Niveau CECR : A1
Read/Listen first
In many short calls, people use letters to share names and emails. Vowels are A, E, I, O, and U. Consonants are the other letters. When a letter is hard to hear, speakers use a simple word: “B as in banana,” “C as in cat,” or “V as in violin.” This makes the spelling clear. In slow speech, people pause between letters. They also repeat the full word to check. These habits help everyone understand quickly.⚡ Learning goals
- Identify vowels and consonants.
- Use “as in …” to clarify letters.
- Pause between letters and confirm the full word.
✨ Grammar Points — 4 Structures
1️⃣ Vowels vs consonants
Rule: Vowels: A E I O U. All others are consonants.
Examples: A is a vowel. B is a consonant. U is a vowel.
Practice prompt: Classify: “C is a ___.”
✅ C is a consonant.
Exercise: Fill in vowels: A, E, I, O, __
✅ U
Common pitfall + fix: Remember Y can act like a vowel in some words.
2️⃣ Using “as in …” for clarity
Rule: Letter + “as in” + common noun.
Examples: Q as in quail. X as in x‑ray. Y as in yo‑yo.
Practice prompt: Give a model for the letter V.
✅ V as in violin.
Exercise: Give a model for the letter K.
✅ K as in kite.
Common pitfall + fix: Pick very common, learner‑friendly words.
3️⃣ Pausing between letters
Rule: Pause slightly between letters for clarity.
Examples: E… T… H… A… N. A—N—A. P—A—R—K.
Practice prompt: Add pauses to “MIA”.
✅ M… I… A…
Exercise: Add pauses to “PARK”.
✅ P… A… R… K…
Common pitfall + fix: Do not rush; short pauses help listening.
4️⃣ Confirming full word after spelling
Rule: Repeat the full item after letters.
Examples: A‑N‑A — Ana. P‑A‑R‑K — Park. E‑M‑A‑I‑L — email.
Practice prompt: Confirm the name after letters: L‑I‑N‑A — __.
✅ Lina.
Exercise: Confirm the city after letters: P‑A‑R‑I‑S — __.
✅ Paris.
Common pitfall + fix: Always close the loop with the full word.
✍️ Vocabulary (6 entries)
vowel
Meaning: a letter with an open sound: A, E, I, O, U.
Synonyms: none
Chunk/Idiom: ““A is a vowel.””
Example: E is a vowel in this word.
Morphology: noun; countable; phonics
Self-practice: Say two vowels aloud.
consonant
Meaning: a letter that is not a vowel.
Synonyms: none
Chunk/Idiom: ““B is a consonant.””
Example: R is a consonant in this word.
Morphology: noun; countable; phonics
Self-practice: List three consonants.
letter
Meaning: a symbol in the alphabet.
Synonyms: character, sign
Chunk/Idiom: ““spell each letter””
Example: Please say each letter slowly.
Morphology: noun; countable; neutral
Self-practice: Use it with a short verb.
alphabet
Meaning: the set of letters in order.
Synonyms: ABC, letters
Chunk/Idiom: ““learn the alphabet””
Example: Children learn the alphabet at school.
Morphology: noun; countable; neutral
Self-practice: Say ABC up to F aloud.
pause
Meaning: a short stop in speaking.
Synonyms: break, stop
Chunk/Idiom: ““pause between letters””
Example: Please pause between the letters.
Morphology: noun/verb; neutral
Self-practice: Try it with your own name.
pronounce
Meaning: say a word or letter correctly.
Synonyms: articulate, say
Chunk/Idiom: ““pronounce vowels clearly””
Example: Pronounce the vowels slowly and clearly.
Morphology: verb; -s, -ing, -ed; neutral
Self-practice: Practice three letters aloud.
☁️ Examples (+ audio)
- A is a vowel; B is a consonant.
- V as in violin, K as in kite.
- Please pause between the letters.
- P A R K — Park.
✏️ Exercises
1) Grammar
-
Which is correct for a polite request?
1) Repeat please. 2) You repeat please. 3) Could you repeat, please?
✔︎ Answer: 3 — Uses “Could you…” for politeness. -
Make a question for the name.
1) What is your name? 2) What your name is? 3) What do your name?
✔︎ Answer: 1 — Wh‑word + be + subject. -
Fill with the best answer: My name __ Lina.
→ Solution: is — Present simple of “be”. -
Fill with the best answer: __ you spell that, please?
→ Solution: Could — Polite request form.
2) Vocabulary & Comprehension
-
In a call, “noise on the line” means…
1) the phone is silent 2) the connection is not clear 3) the caller is loud
✔︎ Answer: 2 — The connection is not clear. -
“Confirm” is closest to…
1) delete 2) check 3) ignore
✔︎ Answer: 2 — “Confirm” = check/verify. -
Fill with the best answer: Please __ your surname.
→ Solution: spell — Say letters in order. -
Fill with the best answer: I can’t hear. Could you __, please?
→ Solution: repeat — Ask to say again.
⚙️ Integrated content
Mini-dialogue — Natural situation
A: V as in violin, right?
B: Yes. Then K as in kite.
A: Got it. V‑I‑K‑A — Vika.
B: Perfect. Thank you.
Why this matters
Clear spelling avoids mistakes in names and emails.
Verb & Adjective Pack
• be a vowel → “A is a vowel.”
• be a consonant → “B is a consonant.”
• pause briefly → “Please pause briefly.”
• pronounce clearly → “Pronounce letters clearly.”
️ Try and compare — guided production + model answers
Exercise 1 — Fill the blank
“U is a ______.” → ✔︎ vowel (Classify correctly.)
Exercise 2 — Self-correction
You said: “Q is vowel.” → Better: “Q is a consonant.” (Add article + correct class.)
Exercise 3 — Practice aloud
Spell a short word with pauses and then say the full word.
