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Classroom slides
Show these on a projector or TV. Use the arrow keys, or tap the right side of a slide to go forward and the left side to go back. Press ▶ to play the recording, F for full screen and P to play the slide's audio.
Everyday English · Lesson 26 · Confident · B1
Talking to your child's school
Talk to teachers, explain absences and ask about your child's progress.
Welcome, !
Warm-up · talk with a partner
How do parents talk to teachers in your country?
Key phrase 1 of 8
I'm Leo's mum. He's in Year 3.
Introduce yourself.
Key phrase 2 of 8
He'll be absent tomorrow. He's unwell.
Explain an absence.
Key phrase 3 of 8
How is he going in class?
Ask about progress.
Key phrase 4 of 8
Is there anything we can do at home?
Offer to help.
Key phrase 5 of 8
He's been finding maths a bit hard.
Share a concern.
Key phrase 6 of 8
Could we set up a time to talk?
Ask for a meeting.
Key phrase 7 of 8
Who should I contact about the excursion?
School trips are 'excursions'.
Key phrase 8 of 8
Thanks for all your help this term.
Thank the teacher.
Conversation
Teacher and Parent
Listen to the whole conversation first. Then we go line by line.
Conversation · line 1 of 8
Teacher
Hi! You must be Leo's mum.
Conversation · line 2 of 8
Teacher: Hi! You must be Leo's mum.
Parent
Yes, hi. I wanted to ask how Leo is going in class.
Conversation · line 3 of 8
Parent: Yes, hi. I wanted to ask how Leo is going in class.
Teacher
He's doing really well with reading. He's very kind to the other kids.
Conversation · line 4 of 8
Teacher: He's doing really well with reading. He's very kind to the other kids.
Parent
That's great. He's been finding maths a bit hard at home.
Conversation · line 5 of 8
Parent: That's great. He's been finding maths a bit hard at home.
Teacher
Yes, we've noticed that too. Some practice with times tables would really help.
Conversation · line 6 of 8
Teacher: Yes, we've noticed that too. Some practice with times tables would really help.
Parent
Is there anything else we can do at home?
Conversation · line 7 of 8
Parent: Is there anything else we can do at home?
Teacher
Reading together for ten minutes a night is perfect.
Conversation · line 8 of 8
Teacher: Reading together for ten minutes a night is perfect.
Parent
Thanks so much. Thanks for all your help this term.
Your turn · role-play
Work with a partner
Student A is Teacher. Student B is Parent. Read the conversation together, then swap. Then try it again with your own details.
Your turn · say it 1 of 3
I'm …'s mum/dad. He's/She's in Year …
Use your own details where you see “…”. Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 2 of 3
How is he/she going in class?
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 3 of 3
Is there anything we can do at home?
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Quiz · question 1 of 4
What is a school 'excursion'?
- A A school trip
- B A test
- C A holiday
✓ A: Excursion = school trip.
Quiz · question 2 of 4
How do you ask about your child's progress?
- A How is she going in class?
- B Is she good?
- C Why is she bad?
✓ A: 'How is … going?' is natural.
Quiz · question 3 of 4
How should you tell the school about an absence?
- A Don't tell them
- B Tell them through the school's app, a note or a call
- C Tell other parents
✓ B: Schools need to know why a child is away.
Quiz · question 4 of 4
Choose the best way to share a concern.
- A You're a bad teacher.
- B He's been finding maths a bit hard.
- C Maths is stupid.
✓ B: Calm, specific and polite.
Culture talk
How does this work in your country? Tell your partner.
Well done, !
Practise at home
The same lesson, free, no sign-up:
englishcoaching.co/
Free lessons at englishcoaching.co
· englishcoaching.co
Teacher notes
Level: Confident · B1 · Time: about 60 minutes · You need: this page on a screen with sound, and one printed worksheet per learner.
Warm-up (5 minutes)
Show the warm-up slide and ask: "How do parents talk to teachers in your country?" Learners talk in pairs for two minutes, then a few share with the class.
Three steps
- Key phrases (15 minutes). Show each phrase, press ▶ and let learners listen once, then repeat together, then one by one. Check meaning with the note on the slide: "When would you say this?"
- The conversation (15 minutes). Play the whole conversation once with worksheets face down. Then go line by line while learners fill the gaps in part B of the worksheet. Check answers, then learners read it in pairs.
- Your turn and the quiz (20 minutes). Learners say the "Your turn" sentences with their own details, do the role-play below, then answer the quiz slides in pairs before you press "Show answer". Finish with part D of the worksheet (their own sentences).
