English Learning Content for Beginners: Online Classes

Dialogue

Alice: Hey Bob, how was your online class today? Mine was… very interesting.

Bob: Oh Alice, tell me! Mine involved my cat trying to teach the class. He kept meowing at the screen!

Alice: Seriously? My tutor accidentally wore a banana costume for the first half hour! He forgot his camera was on.

Bob: No way! A banana? That’s amazing. I once saw someone’s little brother pop up in the background wearing a superhero mask.

Alice: Haha! My internet connection keeps dropping. I spend half the class reconnecting, saying, “Can you hear me now?”

Bob: Oh, the classic! I always worry if my microphone is off when I’m singing along to music.

Alice: Me too! Or when I’m talking to myself. I nearly said “What is this nonsense?” out loud during a lecture.

Bob: Close call! Do you ever just stay in your pajamas all day because of online classes?

Alice: Bob, is that even a question? My pajamas are my new uniform! Comfort first, always.

Bob: Mine too! My brain is learning, but my legs are still in bed. It’s a strange feeling.

Alice: It’s great for learning from home, but sometimes I miss seeing people in person.

Bob: Yeah, me too. But at least we don’t have to worry about running late for class! Just roll out of bed and log in.

Alice: True! And no traffic jams. I guess online classes have their funny moments and good points.

Bob: Definitely! Even with banana tutors and singing cats. It’s never boring.

Alice: Absolutely. See you later, Bob!

Current Situation

Online classes are learning sessions that happen over the internet. Students and teachers use computers or phones to connect from different places. They became very popular in recent years, especially during the pandemic, allowing people to continue their education or learn new skills from home.

Many people enjoy online classes because they offer flexibility and convenience. You can often learn at your own pace and from anywhere. However, they can also come with challenges like internet connection problems, distractions at home, or sometimes missing the face-to-face interaction with classmates and teachers.

Key Phrases

• Very interesting: Something that captures your attention and makes you curious.
  • Example: “The movie was very interesting, I didn’t want it to end.”
• No way!: An informal expression of surprise or disbelief.
  • Example: “You got an A on the test? No way!”
• Internet connection: The link that allows your device to access the internet.
  • Example: “My internet connection is slow today, so the video won’t load.”
• Keeps dropping: When something repeatedly loses its connection or signal.
  • Example: “My phone signal keeps dropping when I’m in the elevator.”
• Can you hear me now?: A common question asked during phone calls or online meetings to check audio.
  • Example: “Hello? Can you hear me now? My microphone was off.”
• Close call!: A situation where something bad almost happened but was avoided.
  • Example: “The car almost hit me, that was a close call!”
• Pajamas all day: To stay in your sleepwear for the whole day.
  • Example: “On lazy Sundays, I sometimes stay in my pajamas all day.”
• Running late: To be behind schedule.
  • Example: “I’m running late for work, so I need to hurry.”
• Roll out of bed: To get out of bed quickly and easily, often without much preparation.
  • Example: “For online classes, I can just roll out of bed and turn on my computer.”
• Log in: To enter your username and password to access a computer system or website.
  • Example: “Don’t forget to log in to your email account.”
• Funny moments: Times or situations that are amusing and make you laugh.
  • Example: “We had many funny moments during our school trip.”
• Good points: Positive aspects or advantages of something.
  • Example: “This new plan has many good points, like saving money.”

Grammar Points

1. Present Simple

We use the Present Simple to talk about habits, routines, facts, and general truths.

• Form: Subject + Verb (add -s/-es for he/she/it)
• Examples from dialogue:
  • “My internet connection keeps dropping.” (A routine problem)
  • “I always worry if my microphone is off.” (A habit)
  • “My pajamas are my new uniform!” (A general truth/fact)
• Practice: Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb.
  1. She often ________ (learn) new things online.
  2. They ________ (not have) classes on weekends.
  3. The sun ________ (rise) in the east.

2. Present Continuous

We use the Present Continuous to talk about actions happening right now, at this moment, or temporary situations.

• Form: Subject + am/is/are + Verb-ing
• Examples from dialogue:
  • “My cat is trying to teach the class.” (Happening now)
  • “My brain is learning, but my legs are still in bed.” (Happening now/temporary state)
  • “I’m singing along to music.” (Happening at that moment)
• Practice: What are they doing right now?
  1. (I / study) I ________________ for my exam.
  2. (He / wear) He ________________ a blue shirt today.
  3. (They / watch) They ________________ a funny video.

3. Can / Can’t (Ability and Possibility)

We use “can” to express ability (what someone is able to do) or possibility. “Can’t” is for lack of ability or impossibility.

• Form: Subject + can/can’t + Base Verb (the basic form of the verb without ‘to’ or -ing)
• Examples from dialogue:
  • “Can you hear me now?” (Asking about possibility)
  • “I can learn from home.” (Ability)
• Practice: Choose “can” or “can’t” to complete the sentences.
  1. I ________ speak English, but I ________ speak French yet.
  2. Birds ________ fly, but fish ________.
  3. ________ you help me with my homework?

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks (Vocabulary)

Complete the sentences using words from the dialogue (e.g., banana, screen, internet, pajamas, late, log in).

1. Alice’s tutor wore a _________ costume by accident.
2. Bob’s cat was trying to teach the class and kept meowing at the _________.
3. When your _________ connection is bad, you might keep saying “Can you hear me now?”.
4. Alice loves online classes because she can stay in her _________ all day.
5. It’s nice that with online classes, you don’t have to worry about running _________ for class.
6. To start your online class, you need to _________ to the platform.

Exercise 2: True or False (Comprehension)

Read the dialogue again and decide if the following statements are True (T) or False (F).

1. Alice’s class was boring. (T/F)
2. Bob’s dog tried to teach his class. (T/F)
3. Alice’s internet connection works perfectly all the time. (T/F)
4. Bob worries if his microphone is off when he sings. (T/F)
5. Both Alice and Bob like wearing pajamas for online classes. (T/F)

Exercise 3: Sentence Building (Grammar)

Use the given words to make a correct sentence. Pay attention to the verb form.

1. (She / learn / English / online / every day)
2. (I / not / watch / TV / right now)
3. (He / can / swim / very well)
4. (We / eat / dinner / at 7 PM / usually)

Answers

Answers to Grammar Points Practice:

Present Simple:

1. learns
2. do not have / don’t have
3. rises

Present Continuous:

1. am studying
2. is wearing
3. are watching

Can / Can’t:

1. can, can’t
2. can, can’t
3. Can

Answers to Practice Exercises:

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

1. banana
2. screen
3. internet
4. pajamas
5. late
6. log in

Exercise 2: True or False

1. F (It was “very interesting”)
2. F (It was his cat)
3. F (It keeps dropping)
4. T
5. T

Exercise 3: Sentence Building

1. She learns English online every day.
2. I am not watching TV right now. / I’m not watching TV right now.
3. He can swim very well.
4. We usually eat dinner at 7 PM.