English Where are you from?

Pedagogical Module 1
Curricular threads: Communication and Cultural Awareness,
Oral Communication, Reading, Writing, Language Through the Arts

Second Course BGU

Diphthongs 5 6 DNA and heritage

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Family vocabulary 4 7 Family history

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Time sequencers

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History of piñatas

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Story

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Present perfect 2 Behind

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Latin American

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traditions
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Simple past

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Values

Socioemotional Handling Social

12 skills 11 emotions 10 relationships

Genealogy Is Family History

A family tree is an illustration that shows how
a person is linked by blood or marriage to his
or her relatives, whether living or dead.
Genealogy is the science of determining who
belongs to a particular family tree.
Genealogy is interesting in its own right:
all of us want to know who our relatives are.
It is also important for certain legal matters.
For example, genealogy plays an important role
in laws about inheritance. In cases where the line
of descent is not clear, a genealogist determines
who inherits any property. Sometimes people
try to falsify their family connections in order
to inherit property or because they want the
status of being part of a distinguished family.
It is the duty of the genealogist to make sure
that the family tree is drawn accurately: false
branches are unacceptable.
Genealogy is also important because
it allows families to understand themselves
better. To climb your family tree, you must
start with yourself.

• What do you know about your family? Have you gotten any information about
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your ancestors? Have you met your grandparents or great-grandparents?

• Is genealogy important to your family?

• What about your country? Is genealogy important in your community?

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 Lesson A

Communication and Cultural Awareness

Where are you from? And your parents? And your grandparents?

“Where I’m From” by Melanie Poonai

Read the poem “Where I’m From” written by Melanie Poonai.
This writer was a winner of Foyle Young Poets.

I am a life filled with colour,

From the chocolate brown that is my skin.
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I am from the sunshine yellow of my mother’s laugh,

Aum symbol
Tip
Notice the spelling of the word
“colour” in this poem. This
is the British spelling. Many
other words that end in -or in
American English end in -our
in British English, like flavour,
neighbour, favour, labour.
From the red and white of my brother’s
favourite football shirt. I am from the crisp
new white pages of a book, From the miserable
grey of the street I live on. I am from green,
pink and yellow; My garden in summer
filled with flowers, From the terrifying black
of the nightmares that haunt me.
I am from the ginger orange of my buried cat,
From the blue and gold of my ever-shot school tie.
I am from the dark oak of my grandmother’s coffin,
From the golden “Aum” pendant around my neck.
I am from every pink scar etched into my body,
From the red, orange and brown of the hot curry.
I am from every identical colour of the twins I love,
From the blue and green of a hospital ward.
I am from all that has happened,
And all that will be.

Answer the following questions from the poem considering that

Melanie Poonai is the main character. Then compare your answers with
a partner and share them with your class.

a. Where does she live?

b. What does she look like?

c. Is her cat alive?

d. What is her brother’s favorite sport?

e. Is her mother alive?

f. Can you deduce where she is from?

g. Write down all the family members she mentions in this poem.
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 Oral Communication
Meeting an Old Friend

• Have you recently met

someone you hadn’t seen
for a long time?

• Why hadn’t you seen

this person?

Grammar Note
Past simple vs.
Present perfect
The present perfect
is used to talk about
a past action or experience
within a time frame that
includes the present.
I have watched six different
movies this year.

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Have you ever been
to Colombia? Two friends saying hi in the street

The simple past is used

when there is a definitive Listen to the conversation between two old friends and answer the
beginning and end to an questions that follow.
action in the past. a. For how long has Steven not seen Selina?

I visited Riobamba for

the first time in 2005. b. For how long has Selina been back in her hometown?
Last Saturday, Jane
went to the movies
c. Mention two reasons why Selina returned to her hometown.
with her friends.

d. Has Steven gotten married?

e. How many kids does Steven have?

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f. How do they plan to keep in contact?

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Language Through the Arts
Social Studies

Do you know your family’s history?

