‘Can’, ‘could’, and ‘be able to’ are modal verbs in English. A modal verb is a type of verb that indicates modeor manner. Modal verbs are not main verbs. They are ‘helping verbs’. The modal verbs ‘can’, ‘could’, and ‘be able …
Brain Teasers
BRAIN TEASERS 1. From what number can you take away half and get zero? 2. A friend has 5 sons. Each of her sons has one sister. How many children does she have? 3. A doctor has a brother who …
Mentee Speak
Mentee Speak THANK YOU TTM! “TTM! has made a huge difference to my life. As a TTM! mentee, my learning has been tremendous – from reading fluent English, grammar, pronunciation to communicating – they have increased to a great degree. …
Protected: TTM! Suggested Grammar Links
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TTM Partnerships
TTM! PARTNERSHIPS No. Name of Institution Group Head Brief Write-up 1 Balvantray Mehta School (AM) Rashmi Jain Balvantray Mehta Vidya Bhavan (BMVB), is a senior-secondary co-educational integrated English-medium public school, affiliated to the CBSE. It is located in Greater Kailash-II. …
Thank you TTM!
“Thank you for inspiring me to be my best, and for being there to guide me when I needed help. Having you in my life opened my eyes to my own inner strength and has motivated me to become and …
“About four years ago, I went into a deep depression. At a marriage function, I met a relative with whom I shared my story. She introduced me to Neelam Kapur who encouraged me to join TTM! At first, I was …
“Firstly, I have been giving a virtual tour to Anshika from wherever I am, as I feel this is education for her. I have also been sending her lots of videos and talking about the places I have been to …
Krishan was 16 years old when I first met him. He had just entered grade XI. He was small for his age, clearly malnourished, and caught every bug that went around. I mentored him twice a week, and he always …
Lesson 42: Prayers on Wings
In Japan, the crane is a symbol of good fortune and hope. The crane is a large, migratory bird whose wings provide protection. It is said to live for a thousand years. In Japanese tradition, giving a thousand origami cranes …
The teacher who inspired me
The teacher who inspired me
This 19-year-old from Mumbai is making PPE suits ‘cooler’ and more comfortable
This 19-year-old from Mumbai is making PPE suits ‘cooler’ and more comfortable
Gadchiroli: In Red zone, a principal fights bullets with band, baaja, books | Nagpur News – Times of India
Gadchiroli: In Red zone, a principal fights bullets with band, baaja, books | Nagpur News – Times of India
Idioms – Part 3
Idioms – Part 3
Lesson 108 – When children and dogs become our teachers (Level 2+)
In this story, a six-year-old boy explains why dogs live shorter lives than humans. This story has been taken from the Internet where it is in wide circulation. Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish …
SONGS
Coat of many colours – Dolly Parton Counting Colours In The Rainbow – Nina & Frederik Do-Re-Me Don Moen – Thank You Lord Don’t Worry Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin Five Hundred Miles Lyrics – Justin Timberlake Happy – Pharrell …
English Pronunciation Lesson 13: Difference between American And British accent
https://youtu.be/bLKnBO1o77c
English Pronunciation Lesson 12: Pronunciation poem for consolidated practice
https://youtu.be/1yH32Y1OT3U
English Pronunciation Lesson 11: Some commonly mispronounced words
https://youtu.be/vlsQDdy5Lok
English Pronunciation Lesson 10: Syllables and stress
https://youtu.be/dITb431UAUQ
English Pronunciation Lesson 9: Difference between ‘Zoo, ‘jew’ and ‘leisure’ (3 consonant sounds)
https://youtu.be/Cvnp5j_IytA
English Pronunciation Lesson 7: Difference between ‘v’ and ‘w’ (consonant sounds)
https://youtu.be/y5CAReif4Z4
English Pronunciation Lesson 4: Difference between ‘ bath’ and ball’ ( vowel sounds)
https://youtu.be/Kw_dJKWram8
English Pronunciation Lesson 2 : Difference between ‘bet’ and ‘bat’( vowel sounds)
https://youtu.be/IJSAOcoIwJQ
English Pronunciation Lesson 8: Difference between ‘she’ and ‘sea’ (2 consonant sounds)
https://youtu.be/YY2ElMtkefg
English Pronunciation Lesson 6: Difference between here/ hair/ tear/ peer… ( 3 gliding vowel sounds)
https://youtu.be/3H1XTf9kHS0
English Pronunciation Lesson 5: Difference between ‘cot and ‘caught’ ( vowel sounds)
https://youtu.be/tt5m4Z-bUos
English Pronunciation Lesson 1: Introductory video: Difference between letters and sounds; consonants and vowels
https://www.youtube.com/embed/w-5tdEbO3hU
English Pronunciation Lesson 3: Difference between ‘hurt’ and ‘heart’
https://www.youtube.com/embed/5b0zXQOpcMg
Introductory Lesson 1: My Cat
My Cat I have a cat. Her name is Cream. Her fur is off-white, And she likes to dream. She jumps and roams Around my house. She’s always ready To pounce on a mouse. I play with her. I brush …
Discovered in Bhimbetka, India’s lone fossil of world’s oldest animal
https://m.timesofindia.com/india/discovered-in-bhimbetka-indias-lone-fossil-of-worlds-oldest-animal/amp_articleshow/80777678.cms
Dubbed Fastest Human Calculator
http://Dubbed fastest human calculator, this St Stephen’s graduate wants to challenge maths phobia
Kerala Carnivorous Plants
https://www.thebetterindia.com/243737/kerala-carnivorous-plants-how-to-order-get-delivery-online-pitcher-plant-venus-flytrap-nirmal-house-butterwort-terrace-san196/
Introductory Lesson 2: The Red Flowers
The Red Flowers Nasreen loves red. She has a red backpack and red slippers. She wants some red flowers. Her mother takes her to the market to get some seeds to grow red flowers. They put the seeds in a …
Introductory Lesson 3: Trees
Trees Trees give us cool shade on hot days. We get wood from the trunks and branches of trees. People use wood to build houses, furniture, tools, etc. Wood is also used to make paper. We get food from trees. …
Introductory Lesson 4: Sun and Moon
Sun and Moon By Charlotte Druitt Cole The moon shines clear as silver, The sun shines bright like gold, And both are very lovely, And very, very old. God hung them up as lanterns, For all beneath the sky; And …
Introductory Lesson 5: Names
Names By Jean Warren Everybody Has a name Some are different Some are the same Some are short Some are long All are right None are wrong I like my name It’s special to me It’s exactly Who I want …
Introductory Lesson 6 : A Little Seed
A Little Seed A little seed for me to sow A little soil to make it grow A little hole, a little pot, A little wish, and that is that A little sun, a little shower, A little while – …
Introductory Lesson 7 : I Look in the Mirror
I Look in the Mirror By Helen H. Moore I look in the mirror and what do I see? A pair of eyes looks back at me. A nose, two ears, two eyebrows, too: Two lips, and teeth, to say, …
Introductory Lesson 8: The Adjective Song
The Adjective Song Sing to the tune of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”. Row Row Row Your Boat with Lyrics | LIV Kids Nursery Rhymes and Songs | HD – YouTube Describe, describe, Describe a noun Using adjectives. Colour, number, …
Introductory Lesson 9: An Adventure
An Adventure Amreen was walking in the jungle. At last she came to a house. It was empty. She opened the door and went in. She saw three chairs in the room. She sat down on the smallest chair. It …
Introductory Lesson 10: The Pronoun Song
The Pronoun Song A noun is a person, a thing, or a place. Pronouns replace nouns! But sometimes a noun takes up way too much space. Pronouns replace nouns! If shorter and easier is what you need, Pronouns replace nouns! …
Introductory Lesson 11: My Family
My Family I am Avi. My name is Avinash, but everyone calls me Avi. I would like to introduce you to my family. This is my mother. Her name is Radhika. My sister and I call her Ma. Her parents …
