
Juma: Good morning, Asha.
Asha: May I borrow your pencil, please?
Juma: Yes, here you are.
Asha: Thank you. Have you done your homework?
Juma: Yes, I have. What about you?
Asha: I have finished it too.
Juma: That is good. Let us give our books to the teacher.
Asha: All right. Let us go.

Comprehension Questions

Dialogue 1

1. Who was late for school?
2. Why was Amina late?
3. What time did Amina arrive at school?
4. What did the teacher ask Amina to do?

Dialogue 2

1. Who wanted to borrow a pencil?
2. What did Juma give Asha?
3. Had Juma done his homework?
4. Where did the two pupils want to take their books?

Practice Activities

A. Match the words with their meanings.

1. Teacher    2. Library    3. Homework    4. Playground

a) A place where pupils play
b) Work given to pupils to do at home
c) A person who teaches pupils
d) A place where books are kept

B. Fill in the blanks using these words: pencil, teacher, library, homework.

2. Our __________ teaches us English.
3. We read books in the __________.
4. I do my __________ after school.

C. Complete the dialogue.

Neema: Good morning, ________.
Peter: Good morning, Neema.
Neema: May I ________ your ruler, please?
Peter: Yes, ________ you are.
Neema: Thank you very much.

Answer Guide

Comprehension: Dialogue 1: 1. Amina. 2. The bus was late. 3. At half past seven. 4. To try to come to school early. Dialogue 2: 1. Asha. 2. His pencil. 3. Yes, he had. 4. To the teacher.

Activity A: 1–c, 2–d, 3–b, 4–a. Activity B: 1. pencil; 2. teacher; 3. library; 4. homework. Activity C: teacher; borrow; here.

Speaking Practice

Work in pairs. Take turns to act as a teacher and a pupil. Greet each other, ask for permission to enter the classroom, ask about homework, and respond politely. Then change roles.

Support for Slow Learners

The teacher should display pictures or real objects such as a book, pencil, desk and school bag. Read each expression slowly and let pupils repeat it. Pair pupils who need support with helpful classmates. Practise one short exchange at a time before asking pupils to perform the whole dialogue.

Learning Outcome

A pupil can use familiar school vocabulary and polite expressions to take part in simple conversations with teachers and classmates.