My Family Tree

Step 1: Before you start building your family tree, it

is essential to interview your grandparents or older
relatives and ask them about your family ancestors.
Here are some topics you can ask them about:

a. Places where your family has lived and your

family’s religious history
b. Schools they went to
c. Their father, mother, brothers, and sisters
d. Your paternal grandfather and grandmother

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e. Your maternal grandfather and grandmother
f. Great-grandparents and extended family
g. Any immigration in the family

If you don’t want to use your own family, you can

research information on a famous or fictional family
and do a tree for them.
Step 2: After gathering information about your
family, review the following abbreviations and
forms to explain connections on a family tree:
Step 3: Try to find some family photos you can
use to help illustrate your tree. If you don’t have
access to photos, clip pictures from a newspaper
or magazine that resemble your family members.
Illustrate your tree on poster board or any other
material you like. Be sure to decorate it like a tree.

b. = Born bap. = Baptized m. = Married

c. = Circa d. = Dead ad. = Adopted
bd. = Buried dv. = Divorced Step 4: Share your family tree with the class.

The short horizontal line between a man and Mother Father Stepmother Her husband
a woman indicates a marriage. The vertical lines
indicate children. Brother Me Half sister Stepsister

First Great- Great- Great-great- Great- Great-

Generation grandmother grandfather uncle grandmother grandfather

Second
Generation Grandmother Grandfather Grandmother Grandfather Great-aunt

Third
Generation Uncle Aunt Mother Father Aunt Uncle Aunt

Fourth Cousin’s First Brother Me Sister Brother First

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Generation spouse cousin in law cousin

Fifth First cousin Nephew Niece

Generation once removed

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 Oral Communication
John and Mary's Family

1. In pairs, observe the picture and tell your partner what you see.
Focus on the relationships between the members of the family.

2. Work with a partner and answer the questions.
a. Who are John and Mary? John and Mary are
Mike’s
b. Who is Ana? Ana is Mary’s
c. Who are Tim, Mike, and Ana? They are Mark’s
d. Who are Jane and Mark? They are Mike’s
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Have a conversation with your partner about
his/her family tree.
• Does it look like this one or do you have
other relationships?
• Do you think that all families are the same?
• What is a traditional family like vs.
a modern family?

e. Who is Mike? Mike is John’s

f. Who are Tim, Mike, Ana, Kate and Steve? They

are Mary’s
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g. Who is Steve? Steve is Jack’s

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 Lesson B

Communication and Cultural Awareness

Have you ever spent time with an indigenous family?

Living with an Indigenous Family

Jayson McNamara is an Australian journalist,
writer, and a TV production editor who lives Decide if the following statements are True (T)
in Buenos Aires. He is passionate about traveling or False (F) according to the reading.
and history. In his blog he shares his experience
True False
living with an indigenous family in Ecuador. He
says that South American indigenous communities 1. Indigenous families are only
are very distinct and provides some tips to keep one religion.
in mind when you live with an indigenous host
family in Ecuador. 2. The Pachamama is a god.

Faith 3. The Pachamama influences

In Ecuador, many types of mixed religious the harvest.
expressions are possible. They have their roots
4. Women have an important
in both history and nature, with the Spanish role in families.
having implanted their European religion and the
indigenous population having maintained a strong 5. In Otavalo, people believe
spiritual connection to the land. illness is caused by bacteria.

Pachamama
The Pachamama, otherwise known as Mother
Earth and also referred to as Mama Pacha,
is an Andean spiritual figure from ancient Incan Discuss the following questions with a partner.
society where she was considered the bearer of • Why do you think foreigners like to learn about
fertility, as seen in her influence over the harvests. Ecuadorian family culture?
Throughout the year in Ecuador, spiritual practices
• What do you know about indigenous families
in indigenous communities see the Pachamama in Ecuador?
help with good harvests.
• Would you like a foreigner to share time with
Gender your family for a couple of months?
Gender roles are different in indigenous • How do you think foreign families are different
families, especially when it comes to the role from families in Ecuador?
of women. Native women have important leadership
roles within indigenous families and communities,
taking charge of household finances, participating
actively in agriculture, and taking on the role
of curanderos, or spiritual healers.
Medicine
In indigenous Ecuador, traditional and natural
medicine dominates. They rely on a variety of plants Vocabulary
to cure common illnesses. In the culture of Otavalo, bearer. person who has or holds something
for example, people believe that illness is caused
harvest. when a person collects fruits and
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by four things: fright, evil wind, evil spirits,

vegetables that are ready to eat from the plants
or foreign objects.
fright. fear
Adapted from https://bit.ly/38ZyHNE

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Language Through the Arts
Social Studies

Have you ever played with a piñata?

