How Children Grow

How Children Grow

Introduction
Growth Milestones
Activity 1
Activity 2
Listening
Activity 3
Activity 4
At the doctor's
Activity 1
Activity 2
Activity 3
Arranging meetings
Activity 1
Activity 2
Activity 3
Activity 4
Listening
A brief note
Activity 1
Listening
Activity 2
Listening
Checking a phone message
Activity 1
Activity 2
Activity 3

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How Children Grow

Introduction

Growing up...

In this unit we will see:

how children change as they grow up

making appointments
talking to parents

At the end of the unit we will be able to:

identify the main ideas in the message

identify the terminology used
demonstrate understanding through grammatical, lexical and discourse competence
understand simple recorded messages
describe brief facts related to the profession
correctly use the job-related terminology

The activities in this unit provide you with the knowledge you need to carry out the final tasks.

(*) Banco de imágenes del MEC

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How Children Grow

Growth Milestones

Reading for general understanding

A "growth milestone" is a point in the child's life where we expect the children to be able to do
certain things. For example we can say that a growth milestone can be the moment the child learns
to walk.

Read the following text about how children grow from 6 months to 36 months. Then answer the
questions in the activities:

Development

6 months

The baby will begin to look for a toy dropped out of sight.

Continues to grasp and put objects into their mouths, but can now transfer small objects from
one hand to another.

Six-month-old babies try to pick up small objects but can't yet because their finger coordination
is not precise enough.

Shows that they are not happy when they lose a toy.

Is able to recognize each parent and may even begin to show some stranger anxiety.

9 months

Learns to creep and crawl.

Responds to his or her own name.

Understands a few words such as "no-no" and "bye-bye.

Sleeps through the night except for an occasional night wakening.

The baby of this age does not like being examined by their doctor.

12 months

Plays social games such as peek-a-boo.

Bangs two blocks together.

Drinks from a cup.

Waves 'bye-bye'.

Feeds himself or herself.

Loves music, rhythms, and rhymes.

Will begin to cooperate a little in getting dressed by holding still.

18 months

Walks fast, walks up stairs with one hand held, kicks a ball.

Understands simple directions.

Shows affection by kissing parents.

Will sit for a short time and look at pictures in a book.

24 months

Climbs up steps alone.

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How Children Grow

Jumps off the floor with both feet.

Opens doors.

Climbs on furniture.

Asks frequent questions: 'What is that?'

36 months

Can name pictures in a book.

Knows his or her own name, age and sex.

Can jump in place and stand briefly on one foot.

Activity 1

Look at the text again and try to put the different growth milestones in the correct order from 1 to 7.
Start with number 1 - what they can do first of all and go all the way to number 7 - what they can do
last of all.

Ordena

Order the development milestones from 1 to 7.

Try to pick up small objects but can't yet because their finger
coordination is not precise enough

Wave

Find an object placed out of sight

Sit for a short time and look at pictures in a book

Can jump in place and stand briefly on one foot

Opens doors

The child will look for a toy after you put it under a blanket

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How Children Grow

Activity 2

What did they say?

Many words or expressions sound very similar but have a different meaning. Listen to the audio
and decide which word or expression you have heard.

Audio

Elige la correcta

1. What did you hear?

Look for a toy

Look for a boy

2. What did you hear?

A few birds

A few words

3. What did you hear?

Sleeps through the night

Slips through the night

4. What did you hear?

Dreams of a club

Drinks from a cup

5. What did you hear?

Feeds himself or herself

Feels himself or herself

6. What did you hear?

Understands simple directions

Understand simple dimensions

7. What did you hear?

Climbs up stairs

Climbs up stars

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How Children Grow

Listening

What did they say?

Listen to the audio and read the text

1. Look for a boy

2. A few words
3. Slips through the night
4. Drinks from a cup
5. Feels himself or herself
6. Understands simple dimensions
7. Climbs up stairs

Audio

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How Children Grow

Activity 3

Synonyms

Look at the vocabulary from the text on growth milestones and match them to their synonyms.

Relaciona

Match the words with similar meanings

look at look for

search grasp

mother or father precise

pick up/ hold parent

out of view occasionally

not moving holding still

answers responds

sometimes feed

accurate examine

give food out of sight

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How Children Grow

Activity 4

Write your answers

Read these 7 comments made by parents talking about their children and fill in the blanks.