Lesson 41: (poem) Good Hope
I believe There is enough food On this planet For everyone. I believe That it is possible For all people To live in peace. I believe We can live Without guns, I believe everyone Is important. I believe there are good …
Lesson 40: (poem) Earth Day
I am the Earth And the Earth is me. Each blade of grass, Each honey tree, Each bit of mud, And stick and stone Is blood and muscle, Skin and bone. And just as I Need every bit Of me …
Lesson 39: (poem) Jump or Jiggle
Frogs jump Caterpillars hump Worms wiggle Bugs jiggle Rabbits hop Horses clop Snakes slide Seagulls glide Mice creep Deer leap Puppies bounce Kittens pounce Lions stalk- But- I walk! — Evelyn Beyer A) Discussion points 1. Read the poem carefully. 2. …
Lesson 38: (poem) Missing
I’ve hunted near, I’ve hunted far I even looked inside my car. I’ve lost my glasses, I’m in need, To have them now so I can read. I loudly swear and I curse Did I leave them in my purse? …
Lesson 37: The Little Drummer Boy
Gopal was a happy boy, with big, kind eyes that lit up when he smiled. He lived with his mother in a small hut in a village in Gujarat. Ever since he had seen the drummers play at the garba dance during the …
Lesson 36: A Visit to the Doctor
One morning I woke up with a sore throat. When I swallowed, I felt great pain. I had a terrible headache too. My mother decided that I should skip school that day. She was going to take me to see …
Lesson 35: Harry’s Restaurant
Gulzar loved telling jokes that were not too funny, but his friend Harry thought that they were hilarious. Harry always laughed so hard that tears rolled down his cheeks. One day, Gulzar asked his friend, “Do you want to hear …
Lesson 34: An Act of Kindness
The bus was very crowded today. People were squeezed together, pushing each other for an inch of space. I was beginning to get angry and impatient, and was thinking of jumping off at the next stop. Just then, I noticed a frail old man get up …
Verb Preposition
Prepositions of Time 2
Noun Preposition
Let’s use
IN ON AT
AT ON IN
Mixed Quiz – 6
Mixed Quiz – 6 1. The centenary of Mahatma Gandhi’s arrival in South Africa was celebrated in (A) May 1993 (B) August 1993 (C) July 1993 (D) September 1993 2. ‘Teacher’s Day’ is observed on which of the date? (A)September …
Mixed Quiz – 5
Mixed Quiz – 5 1. Which country is not a part of the Big Five (United Nations) (A) United States (B) Russia (C) India (D) China 2. Vitamin B12 is most useful for combating (A)Anaemia (B) Goitre (C) Rickets (D) …
Mixed Quiz – 4
Mixed Quiz – 4 1. Which crop is sown on the largest area in India? (A) Rice (B) Wheat (C) Sugarcane (D) Maize 2. Eritrea, which became the 182nd member of the United Nations in 1993, is on the continent …
Mixed Quiz – 3
Mixed Quiz – 3 1. Which of the following is not a land locked country in Europe? (A) Hungary (B) Kosovo (C) Czech Republic (D) Spain 2. Which of the following straits connect the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean? …
Mixed Quiz – 2
Mixed Quiz – 2 1. What was the first vaccine created for? (A) Small Pox (B) Chicken Pox (C) HIV (D) Covid 19 2. Entomology is the science that studies (A) Behaviour of human beings (B) Insects (C) The origin …
Mixed Quiz – 1
Mixed Quiz – 1 1. Which one of these people was known as ‘ Sher — a — Punjab ‘? (A) Rajguru (B) Bhagat Singh (C) Udham Singh (D) Lala Lajpat Rai 2. After the 1935 elections, the only two …
Quiz 2 : Science & Technology
Quiz 2 : Science & Technology Question 1 – Ecology is a branch of a. Biology b. Sociology c. Zoology d. Meteorology Question 2 – Horticulture is the study of a. Soils b. Aquatic plants c. Plant roots d. Garden …
Quiz 1: All About India
Quiz 1: All About India Question 1 – When did India become a republic a. August 15, 1947 b. January 26, 1950 c. November 26, 1949 d. October 2, 1950 Question 2 – Who was the first President of India …
MIXED QUIZ : WORLD
MIXED QUIZ : WORLD Question 1 – Local times and time zones are based on a. Latitudes b. Longitudes c. Equator d. None of the above Question 2 – The shape of the earth can be described as a. Round …
Word Scramble Sports
F&GEng-WS5-sports Note for Mentors only: Please refer to the Answers in Learning Materials
Word Scramble Cities
F&GEng-WS4-Cities Note for Mentors only: Please refer to the Answers in Learning Materials
Word Scramble Subjects
F&GEng-WS3-subjects Note for Mentors only: Please refer to the Answers in Learning Materials
Word Scramble Computers
F&GEng-WS2-computers Note for Mentors only: Please refer to the Answers in Learning Materials
Word Scramble Countries
F&GEng-WS1-countries Note for Mentors only: Please refer to the Answers in Learning Materials
RIDDLES : WHO AM I Riddles – QUESTIONS
RIDDLES : WHO AM I Riddles – QUESTIONS Question 1 I am five letter word that is under you. If you remove my 1st letter, then i am over you. If you remove my 1st and 2nd letters than i …
Newsletters
TTM! Connect Newsletter Vol 14 April 2025 TTM! Connect Newsletter Vol 13 January 2025 TTM! Connect Newsletter Vol 12 December 2024 TTM! Connect Newsletter Vol 11 April 2024 TTM! Connect Newsletter Vol 10 January 2024 TTM! Connect Newsletter Vol 9 …
Quiz – English
Quiz : English – Questions Question 1 – Example of oxymoron a. Minor Catastrophe b. Good grief c. Terribly pleased d. All of the above Question 2 – The idiom ‘A penny for your thoughts’ mean a. To present a …
Lesson 107 – Monarch Butterflies – Video Lesson
Around October each year, millions of monarch butterflies leave their summer breeding grounds in North-Eastern USA and Canada and travel up to 5,000 kilometres to reach the South-Western part of Mexico. The butterflies arrive at their roosting sites in November. …
Lesson 106 – Writing Free Verse Poems – 4
At the heart of every good poem is language. You can use simple, ordinary language in inventive ways. When the right words combine, they frequently make meanings beyond the words themselves. When you sit down to write a poem, you …
Lesson 105 – The Music of Poetry: SOUND – 3
Poetry is about structure, meaning and rhythm, but SOUND is probably the single most important element in a poem. The sound of individual words is important, but also the sounds the words make when they are together on a page. …
Lesson 104 – Starting to Write Poetry – 2
As you fill your notebook with things that are important and fascinating to you, you’re that much closer to writing some poems. The writing process usually involves the following steps: Brainstorming, when you write down ideas, thoughts, feelings, and images. …
Lesson 103 – Some Tips for Writing Poetry
Have you always wanted to express yourself in poetry and didn’t know where to start? Well, you can start by writing down your ideas in a notebook. Your notebook is the heart of your writing. Here you can record dreams, …
Lesson 102 – Mother Nature
MOTHER NATURE Please listen to the poem and read the script. Afterwards please try to answer the questions. Attachments area Preview YouTube video Nature Is Speaking – Julia Roberts is Mother Nature | Conservation International (CI) Preview YouTube video Nature …
Quiz Words starting with “w”
In this word game, all the answers should start with “w” only. Put on your thinking caps and get started. We all drink __. A colour: __ A dry fruit: __ A direction: __ Marriage: __ Vehicles have __. Seven …
Idioms – Part 2
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not meant to be taken literally. For example, if you say someone has “cold feet”, it doesn’t mean their feet are actually cold. Rather, it means that they are nervous or …
Idioms – Part 1
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not meant to be taken literally. For example, if you say someone has “cold feet”, it doesn’t mean their feet are actually cold. Rather, it means that they are nervous or …
Talk to Me!
