MODULE 1

Friends and Family

Unit Goals
  • Meet and Introduce People
  • Spell Names and Words
  • Describe People
  • Present Your Family
  • Give Personal Information
Grammar
  • Present Tense of be
    I’m Kim. They’re Maria and Lola.
  • Be + Adjective
    They’re young. Is John single?
  • Questions with be and Short Answers
    Are you married?
    Yes, I am. / No, I’m not.
Vocabulary
  • Greetings and Introductions
  • Names and Spelling
  • Adjectives to Describe People
  • Family Members
Listening
  • Listening for General Understanding and Specific Information: Conversations around School
Speaking and Pronunciation
  • Meeting People and Introducing Yourself
Reading
  • A Family of Explorers
Writing
  • Filling out Personal Information
  • Capital Letters
Video Journal

My Name
In this video from National Geographic Learning, author Taiye Selasi talks about her name, what it means, and how it came to be.

MODULE 2

Jobs around the World

Unit Goals
  • Identify Jobs
  • Ask about Jobs
  • Talk about Cities and Countries
  • Compare Jobs
  • Interview People
Grammar
  • Negative Present of be; Indefinite Articles
    He isn’t a doctor. Pat’s an artist.
  • Be + Adjective + Noun
    Russia is a big country.
Vocabulary
  • Jobs
  • Numbers
  • Cities, Countries, and Continents
Listening
  • Focused Listening and Listening for Specific Information: A Conversation about the Jobs of Two National Geographic Explorers
Speaking and Pronunciation
  • Asking about Jobs
  • Asking for and Giving Personal Information
  • Interviewing a Classmate
  • Describing Places Around the World
  • Numbers
Reading
  • Women at Work
Writing
  • Writing and Performing an Interview
  • Punctuation Marks
Video Journal

A Contact Job
In this video from National Geographic, contact juggler Okotappe shows off his skills in Tokyo, Japan.

MODULE 3

Houses and Apartments

Unit Goals
  • Talk about Rooms
  • Compare Houses
  • Say Where Objects Are
  • Give Your Opinion
  • Describe Your Home
Grammar
  • There is / There are; Singular and Plural Nouns
    There are three bedrooms. Is there a garage?
  • Prepositions of Place: in, on, under, next to, between
    Your magazine is under your bag.
Vocabulary
  • Places in a Home
  • Furniture and Household Objects
Listening
  • Listening for General Understanding and Specific Details: People Talking about Their Homes
Speaking and Pronunciation
  • Describing Your Home
  • Saying Where Things Are
  • Syllables and Stressed Syllables
Reading
  • Home Sweet Home?
Writing
  • Writing a Description of Your Home
Video Journal

A Day in the Life of a Lighthouse Keeper
This video from the National Geographic Short Film Showcase follows a day in the life of a lighthouse keeper in Uruguay.

MODULE 4

Possessions

Unit Goals
  • Ask about Possessions
  • Present a Special Object
  • Talk about What You Have
  • Identify Similarities and Differences
  • Thank Someone for a Present
Grammar
  • Demonstratives
    Are these your books? That is not your bag.
  • Possession
    It’s Jim’s bag.
  • Have, Has
    She has a phone.
Vocabulary
  • Personal Possessions
  • Opinion Adjectives
Listening
  • Listening for Specific Information: A Conversation about a Surprising Art Find
Speaking and Pronunciation
  • Talking about Personal Possessions
  • Talking about Giving Gifts
  • Talking about a Special Object
  • /i/ and /I/ Sounds
Reading
  • My Room
Writing
  • Short Emails and Messages
Video Journal

Tyler Bikes Across America
This video shows bicyclist and photographer Tyler Metcalfe’s journey across the United States—on his bike.

MODULE 5

Daily Activities

Unit Goals
  • Tell Time
  • Compare People’s Daily Routines
  • Talk about Activities at Work and School
  • Present a Report
  • Give Advice and Instructions
Grammar
  • Simple Present
    They get up at 7 o’clock.
  • Simple Present Questions and Answers
    Do you go to class every day? Yes, I do.
  • Adverbs of Frequency: always, sometimes, never
    I never answer the phone.
  • Imperatives
Vocabulary
  • Daily Activities
  • Telling Time
  • Work and School Activities
  • Time Expressions
Listening
  • Listening for General Understanding and Specific Details: A Podcast about the Day of a “Super Commuter”
  • Falling Intonation on Statements and Information Questions
Speaking and Pronunciation
  • Asking and Answering Questions about Work or School Activities and Daily Routines
  • Discussing and Giving Advice
Reading
  • Screen Time
Writing
  • Writing a To-Do List
Video Journal

Around the World in 24 Hours
This video journey shows what people are doing around the world at different times of day.

MODULE 6

Getting Around

Unit Goals
  • Ask For and Give Directions
  • Create a Tour
  • Compare Types of Transportation
  • Plan a Bicycle Day
  • Give Advice to Travelers
Grammar
  • Prepositions of Place and Movement
    Turn left and walk for two blocks.
    The hotel is across from the park.
    Go up the stairs.
  • Have to
    She has to change buses.
Vocabulary
  • Places Around a Town or City
  • Directions
  • Ground Transportation
Listening
  • Listening for Specific Information: A Walking Tour of Paraty, Brazil
Speaking and Pronunciation
  • Asking for and Giving Directions
  • Quizzing Classmates about Your City or Country
  • Yes / No Questions and Short Answers
Reading
  • A City that Bans Cars on Sundays
Writing
  • Writing a Reply to a Message Describing What to Do in Your City
  • Connectors (and, but, because)
Video Journal

Star Wars on the Subway
This video features Improv Everywhere—a group of performers who try to make people laugh and have fun in public places—performing the movie Star Wars… on the subway.

