- mother
- father
- brother
- sister
- grandmother
- grandfather
- aunt
- uncle
- cousin
- niece
- nephew
- son
- daughter
- parents
- sibling
- relative
- granddaughter
- grandson
Vocabulary lesson plan & materials
Family
A2–C1 materials on family relationships and communication, progressing from simple descriptions to opinions, video comprehension, discussion and extended writing.
Family Vocabulary
Target vocabulary from the source material
A2–B1
My Family
My Family
A2–B1I have a big family. My mother's name is Sarah and my father's name is Tom. I have one brother named Jack and one sister named Emily. We all live together in a house.
My grandparents also live with us; they are my mother's parents. They are very kind to us. My grandfather likes to tell us stories about when he was young. My grandmother likes to cook for us.
My aunt and uncle live next door to us. They have two children, my cousins, Jane and Peter. Jane is my age and we like to play games together. Peter is younger than us, but he's very cute.
My parents are very busy, but they always make time for us. We like to go on trips together. Last summer we went to the beach. It was so much fun!
I love my family very much. They are the most important people in my life.
Task 1 — Fill in the Blanks
I have a big family. My mother's name is Sarah and my father's name is Tom. I have one _____(1) named Jack and one _____(2) named Emily. We all live together in a house.
My _____(3) also live with us; they are my mother's _____(4). They are very _____(5) to us. My _____(6) likes to tell us stories about when he was young. My _____(7) likes to cook for us.
My _____(8) and uncle live next door to us. They have two children, my _____(9), Jane and Peter. Jane is my age and we like to play games together. Peter is younger than us, but he's very _____(10).
My _____(11) are very busy, but they always make time for us.
Answers
1 brother · 2 sister · 3 grandparents · 4 parents · 5 kind · 6 grandfather · 7 grandmother · 8 aunt · 9 cousins · 10 cute · 11 parents
Task 2 — Choose the Correct Answer
- How many siblings does the narrator have?
- Who lives with the narrator's immediate family?
- What does the narrator's grandfather like to do?
- Who is Peter?
- What is the narrator's aunt and uncle's relationship to the narrator's household?
- What is the name of the narrator's sister?
- What did the narrator's family do last summer?
- Who does the narrator like to play games with?
- What is the narrator's grandparents' relationship to the narrator's mother?
- What is the narrator's attitude towards the family?
Answers
1 b · 2 c · 3 b · 4 b · 5 b · 6 d · 7 a · 8 a · 9 a · 10 b
Task 3 — True or False
1. The narrator has a small family.
TrueFalse
2. The narrator's mother's name is Sarah.
TrueFalse
3. The narrator's father's name is Jack.
TrueFalse
4. The narrator has two sisters.
TrueFalse
5. The grandparents who live with the narrator are the narrator's father's parents.
TrueFalse
6. The narrator's grandfather likes to cook for them.
TrueFalse
7. The narrator's aunt and uncle live far away.
TrueFalse
8. The narrator's cousins are named Jane and Peter.
TrueFalse
9. Jane is younger than the narrator.
TrueFalse
10. The narrator's family never goes on trips together.
TrueFalse
Answers
- False — the narrator has a big family.
- True.
- False — the father is Tom; Jack is the brother.
- False — there is one sister, Emily.
- False — they are the narrator's mother's parents.
- False — the grandmother likes to cook.
- False — the aunt and uncle live next door.
- True.
- False — Jane is the narrator's age.
- False — the family likes to go on trips together.
Task 4 — Answer the Questions
- Who is in the narrator's family?
- Where do the narrator's grandparents live?
- What does the narrator's grandfather like to do?
- What does the narrator's grandmother like to do?
- Who lives next door to the narrator's family?
- How many cousins does the narrator have, and what are their names?
- What did the narrator's family do last summer?
- Why is the narrator's family important to them?
Answers
- Mother Sarah, father Tom, brother Jack, sister Emily, and grandparents.
- They live with the narrator's family in the same house.
- He likes to tell stories about when he was young.
- She likes to cook for the family.
- The narrator's aunt and uncle.
- Two cousins, Jane and Peter.
- They went to the beach.
- The narrator loves them and considers them the most important people in their life.
B1–B2
Communicative Situations
Sarah: “Who's coming to the party tomorrow?”
Emily: “My mother, father, brother, and sister will be there. How about you?”
Tom: “I'm going to visit my grandmother and grandfather next week.”
Ben: “That sounds great. Say hi for me!”
Lily: “I do not often see my aunt and uncle.”