TTM! PARTNERSHIPS No. Name of Institution Group Head Brief Write-up 1 Balvantray Mehta School (AM) Rachna Advani Balvantray Mehta Vidya Bhavan (BMVB), is a senior-secondary co-educational integrated English medium public school, affiliated to the CBSE. It is located in …
Quiz 3
All the puzzles given below consist of three words that have something in common. For example: pine tree, compass, phonograph All have needles. Can you solve these puzzles? College graduate, thermometer, location on the globe Mattress, health resort, time of …
Quiz 2
The words in the sentences below contain the names of fruits. See how many fruits you can find. He found his home lonely after his dog’s death. One dare not rob an anaconda of its prey. The crook made his …
Quiz 1
Each of the words listed below contains the letter combination ‘age’. Use the clues to find the corresponding word. A narrow path Trash Suitcase Anger Where birds are kept Liquid refreshment A small town A short trip Communicate electronically A …
Lesson 101 – Hygiene and Good Health
Hygienic practices keep us healthy and prevent the spread of disease. Personal hygiene refers to maintaining the body’s cleanliness. What exactly does one have to do to keep oneself clean? Washing hands with soap and water can reduce disease. If …
Lesson 100 – Elephants
Elephants are mammals and the largest existing land animals. All elephants have big bodies and swinging trunks. There are two different kinds of elephants. The Asian elephant is smaller than the African elephant. An Asian elephant has small ears compared …
Lesson 99 – Each Moment Is Precious (Poem) Level 2+
Live in the moment, Just take it all in. Pay attention to everything, Right there and right then. Don’t let your mind wander To what’s coming next. Cherish this moment And give it your best. Don’t let tomorrow Make you …
Lesson 97 – Be Proud Of Who You Are (Poem) Level 2+
I come with no wrapping or pretty pink bows. I am who I am, from my head to my toes. I tend to get loud when speaking my mind. Even a little crazy some of the time. I’m not a …
Lesson 96 – See It Through (Poem) Level 2+
When you’re up against a trouble, Meet it squarely, face to face; Lift your chin and set your shoulders, Plant your feet and take a brace. When it’s vain to try to dodge it, Do the best that you can …
test
test
Introductory Lesson 12: Ashraf and Bhai
Ashraf and Bhai Ashraf lives in a village near Agra. His parents are farmers. They grow maize, urad daal, and soya beans in their fields. They also grow marigolds. They plant spinach and cauliflower in the winter. Ashraf is 12 …
Lesson 95 – The Olympics
Almost three thousand years ago in ancient Greece, athletes tested their skill in sports at games called the Olympics. Every four years athletes would travel to the arena at Olympia to run, jump, box, wrestle, or race their chariots. Enemies would …
Lesson 94 – The Prince with a Lot to Learn
Relax, be very still and listen – listen carefully to this tale about a young prince, who lived in a lavish palace in the desert. He loved to play all day with his friends. That is, until one day a stranger appeared and everything …
Lesson 93 – I Feel Sad
When I feel sad, I feel like a flower that needs to be watered, a rainbow that has lost its colours, a clown who cannot smile. When I feel sad I lie in bed. I do not want to talk …
Lesson 92 – First Men on the Moon (Poem) Level 2+
BY J. PATRICK LEWIS “The Eagle has landed!” —Apollo II Commander Neil A. Armstrong “A magnificent desolation!” — Air Force Colonel Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin, Jr. July 20, 1969 That afternoon in mid-July, Two pilgrims watched from distant space The moon …
From thin ice to global rink, a Team India rises
https://m.timesofindia.com/city/gurgaon/from-thin-ice-to-global-rink-a-team-india-rises/amp_articleshow/71845594.cms
These school dropouts have cracked the code to a better life
https://m.timesofindia.com/home/sunday-times/these-school-dropouts-have-cracked-the-code-to-a-better-life/amp_articleshow/71458732.cms
Modal Verbs ‘Can’ and ‘Could’
‘Can’ and ‘Could’ are modal verbs. A modal verb is a type of verb that indicates MODE or MANNER. They are NOT main verbs. They are ‘helping verbs.’ The modal verbs ‘can’ and ‘could’ show possibility and impossibility, ability, permission, …
The Bee: “The Most Important Living Being on the Planet”
The Bee: “The Most Important Living Being on the Planet”
Lesson 91 – When The World Turned Upside (Poem) Level 2+
By Margaret A. Savage The day when the world turned upside down: when a frown became a smile and a smile became a frown. When the mice chased the cats the cats chased the dogs. The dogs laughed out loud …
Lesson 90 – Winter Trees (Poem)
Aren’t you cold and won’t you freeze, With branches bare, you winter trees? You’ve thrown away your summer shift. Your autumn gold has come adrift. Dearie me, you winter trees, What strange behaviour if you please! In summer, you could …
In Jharkhand, kadhais keep anaemia at bay
https://m.timesofindia.com/india/in-jharkhand-kadhais-keep-anaemia-at-bay/amp_articleshow/71057642.cms
Lesson 89 – The Letter A (Poem)
The letter A is awesome! It simply is the best. Without an A, you could not get an A+ on a test. You’d never see an acrobat or eat an apple pie. You couldn’t be an astronaut or kiss your …
Lesson 87 – Confession (Poem)
I have a brief confession that I would like to make. If I don’t get it off my chest I’m sure my heart will break. I didn’t do my reading. I watched TV instead— while munching cookies, cakes, and chips …
Lesson 85 – The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind (Level 2+)
In a small village in Malawi, in Africa, where people had no money for lights, nightfall came quickly and hurried poor farmers to bed. But for William, the darkness was best for dreaming. He dreamed of building things and taking …
Vocabulary Wheel
Vocabulary wheel of emotions created by English teacher Kaitlin Robbs.
Lesson 83 – The Most Important Gift of All
There was once a girl named Amina who lived in a village on the edge of a beautiful valley. Amina’s mama was having a baby and Amina was waiting in the village garden for some news. “You have a baby brother,” said …
Has or Have
HAVE is generally used with I/You/We/ They and PLURAL NOUNS. HAS is used with He/She/ It and Who and SINGULAR NOUNS. Examples: Nurses have a difficult job. (Nurses- plural) The washing machine has a leak in it. (Washing machine- singular) Exercise: Fill …
Wheelchair basketball player from city makes mark nationally
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/wheelchair-basketball-player-from-city-makes-mark-nationally/articleshow/70120212.cms
‘Hey Alexa, please teach me’
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/hey-alexa-please-teach-me/articleshow/70117762.cms
Before summer vacations, elections for the first time were held in our school for the selection for the student body. I also stood in the elections for Ashoka House vice captain. I chose eagle as my sign because eagle is …
Lesson 81 – Animal Babies
Animal babies develop and come into the world in different ways. Some develop inside eggs that protect and nourish them until they are ready to break out of the eggs, or hatch. Others develop inside their mothers’ bodies (in the …
Comparatives and Superlatives, Exercise 2
Complete these 16 sentences to test your knowledge of comparatives and superlatives. Russia is __ country in the world. big the biggest the bigger Manav __ student in our class. is the tallest the most tall the tallest Nazim’s grandfather …
Comparatives and Superlatives, Exercise 1
The comparative expresses a comparison between two objects. We use comparative adjectives to show change or make comparisons: Examples: This phone is certainly better, but it’s much more expensive. I’m feeling happier now. We use than when we compare one thing with another: Examples: …
Word Formation, Exercise 2
Complete the sentences given below with the correct form of the words in brackets. Maya has an ___ memory and can remember things we all have long forgotten. (ordinary) I interpreted her silence as a ___. (refuse) Ten people have …
Word Formation, Exercise 1
Complete the sentences given below with the correct form of the words in brackets. Neha learned a ___ lesson from her uncle. (value) Rakesh looked at the tall man ____. (suspicion) It was such a ___ day that we went …
Antonyms or Opposites
An antonym is a word that has an opposite or reverse meaning. For example, the antonym for “tall” is “short,” the antonym for “sharp” is “blunt,” the antonym for “sweet” is “bitter.” worse, disagree, night, allies, broadest, crooked, foolish, artificial, …
Maharashtra’s books village seems like a good idea – but what do its residents think of the project?
https://scroll.in/magazine/840818/maharashtras-books-village-seems-like-a-good-idea-but-what-do-its-residents-think-of-the-project
Second Anniversary Celebrations
Kangaroo Words – Exercise 2
Kangaroo words are words that have a smaller word inside them, just like a mother kangaroo has a baby kangaroo (called a joey) in her pouch. Examples: The word seven contains two words: eve(s-eve-n) and even(s-even). The word another contains a (a-nother), an (an-other), …
Kangaroo Words (Advanced)
A kangaroo word is a word that has a smaller word inside it, just like a mother kangaroo has a baby kangaroo (called a joey) in her pouch. A kangaroo word is one that carries within itself a smaller word …
Vocabulary- How to Avoid “Very”
Example: As a child I was very afraid of the dark. As a child I was terrified of the dark. Here are some words that avoid the use of “very.” Very afraid- Terrified Very clever- brilliant Very angry- Furious Very cold- freezing …
Tenses: Past Tense
The simple past tense is formed by adding – ed to the word. Example: work, worked. Irregular verbs change completely in the past tense. Examples: take, took. Speak, spoke. You just have to learn them! Fill in the correct form of …
Word Formations: Adjectives
In the sentences below, fill in the correct form of the given word to make an adjective. These adjectives can be formed by adding the following suffixes (-ful, -ive, -able, -y, -al, -ly, -ous, -less, -ic, – ative, -ed) to the …
Asking for Information
There are many ways in which we can ask people for help or information. You can practise by reading the examples below. Remember: Practice makes perfect. Make sentences of your own substituting the underlined word / words in the sentence …
Advanced Grammar: Question Tags
