Lesson 13 — Everyday Phrases in Another Language

Summary

Learners learn and use simple everyday phrases in another language — a greeting, a number, and a color — practicing them by ear and in writing. Every script is honored equally, and multilingualism is treated as wealth.

Objectives

• Learn and use simple everyday phrases in another language, such as greetings, numbers, and colors. (D04.S4.03.01)

Connection

Imagine arriving somewhere new and being able to say just three things: “hello,” a number, and a color. Suddenly you are not a stranger — you are a guest who tried. Everyday phrases are small keys that open real doors between people. And you already carry the biggest treasure: your home language, which no one has to lose in order to gain another. Multilingualism is wealth — each language adds, none takes away.

Materials

• Phrase cards (a greeting, a number, a color)
• A phrase partner

Preparation

• Prepare phrase cards in the classroom’s languages, each script equal in size.
• Pair learners for practice.
• If possible, invite or record a fluent speaker of the new language.

Facilitator note

This lesson is written to the learner (“you”) so it works in a classroom and for a self-directed learner. Learning phrases in another language is a skill: model each phrase clearly, have learners echo it, then guide practice in pairs (Kirschner, Sweller & Clark, 2006). The value to protect: there is no “correct” accent — an accent is a sign that a learner already speaks another language, and that is wealth, not a flaw. Honor the learner’s home language first; the goal is to add a language, never to replace one. UNESCO holds that valuing a child’s own language strengthens learning and dignity. Phrases may be spoken, signed, or both — a signed greeting is a greeting, and a sign language counts fully as a language. Script-agnostic: a phrase may be written in any script, or not written at all. Celebrate every attempt; mastery grows through patient repetition, not through ranking.

Procedure

1. Gather (5 min). Think of a greeting, a number, and a color you know in your home language. You already carry a whole language — a treasure.
2. Meet the phrases (10 min). Learn three everyday phrases in another language: a greeting, a number, and a color. Listen to each one, then say or sign it back. Try it a few times.
3. Practice with a partner (15 min). With your partner, take turns: one says or signs a phrase, the other repeats it. Try the greeting, the number, and the color until they feel comfortable. Help each other gently.
4. Write or draw them (10 min). Write each phrase in the new script if you can, and next to it in your own. Or draw a picture for each. Notice: the same meaning, in two ways.
5. Close (5 min). Three small keys — hello, a number, a color — and a door opens. You did not lose your language to gain another; you added a treasure.

Differentiation

• Support: Learn just one phrase well — the greeting — before adding the number and color; repetition and a patient partner are the tools.
• Support (non-speaking): Learn the phrases in sign or by pointing to the cards; a signed greeting counts fully.
• Extension: Learn one more everyday phrase — “please,” “thank you,” or “my name is…” — and teach it to a partner.

Assessment

• Formative (observation/performance): Can the learner say or sign a greeting, a number, and a color in another language, and use at least one of them in a simple exchange with a partner?

Home connection

Teach someone at home the greeting, number, and color you learned, and ask them to teach you one phrase from a language they know.

Resources

• UNESCO, multilingual and mother-tongue-based education: https://www.unesco.org/en/days/mother-language
• CASEL SEL Framework (social awareness and relationship skills): https://casel.org/fundamentals-of-sel/