Unit 4 – Describing Myself

Warm-up and Vocabulary

Key Vocabulary

Let’s learn the basic phrases for an introduction.

Greeting
  • Hello.
  • Hi.
Giving Your Name
  • My name is…
Giving Your Location
  • I am from…
  • I live in…
Talking About Hobbies
  • I like…
  • My hobby is…
Speak Up: Building Your Introduction

Good speaking is not just about words. It’s also about rhythm and stress. Stress means saying some words or syllables stronger and clearer than others. Understanding stress will make your English sound more natural.

Understanding Sentence Stress

In English, we don’t say every word with the same force. We stress the most important words in a sentence. This is called sentence stress.

The general rule is to stress content words. These words carry the main meaning of the sentence.

  • Content Words (usually stressed): Nouns (Budi, football), main verbs (like, playing), adjectives (sixteen), and adverbs.

We usually do not stress function words. These are the grammar words that connect the sentence.

  • Function Words (usually unstressed): Pronouns (I), prepositions (from), articles (a, an), and helping verbs (is, am).

Look at this example:

  • My name is Budi.
    • We stress name (a noun) and Budi (a proper noun) because they are content words. We don’t stress my or is.

Listen and Match

Listen to audio 1-5. Drag the correct category to match what you hear.

Audio 1

Audio 2

Audio 3

Audio 4

Audio 5

Understanding Word Stress

Just as we stress words in a sentence, we also stress a specific syllable inside a word. This is called word stress. For example, in the word “teacher,” we stress the first part. In the word “important,” we stress the second part.

The rules for word stress can be complicated. Every word can have a different stress pattern. The best way to be sure is to check a dictionary. In a good dictionary, you will see a small mark (‘) before or after the stressed syllable. For example: stu·dent /ˈstuːdənt/.

Try reading it aloud, this time putting extra stress on the bold words!

  • My name is Budi.
  • I am sixteen years old.
  • I am from Bandung.
  • I like playing football.

Listen and Repeat (Shadowing)

For each sentence, first listen to the model. Then, record yourself saying the same sentence. Compare your recording to the model. Practice until you sound similar.

Phrase 1

Phrase 2

Phrase 3

Phrase 4

Tips for Success

  • Practice in the Mirror: Say your introduction while looking in a mirror. This helps you become more comfortable and confident. You can also record your voice on your phone and listen to it.
  • Speak Slowly and Clearly: It’s better to be slow and easy to understand than to be fast and unclear.
  • Remember Sentence Stress: Emphasize the important content words (nouns, main verbs) to sound more natural. For example: “My name is Ana.”
  • Focus on Communication, Not Perfection: The goal is to share information about yourself. Don’t worry about making small mistakes! Just keep speaking.

Skill Practice

Now, let’s practice your listening and speaking skills.

Number 1

Activity 1: Listen and Record

For each sentence, first listen to the model. Then, record yourself saying the same sentence. Compare your recording to the model. Practice until you sound similar.

Number 2

Number 3

Number 4

Activity 2: Choose the Best Response

Listen to the question. Then, listen to the three audio answers (A, B, C). Choose the answer that sounds the most natural and correct.

Question 1

Answer choices

A
B
C

Question 2

Answer choices

A
B
C

Question 3

Answer choices

A
B
C

You’ve reached the end of the lesson. Click the button below to begin your Evaluation Quiz.

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