Question tags are short questions that we put at the end of sentences. If the main part of the sentence is positive, the question tag is negative. Example: He’s a doctor, isn’t he? If the main part of the sentence …
Past Tense: Was and Were
Fill in the blanks with was or were. Examples: A duck was crossing the road. (A duck- singular) playing cricket. (The children- plural) I ___ crossing the road when an accident took place. …
Delhi: Crockery bank dishes out answer
https://m.timesofindia.com/city/delhi/crockery-bank-dishes-out-answer/amp_articleshow/68857143.cms
Punctuation
(Art Print by Jeanne Stevenson) https://www.art.com/products/p48286871569-sa-i10882494/jeanne-stevenson-punctuation-grammar-and-writing-poster.htm
26-yr-old engineer brings 10 ponds back to life
https://m.timesofindia.com/india/26-yr-old-engineer-brings-10-ponds-back-to-life/amp_articleshow/68759278.cms
Ghaffar’s Manzil: An area without garbage
https://m.timesofindia.com/city/delhi/ghaffars-manzil-an-area-without-garbage/amp_articleshow/68730502.cms
How these mosques are going green by changing their taps
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/68683426.cms?from=mdr&utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Lesson 33: The City and the Village
Sushma lived in the city. Each night, she fell asleep listening to different sounds. Loud music played outside her window. A train rumbled down the tracks. Sometimes a fire engine or a police car zoomed by. In spite of the sound of honking cars, …
These teens show you are never too young to make change happen
https://m.timesofindia.com/home/sunday-times/these-teens-show-you-are-never-too-young-to-make-change-happen/amp_articleshow/68443199.cms
Delhi: How these students are championing community business models
https://m.timesofindia.com/city/delhi/how-these-students-are-championing-community-biz-models/amp_articleshow/68445163.cms
Stray dog follows climbing expedition to become first to reach Himalayan summit
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/stray-dog-himalayas-mountain-climb-summit-baruntse-nepal-meera-a8812591.html
Get paper from plastic pulp, the Khadi way
https://m.timesofindia.com/city/delhi/get-paper-from-plastic-pulp-the-khadi-way/amp_articleshow/67934112.cms
Lesson 80: Anju and the Stream
Anju loved the merry little stream Rippling and flowing like a blue-green dream! Fish leapt and danced in its waters clear, To fish for fish, came birds – from far and near… Every day Anju walked this way from school, …
Lesson 32: The Importance of Reading
Before the invention of printing, books were written by hand. They were very few in number and difficult to get. Paper was costly. Because they were rare, books were very expensive. Popular novels were serialised and readers eagerly waited for …
Meet The Padma Shri Ex-RAW Officer Who Transformed An Entire Community in Bihar
Meet The Padma Shri Ex-RAW Officer Who Transformed An Entire Community in Bihar
The Mysteries of Anatomy
Where can a man buy a cap for his knee, Or the key to a lock of his hair? Can his eyes be called an academy? Because there are pupils there? In the crown of your head can jewels be …
Lesson 79: A Story about Associations (Level 2+)
Swami Vivekananda (born January 12, 1863, Calcutta [now Kolkata] – died July 4, 1902, near Calcutta), was a spiritual leader and reformer who attempted to combine Indian spirituality with western material progress. Vivekananda felt that the highest ideal was to …
Topics for Talking and Writing Skills
1. Physical Descriptions and Personality Descriptions – Describe the physical features of your mother/father/sibling/teacher/best friend. – Describe their personalities. 2. Talk/write about the similarities or differences between you and your friends. 3. Clothes/Shopping – Describe the clothes you changed into …
Lesson 78: Asia (Level 2+)
The world’s biggest continent, Asia stretches almost halfway around the globe and covers one- third of earth’s landmass. It has the world’s tallest mountains, the world’s largest lake and the world’s lowest point on land. The tallest mountain is Mount …
Vocabulary Exercise – Houses and Flats
Where do you live? Describe your house. Describe your dream home. Here are some words that are associated with homes. How many do you know? bedroom, bathroom, basement, terrace, veranda, roof, drawing room, dining room, living room, kitchen, garage, driveway, …
Vocabulary Exercise – Family
How many people are there in your family? husband, wife, mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, cousin, grandfather, grandmother, nephew, niece, granddaughter, grandson Talk about the words given above. Then, complete the 21 sentences below with these words. …
Lesson 77: 5 Things That Mentally Strong People Do (Level 2+)
They practice gratitude Counting their blessings, rather than their burdens, helps mentally strong people to move forward in life, no matter how tough their circumstances might be. They refuse to blame anyone for holding them back or dragging them down. Their …
Vocabulary Review: Verbs in Present and Past Tense
Below is a list of verbs related to sports. Verbs are action words. Walk, run, jump, skip, swim, race, jog, ski, throw, march, kick, dribble, toss, sprint, and catch. Most of these verbs are regular verbs. Pay attention to how they …
Lesson 76: Healthy Food can Reduce Noncommunicable Diseases (Level 2+)
The causes of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are many and varied. Some are environmental, including indoor and outdoor air pollution. Some are genetic, such as in some cases of diabetes. Many more are the result of decisions people make and behaviours they engage …
Introductory Lesson 13: Abha and Her Grandparents
Abha and Her Grandparents Abha is visiting her grandparents today. She loves her grandparents. At this moment, she is sitting next to her grandfather, Nanaji, on the charpai. She is listening to a story. Nanaji is telling her a story …
Too and Enough
With adjectives and their opposites old, dangerous, long, interesting, slow, dark, well, easy, expensive, large, noisy, cool, near, heavy, dirty Fill in the blanks to complete the sentences below. Use the words give above. We can’t have a picnic. It’s …
Agent Nouns
An agent noun is a noun denoting someone or something that performs the action of a verb. For example, “driver” is an agent noun formed from the verb “drive.” run, drive, listen, swim, paint, bake, explore, blog, manage, garden, own, …
Adjectives and Adverbs
Choose the adjective or adverb (given in the brackets) to complete the sentence. An adjective is a word that describes a noun or pronoun. “Big,” “boring” and “purple” are adjectives. Examples: I admired the big flower. It was purple. He walked quickly. …
Do, Go, Play – Quiz
Complete the sixteen sentences given below to test your knowledge of the words do, go, and play. I joined a cricket team last month, so now I ___ cricket every Saturday. a) do b) go c) play Do you want …
Lesson 75: Dolphins
Dolphins are highly intelligent marine mammals. They belong to the family of toothed whales that includes orcas and pilot whales. They are found worldwide in shallow seas of the continental shelves. They are carnivores and mostly eat fish and squid. Dolphins are generally …
Have To – Quiz
Complete the sentences below to test your knowledge of the phrase have to. I ___ get up very early every morning at six o’clock. a) have to b) has to c) have Imran and Raza ___ go to work every …
Quantifiers: Some and Any – Quiz
Complete the sentences below to test your knowledge of the words some and any. These words are called quantifiers because they tell us about the quantity or amount of something. Some of these sentences require you to insert an ‘a.’ I …
Will – Quiz
Complete the sentences below to test your knowledge of grammar connected to the word will. ‘ Won’t’ is a contraction of ‘will not.’ Let’s go for a picnic tomorrow. I think it ___ sunny. a) will be b) won’t be …
Many, Much, A Few, A Little – Quiz
Complete the sentences below to test your knowledge of count and non-count nouns. Count nouns can be counted as one or more. For example, pen, computer, bottle, spoon, desk, cup, television, chair, shoe, finger, flower, camera, stick, balloon, book, table, …
Hope and creativity at the tip of a pencil
https://m.timesofindia.com/india/hope-and-creativity-at-the-tip-of-a-pencil/amp_articleshow/66172202.cms
And, But, So, Because – Quiz
Complete these sentences to test your knowledge of the words and, so, but, and because. I was late for class this morning ___ the bus was late. a) so b) because c) but I usually go home at four o’clock, …
This, That, These, Those – Quiz
Complete the following sentences to test your knowledge of the words this, that, these, and those. Look at ___ birds up there in the trees. a) this b) these c) those Are ___ your books over there on the table? …
Past Tense – Quiz
Grammar Quiz Past Tense Answer these questions to test your knowledge of the simple past tense. My family and I ___ in Lucknow when I was young. a) lived b) live c) was live We ___ sandwiches and fresh fruit …
Lesson 74: Zika (Level 2+)
Zika is a virus spread by mosquitoes. For most people it is a very mild infection and is not harmful. However, it may be more serious for pregnant women, as there is evidence that it causes birth defects– in particular, abnormally small heads …
Lesson 31: Avvaiyar – The Poet of the Masses
‘Avvai’ means a ‘respectable elderly woman’ in Tamil. Hence, the word ‘avvaiyar’ means a ‘respectable old woman’ and ‘grandmother.’ It is a title rather than the specific name of a woman. Who was Avvaiyar? We know that Avvaiyar was not …
Joy of Giving Is Greater Than Joy Of Receiving
https://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/toi-edit-page/joy-of-giving-is-greater-than-joy-of-receiving/
Lesson 30: Bullies
Bullies look just like everyone else, but they don’t act like everyone else. Bullies enjoy hurting other people and making them do what they say. The only way they know how to get what they want is by being cruel. …
Lesson 73 – Swiss Time Bank (Level 2 +)
St Gallen is the first Swiss city to introduce a novel banking scheme in which retired care volunteers “deposit” hours worked looking after elderly people. In return they can use any time saved up for their own care provision later in life. …
Lesson 29: Understanding and Caring
I have many different feelings, and my feelings change during the course of the day. I wake up feeling excited, but then I get irritated because my mother scolds me for not helping her in the kitchen. I am disappointed …
Lesson 72 – The Stray Puppy
