Adult ESL Lessons: Families (Beginner)

This is Lesson 2, “Families,” from our book of beginner-level adult ESL lessons, “ESL Pathways: Foundations”. The lesson introduces different families, followed by a short dialogue, discussion and comprehension questions, a family tree exercise, and a grammar review. This lesson is available for free download, and you can download many other adult ESL lessons like this one in our book ESL Pathways: Foundations.

ADULT ESL LESSONS: Families (Text-Only Version)

Anita and Patrick are talking about their families.

Anita:  There are five people in my family.  They are my husband, my eldest daughter, my youngest daughter, my son and me.  My parents have four children.  They have two sons and two daughters.  I have three siblings.  I have one older brother, one younger brother and one younger sister.  

Patrick:  There are four people in my family.  They are my wife, my daughter, my son and me.  My parents have three children.  They have two daughters and one son.  I have two siblings.  I have one older sister and one younger sister.  

Dialogue:  Read the conversation between Anita and Patrick. 

Anita:  Hi Patrick, how are you today? 

Patrick:  I’m fine thanks Anita, how are you?

Anita:  Pretty good, thanks.  How are your wife and children doing?    

Patrick:  They are fine.  My wife is busy at work and my kids are busy at school. 

Anita:  How old are your children now?

Patrick:  Well, our daughter is ten and our son is seven. 

Anita:  How are they doing at school?  

Patrick:  They both like school very much.  How are your children doing?  

Anita:  They are all fine.  Our eldest daughter is in junior high school now.

Patrick:  How about your youngest daughter and your son?

Anita:  Well, our youngest daughter is in elementary school and our son is in kindergarten.

Patrick:  Do they like school? 

Anita:  Yes they do.  They all enjoy going to school.  

Questions about Anita’s family:

1. How many people are in Anita’s family?
2. Who are they?
3. How many children does she have?
4. How many daughters does she have?
5. How many sons does she have?
6. How many children do her parents have?
7. How many sons do they have?
8. How many daughters do they have?
9. How many siblings does Anita have?
10. How many brothers does she have?
11. How many sisters does she have?

Questions about Patrick’s family:

1. How many people are in Patrick’s family?
2. Who are they?
3. How many children does he have?
4. How many daughters does he have?
5. How many sons does he have?
6. How many children do his parents have?
7. How many sons do they have?
8. How many daughters do they have?
9. How many siblings does Patrick have?
10. How many brothers does he have?
11. How many sisters does he have?

Discussion Questions:  

1. How many people are in your family?
2. Who are they?
3. How many children do your parents have?
4. How many sons do they have?
5. How many daughters do they have?
6. How many siblings do you have?
7. How many brothers do you have?
8. How many sisters do you have?
9. Do you have any children?
10. How many children do you have?
11. How many daughters do you have?
12. How many sons do you have?
13. What do you and your family like to do together?
14. Where do you and your family like to go?
15. Who is the oldest person in your family?
16. Who is the youngest person in your family?

Grammar Focus:  Fill in the blanks.

Anita :  There are ____ people in my family.  They are my _______, my elder

_________,  my younger ________, my _____ and me.  My parents have four

___________.  They have   two __________  and two _________.  I have three

____________.  I have one older __________, one younger __________ and

one younger _____________.

Patrick :  There are four ____________ in my _______________.  They are my

 ________, my ______________, my _________ and me.  My __________ have

three ______________.  They have two __________ and ________ son.  I have

two ____________.  I have one ___________ sister and one __________ sister.