The History of Piñatas

A piñata is a container that is decorated and filled with
sweets, toys, or fruit. It is often in the shape of a star, animal,
or popular character. The piñata has become a symbol
of Mexico and many countries in Latin America. However,
it actually has Chinese origins: the explorer Marco Polo
brought the Chinese tradition to Europe and a bishop named
Diego Soria brought the tradition to America. Towards
the end of the 1500s, Diego Soria gave Christian masses
during the eight days before Christmas, with the intention

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of spreading the religion to the natives of Mexico. The piñata
was a part of this religious mass, often filled with fruits.
People would try to break it with a wooden stick, because
they were considered free of sin if they were able to break
it open. The piñatas were in the shape of a star back then.
Piñatas became very popular shortly after that. In the UK,
piñatas often take the form of a donkey that is filled with
sweets. Some believe this represents a cruel image and that
piñatas should take other forms different from animals.
In modern times, piñatas are an important part of many
children’s parties in Latin America.
Source: British Council (2017). The history of piñatas. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/2QnZFZ0

• Have you ever hit a piñata? Where? When? Fix these incorrect sentences to make them correct
according to the reading.

• Piñatas first appeared in Latin America.

• The Jewish faith was the first to use piñatas.

• Imagine you could make your own piñata.
What shape and colors would you choose?
• Piñatas are often filled with money.

• In the US, piñatas are often shaped like donkeys.

• Now piñatas are an important part of parties

in China.
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Reading
Value: Socioemotional skills

Are you a good friend?

Friendship
You might think you are the perfect friend, but are
you really? Take this short test to find out. Read the • What is friendship?
questions and select one answer.
• Do you have a lot of friends or do you have
a small group of close friends?
1. You are at home a Saturday afternoon when your
friend calls you and says he/she is downtown and
has spent all his/her money and feels really ill. His/
her family is away for the day. You… Analyze the answers
a. go as quickly as you can to help your friend, Mostly As: You are a great friend, but don’t let your
even though it will take a long time on the bus friends take advantage of you.
to get into town.
Mostly Bs: You are a pretty good friend, but not
b. tell your friend to get a taxi and come to your reliable in a real emergency.
house. You think your parents will probably
pay, but it might be very hard to find a taxi. Mostly Cs: With friends like you, who needs
enemies? You need to treat your friends the way
c. recommend that your friend walk home. The you would like them to treat you.
fresh air will make your friend feel better.

2. Your friend has been having lots of problems with Reading comprehension
math, but you find it easy. Next week you have
a big math test and your friend has asked you for • Do you think these quiz results really show
some help. You… something about you? Why?
a. sit down with your friend and organize some
times for extra math classes together, even
though this means you have less time to study.

b. show your friend some online video that

explains the important points and some
questions with answers.

c. tell your friend that he/she can copy from you

on the math test; you will make sure he/she
can see your paper.

3. Your friend has just completely changed his/her

• What do you think about the statement,
image: a new red and blue hairstyle and new
“If a friendship lasts longer than 7 years, you are
clothes in terrible colors. Now he/she wants you
no longer just friends. You are family.”
to go with him/her to get some tattoos and
piercings done. You…

a. suggest that he/she think carefully before

having tattoos or piercings done- tattoos are
very hard to remove if you change your mind.

b. say that you will go with him/her for a laugh,

but you don’t want anything done yourself.

c. tell him/her what you think of his/her new look

(that it’s awful), and that he/she should get
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professional advice before doing anything else.

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 Writing
Informal Language and Abbreviations
Nowadays young people communicate with their family and friends Tip
through IM (Instant Messages) or SMS (Short Message Service).
Instant messages and short messages are written using another type of Important tips for writing
language. This text message language varies from Spanish to English. IM and SMS:
Let’s explore your knowledge about it.
1. You don’t need to
1. Match the phrases with the common abbreviations. write full sentences
or questions.
Phrases Abbreviations U home? (Are you home?)
a. Lisa’s house <3 <3 <3
2. Add extra punctuation
marks or vowels to add
b. you xxx
excitement.
c. laughing out loud @ Reeeallyyy???

d. at lol 3. Use abbreviations.

lol = laughing out loud
e. kisses u
thx = thanks
f. (hearts) =love Lisa’s 4. Use letters or numbers
instead of words.
u = you
r = are
2 = to
c= see
b=be
5. Use symbols.
@ = at
<3= heart
x = a kiss
XO = hug and kiss
6. You should only write
in this way to family
and friends.
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Texting a message

2. Now get in groups of two and write a text message exchange.

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Use some of the symbols you have seen here and also any others
you know. Your text message should have 10 lines per person.

