1 – 5

1 – Personal Information / Introducing Yourself

  1. What is your full name?
  2. How old are you?
  3. Where do you live?
  4. How long have you lived there?
  5. What do you like about the place where you live?
  6. How would you describe yourself in three words?
  7. What do you think your best quality is?
  8. Is there anything you would like to change about yourself?
  9. Are you usually a shy or an outgoing person?
  10. Is it easy for you to meet new people? Why / why not?
  11. What are you really good at?
  12. What would you like to become better at?
  13. What usually makes you happy?
  14. What can make you angry or annoyed?
  15. What is important to you in your everyday life?
  16. What kind of things are you interested in?
  17. How do you usually spend your weekends?
  18. What is something interesting or unusual about you?
  19. What are you proud of?
  20. How do you think your friends would describe you?

Personal Information / Introducing Yourself

My Name Is Daniel – This Is Who I Am

My name is Daniel Kovács, and I am fourteen years old. I live in a small town near Budapest with my parents and my younger sister. We moved here six years ago because my father got a new job. I like our town because it is quiet and green, but I sometimes wish there were more interesting places for teenagers.

If I had to describe myself in three words, I would say friendly, curious and impatient. I enjoy meeting people, but I sometimes feel nervous when I talk to someone for the first time. My best quality is that I like helping others. My friends often tell me about their problems because I am a good listener. However, I can get annoyed easily, especially when things don’t happen quickly. I would like to become more patient.

My favourite interests are technology and photography. I love taking pictures of unusual buildings, animals and interesting places. I am also good at using computers, and I sometimes help my grandparents with their phones. I might work with computers in the future, but I haven’t decided yet.

At weekends, I usually meet my friends, play basketball or go cycling. On Sundays, I spend time with my family and do my homework. Small things make me happy, like listening to music or getting a message from an old friend. Last year, one of my photos was chosen for a school exhibition, and I was really proud of myself.

One unusual thing about me is that I collect old postcards. My grandfather gave me his collection, and I became interested in the stories behind the pictures. Some postcards are over a hundred years old!

Family, friendship and honesty are very important to me. I believe being a good friend is more important than being popular. My friends would probably describe me as helpful, funny and sometimes too serious. I am still learning new things about myself, and I think that is part of growing up.

2 – Family

  1. Can you tell me about your family?
  2. How many people are there in your family?
  3. Have you got any brothers or sisters?
  4. Who are you closest to in your family?
  5. What do your parents do?
  6. What do you usually do together as a family?
  7. How much time do you spend with your family on weekdays?
  8. What do you usually do together at weekends?
  9. Do you often visit your relatives?
  10. Which family member do you spend the most time with?
  11. Who do you usually talk to when you have a problem?
  12. What activities do you enjoy doing with your parents?
  13. Do you sometimes argue with your family? What about?
  14. What jobs do you have to do at home?
  15. Do you think children should help with the housework? Why?
  16. Who usually makes the important decisions in your family?
  17. How do you usually celebrate birthdays in your family?
  18. What makes a good family, in your opinion?
  19. Would you like to have a big family in the future? Why / why not?
  20. In what ways are you similar to or different from your parents?

My Family – The People Who Know Me Best

My name is Sophie, and I am fourteen years old. I live with my parents, my older brother and our dog, Max. We are not a very big family, but we are quite close. Of course, we sometimes argue, especially when everyone is tired or busy, but we usually get along well.

My mum is a nurse at a local hospital. She works long hours, so she is often tired when she gets home. However, she always finds time to talk to us. My dad works for an IT company. He is quite funny and loves telling jokes, even when nobody laughs! My brother, Adam, is seventeen. He is interested in music and wants to become a sound engineer. We sometimes disagree about small things, but I know I can always ask him for help.

During the week, everyone has their own activities. My parents work, my brother and I go to school, and we don’t spend much time together. However, we usually have dinner as a family. We talk about our day, discuss problems and sometimes make plans for the weekend. I think these conversations are important because they help us understand each other better.

At weekends, we try to do something together. Sometimes we visit my grandparents, go for a walk or watch a film at home. My grandmother is an excellent cook, and she always prepares something special when we visit. My grandfather loves telling stories about his childhood. I enjoy listening to him because life was very different when he was young.

