What is this lesson about?

Everyone has an opinion on cats and dogs, and almost everyone has a pet story. This lesson gets A2-B1 learners talking about the animals in their lives: the pets they have, the ones they had as children, and the ones they’d never have. Students describe pet personalities, choose what they’d do in everyday situations, make house rules for a new pet and share stories about animals they remember.

What language will students learn?

Students practise simple, natural English for describing animals and personalities, giving reasons, making rules and telling short stories. The language comes up through the speaking tasks rather than as a list to learn.

How do students practise?

●       Saying whether they’re a cat person or a dog person, and why

●       Talking about pets now and in childhood

●       Choosing animals they’d love to have and ones they’d never have

●       Choosing between two options and explaining why

●       Describing a pet’s personality with examples

●       Saying which sentences are true for them

●       Deciding what to do in everyday pet situations

●       Making house rules for a new pet

●       Agreeing and disagreeing with simple opinions

●       Telling a story about an animal they remember

Why is this lesson useful?

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to…

●       describe animals and their personalities using simple adjectives and examples

●       give reasons for their choices using “because”

●       agree and disagree with simple opinions

●       tell a short story about the past

Who is it for?

A2-B1 adult learners in one-to-one or group classes, online or in person. The instructions work equally well one-to-one and in groups, and the lesson needs no preparation beyond printing the worksheet.