Now that students have learned some basic vocabulary and can respond to questions with yes or no, it is time for them to pick up the negative form of the verb 'to be'. Notice that we can now use all of the subject pronouns, as well as some basic object vocabulary. You might also want to bring in a few pictures from magazines to introduce some other professions to give your students further vocabulary.
Negative statements with 'to be'
Part I: Are you a...? No, I'm not a...
Teacher: (Model a question to yourself changing places in the room, or changing your voice to indicate that you are modeling.) Are you a student? No, I am not a student. I am a teacher.
Teacher: Paolo, are you a teacher? (ask a student)
Student(s): No, I am not a teacher. I am a student.
Continue this exercise around the room with each of the students. If a student makes a mistake, touch your ear to signal that the student should listen and then repeat his/her answer accenting what the student should have said.
Example:
Teacher: Are you a teacher?
Student(s): No, I not a teacher.
Teacher: No, I AM not a teacher. I am a student.
Part II: Expand to 'he', 'she', 'this' and 'that'
Teacher: (Model a question to yourself changing places in the room, or changing your voice to indicate that you are modeling.) Is she a teacher? No, she isn't a teacher. She is a student.
Teacher: Paolo, is he a teacher? (ask a student)
Student(s): No, he isn't a teacher. He is a student.
Teacher: Georgia, is this a book? (ask a student)
Student(s): No, that isn't a book. That is a pen.
Continue this exercise around the room with each of the students. If a student makes a mistake, touch your ear to signal that the student should listen and then repeat his/her answer accenting what the student should have said.
Example:
Teacher: Is this a pen?
Student(s): No, that not pen.
Teacher: No, that ISN'T a pen. That is a book.
Part III: Introduce 'we', 'you' and 'they'
Teacher: (Model a question to yourself changing places in the room, or changing your voice to indicate that you are modeling.) Are you teachers? No, we aren't teachers. We are students.
Teacher: Paolo, are you teachers? (ask a student)
Student(s): No, we aren't teachers. We are students.
Continue this exercise around the room with each of the students.
Teacher: (Model a question to yourself changing places in the room, or changing your voice to indicate that you are modeling.) Are they students? No, they aren't students. They are teachers.
Teacher: Paolo, are they students? (ask a student)
Student(s): No, they aren't teachers. They are students.
Continue this exercise around the room with each of the students.
Part IV: Students ask questions
Teacher: (Point from one student to the next indicating that he / she should ask a question)
Student 1: Is this a pen?
Student(s): No, that isn't a pen. That is a pencil.
Student 1: Are we teachers?
Student(s): No, we aren't teachers. We are students.
Teacher: (Continue around the room)
Back to the Absolute Beginner 20 Point Program