Pair work
Student A is Teacher and student B is Parent. Pairs read the conversation, swap roles, then turn the worksheet over and do it again from memory, changing the details (names, times, places, prices). Stronger pairs add two lines of their own; newer learners can keep the worksheet in front of them.
Using the audio
- Every phrase and conversation line is recorded with natural AI voices: Teacher is read by Josh and Parent by Mel. Press ▶ on a slide or press P.
- Play each phrase twice: once to listen, once for the class to repeat. On the conversation slides, pause after each line so learners can repeat it.
- Test the sound before class. If the internet is slow, open the slides a few minutes early and play the first phrase once.
Culture talk
End by asking learners how this works in their country. It's a natural way to practise the new phrases and to learn from each other.
After class
- Learners can do the full lesson at home, free and with no sign-up: Talking to your child's school. The last slide has a QR code to it.
- Running a course? Print certificates of participation when your group finishes a level.
Printable worksheet
One A4 worksheet per learner: the key phrases and the conversation with gaps, the quiz, and space for their own sentences. The answer key prints on a separate page.
Name: Date:
Everyday English · Lesson 26: Talking to your child's school
Talk to teachers, explain absences and ask about your child's progress.
A. Key phrases: fill the gaps
Word bank: anything · excursion · finding · going · help · mum · time · tomorrow
- I'm Leo's . He's in Year 3. (Introduce yourself)
- He'll be absent . He's unwell. (Explain an absence)
- How is he in class? (Ask about progress)
- Is there we can do at home? (Offer to help)
- He's been maths a bit hard. (Share a concern)
- Could we set up a to talk? (Ask for a meeting)
- Who should I contact about the ? (School trips are 'excursions')
- Thanks for all your this term. (Thank the teacher)
B. Listen to the conversation and fill the gaps
- Teacher: Hi! You be Leo's mum.
- Parent: Yes, hi. I to ask how Leo is going in class.
- Teacher: He's doing really well with . He's very kind to the other kids.
- Parent: That's . He's been finding maths a bit hard at home.
- Teacher: Yes, we've noticed that too. Some with times tables would really help.
- Parent: Is there anything we can do at home?
- Teacher: Reading for ten minutes a night is perfect.
- Parent: Thanks so much. Thanks for all your help this .
C. Quick quiz: circle the best answer
What is a school 'excursion'?
a) A school tripb) A testc) A holiday
How do you ask about your child's progress?
a) How is she going in class?b) Is she good?c) Why is she bad?
How should you tell the school about an absence?
a) Don't tell themb) Tell them through the school's app, a note or a callc) Tell other parents
Choose the best way to share a concern.
a) You're a bad teacher.b) He's been finding maths a bit hard.c) Maths is stupid.
D. My sentences
Finish these with your own details. Then write two more sentences you can use this week.
- I'm 's mum/dad. He's/She's in Year
- How is he/she going in class?
- Is there anything we can do at home?
Free lesson with audio: englishcoaching.co/learn-english/everyday-english/talking-to-your-childs-school/ · Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Answer key · Lesson 26: Talking to your child's school
A. Key phrases
- I'm Leo's mum. He's in Year 3.
- He'll be absent tomorrow. He's unwell.
- How is he going in class?
- Is there anything we can do at home?
- He's been finding maths a bit hard.
- Could we set up a time to talk?
- Who should I contact about the excursion?
- Thanks for all your help this term.
B. Conversation gaps
- must
- wanted
- reading
- great
- practice
- else
- together
- term
C. Quiz
- a) A school trip
- a) How is she going in class?
- b) Tell them through the school's app, a note or a call
- b) He's been finding maths a bit hard.
englishcoaching.co/learn-english/everyday-english/talking-to-your-childs-school/
Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Frequently asked questions
How do I teach talking to your child's school to adult English learners?
Start with a warm-up question, present the 8 key phrases with the recorded audio, play the conversation line by line, let learners role-play it with their own details, and finish with the quiz. The teacher notes on this page give timings for a 60-minute class.
What level is this lesson?
Confident level, about CEFR B1. It is lesson 26 of 42 in our free Everyday English course, so you can follow the course week by week or pick the topics your learners need.
Do learners need an account?
No. Learners can do the same lesson at home for free, with no sign-up, at /learn-english/everyday-english/talking-to-your-childs-school/. Their progress is saved only on their own device.
Can I print the worksheet?
Yes. Press 'Print the worksheet' to print it or save it as a PDF on A4 paper. It has the key phrases and the conversation with gaps, the quiz, space for learners' own sentences and an answer key on a separate page.
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