I also have several cousins, but most of them live in other towns. We usually meet at birthdays, Christmas and other family celebrations. Last summer, we spent a week together at Lake Balaton. We swam, played games and stayed up late talking. It was one of my favourite holidays.

I don’t think a perfect family is one where people never argue. In my opinion, a good family is one where people listen to each other, respect different opinions and help when someone has a problem. Sometimes I wish my parents gave me more freedom, but I understand that they worry about me.

As I get older, I want to become more independent. However, I hope I will always have a close relationship with my family. They know both my good and bad qualities, and they accept me as I am. I think that is what makes a family special.

 
 

3 – Friends and Relationships

  1. Have you got many friends or just a few close friends?
  2. Who is your best friend?
  3. How long have you known your best friend?
  4. Where did you first meet?
  5. How often do you see your friends?
  6. What do you usually do together?
  7. What do you like most about your best friend?
  8. What makes someone a good friend?
  9. What qualities are important in a friendship?
  10. Do you and your friends have similar interests?
  11. Do you prefer spending time with one friend or with a group of friends?
  12. Is it easy for you to make new friends? Why / why not?
  13. Do you sometimes argue with your friends? What about?
  14. What do you usually do after an argument with a friend?
  15. Can good friends have very different personalities?
  16. Do you think friends should always tell each other the truth?
  17. Is it important for friends to spend a lot of time together?
  18. Do you think online friendships can be real friendships? Why / why not?
  19. What would you do if your friend needed your help?
  20. Do you think your friendships will change when you start secondary school?

Friends and Friendship

Reading: What Makes a Good Friend?

My name is Alex, and I am fourteen years old. I have several friends at school, but my best friend is Ben. We met five years ago when we were in the same class. At first, we didn’t talk much because we were both quite shy. One day, we discovered that we liked the same computer game, and we started spending time together.

Ben and I have a lot in common, but we are also different in some ways. I am usually calm and quiet, while Ben is more outgoing and enjoys meeting new people. He loves sports, especially football, but I prefer reading, photography and computer games. I think our differences make our friendship more interesting because we can learn from each other.

We usually meet after school or at weekends. Sometimes we play games online, go cycling or just walk around town and talk. We often discuss school, our plans for the future and things that worry us. I like talking to Ben because he listens carefully and doesn’t laugh at my problems.

Of course, we don’t always agree. Last year, we had an argument because Ben told another classmate something I wanted to keep private. I was really angry and didn’t speak to him for two days. Later, he apologised, and we talked about what happened. I realised that even good friends sometimes make mistakes. The important thing is to be honest and try to solve problems.

I also have friends on social media, including some people I have never met in person. I enjoy chatting with them, but I think online friendships are different from real-life friendships. It is easier to understand someone’s feelings when you can see their face and hear their voice.

For me, a good friend is someone who is honest, helpful and trustworthy. I don’t need my friends to agree with everything I say, but I want them to respect my opinions. I also believe friendship is not only about having fun together. A real friend supports you when things are difficult.

I don’t think having hundreds of friends is important. I would rather have two or three close friends who really know me. As we grow older, our interests and lives may change, but I hope Ben and I will stay friends for a long time.

 
 

4 – School and Studying

  1. What school do you go to?
  2. Can you tell me something about your school?
  3. How long have you been a student there?
  4. What is a typical school day like for you?
  5. What is your favourite subject? Why?
  6. Which subject do you find the most difficult?
  7. Which subjects are you good at?
  8. How many lessons do you usually have a day?
  9. What do you usually do during school breaks?
  10. What makes a good teacher, in your opinion?
  11. Do you prefer working alone, in pairs or in groups? Why?
  12. How much homework do you usually have?
  13. When and where do you usually do your homework?
  14. How do you prepare for an important test?
  15. Do you use a computer or the Internet for studying? How?
  16. What would you change about your school if you could?
  17. Do you think students should get homework every day? Why / why not?
  18. What is the best thing about your present school?
  19. What do you expect from your new secondary school?
  20. Why would you like to study at this secondary school?
 