Completa

examined feed naming

occasionally usually kicking
stranger furniture

1. My son sleeps through the night but he

wakes up
2. When he sees his mother he smiles but when a
picks him up he cries
3. Now my son is 24 months old he climbs on the
4. My son is going to be a football player. He loves

the ball around the house

5. My son loves pictures in books about animals
6. Now that my son is 12 months old he wants to
himself at dinner time
7. My son cries a lot when he is by the doctor

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How Children Grow

At the doctor's

Conversation

Parents often have questions related to the development of their children. Here we have a
conversation between a mother and her child's pediatrician. Read the conversation and then do the
following activity.

Pediatrician: Good morning.

Mother: Hello, good morning.
Pediatrician: How is your little girl?
Mother: Well, I am worried because she is 2 years old and she still wears a nappy.
What can I do?
Pediatrician: This is perfectly normal at this age. Don't worry.
Mother: But the other boys and girls at nursery don't need a nappy.
Pediatrician: Every child is different.
Mother: I know, but...
Pediatrician (interrupting): Every child develops at a different rate. If you like, I can give
you a list of basic development milestones, but don't concern yourself too much.
Mother: Thank you very much
Pediatrician: See you in 12 months time. You need to make an appointmenrt in
reception.

Relaciona

Look again at the conversation between the mother and the pediatrician. Try to find the
words or expression with a similar meaning.

in 12 months time I am concerned

don't concern yourself the other children

the other boys and girls diaper

if you like velocity

develoment milestones if you want

rate development levels

nappy don't worry

I am worried in a year

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How Children Grow

Activity 1

Listening

Read the text again and listen to the audio at the same time

Pediatrician: Good morning.

Mother: Hello, good morning.
Pediatrician: How is your little girl?
Mother: Well, I am worried because she is 2 years old and she still wears a nappy.
What can I do?
Pediatrician: This is perfectly normal at this age. Don't worry.
Mother: But the other boys and girls at nursery don't need a nappy.
Pediatrician: Every child is different.
Mother: I know, but...
Pediatrician (interrupting): Every child develops at a different rate. If you like, I can give
you a list of basic development milestones, but don't concern yourself too much.
Mother: Thank you very much
Pediatrician: See you in 12 months time. You need to make an appointmenrt in
reception.

Audio

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How Children Grow

Activity 2

What did the mother say?

The following text is similar to the conversation at the doctor's. Fill in the gaps with suitable words
from the list.

Completa

play school are growing carry out

provide you with How is different
concerned worry infant doctor
diaper challenge

Parents often have questions related to how their children

.
Here we have a conversation between a mother and her child's
.
Read the conversation and then the following
activity:
Pediatrician: Good morning.
Mother: Hello, good morning.
Pediatrician: your little girl?
Mother: Well, I am because she is 2 years old
and she still wears a . What can I do?
Pediatrician: This is perfectly normal at this age. Don't worry.
Mother: But the other boys and girls at don't
need a nappy.
Pediatrician: Every child is different.
Mother: I know, but...
Pediatrician (interrupting): Every child develops at a different
rate. If you like, I can a list of basic
development milestones, but don't too much.
Mother: Thank you very much
Pediatrician: See you in 12 months time. You need to make an
appointment in reception

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How Children Grow

Activity 3

Listen to the conversation

Parents often have questions related to how their children are growing.
Here we have a conversation between a mother and her child's infant doctor.
Read the conversation and then carry out the following activity:

Pediatrician: Good morning.

Mother: Hello, good morning.
Pediatrician: How is your little girl?
Mother: Well, I am concerned because she is 2 years old and she still wears a diaper.
What can I do?
Pediatrician: This is perfectly normal at this age. Don't worry.
Mother: But the other boys and girls at playschool don't need a diaper.
Pediatrician: Every child is different.
Mother: I know, but...
Pediatrician (interrupting): Every child develops at a different rate. If you like, I can
provide you with a list of basic development milestones, but don't worry too much.
Mother: Thank you very much
Pediatrician: See you in 12 months time. You need to make an appointment in reception

Audio

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How Children Grow

Arranging meetings

There are different ways to talk about meetings.