Laila was sleeping when she heard a soft whimpering sound outside her window. I wonder who is making that sound, she thought. She got out of bed and looked outside. She saw a small brown puppy sitting under the window. “Amma,” Laila called. “There’s …
Lesson 71 – Vinay Kumar and the Thieves
Vinay Kumar was a taxi driver for many years. Recently, he became a bus driver. He does not regret switching jobs because he finds his new work far more exciting. Last week, Vinay was driving down the Ring Road. He …
Lesson 28: Little Acts of Kindness
People generally aren’t used to kindness from strangers. Most of us are too wrapped up in our lives to pay much attention to anyone else, or to see how we can be of help to others. That’s why it’s remarkable when strangers do something unexpected …
Lesson 27: My Family
Hello. My name is Sanya. I am 12 years old. I want to tell you about my family. My father is a carpenter. His name is Suresh. He is 45 years old. He is very hardworking and intelligent. He can …
Lesson 26: An Early Start to the Day
Nothing great was ever achieved by late risers. Waking up early is one of the golden rules for a well-lived life. There is a saying ‘the early bird catches the worm.’ This means: The bird that gets up earlier than the other birds …
Lesson 25: A Healthy Lifestyle
The Singh family tried to eat nutritious meals for a very long time, but found it difficult to keep up the habit. Mr and Mrs Singh work long hours at a hospital. They are exhausted when they reach home. They have three young children who …
Lesson 70: Alexander Graham Bell (Level 2+)
Alexander Graham Bell was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on March 3, 1847. His father was Professor of Elocutionand the Art of Speech at Edinburgh University. Along with his two brothers, Alexander was at first taught at home by their mother, Eliza …
Lesson 69: Natural Disasters (Level 2+)
A natural disaster is an adverse event resulting from natural processes of the Earth. Floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis are all examples of natural disasters. The August 2018 floods in Kerala are an example of a natural …
Lesson 68: Maya Angelou – Words to Live By (Level 2)
If life teaches us anything, it may be that it’s necessary to suffer some defeats. Look at a diamond: It is the result of extreme pressure. Less pressure, it is crystal; less than that, it’s coal; and less than that, …
Lesson 67: A Green Fuel-Jatropha (Level 2+)
National newspapers on August 28, 2018 carried exciting news. A blend of oil from jatropha seeds and aviation turbine fuel powered an aircraft on Monday between Dehradun and Delhi. The biofuel was extracted from the jatropha plant. Jatropha is a tropical, drought-resistant, …
Prepositions of Time – Exercise 2
Some time expressions are: now, today, every day, last Monday, next week Some prepositions of time are: at, during, in, on Please make complete sentences. Keep the same word order. Many young people / go to a movie / Saturday …
Prepositions of Place – Exercise 1
Some prepositions of place are: above, between, from, near, under, behind, close to, in back of, next to, below, far from, in front of, over Fill in the blanks in the sentences below. Choose the correct preposition from the choices given …
Lesson 66: The Potato Story (Level 2+)
The Inca Indians of Peru prized the potato as food. When they first started growing potatoes 10,000 years ago in the high, cold Andes Mountains, they were small, about the size of lemons, and full of lumps and bumps. The potato …
Lesson 65: The Importance of Trees (Level 2+)
Trees are vital. As the biggest plants on the planet, they give us oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide. Each year a mature tree produces enough oxygen for ten people. Trees also help prevent flooding and soil erosion by absorbing thousands of litres …
Sentence Structure
Please put the words in order. Example: tall / Sanjay / is Sanjay is tall. lives / in a flat / Saira strong / lions / animals / are is / sweet / sugar brown / eyes / Shakeel / …
Present Tense Verbs – Exercise 2
Please make grammatically correct sentences using the words given. Add your own ideas. There are no right or wrong answers. Use your imagination. Have fun! Example: my brother / have My brother has two children. My brother lives in Ahmedabad. …
Present Tense Verbs – Exercise 1
Add and change words as necessary. You might have to change the order of the words given. Example: Russia / big country Russia is a big country. our teacher / always / bring / book / class Many / school / have a …
Prepositions of Time
Some time expressions are: now, today, every day, last Monday, next week Some prepositions of time are: at, during, in, on Match the time expression with the correct preposition of time. Example: afternoon in the afternoon 3:00 p.m. Saturday Diwali January 1996 …
Irregular Verbs
There Is/Are
Noun
Prefixes
Plurals
The Three Stumbling Blocks To Success
July 21, 2018, 2:00 AM IST Speaking Tree in TOI Edit Page | Edit Page, India, Spirituality | TOI By Acharya Mahapragya. Despair is a major obstacle to progress. It scuttles the process of gaining success. “It cannot be done!” This sentence is a great stumbling block to any kind of …
Stephen Hawking’s words will be beamed into space
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-44481914
Lesson 64: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The sun shone down for nearly a week on the secret garden. The Secret Garden was what Mary called it when she was thinking of it. She liked the name, and she liked still more the feeling that when its …
How to mind your language
These are the grammar rules you are probable breaking without realising it. Proper grammar and usage are important for clear communication. There are a number of English language nuances that are often overlooked. For example, many words or phrases sound …
By going paperless, CBSE saves 50,000 trees and Rs 100 crore
https://m.timesofindia.com/city/delhi/cbses-paperless-exams-save-50000-trees-rs-100-crore/amp_articleshow/64901379.cms
Lesson 24: Movies
I love Hindi movies. I wish I could watch one every week. But I can’t, because of many reasons. Firstly, movie tickets are very expensive. Secondly, my father thinks that movies are a waste of time and money. My teacher says …
Lesson 23: A Carpet of Books
Our family has just moved into a new house. There are boxes and cartons everywhere. There is a lot of noise and confusion because we are still settling in. I have been very busy sorting out my things. This is …
Lesson 22: Message in a Bottle
A few years ago, Ritu and Ayesha had gone for a holiday to Goa. They were walking on the beach when they saw an empty bottle bobbing on the waves. Ritu picked up the bottle out of curiosity. She suddenly got …
Lesson 21: The Lost Bicycle
Last Friday, Shyam received a letter from the local police station, which really worried him. In the letter, he was asked to come to the police station the next day. Shyam wondered why he was wanted by the police. What …
Lesson 63: Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata (JRD) (Level 2+)
J.R.D.Tata, the man who made Tata Group one of the most prestigious and successful industrial groups in India, was a visionary. Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata was born in France on January 29, 1904 to an Indian father and a French mother. …
Adverbs of Manner
For most adverbs of manner, add ‘ly’ to the adjective. Example: Rohit is a ‘careful’ worker, becomes Rohit works ‘carefully.’ A few adverbs of manner are irregular: Example: good = well; hard = hard; fast = fast. Rohit is a …
Relationships & Personal Pronouns
A) HIS or HER? Example: What’s your wife’s name? Her name is Mira. What’s your brother’s name? ______name is Ravi. What’s your mother’s name? ______name is Maya. What’s your husband’s name? ______name is Amit. What’s your grandfather’s name? ______name is Kalyan. …
Short Forms – am not/ is not/ are not
I am not (I’m not) He is not (he’s not or he isn’t) She is not (she’s not or she isn’t) It is not (it’s not or it isn’t) We are not (we’re not or we aren’t) You are not …
Short Forms – Am/Is/Are
I am (I’m) He is (he’s) She is (she’s) It is (it’s) We are (we’re) You are (you’re) They are (they’re) A) Fill in the blanks with am, is, or are. Example: The weather is pleasant today. I ___ not rich. This bag …
Its or It’s
It’s is always short for ‘it is’ or ‘it has.’ It is raining. OR It’s raining. It has been a long time. OR It’s been a long time. Its (without an apostrophe) means ‘belonging to it.’ The cat looks after …
RAFI’S JOURNEY
I want to thank the Talk to me! organization for providing me the opportunity to be here on this important day. I grew up in the Begumpur slum and my father was a driver but, gave up the job to …
Sentences 2
Please pay attention to spelling, capitalisation, punctuation and the order of words in a sentence. Remember to use the correct form of the verb: (I play, she plays) Read about Lata. Then write about yourself. Example: Lata reads a book. …
Sentences 1
Please pay attention to spelling, capitalisation, punctuation and the order of words in a sentence. Remember to use the correct form of the verb: (I write, he writes) Read about Ayesha. Then talk/write about yourself. Example: Ayesha wears a jacket. …
Lesson 62: The Paperboy
The morning headlines were full of the usual sad stories. “No good news again!” Rajesh’s father said. “Kidnappings! Murders! Earthquakes! Floods!” Rajesh wished he could have been able to cheer up his father. He moved quickly from house to house leaving papers …
Lesson 61: Identify your own Mountain (Level 2+)
If you want to climb a mountain, perhaps the tallest mountain in the world, what do you think you would need to get to the top? What would you need besides equipment, shoes, training and favourable weather? You would certainly need …
Lesson 60: The Farmer’s Well
Once upon a time a man sold his well to a farmer. The next day when the farmer went to draw water from that well, the man did not allow him to do so. He said, “I have sold you …
Lesson 59: The Ant and the Dove
On a hot day in summer, an ant was searching for some water. After walking around for some time, she came near the river. To drink the water, she climbed up on a small rock. While trying to drink water, …
Tenses – Present Tense 5
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in brackets: Example: She ___ butter on the bread and ___ sugar on it. (spread, sprinkle) She spreads butter on the bread and sprinkles sugar on it. The airplane___high in the …
Tenses – Present Tense 4
