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What do you see in this picture and how does that compare to your office or classroom?

Hello everyone! I want to tell you about my ESL class. The class is small, but it feels like the world.

There is a student from Brazil. He always brings a notebook, but he never brings a pencil to write in the notebook. He asks, “Can I borrow a pencil?” every day!

There is also a girl from Japan. She always carries an orange pen. She says it is her lucky pen, and she never loans the pen to anyone!

I sit next to a boy from Mexico. He has a big backpack, but you ask, “What is inside the backpack every day?” Only a sandwich! He only brings food in the backpack.

Finally, the class has a whiteboard, a computer, and many books. We read the books in class, and someone always makes a funny mistake. We laugh, and the teacher laughs, too. The ESL class is not only for learning. It is also for fun!

In English, we often use small words before nouns called articles. The main ones are a, an, and the.

• Use “a” before words that begin with a consonant sound.
  
  ➤ “I saw a cat in the yard.”
• Use “an” before words that begin with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u).
  
  ➤ “She ate an orange for breakfast.”
• Use “the” when talking about something specific or something both the speaker and listener know.
  
  ➤ “The sun is bright today.”

Articles help us show whether we are talking about something general (a/an) or something specific (the).

Using a, an, and the correctly helps you sound more natural and clear in everyday conversations. Native speakers use these words quickly, so recognizing them helps you understand more, too.

Here’s how articles come up in real life:

• Ordering food:
  • “Can I have a sandwich and an apple juice, please?”
• Asking for help:
  • “I need a pencil. Do you have one?”
• Giving directions or pointing out things:
  • “Go past the bank and turn left at the gas station.”

Additional rules include:

• Use “a/an” to introduce something for the first time.
• Use “the” when talking about something already known or seen.

Listening for these words helps you know what someone is talking about. Saying them correctly helps others understand you.

Now, let’s practice your grammar skills with a game.

Listening & Speaking Practice Questions

Let’s practice using “a,” “an,” and “the” in speaking. These small words help us talk clearly about things. Use the questions to help you speak in full sentences. Listen to your partner and try using the correct article. Have fun!

1. Talk About Your Morning:
   • What did you use or eat this morning? Can you use “a” or “an” to describe something?
     ➤ For example: “I ate an egg. I used a towel.”
2. Describe Objects in a Room:
   • Look around the room. Can you name 2-3 things using “a” or “the”?
     ➤ For example: “There is a chair. The computer is on the desk.”
3. Ask for Something:
   • Can you ask a partner for something using “a” or “an”?
     ➤ For example: “Can I borrow a pen?” / “Do you have an eraser?”
4. Talk About a Place Everyone Knows:
   • Think of a place like a park, store, or famous building. Can you describe it using “the”?
     ➤ For example: “The library is quiet. The park has trees.”
5. Name Something You Like:
   • Can you say a sentence using “a” or “an” with something you like?
     ➤ For example: “I want a new phone.” / “I need an umbrella.”

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