MODULE 7

Free Time

Unit Goals
  • Identify Activities Happening Now
  • Make a Phone Call
  • Talk about Abilities
  • Explain How to Play Something
  • Interview People
Grammar
  • Present Continuous
    I’m not watching TV. I’m reading.
  • Can for Ability
    He can’t play the guitar. He can sing.
Vocabulary
  • Pastimes
  • Sports
Listening
  • Listening for Specific Information: Telephone Conversations in Different Situations
Speaking and Pronunciation
  • Having a Phone Conversation
  • Asking and Answering Questions to Fill Out an Application Form and Do a Job Interview
  • Connected Speech
  • Question Forms (simple present, present continuous, questions with can)
Reading
  • Hybrid Sports
Writing
  • Writing a Job Application Form
Video Journal

Danny’s Challenge
This video from National Geographic shows stunt cyclist Danny MacAskill as he does tricks on the streets of Edinburgh, Scotland.

MODULE 8

Clothes

Unit Goals
  • Ask about Clothes
  • Buy Clothes
  • Express Likes and Dislikes
  • Talk about Personal Qualities
  • Describe Your Favorites
Grammar
  • Can/ Could for Polite Requests
    Can I try on these shoes?
  • Object Pronouns
    I love them! / She hates it.
Vocabulary
  • Colors
  • Clothes
  • Likes and Dislikes
Listening
  • Listening for Specific Details: Listening to People Shopping for Clothes
Speaking and Pronunciation
  • Describing Clothes
  • Describing Likes and Dislikes
  • Playing a Game about Your Favorite Things
  • Could you…? (Polite Requests)
Reading
  • What Does the Color of Your Clothes Say about You?
Writing
  • Writing about Favorites (Paragraphs)
Video Journal

A Dress with a Story
This video from National Geographic’s Short Film Showcase shows a group of women in Sardinia, Italy, who wear and work on one dress for their entire lives.

MODULE 9

Food

Unit Goals
  • Order a Meal
  • Plan a Party
  • Describe Your Diet
  • Solve a Problem
  • Explain How To Do Something
Grammar
  • Some and Any
    There’s some ice cream in the fridge.
  • Count and Non-count Nouns
  • How much / How many
    How many oranges do we need?
    How much chocolate do we have?
Vocabulary
  • Food
  • Meals
  • Containers
  • Quantities
  • Food Groups
Listening
  • Listening for Specific Details: Conversation to Confirm a Shopping List for a Party
Speaking and Pronunciation
  • Planning a Party
  • Talking about Your Diet
  • Discussing a “How To” List
Reading
  • Food Waste
Writing
  • Writing a “How To” List
  • Giving Examples
Video Journal

Berry Road Trip
This video from National Geographic shows the journey that strawberries take from farm to customer, and the resources that this journey requires.

MODULE 10

Health

Unit Goals
  • Identify Parts of the Body and Say How You Feel
  • Ask about Health Problems
  • Give Advice on Health Remedies
  • Explain a Process
  • Describe Healthy Living
Grammar
  • Review of Simple Present
    My back hurts.
  • Feel, Look + Adjective
    John looks terrible. I feel sick.
  • Should (for advice)
    You should take an aspirin.
Vocabulary
  • Parts of the Body
  • Common Illnesses and Health Problems
  • Remedies
Listening
  • Listening for General Understanding and Specific Details: Describing Symptoms to a Doctor
Speaking and Pronunciation
  • Describing Symptoms and Illnesses
  • Giving Advice
  • Talking about How to Live a Long and Healthy Life
  • Sound and Spelling
Reading
  • A Life-Saving Delivery
Writing
  • Writing a Paragraph about Mental Health
  • Sequencing and Adding Information
Video Journal

What Makes You Happy?
This video from National Geographic shows what makes people happy around the world and spotlights three of the happiest countries: Costa Rica, Denmark, and Singapore.

MODULE 11

Making Plans

Unit Goals
  • Plan Special Days
  • Describe a National Holiday
  • Make Life Plans
  • Compare Festivals
  • Invite People
Grammar
  • Be going to
    What are you going to do?
    We are going to have a party.
  • Would like to for Wishes
    I would like to be a doctor.
Vocabulary
  • Special Days and Plans
  • Months of the Year
  • Holidays
  • Professions
Listening
  • Listening for General Understanding and Specific Details: Holiday Traditions
Speaking and Pronunciation
  • Talking about Celebrating Holidays
  • Talking about Life Plans
  • Inviting People to Events
  • Be going to (Reduced Form)
Reading
  • Spring Festivals
Writing
  • Writing an Invitation
  • More Formal and Less Formal Writing
Video Journal

Catching a Hummingbird
This video from National Geographic follows photographer Anand Varma as he plans a project to film a hummingbird, and then shows the beautiful result.

MODULE 12

On the Move

Unit Goals
  • Talk about Your Past
  • Ask about the Past
  • Describe a Vacation
  • Compare the Past and Present
  • Give Biographical Information
Grammar
  • Simple Past
    We went to the mountains.
    He moved from San Francisco to New York.
  • Simple Past Questions
    Was he born in 2001?
    Where did you live?
  • Verbs + Prepositions of Movement
Vocabulary
  • Going on Vacation
Listening
  • Listening for General Understanding and Specific Details: An Interview with Archaeologist Chris Thornton
Speaking and Pronunciation
  • Describing a Vacation
  • Giving Biographical Information
  • -ed Endings
Reading
  • On the Move: Humans and Animals
Writing
  • Writing a Biography
  • Time Expressions and Linking Words
Video Journal

Leaving Antarctica
In this video from National Geographic, a man who was born in Antarctica talks about how much it has changed and discusses his reasons for leaving.

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