Jack: “Really? Maybe you should reach out to them and plan a visit.”
Emma: “I'm so excited to meet my cousin's new baby.”
Sophie: “Yes, being an aunt is the best feeling in the world.”
James: “My niece and nephew are coming over for the weekend.”
Oliver: “That's awesome. What are you planning to do with them?”
Grace: “I miss my son and daughter so much.”
Hannah: “I'm sure they miss you too. Do you video call them?”
Ella: “I'm the youngest sibling in my family.”
Mia: “I'm the oldest. Do you ever feel left out of things?”
Alex: “I have so many relatives I can't keep track of them all.”
Sophie: “Me too. I usually just stick to remembering the names of my closest family members.”
Isaac: “My granddaughter and grandson are the light of my life.”
Sophie: “I bet they feel the same way about you.”
Hannah: “I'm worried about my nephew's grades in school.”
Oliver: “Maybe you could offer to tutor him or find him a tutor?”
Lucy: “My parents are coming to visit me this weekend.”
Emily: “That's exciting. Do you have any plans for their visit?”
Tommy: “I feel like my sister gets all the attention in our family.”
Sophie: “That's tough. Maybe you could try talking to your parents about how you feel.”
Olivia: “My cousin is getting married next month.”
Sophie: “That's wonderful news. Are you excited for the wedding?”
Sophie: “I have a lot of relatives who live far away.”
Emily: “That must be hard. Do you keep in touch with them regularly?”
Katie: “I'm going to visit my nephew and niece in the city this weekend.”
Emily: “Sounds like fun. What are you planning to do with them?”
How Is Your Family?
How Is Your Family?
B1–B2Charlie: Hi, Laura. How's your family?
Laura: They are great, thanks for asking.
Charlie: That's cool. How does your family usually celebrate holidays together?
Laura: We like to gather at my grandparents' house for Christmas dinner, and we always get together for Thanksgiving as well.
Charlie: Do you have a big extended family?
Laura: Some, I guess. I have a lot of cousins on my dad's side, although I don't see them very often. And I have a few aunties and uncles who live out of state.
Charlie: Got it. What about parents? Are they still around?
Laura: Yep, both my mom and my dad are alive and well. They live in the same town as me.
Charlie: Do you have any nieces or nephews from your siblings yet?
Laura: Actually, my sister has two kids — a son and a daughter. They're really cute!
Charlie: Aww, that's great. Sounds like a fun family.
Task 1 — Fill in the Blanks
The source numbering was broken; the blanks are renumbered consecutively.
Charlie: Hi, Laura. How's your _____(1)?
Laura: They are great, thanks for asking.
Charlie: That's _____(2). How does your family usually celebrate holidays _____(3)?
Laura: We like to _____(4) at my grandparents' house for Christmas dinner, and we always get together for Thanksgiving as well.
Charlie: Do you have a big _____(5) family?
Laura: I have a lot of _____(6) on my dad's side. And I have a few _____(7) and uncles who live out of state.
Charlie: Got it. What about _____(8)? Are they still around?
Laura: Yep, both my _____(9) and my dad are alive and well.
Charlie: Do you have any _____(10) or nephews from your siblings yet?
Laura: Actually, my _____(11) has two kids — a son and a _____(12).
Answers
1 family · 2 cool · 3 together · 4 gather · 5 extended · 6 cousins · 7 aunties · 8 parents · 9 mom · 10 nieces · 11 sister · 12 daughter
Task 2 — Choose the Correct Answer
- What is the conversation about?
- What does Laura's family usually do for Christmas?
- How often does Laura see her cousins on her dad's side?
- Where do Laura's aunties and uncles live?
- Are Laura's parents still alive?
- Does Laura have any nieces or nephews?
- How many kids does Laura's sister have?
- What does Charlie think of Laura's family?
- What is the tone of the conversation?
Answers
1 b · 2 c · 3 b · 4 b · 5 a · 6 c · 7 d · 8 b · 9 c
Task 3 — True or False
1. Laura's family celebrates Christmas dinner at her parents' house.
TrueFalse
2. Laura has a lot of cousins on her mom's side.
TrueFalse
3. Laura's aunties and uncles live in the same state as her.
TrueFalse
4. Laura's parents are both alive and well.
TrueFalse
5. Laura's sister has two children.
TrueFalse
6. Laura's sister has a son and a daughter.
TrueFalse
7. Laura's sister doesn't have any children.
TrueFalse
8. Laura's family doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving together.
TrueFalse
9. Laura's family doesn't celebrate Christmas together.
TrueFalse
Answers
1 False · 2 False · 3 False · 4 True · 5 True · 6 True · 7 False · 8 False · 9 False
Task 4 — Answer the Questions
- How does Laura's family usually celebrate holidays together?