Don’t and doesn’t are contractions. Don’t is a contraction of do not, while doesn’t is a contraction of does not. I don’t want to go to school. Don’t you like ice cream? Don’t touch the stove! In a command the subject (you) is left out. …
Tenses – Present Tense 3
In the simple present tense add an ‘es’ to verb roots that end in sh, ch, x, z, or ss to form the third person singular (he, she, it). Example: I wash He washes A) Fill in the blanks with …
Lesson 58: Corruption (Level 2+)
Corruption is the abuse of public resources or public power for personal gain. Corruption is a serious social issue that adversely affects the economy of a nation and impacts society as a whole. For example, if a judge is corrupt, he …
Fun and Games 2 with answers
Can you name the hidden animal in each sentence? Example: This must be art class. This must be art class. ‘Bear’ is the hidden animal. Rahul must be especially tired after playing cricket in the hot sun. A pear tree …
Tenses – Present Tense 2
For verbs that end in –y (cry, fly) you have to change the –‘y’ to an ‘ies’ in the third person singular( he, she, it). Example: The baby _ all the time. (cry) The baby cries all the time. What is …
Tenses – Present Tense 1
We use the present tense to talk about things that always happen, or habits. I go to school at 7:00 am. Lizards climb on the walls. We also use the present tense to talk about things that are always true, or facts. …
Lesson 57: Electricity reaches Leisang in Manipur
At 10 pm on April 28, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that Leisang in Manipur had become “powered and empowered.” When the bulbs lit up in Leisang village in Manipur’s Senapati district at 5.30 pm on April 28, it became …
Lesson 56: Stress And How To Deal With It (Level 2+)
When you are stressed, your body releases many hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. Cortisol is the main stress hormone.These hormones increase your heart rate, blood pressure and blood sugar. They also suppressyour bodily systems, such as your digestiveand immune systems. …
Adjectives
Adjectives are words that describe nouns. ‘Colour’ is a noun. You could say, ‘I love colours.’ The sentence would be correct. But think about how much more your sentence would convey if you were to add an adjective: I love bright and bold colours. …
Lesson 55: Organ Donation – Rivyani’s Story (Level 2+)
(FOR ADULT MENTEES ONLY) On April 18, 2018, seven- year-old Rivyani Rahangdale was hit by a motorcycle near her hometown of Deori, in Maharashtra’s Gondia district. She was with her aunt and uncle. They had stopped by the roadside to …
Lesson 20: Polar Bears
Polar bears live in the Arctic Circle, a land of ice and snow. The Arctic region covers Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Russia, and Norway. Polar bears live on sea ice. This makes them different from most other bears that make their homes in forests …
Prepositions – Quiz
Choose the correct preposition from the list below and fill in the blanks. in, on, at, to, from, with, by, since, of My brother always drinks a glass ___ milk ___ bedtime. During the holidays I play ___ my cousins. Most …
Lesson 54: Dr. Verghese Kurien – The Story of Amul (Level 2+)
Arriving in Anand in 1949 as a government employee to manage a dairy, Dr. Verghese Kurien went from helping farmers repair their machinery to revolutionizing the Indian dairy industry. Operation Flood, was a cooperative movement that turned India from an importer of …
Lesson 53: Sumit Gunjan – An Unsung Hero (Level 2+)
Two events were to set Sumit Gunjan on a journey that would not only change his life but that of many tribal children in Banta-Hajam, a village seventy kilometres from Ranchi, Jharkhand. In 2010 Gunjan came across a group of …
Lesson 52: ‘Chota Masterji’ (Level 2+)
At an age when most of his classmates spend their time watching cartoons, playing video games, and preparing for exams, 11-year-old Anand Krishna Mishra is busy teaching underprivileged kids. Despite being a school student himself, this ‘chota masterji’ has reached out …
Prepositions 3
‘With’ and ‘by’ A preposition is a word that links all the words in the sentence together. They are relationship words. ‘With’ is used to show being together. I like to drink a glass of milk with my breakfast. ‘With’ is …
Lesson 51: Love the Trees as You Love Me (Level 2+)
Mohan loved his Baba. He loved his mother and father too. But he was happiest when he was with Baba, his paternalgrandfather. Baba told him stories and never ever scolded him. One day Baba got a basketful of mangoes for Mohan. …
Lesson 50: Calories
Food gives energy to the body to keep you alive, growing, and active. This energy comes from calories found in food. Not everyone needs the same amount of calories each day. A person doing hard manual work needs about 3,700 …
Lesson 49: Costa Rica (Level 2+)
Costa Rica, in Central America, is known for not having an army. In Spanish, costa rica means “rich coast”. With the Pacific Ocean on the west and the Caribbean on the east, Costa Rica is a country in which people coexist with nature. It …
Lesson 19: From Sand to Glass
Glass is made from sand. First the sand is scooped out of the ground and loaded into trucks. The trucks take the sand to a glass factory. At the glass factory the sand is poured into huge furnaces with soda, lime, and cullet. Cullet is recycled glass that …
Lesson 48: The Loneliest Schoolkid in India
Yuvraj Sangle is eight years old, and is the only student at the village school. He lives in a small village called Chandor, in Maharashtra. Little Yuvraj is often reluctant to go to school, because there is nobody there, apart from his …
Lesson 18: Because of You
Each time a child is born, the world changes. When you were born, there was a new person for your family to love and care for. And because of you, there is one more person who can love and care for others. …
Lesson 47: Stephen Hawking (Level 2+)
Stephen Hawking was born on January 8, 1942, in Oxford, England. At the age of 21, he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease. It is a neuromuscular wasting disease. Ultimately the disease reduced his bodily control to the flexing of …
Lesson 46: Dear Diary (Level 2+)
Why do people keep diaries? How do you decide what to write about? Diaries are not merely books in which to write your daily activities. It is also a place where you can jot down your innermost thoughts and special …
Lesson 45: International Women’s Day (Level 2+)
International Women’s Day is a celebration of women’s social, economic, cultural and political successes worldwide. The observance falls on March 8. International Women’s Day events around the world are aimed at supporting women’s causes. A major campaign theme this year is #PressforProgress. A group …
Words will not be enough to describe my thoughts. A very big thanks to my mentor Ms. Ramaa Raghavan for enhancing my skill of speaking English and gave me confidence that ” I can do it” :). I knew basics …
Prepositions 2
‘To’ and ‘from’ A preposition is a word that links all the words in the sentence together. They are relationship words. ‘To’ shows direction or result of movement. I go to school. ‘To’ shows time or period. I work from …
Lesson 17: What do animals give us?
Do you drink milk for breakfast? The milk we drink comes mostly from cows and buffaloes. Did you know that butter, cheese, and yogurt are all made from milk and cream? Ice cream is made by adding sugar and flavouring …
Lesson 44: Pushkar Camel Fair
In the various states of India, there are many different languages and dialects, dance forms, music, architecture, food, customs and festivals. The Pushkar Camel Fair in Rajasthan is one such unique festival. Pushkar Lake is a historical and sacred lake in Ajmer. Held in …
Lesson 43: Depression
Why Is My Mother Sad? My mother used to smile more. Now she has sad days. She said she has depression. Depression is an illness that makes a person sad. People who are depressed have days when they feel very …
Lesson 42: W.I.N.G.S.
A few days ago, I accompanied my friend to a seminar, rather reluctantly. I wasn’t looking forward to sitting on a chair for almost a whole day, and listening to one person talking about ‘Dreams and Goals.’ But at the end of the …
Lesson 41: Learning from a Teenager
Instead of just going out with friends, fifteen-year-old Amina spent most of her spare time taking care of her father. Javed had been a strong and healthy man who loved outdoor activities. But one day he noticed his right hand was …
Lesson 40: The Generous Female Sheep
She was a very generous sheep. Do you know what it means to be generous? It is to enjoy giving – giving for the pleasure of it. Well, this sheep was very, very generous. She gave wool whenever somebody asked …
Lesson 38: Gulli-Danda
“I consider gulli danda the king of all sports. Even now, whenever I see children playing gulli-danda, I have a great desire to join them. You don’t need a lawn, a court, a net, or any other expensive equipment. Just climb …
Lesson 37: Valuing Yourself
A colleague whispered to me, “I heard you were in the school race yesterday.” I nodded and smiled. I hadn’t come in first, but I was proud of my efforts. Her mouth twisted into a sneer. “So how did you do? …
Prepositions 1
‘In,’ ‘on,’ ‘at’ for Time and Place ‘In’ is a preposition used in front of GENERAL information indicating time and place. In winter, In January, In the morning, In Begumpur, In Allahabad, In India, In North America, In the Himalayas …
Lesson 16: Heera and Moti
Jhuri owned a pair of oxen named Heera and Moti. They were tall, handsome, and hard-working animals. Heera and Moti were very good friends. The two of them were very different, as best friends often are. Moti was rather aggressive …
Fun and Games 1
A) Rearrange the words in each sentence in the correct order. there / we / for / always / holidays / go / our. year / I’ve / English / for / been / a / learning. long / stay …
Articles 2
Please fill in the blanks with ‘a’ ‘an’ ‘the’ or nothing. If no article is needed, do NOT fill in the blank. Remember: Use ‘the’ when you are talking about one particular thing. Use ‘a’ or ‘an’ when there are …
Lesson 36: North America
The continent of North America extends from just south of the North Pole to just north of the equator. North America is the third largest continent in the world and consists of three large countries and a cluster of smaller …
Lesson 35: Lifelong Companion
Though it is a faded memory today, there are times when I remember the dog’s face clearly, especially his unusual eyes. We named him Spotty, because of the yellow spots in his eyes. He was a stray dog until he …