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Tip
Remember to use time
sequencers to help your
reader to follow your story.
You can also use specific
years: “In 1975, my
grandfather moved from
Ambato to Quito.”
Project 1
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Someone Very Special
Choose a member of your family who has lived a memorable life and write
his/her life story.
Step 1
Write down 10 questions to gather his/her life story and then interview
this person.
Step 2
Record the interview or take notes and collect pictures and memories from
this person’s interesting life.
Step 3
Create a brochure where you have: a front page with this person’s photo
and name and five pages with this person’s life story (in chronological order)
including pictures. It should be 80-100 words. Pay attention to your tenses.
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 Lesson C

Communication and Cultural Awareness

Social Studies

What typical Latin American family traditions do you know?

The Quinceañera

Grammar Note
• Have you ever been to a fifteen-year-old party?
Past simple vs.
• Have you already turned 15? If you are a girl, did you have a party?
Present perfect
If you are a boy, have you participated in a fifteen-years-old party?
The simple past and present How was it?
perfect are both used to talk • Do you think the best gift for a quinceañera is a party?
about events in the past.
• Why is this celebration so important for some families in Ecuador?
The simple past is used for
events that began and ended
in the past, while the present One of Latin America’s traditions is called the quinceañera, which
perfect is used for events that means ‘fifteen-year-old birthday girl’. It is when a young girl turns 15
are still somehow related and she has a big party to celebrate. It is a fusion of local ancient culture
to the present. and Spanish Catholicism. In 16th-century Spain, a girl turning 15 had
Have you ever traveled to decide between dedicating her life to God or getting married. Back
to England? then, in line with the Catholic tradition, the girl would wear a white
dress; however, girls now wear dresses of any color, pink being the
Yes! I went two years ago. most traditional one. Finding the right dress for your quinceañera is
a big deal. The dresses have lots of fabric. The party costs a lot of money.
Yet and still are usually used
with the present perfect,
The first part of the celebration is the religious ceremony at the church.
usually for events that were
Then at the birthday party, there’s music, dancing, and lots of food.
expected to finish earlier.
Family and friends are invited to enjoy the special day. The father dances
Notice where they appear
with his daughter and there is a modern dance by the birthday girl. It is
in the sentence.
an incredible party that leaves fond memories for all those who attend!
I haven’t done my homework
Source: The quinceañera – fifteen-year-old birthday girl!. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/2vSQEjF
for tomorrow yet.
I still haven’t done my
homework for tomorrow.

Vocabulary

a big deal. something that

is very important

fond. beautiful, warm, positive

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Reading

Are you a good friend?

Contacting Friends

• Do you write letters

or emails?

Read the following emails between friends and answer the • Do you write letters
questions that follow. or emails often?
Who do you write them to?

• When was the last time you

From: Simon Garcia sent a letter or an email?
To: Frank Romero
Subject: How’s it going?
June 2, 2019 13h20

Hey Frank, • Why is Simon writing an

email to his friend Frank?
I haven’t heard from you since you arrived in Guayaquil.

How are you doing? Is the family you’re staying with nice?
Who is taking taekwondo with you?

Write soon! • Why has Frank not been

able to write Simon earlier?
Simon

• What is Frank doing

in Guayaquil?

From: Frank Romero

To: Simon Garcia
Subject: How’s it going? • Who is he living with?
June 3, 2019 20h00

Hi Simon, • Mention the places he

Sorry I haven’t written until now. Since I got here I’ve been has visited in Guayaquil.
really busy with the training and making new friends. I’m
doing taekwondo 8 hours a day and going out at night with
my taekwondo friends. We have visited Malecón 2000 and • Have you ever been
Parque de las Iguanas. We’re a real mix of Ecuadorians from to another city to train
all over the country: ambateños, quiteños, cuencanos, for a sport tournament?
otavaleños, there are also participants from Machala and
Loja. Besides training for the tournament, I am learning
about other cultures from my country.

My host family is really nice. The parents, Susan and Paul,

are very friendly and kind. The children are Lewis and Amy.
They’re both in high school and are very sweet; only Amy
takes taekwondo, Lewis plays soccer.

