Family and friends are the people who shape our daily lives, so they make a warm, natural topic for any conversation. Everyone has stories to share here, and there are no wrong answers — just let your student talk about the people who matter to them.
⏱ About 60 minutes🎯 All levels (questions are leveled)📋 No prep — tap 🔊 to hear any phrase
Before you start tutor prep
This lesson is ready to teach as-is. Take two minutes to skim it, then open the call and follow the sections in order. Here is a quick checklist:
Have this page open in a tab you can scroll while you talk.
Check your microphone and the student's audio with a friendly hello.
Be ready to share your screen if the student wants to see the words or the dialogue.
Tap any 🔊 button to play a clean model of a word or phrase — use it whenever the student wants to hear something again.
Keep a simple chat box handy to type new words the student finds tricky.
Mindset: Families come in many shapes — big, small, blended, close, far away, or chosen friends who feel like family. Be gentle and let the student choose how much to share. If a question feels too personal, smile, move on, and let them lead.
1 · Warm-up 5 min
Start with a few easy questions to relax the student and warm up their English. Ask one, listen, and react naturally before moving on.
Do you have a big family or a small family?
Do you have a best friend?
Who do you see most often — family or friends?
Did you talk to anyone in your family today?
Tip: Answer one or two questions about yourself first. Sharing a little about your own family or friends makes the student feel safe to share too.
2 · Key words & phrases 8 min
Read each word together. Tap 🔊 to hear it, then have the student repeat and try it in a short sentence.
familyMy family lives in Taichung.
parentsMy parents both like to cook.
brotherMy brother is older than me.
sisterMy sister and I share a room.
grandparentsWe visit my grandparents on weekends.
relativesMany relatives come for the New Year.
best friendMy best friend is very kind.
to get alongWe get along really well.
to spend timeI like to spend time with my family.
kindMy grandmother is very kind.
funnyMy friend is so funny.
"I have ___ brothers and sisters"I have two brothers and one sister.
"We like to ___ together"We like to cook together on Sundays.
Tip: Don't drill every word. Pick the ones the student wants and let them build a real sentence about their own life — that's where the speaking practice happens.
3 · Read & talk 8 min
Read this short conversation between two friends. You take A, the student takes B. Then switch roles. Tap 🔊 to hear any line.
A:
Do you have a big family?
B:
Not really. I have one sister and my parents.
A:
Do you get along with your sister?
B:
Yes, most of the time. She is really funny.
A:
What do you like to do together?
B:
We like to watch movies and eat snacks. How about you?
A:
I spend a lot of time with my best friend. We grew up together.
B:
That is nice. What makes a good best friend?
A:
Someone who is kind and always listens to you.
B:
I agree. Good friends feel like family.
Tip: After reading, ask the student which line is true for them. Turning the script into real answers is the goal — the dialogue is just a warm starting point.
4 · Let's talk 12 min
Pick questions that fit the student's level. Let them answer in full sentences, and gently ask "Why?" or "Tell me more" to keep them talking. Everything here is optional — they share only what they want.
BEGINNER
Who is in your family?
Do you have brothers or sisters?
What is your best friend's name?
Is your family big or small?
INTERMEDIATE
What do you like to do with your family?
How often do you see your best friend?
Who in your family makes you laugh?
What do you and your friends usually talk about?
ADVANCED
How has your relationship with your family changed as you got older?
What do you think makes a friendship last a long time?
Is it easier to talk to family or to friends? Why?
How do friendships in Taiwan compare to what you've seen of other cultures?
Tip: If the student gives a short answer, repeat it back as a full sentence and add one follow-up question. This models good English and invites more talking.
5 · Going deeper 10 min
Once the student is comfortable, move into richer questions. These ask them to describe and explain, which stretches their speaking.
BEGINNER
Tell me about one person you love. What are they like?
Is your best friend kind? Funny?
What is one fun thing you did with family or friends?
INTERMEDIATE
Describe a family member or friend you really admire.
What do you think makes a good friend?
Tell me about a happy memory with family or friends.
ADVANCED
Describe someone you love and explain how they have shaped who you are.
What qualities matter most in a true friend, and why?
Share a memory that means a lot to you, and explain why it stays with you.
Tip: Give the student thinking time before they answer the memory questions. A few quiet seconds is normal — resist filling the silence so they can build a real answer.
6 · Activity — describe a person 10 min
This activity turns vocabulary into real description. The student describes someone they care about, and you listen closely.
Ask the student to think of one family member or friend (they choose who).
The student describes that person — what they look like, what they are like, and what they do together.
As they talk, ask gentle questions ("What color is their hair?" "What do you do together?") or try to picture or draw the person from their words.
At the end, describe the person back to the student and check: "Did I get it right?"
If there's time, switch — you describe someone, and the student asks you questions.
This is my ___.
They are very ___ and ___.
We like to ___ together.
One thing I love about them is ___.
Tip: The drawing doesn't need to be good — a stick figure is perfect. The fun of "Did I get it right?" gives the student a real reason to use clear, detailed English.
7 · Wrap-up 5 min
Close warmly and help the student feel their progress. Try these:
Ask: "What are two new words you learned today?"
Have the student say one full sentence about their family or a friend.
Give one specific compliment ("Your description of your sister was really clear!").
Give a tiny "homework" idea: tell one family member or friend one thing in English before next time.
Thank them and say you enjoyed hearing about the people they care about.
Tip: End on something they did well. Students remember how a lesson felt, and a warm, encouraging close makes them want to come back and keep speaking.
🧭 Tutor notes
Quick reminders for tailoring this lesson to your student in the moment:
BEGINNER
Speak slowly and use short questions.
Accept single words and help shape them into sentences.
Lean on the 🔊 buttons and lots of repetition.
INTERMEDIATE
Push for full sentences and one detail per answer.
Ask "Why?" and "Tell me more" often.
Gently correct one or two key errors, not everything.
ADVANCED
Ask open, comparing questions and let them lead.
Introduce a richer word or phrase when it fits.
Talk less yourself — aim for the student speaking most of the time.
Most important: This topic touches real people and real feelings. Stay warm, follow the student's comfort, and never push for details they hold back. A safe, kind conversation will teach more English than any perfect script.