Lesson 15: All Things Bright and Beautiful
Can you think of anything that is bright and shining? If you look up at the sky, you will see the blazing sun. A clear night sky offers an ever-changing display of brilliant objects- stars, constellations, and the moon. If …
Lesson 14: Vegetables
I know most of the names of the vegetables in English. So I am going to share them with you. Baingan is brinjal. Gobi is cauliflower. Bund gobi is cabbage. Shalgam is turnip. Bhindi is okra or ladies’ fingers. And …
Lesson 13: The Weekend
Saturday and Sunday together are called the weekend. Most schools and offices are closed on the weekend. That is why everyone looks forward to these two days. The middle of the week, from Tuesday to Thursday, is called ‘midweek.’ I …
Lesson 12: Day and Night
The sun rises in the east every morning. It sets every evening in the west. I have never seen the sunrise, because I do not get up early enough. But I have seen the sunset many times. Sunset is the moment when the sun disappears below the …
Lesson 34: The Taste of Life
An experienced and wise master grew tired of his apprentice complaining. One morning he sent the apprentice for some salt. The master instructed the unhappy young man to put a handful of salt in a glass of water and drink …
Lesson 11: A Walk in the Park
I walk to work from my house. On the way, I pass a park. If I’m not getting late for work, I open the little gate to the park and go in. I sit on a bench and watch the …
Articles 1
Please fill in the blanks with the definite article (the), the indefinite article (‘a’) or (‘an’ before a vowel). Some nouns do not need an article placed before them. Examples: His office is on ______ third floor. His office is …
Personal Pronouns – Quiz
Please go over the last 6 grammar exercises on personal pronouns. We hope you’ve mastered them and do really well on this final exercise. Please fill in the blanks with ‘ I, me, mine, you, your, yours, he, him, his, she, …
Personal Pronouns 6
Please fill in the blanks with the following words: they, them, their or theirs. Examples: Where are the children? ______ are in school. They are in school. The toys belong to the children. The toys belong to ______ . The …
Personal Pronouns 5
Please fill in the blanks with you, your or yours. Examples: Do ____ have a pencil? Do you have a pencil? My pencil is blue. What colour is ____ pencil ? My pencil is blue. What colour is your pencil? …
Lesson 33: An Exciting Transport Solution
Idiom: Necessity is the mother of invention Nowadays, everybody likes to do more than one thing at any given time, for instance, talking on the phone while driving. This is not a safe thing to do, is it? But what if you …
Lesson 32: Phoolwalon Ki Sair
Phool Waalon Ki Sair meaning “procession of the florists” is an annual celebration. It is a three-day festival, generally held in the month of September. Hindus and Muslims together offer the floral chaadar and pankha at the dargah of Khwaja Bakhtiar ‘Kaaki’ in Mehrauli, and floral …
Personal Pronouns 4
Please fill in the blanks with we, us, our or ours. Examples: ___ are going to the park. We are going to the park. Let___ take our badminton racquets along. Let us take our badminton racquets along. Are these ___ …
Personal Pronouns 3
Please fill in the blanks with he, him or his. Examples: This is Varun. ___ has a schoolbag. This is Varun. He has a schoolbag. The schoolbag belongs to ___. The schoolbag belongs to him. This is ___ schoolbag This …
Personal Pronouns 2
Please fill in the blanks with she, her or hers. Examples: This is Ayesha. ____ has a camera. This is Ayesha. She has a camera. The camera belongs to ___. The camera belongs to her. This is ___ camera. This …
Personal Pronouns 1
Please fill in the blanks with I, me, my or mine. Examples: ___have a pencil. I have a pencil. This is ___ pencil. This is my pencil. This pencil is ___. This pencil is mine. Please give ___ your pencil. …
I am Sairun Nisha mentee of “Talk to Me” and my lovely mentor name is Bridget maám. I want say something about my classes & session in Talk to Me. First of all I really like the way of training …
Lesson 31: The Nursing Profession
Nurses are often the first health care professionals that a sick or injured person sees, whether in hospitals, schools and even in border areas, or military bases. Some even work in the sky or at sea, helping to transport sick …
Lesson 30: Rooted in Nature
The river was roaring like an angry cheetah. About a hundred feet below, the water was churning with force as it flowed over huge rocks. Four of my family members who were with me when we started the trek had …
Lesson 29: Nature and Saving the Environment
Nature surrounds us wherever we are. Even among all the buildings of a big city like New Delhi, a red flower, a green tree, the golden sun, the orange sunset, the blue sky reminds us of the beauty that surrounds …
Lesson 10: My Parents
My mother and my father work very hard. They leave the house early in the morning, and return late in the evening. My mother cooks the food for the whole family before she leaves home. My father buys the vegetables …
Lesson 28: My First Pay Cheque
I like to visualize things – particularly happy situations, like receiving my very first pay cheque. What a wonderful day it would be…. I place my salary cheque very carefully at the bottom of my backpack, so there is no …
Lesson 9: My Favourite Fruit
Mango is my favourite fruit. Mangoes are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. The best and most flavourful mangoes grow in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Southeast Asia. Mangoes are fleshy. They are the national fruit of India and Pakistan. A mango tree is evergreen. It can …
Lesson 26: My City, My Responsibility
When I take a look around me, I don’t always like what I see and hear. The garbage on the streets. The paan stains on walls. The smell of urine on the roadside. The maddening traffic. The non-stop honking of …
Lesson 8: Meet My Family
I live with my family in Patna. Ours is a small, nuclear family. My mother, father, two sisters, and I live together in one house. My father works in a company. My mother works for a newspaper. She is a journalist. …
Lesson 7: Dreams
Rina works in Shruti’s house. Both the girls are the same age, twelve years old. As she cleans the house, Rina often sees Shruti sitting in her room, quietly absorbed in a book. One morning, Rina asked Shruti what she …
Lesson 22: Coyote – The Survivor of North America
The coyote is a relative of the dog, wolf and jackal. Like its relatives, it is a predator and mostly eats other mammals. It will, however, eat a wide variety of foods, including insects, fruits and vegetables. Coyotes are found throughout most of …
Lesson 21: Anger Management
There once was a little boy who had a very bad temper. His father decided to hand him a bag of nails and said that every time the boy lost his temper, he had to hammer a nail into the …
Lesson 20: Geography of India
India is the seventh biggest country in the world and the second most populous. It shares its borders with six countries. India surrounds the country of Bangladesh on three sides. India’s landscape is incredibly varied, with dry desert regions, lush …
Lesson 19: Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879, in Germany. He is known as the “father of modern physics.” Not only was he the most influential physicist of the 20th century, but he is also regarded as the most famous …
Lesson 17: A Group of Frogs
As a group of frogs were travelling through the woods, two of them fell into a deep pit. When the other frogs crowded around the pit and saw how deep it was, they told the two frogs they would never …
Lesson 16: The Beauty Parlour
I can say for sure that one business that is flourishing is the beauty business. I seem to come across new beauty parlours every day. Maybe it’s just my imagination, but they definitely are mushrooming all over the place. I …
Lesson 15: Kindness and Sharing
The Story of Stone Soup Three monks travelled along a mountain road. “What makes one happy?” asked the youngest monk. The wisest monk replied, “Let’s find out.” They stopped at a village. It had gone through hard times. The villagers …
Lesson 14: Mount Everest
Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world. Where is the highest place in the world? It’s the top of Mount Everest, which stands between Tibet and Nepal, in Asia. But how do we know that Everest is the …
Lesson 13: Vasco da Gama
Vasco da Gama (1460 – 1524) was a Portuguese explorer. He was born in a small coastal town in Portugal named Sines. His father was a knight and an explorer. He followed in his father’s footsteps and soon commanded ships …
Lesson 12: Europe
The continent of Europe is the second smallest in the world. Europe is densely populated and is made up of many countries-forty-six, to be precise. Each one of these countries has its own culture and, in most cases, its own …
Lesson 11: Different is Good
Have you ever thought about how many different people there are in the world? Or how many languages are spoken on this planet? What about the differences in rituals, customs and traditions? The most important question we could ask ourselves …
Lesson 10: Dengue
Dengue (pronounced DEN-gay) fever is an infectious disease caused by the dengue virus. People get the dengue virus from female mosquitoes. Dengue fever is also called break-bone fever. Symptoms include high fever, headaches, vomiting, loss of appetite, nausea, a rash and pain in the muscles and joints. Even though …
Lesson 9: Cleanliness
In a village there were three best friends – Sam, Khursheed and Sahil. They studied in the same school. All three were good in their studies. They liked their school because it was the place where they all met. They …
Lesson 8: The Armed Forces
Our country’s army, air force, and navy, all comprise its Armed Forces. I feel a great sense of pride whenever I read or hear about any of them. They are the men and women who have chosen to defend our …
Lesson 7: Africa
The second largest continent is Africa. Africa is also the second most populous continent with a population of over a billion people. There are fifty-four independent countries in Africa. Africa is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, …
Lesson 6: The Story of a Butterfly
A butterfly lays a tiny green egg on a leaf. The egg sticks to the leaf even in the wind and rain. Inside the egg is a little caterpillar. After a week it begins to move, and splits the shell …
Lesson 6: Transport and Safety