Take care,
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Frank
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 Writing

Informal greetings Informal closings

Tip
Hi Simon, Take care,
There are two types of
Hi Simon! Talk later, letters or emails: formal and
informal. Here we will focus
Hi Simon- See you! on the informal one.
Hi Simon. Love, The basic structure of an
informal letter or email is:
Hey Simon, Hugs and kisses,
Informal Greeting
Main body
(1 or 2 paragraphs)
Informal closing
Now you are going to read an email that your friend Pablo sent
you from Cuenca and you are going to write the response. When writing an informal
Your response should be between 60 and 75 words. letter or email to a friend
you can:
Sound “chatty” like when
From: Pablo
you are talking to a friend.
To: (your name)
Subject: How’s it going? Use an informal beginning
September 3, 2019 20h00 and an informal end.
Hi (your name)
Use contractions.
I’m really happy that we’ll see each other next weekend
in Tena! A friend of mine plays in a band and they’re going Use informal words and
to play a small concert on Friday evening. Would you like expressions.
to go and see my friend playing with her group?

We need to decide what to do on Saturday. We could either

go rafting in the Tena river ( I’m sure you’d love to see the
beauty of the river and experience the rafts) or we could
go to Puyo and visit the zoo there.

One more thing. What time does your bus arrive at the Tena
Bus Station?

See you soon!

Pablo

Now in your notebook write a response email to Pablo.

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From: (your name)

To: Pablo
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Subject: How’s it going?

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September 7, 2019 15h30

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Language Through the Arts

What is your favorite family tradition?

Making a Classic Birthday Cake

A birthday cake can make a birthday special.
Whether you’re celebrating kids or yourself,
everyone should have a cake on their birthday.
Homemade birthday cake is one of the best gifts
to give. The secret to making a homemade birthday
cake at any time is a one-bowl cake. Here’s how
to make a classic, kid-friendly birthday cake for any
birthday celebration.

Recipe
Makes 1 (2-layer) 9-inch cake,
8 to 12 servings
Ingredients

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1/2 cup unsalted butter,
at room temperature
Birthday cake
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour Now in the space provided write a recipe
of a cake, cookies, or any special birthday
1 teaspoon salt dish you like! Include a drawing or an image
of this dish.
3-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
My Recipe
1-1/4 cups whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Use room-temperature butter, butter that is not

cold or warm. It should be soft. Mix in the eggs
and milk.
2. Slowly add the flour. If you have an electric
mixer, use it. Mix for three minutes.
3. Put some butter on the bottom and sides of the
cake pans so that the cake does not stick. Put the
cake mix in the bottom of the cake pan.
4. Bake in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius for
30 minutes or until the cake is golden.
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5. Cool the cake completely. Cover it with frosting

if you like and enjoy!

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 Oral Communication
Party Time!
Grammar Note

Simple past and

time markers
The simple past is used
to talk about a past action
that started in the past and
finished in the past. Time
markers help to differentiate
when an action happened
in the past or when an
action is unfinished.
Here are some useful time

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markers used for actions
Girl blowing a candle
in the simple past: yesterday,
the other day, last week, last
Paula is preparing for her fifteen-year-old birthday party. Look at her list month, last year, just now, ago
and write sentences about what she has already done and what she hasn’t
and when.
done yet. Use already and yet.
Other common simple past
time markers are: in 2000,
in October, on Tuesday June
1. make a list of all her family and friends 11, on New Year’s Eve, on my
birthday, etc.
2. decide where to have the party

3. send invitations to family and friends

4. reserve a restaurant

5. plan the food

6. order the drinks

7. buy the dress

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1. Paula already made a list of all her family and friends.

2.

3.

4.
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5.
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6.

7.

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 Writing
An E-mail for Jennifer
It is essential to remember what you need to consider when writing
someone for the first time.
First, you need to greet the person you are writing to. Since Jennifer
is a young person like you, you can use an informal greeting.
Second, you need to know why you are writing this person an email.
Then, draft the questions you are going to ask.

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Third, use an informal closing to say goodbye.

After reading Jennifer’s story, you decide to send her an email

because you want to share with her an experience you have
had related to friendship. In your email you must:

• Describe your experience. It can be a positive

or a negative experience.

• Say what you learned from this friendship.

• Tell Jennifer what you think about her experience

and ask her what she plans to do next.

• Write 60-75 words.

From:

To:

Subject:

Date:
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