It depends on the type of meeting and the level of formality.

'To arrange is an expression used as to arrange a formal exchange of information

a meeting' for work.

'To make an is an expression used to arrange a professional reunion where one

appointment' person provides a service for the other. (doctor, dentist, lawyer).

is an informal expression used to reserve a time space for eating (table

'To book'
at a restaurant), sleeping (hotel room), playing sports (a tennis court).

'To make a
is a very formal expression used in a similar way as 'to book'.
reservation'

is an expression which is not used to arrange a formal meeting - it is

'To meet'
usually used to arrange informal meetings with friends.

(*) Banco de imágenes del MEC

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How Children Grow

Activity 1

See you later

Read the different definitions on the previous page.

The following exercise contains 6 parts of different conversations.
Match them to their corresponding titles.

Relaciona

Match the following converstions to the correct titles

Make a hotel Yes, Doctor Smith can

reservation see you on Tuesday at
10:30 in the morning
Go on a date See you outside the
cinema at 6:30 on
Saturday evening
Book a table So that's dinner for two
on Friday at 8 o'clock

Meet a friend On Friday at 10 o'clock in

the morning so I will take
the early train and a taxi
Arrange a meeting Two to yourarriving
nights office on
7th November and
leaving on 9th November
Make an appointment See you in the pub!

Activity 2

IN / AT / ON

We can often get confused with the prepositions of time IN, AT and ON. Click on the word
prepositions to open a file explaining all about these difficulties.
Read the text on prepositions and then choose the best prepositions to make the conversation
make sense.

Completa el texto

Can we have a meeting in my ofice Monday? Monday is O.K for me, but do you want to meet
Seleccione un valor on in at

the morning or in the afternoon? The morning is better for me because

Seleccione un valor on in at June the office Seleccione un valor on in at

closes at 13:00. What time suits you best? 10 o'clock. Ok. See you on Monday, in the
Seleccione un valor on in at

morning, at ten o'clock. Goodbye

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How Children Grow

Activity 3

Days of the week

Click on the link days and months and read the information about days of the week and months of
the year. Then do the activity that follows

Verdadero o falso

Read the following sentences and decide if they are true of false

Verdadero Falso

Most British calendar weeks start on Sunday and finish on

Saturday

Never write the days of the week with a capital letter in

English

Thursday is the day before Friday

Saturday and Sunday are the weekend

Some months are exactly the same in English as in Spanish

January is the last month of the year

The shortest month of the year is January

October is the eighth month of the year

Activity 4

Listen to each meeting

Listen to the six different conversations about meetings and then rewrite the text filling in the gaps
so it is the same as the audio.

Audio

Contesta

1. Yes, Doctor Smith can see you .....

2. See you outside the cinema .....
3. So that's dinner for two .....
4. ..... so I will take the early train and a taxi to your office.
5. Two nights arriving ...... and leaving .....
6. See you .....

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How Children Grow

Listening

Listen to the audio and read the text

1. Yes, Doctor Smith can see you on Tuesday at 10:30 in the morning.
2. See you outside the cinema at 6:30 on Saturday evening.
3. So that's dinner for two on Friday at 8 o'clock.
4. On Friday at 10 o'clock in the morning so I will take the early train and a taxi to your office.
5. Two nights arriving on 7th November and leaving on 9th November.
6. See you in the pub!

Audio

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How Children Grow

A brief note

Read the note

When a child starts at an infant school, you will need to

find out information about the child regarding such things
as name, address, contacts, allergies, illnesses.

You will be required to arrange meetings and talk to

parents about their children

You receive this brief note from a colleague at work.

(*) Banco de imágenes del MEC

Could you send an email to Shirley Patterson?

When she filled out the application form, she missed out some important information.
In the attachment marked 'application form' you will see the missing information I have
circled.
Ask her for the missing information.
Thanks

Click on the link marked application form and then ask the questions.

Application form

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How Children Grow

Activity 1

Write the correct questions

You will be given a series of answers to which you must match the correct questions?

Relaciona

Join the answer to the question.

Yes, he can't eat fish. What is your name?