People have been using wheels for thousands of years for transporting heavy objects by road. On a bicycle, we have to push the pedals to move gears and a chain to get the wheels to move. Horses or bullocks pull …
Lesson 5: The Bus Journey
I take a bus to college every day. Sometimes I get a seat. That is when I look out of the window. There are many things I can see through the bus window. I see vegetable and fruit sellers behind …
Lesson 4: My Favourite Day of the Week
Sunday is my favourite day of the week. There is no school and no college. My parents do not go to work on Sunday. I like to wake up late on Sunday, so I don’t eat breakfast. Instead, I have …
Lesson 2: The Story of Edmund Hillary
Edmund Hillary was born on July 20, 1919 in Auckland, New Zealand. As a young child, he lived in a tiny village. He described himself as “a small and rather lonely child.” Indeed, he was shy and studious, often buried in books. He …
Lesson 3: Conversation about Colours
“What colour are chicks?” Raghav asked his mother. “Chicks are yellow,” his mother answered. “What colour is that thing inside a boiled egg?” “That thing is a yolk, and it is yellow.” “What are you drinking?” “I am drinking lemonade.” …
Lesson 2: Carrots and Nutrition
The carrot is a crunchy, tasty, and highly nutritious vegetable. Like the potato, it grows underground and only its leaves are seen above the soil. Carrots were first cultivated in the area that is now Afghanistan. They were mostly purple …
Lesson 1: Punctuality
Ashok’s parents invited me to go to India Gate with them. It was a short distance from where they lived. They told me to be at their house by 1.00 p.m. It was a ten-minute bike ride to my friend’s …
Introductory Lesson 14: A Surprise for My Parents
A Surprise for My Parents My parents are in Shimla for a few days. They spent some time with my grandmother who was unwell. They returned last night. My brother Ankit and I made dinner for them. We planned the …
My mentee is focused. From the beginning, she was clear about what she wanted. On day 1 when I asked her what she wanted me to guide her in, she said she has a problem with her accent. She said …
One day I came to home from my school and I was going to have some food. My mother told me that my father had found something interesting for me. She told me that I would get a chance to …
I think hidden in everyone is a teacher and a learner. Youngsters will teach you things they know and also eagerly learn the minutest details of an obscure animal or planet. Talk To Me not only connects the learner and …
Level 1
Level 1
Lesson 34 Different is Good
October 24, 2017 Different Is Good Have you ever thought about how many countries there are in the world? Or how many languages are spoken on this planet? What about the differences in rituals, customs and traditions? And the varieties …
Lesson 33 Africa
October 24, 2017 AFRICA The second largest continent is Africa. Africa is also the second most populous continent with a population of over a billion people. There are fifty-four independent countries in Africa. Africa is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea …
Lesson 32 Understanding Landforms
October 10, 2017 Understanding Landforms Geography is a fascinating science that deals with the earth’s surface. People who study geography are called geographers. Geographers are interested in Earth’s physical features, such as mountains, deserts, rivers, and oceans. They are also …
Lesson 31 Famous Explorers
October 10, 2017 Famous Explorers Vasco da Gama (1460 – 1524) was a Portuguese explorer. He was born in a small coastal town in Portugal named Sines. His father was a knight and an explorer. He followed in his father’s …
Lesson 30 Mount Everest
October 10, 2017 Mount Everest Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world. Do you know where the highest place in the world is? It’s the top of Mount Everest , which stands between Tibet and Nepal, in Asia. …
Lesson 29 Geography of India
October 10, 2017 Geography of India India is the seventh-biggest country in the world and the second most populous. It shares borders with six countries. India surrounds the country of Bangladesh on three sides. India’s landscape is incredibly varied, with …
Lesson 28, My First Pay Cheque
September 26, 2017 My First Pay Cheque I like to visualize things – particularly happy situations, like my receiving my very first pay cheque. What a wonderful day it would be…. I place my salary check very carefully at the …
Lesson27. Coyote: The Survivor of North America
September 26, 2017 Coyote: The Survivor of North America The coyote is a relative of the dog, wolf and jackal. Like its relatives, it is a predator and mostly eats other mammals. It will, however, eat a wide variety of …
Lesson 26 Nature and Saving the Environment
September 18, 2017 NATURE & SAVING THE ENVIRONMENT Nature surrounds us wherever we are. Even among all the buildings of a big city like New Delhi, a red flower, a green tree, the golden sun, the orange sunset, the blue …
Lesson 25 My Family
September 18, 2017 MY FAMILY My family is a small nuclear family, comprising four members – my father, mother, my younger sister and I. We live in Ghaziabad, and my paternal and maternal grandparents live in the village. My family …
Lesson 24 My City, My Responsibility
September 18, 2017 My City, My Responsibility When I take a look around me, I don’t always like what I see and hear. The garbage on the streets. The paan stains on walls. The smell of urine on the roadside. …
Lesson 20 Friendship
September 14, 2017 FRIENDSHIP I am very fortunate because I have many good friends. But my closest friend is Irfaan. My mother told me that we were born on the same day. I still remember our first day of school, …
Lesson 19 Dreams
September 14, 2017 DREAMS Rina works in Shruti’s house. As she cleans the house, she often sees Shruti sitting in her room, quietly absorbed in a book. One evening, Rina asked Shruti what she was reading. Shruti smiled, “I’m reading …
Lesson 17. Rooted in Nature
September 05, 2017 Lesson 17 Rooted in Nature The river was roaring like an angry cheetah. About …
Lesson 16. A Walk in the Desert
September 05, 2017 Lesson 16 A Walk in the Desert Two friends were walking through the desert. During the journey they had an argument. One …
Lesson 14. Dengue
August 05, 2017 Lesson 14 Dengue Note to mentor: Please introduce the underlined words. For simple …
Lesson 13 The Importance of Reading
August 05, 2017 Lesson 13 The Importance of Reading Before the invention of printing, books were hand-written. They were very few in number …
Lesson 12. A Visit to the Doctor
July 21, 2017 Lesson 12 Mentor Note: Please send the entire lesson except the mentor note to your mentee. In ‘A visit to the doctor’ please ask your mentee to substitute ‘a sore throat’ with ‘a cold’ or ‘dengue’ or …
Lesson 10. The Wonders of Nature
June 30, 2017 Lesson 10 The Wonders of Nature Mentor Note: Please send your mentee the entire lesson plan, except for this note. Please introduce/reinforce the words that are in bold. Please use these as spelling …
lesson 9. Nutrition
June 28, 2017 Lesson 9 Nutrition “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded money, it would be a merrier world.” JRR Tolkie Have you heard the saying— “Food is the best medicine?” …
Lesson 8 Carrots and Nutrition
June 10, 2017 Lesson 8 Note to mentor: Please send your mentee the entire lesson. Please do more with synonyms and adjectives if you feel your mentee can cope with it. Please have your mentee write his or her own …
Lesson 7 Transport and Safety
June 09, 2017 Lesson 7. Transport and Safety Mentor Note: Please send your mentee the paragraph on transport and safety. The questions that follow can be answered orally and/ or in writing. Please discuss the words …
Lesson 6: Confidence and Focus
May 30, 2017 Lesson 6: Confidence and Focus Mentor Guidelines: Please send the text (The Story of Edmund Hillary) the grammar exercises, the points of discussion and homework as well as the short poem to your mentee. Have your mentee …
Lesson 5. Friendship
May 23, 2017 Lesson 5. Friendship Note to mentor: Please send the entire lesson, EXCLUDING these instructions to your mentee. This week’s lesson consists of a story on friendship, a fill in the blanks exercise which uses verbs from the …
Lesson Plan 4. Kindness and Sharing
May 23, 2017 Lesson Plan 4. Kindness and Sharing The proverb for the week: A joy that is shared is a joy made double. The Story of Stone Soup Three monks travelled along a mountain road. “What makes one happy?” …
Lesson 3. Cleanliness
May 23, 2017 Lesson Plan 3. Cleanliness Please send the mentees the text and ask them questions related to the theme of the week: Cleanliness. You can also ask them to write a few lines on this topic. OUR …
Lesson 2. Courtesy, Politeness and Good Manners
May 22, 2017 Lesson 2. Courtesy, Politeness and Good Manners The quote of the week: All doors open to courtesy.Passage: A wise man was sitting outside his village. A traveller came up to him and asked him “What kind of …
Lesson Plan 1:
Please send your mentee the following short paragraph. Please ask them to read it carefully and several times before the lesson. Please ask them to read it aloud to you. Correct pronunciation relentlessly! The theme is Punctuality. Here is the …
Introductory Lesson 15: My Grandmother
My Grandmother Nani is sitting on the floor. She has her back against the wall and her eyes are shut. Her grandchildren, Shilpa and Ravi, and their two friends, Preeti and Vikas, open the door and rush into the room. …
Introductory Lesson 16: A Neem Tree
A Neem Tree Maya is sad. She has lost her shiny red bead. “Go and play outside,” says Ma. “You will feel better.” Maya goes outside and walks in the garden. Ma is right. She soon forgets all about her …
Fun and Games 2
Can you name the hidden animal in each sentence? Example: This must be art class. This must be art class. ‘Bear’ is the hidden animal. Rahul must be especially tired after playing cricket in the hot sun. A pear tree …
Introductory Lesson: Sentence Structure 1
1. A simple sentence has a subject, a verb, and a completed thought. Example: I love my new pets. I – subject Love – verb My new pets – is the completed thought 2. A sentence begins with a capital …
Introductory Lesson: Sentence Structure 2
More about Simple Sentences: Subject, Verb, and Object Subject: The subject in a sentence is a person, animal, place, or thing that does an action. When you ask questions beginning with ‘who’ or ‘what’, you can determine the subject of …