- Does Laura have a big extended family?
- Are Laura's parents still alive and where do they live?
- Does Laura have any nieces or nephews? If so, who are they?
- What is the tone of the conversation between Charlie and Laura?
- Why do you think Charlie asked about Laura's family?
Suggested answers
- They gather at her grandparents' house for Christmas dinner and get together for Thanksgiving.
- She has many cousins on her dad's side and a few aunties and uncles who live out of state.
- Yes. Both parents are alive and well and live in the same town as Laura.
- Yes. Her sister has two children, a son and a daughter.
- Friendly and casual.
- It is not stated; he may be making small talk or trying to get to know her better.
B2–C1
Four Opinions
Lisa
“I love my family so much! We're really close and always there for each other. For example, when I went through a rough time last year, my parents and siblings were there to support me and help me get back on my feet. I don't know what I'd do without them.”
Adam
“Honestly, my family can be pretty annoying sometimes. My parents are always nagging me to do things I don't want to do, and my sister is always in my business. Like last week, she read my journal without my permission! I love them, but sometimes I need my space.”
Emma
“I'm not sure how I feel about my family. They can be fun and supportive, but also really judgmental and critical. For example, they don't approve of my career choices and constantly make comments about it. It's frustrating because I value their opinions but wish they would just support me.”
Tom
“It breaks my heart that I don't have a family anymore. My parents died when I was young, and my aunt and uncle raised me. But we don't talk anymore because they disapproved of my friend. I would like to have a loving family who accepts me for who I am.”
Video Comprehension
Two source-provided listening/video activities
Video 1 — My Family
Choose the Correct Answer
- Who is the speaker talking to at the beginning?
- Who is Go-Go?
- Who is the speaker's sister?
- Who is the speaker's brother?
- Who is the speaker's friend?
- Who does the speaker call “Dad”?
- Who says “Sorry”?
- Who does the speaker thank?
- Who does the speaker say “Goodbye” to?
- Who is referred to as “my friend”?
Answers
1 c · 2 c · 3 b · 4 d · 5 a · 6 c · 7 a · 8 a · 9 a · 10 d
Video 2 — Describing My Family
True or False
1. Teddy is a doctor who likes rock music.
TrueFalse
2. Eddie is married with two kids and likes classical music.
TrueFalse
3. Aunt Judy has five kids.
TrueFalse
4. The speaker's family is not very large.
TrueFalse
5. The speaker's family is coming over in one hour.
TrueFalse
6. The speaker wants their family to dislike their partner.
TrueFalse
7. The speaker is calm and doing fine.
TrueFalse
8. John is the speaker's cousin.
TrueFalse
9. John is a musician.
TrueFalse
10. There is no information about John's marital status or musical preferences.
TrueFalse
Answers
1 False · 2 True · 3 False · 4 False · 5 True · 6 False · 7 True · 8 True · 9 False · 10 True
Discussion Questions
- Do you have any siblings?
- How many brothers and sisters do you have?
- Who is the oldest member of your family?
- Are you close with your grandparents?
- Do you have any nieces or nephews?
- Who is your favorite relative and why?
- Have you ever traveled to visit aunts, uncles, or cousins?
- What is your mother's name?
- Do you have any children?
- Who is the youngest member of your family?
Creative Writing
Target-Vocabulary Writing
- Write a short email to your grandmother or grandfather telling them about your family. Use at least 5 target vocabulary words.
- Imagine you are introducing your family to a new friend. Write a short paragraph describing each member and their relationship to you. Use at least 10 target vocabulary words.
- Write a review of a family-friendly movie or TV show you watched recently. Describe the plot and use at least 5 target vocabulary words when discussing characters and relationships.
Target Vocabulary
motherfatherbrothersistergrandmothergrandfather
auntunclecousinniecenephewsondaughter
parentssiblingrelativegranddaughtergrandson
Personal Essay Topics
- My favourite family member and why I love them.
- A special tradition in my family that we always do.
- The funniest thing that happened to me with my family.
- My favourite memory with my family.
- How my family supports me when I need help.
General Essay Topics
- Family is the most important thing in life. Do you agree?
- Some people believe that children should listen to their parents all the time. What do you think?
- Siblings can be annoying sometimes. Do you agree or disagree?
- Families should spend more time together. What do you think?
- Some families have pets while others don't. Which do you prefer? Why?