He is fine, thanks. How old is your son?

Can I leave a message? How is your son?

My name is Mary. Does he have any

alergies?

7, Haverley Road. What is your address?

At seven. What time do you open in

the morning?

He is 24 months old. How can I help you?

Listening

Read and listen

Read and listen to the questions and answers. Concentrate on the pronunciation and stress
patterns of the questions.

What is your name? My name is Mary.

How old is your son? He is 24 months old.
How is your son? He is fine, thanks
Does he have any alergies? Yes, he can't eat fish
What is your address? 7, Haverley Road.
What time do you open in the morning? At seven.
How can I help you? Can I leave a message?

Audio

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How Children Grow

Activity 2

Spelling is an important skill in English. Practise the related contents about spelling, alphabet and
phonetics.

Listen to the five different people spell out their names.

Audio

Contesta

1. M.A._.Y S._._.T.H.
2. J._._.N E._._._.R.D.S
3. N._._.L J._._._.S
4. E._._.I.E J._._.K._._.N
5. S._._._._ P._.T._.R.S

Listening

Listen to the audio and read the text

1. M.A.R.Y S.M.I.T.H
2. J.O.H.N E.D.W.A.R.D.S
3. N.E.I.L J.O.N.E.S
4. E.L.L.I.E J.A.C.K.S.O.N
5. S.A.L.L.Y P.E.T.E.R.S

Audio

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How Children Grow

Checking a phone message

Fill in the application form

Part of your work will be to speak to the parents of the

children. This means that you will have to listen to
messages, check messages and phone back.

Click on the link called phone talk and familiarise yourself

with the language and then listen to the phone message
and answer the questions.

(*) Joaquín Santamaría Morales, Banco imágenes MEC.

Audio

Elige la correcta

What is your home phone number?

01242 860255

01242 682055

01242 680255

What is your mobile number?

6082 532928

6082 523298

6082 523928

What is your work number?

01424 705256

01242 680255

01242 705256

What is your child's date of birth?

22/05

02/04

22/03

What type of place do you require?

full time

part time

How many days a week do you require?

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How Children Grow

2 days a week

7 days a week

5 days a week
Activity 1

Listen to the audio and read the text

Phone Message from Shirley Patterson

Hello my name's Shirley Patterson,

Thanks for the email. I'm afraid my computer is not working so I decided to give you a
call. I'm sorry I didn't fill in all the information on the application form. So, here are the
answers to your questions. My home phone number is 01242 680255 and my mobile
number is 6082 523928 and my work number is 01242 705256 and you can get me on
extension 12. Carla was born on 22nd May of this year. I need 5 days a week from
Monday to Friday starting at half past eight and picking her up at half past four so I
suppose that is full time. My child has no allergies but I am a bit worried because Carla
is six months old and she cannot drink from a cup.

Audio

Activity 2

Drinking from a cup

In the message Mrs. Patterson said something about

drinking from a cup.

Listen to the message again.

Tell her not to worry about the cup and tell her to arrange a
meeting with the class tutor before her daughter starts
school.

(*) Banco de imágenes del MEC

Audio

Completa el texto

Hello Mrs. Patterson,

In your message you mentioned that your daughter could not drink from a . Do not as Seleccione un valor cup bottle Seleccione un valor worry bother

she is only six months old and children do not start to drink from a cup until they are old. You Seleccione un valor twelve months nine months

will need to with Carla's teacher (Elizabeth) so you can talk about the class routines and you
Seleccione un valor arrange a meeting book

can tell her about Carla in more detail. Could you come Friday afternoon 5 o'clock? If
Seleccione un valor on in at Seleccione un valor on in at

that is not possible, then you could call any time the morning Monday.
Seleccione un valor in on at Seleccione un valor in on at

Thank you very much.

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How Children Grow

Activity 3

Which sentence is correct

After reading the phone talk sheet and listening to the audio, decide which of the following
sentences are correct.

Audio

Verdadero o falso

Verdadero Falso

This is John Smith speaking.

Could you ask her/him to me back?

Could we arrange a meeting for next Tuesday?

Mary here at the moment.

Could you speak a little louder, please?

Could you spell that for me, please?

I'll put you.

Could I speak Mary, please?

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