School and School Life

Reading: My School – More Than Just Lessons

My name is Oliver, and I am fourteen years old. I am in the eighth grade at a primary school in a small Hungarian town. I have been studying here for eight years, so I know most of the teachers and students quite well. Next year, I will start secondary school, and I am both excited and a little nervous about this change.

Our school is not very big, but it has everything we need: classrooms, a library, a computer room, a gym and a large playground. Lessons usually start at eight o’clock and finish around two or three in the afternoon. We have five to seven lessons a day, with short breaks between them.

My favourite subjects are English, history and IT. I enjoy English because I want to travel and communicate with people from other countries. History is interesting because I like learning about how people lived in the past. I am quite good at IT, but I sometimes find maths difficult, especially when we learn something new. Luckily, my maths teacher is patient and explains things clearly.

Most of my teachers are friendly but strict. They expect us to pay attention, do our homework and respect each other. I think a good teacher should be fair, helpful and able to make lessons interesting. I prefer lessons where we can discuss ideas or work in groups instead of just memorising information.

During breaks, I usually talk to my friends or have a snack. Sometimes we discuss homework, but we mostly talk about football, films and computer games. I think school is not only about studying. It is also a place where we learn to cooperate, solve problems and make friends.

This year is especially important because I am preparing for my secondary school entrance exams. I would like to go to a grammar school where I can study foreign languages and technology. I know I need to work hard to get good results, but I also try to find time to relax.

If I could change one thing about my school, I would give students more practical lessons and fewer tests. I believe learning should prepare us for real life, not only for exams. Although I sometimes complain about homework and early mornings, I know I will miss my classmates and teachers when I leave this school.

5 – Future Plans

  1. What are your plans for the next few years?
  2. Why would you like to go to this secondary school?
  3. What kind of secondary school would you like to attend?
  4. What subjects would you like to study more seriously?
  5. Which subjects do you think will be useful in your future?
  6. What would you like to improve at secondary school?
  7. Are you looking forward to starting a new school? Why / why not?
  8. What do you think will be different at secondary school?
  9. What would you like to achieve during your secondary school years?
  10. Have you thought about what job you would like to do in the future?
  11. What kind of jobs are you interested in?
  12. What would your ideal job be like?
  13. Would you prefer to work with people, computers, animals or something else?
  14. Would you like to go to university one day? Why / why not?
  15. Would you like to study or work abroad in the future?
  16. Is speaking English important for your future? Why?
  17. Where would you like to live when you are an adult?
  18. What skills would you like to learn in the future?
  19. Do you think it is difficult to choose a career at your age? Why?
  20. Where do you see yourself in ten years?

My Future – Dreams, Plans and Possibilities

My name is Adam, and I am fourteen years old. I am in the eighth grade, so I have to make some important decisions about my future. Next year, I would like to start at a good grammar school where I can learn foreign languages and science. I am interested in this school because it has a good reputation, modern classrooms and many interesting activities.

I am looking forward to secondary school, but I am also a little nervous. I will have new teachers, new classmates and probably more homework. I hope to make good friends and become more independent. I would also like to improve my English and maths because I think these subjects will be useful in my future. One of my goals is to speak English confidently and perhaps pass a language exam.

I haven’t decided what job I want to do yet. I am interested in technology, computers and science, so I might become an engineer or a computer programmer. My ideal job would be interesting, creative and well-paid. I would prefer to work with computers, but I also enjoy working with people. I wouldn’t like to do exactly the same thing every day.

After secondary school, I would like to go to university, perhaps in Budapest or another European city. I think studying abroad could be an exciting experience because I could meet new people and learn about different cultures. Speaking English is very important because it can help me study, travel and find a good job.

In the future, I would also like to learn how to drive, manage my money and solve everyday problems on my own. When I am an adult, I would prefer to live in a city with good job opportunities, but I would also like to be close to nature.

I think choosing a career at fourteen is difficult because we don’t know enough about different jobs yet. Our interests can also change as we grow older. In ten years, I hope to have a university degree or be close to finishing my studies. I would like to have good friends, an interesting job and a happy life. I know that not all my plans will come true, but I believe it is important to have dreams and work towards them.