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English Confidence — Conversation Prompt Cards
English Confidence — Conversation Prompt Cards
Course: English Confidence — Foundations
10 bilingual conversation prompts covering Foundations and Builder topics. Each card has starter phrases and Tamil support tips for parents.
How to use these cards
- 1.Pick one card per day — at dinner, during a car ride, or before bedtime.
- 2.The child reads the prompt and tries to speak for 2–3 minutes in English.
- 3.Use the starter phrases if stuck. Tamil support helps the parent guide without translating everything.
- 4.Listen and encourage — correct gently only after the child finishes, not mid-sentence.
Cards 1–5 match English Confidence: Foundations topics. Cards 6–10 match English Confidence: Builder topics. Start with Foundations cards if your child is still building basic vocabulary.
Introduce yourself to someone new at school.
Starter phrases:
Tamil tip: வணக்கம் = எல்லா நேரத்திற்கும்; English-ல் காலை/மாலை மாறும்
Tell about your family — who lives in your house?
Starter phrases:
Tamil tip: Tamil-ல் 'அவர்' எல்லாருக்கும்; English-ல் He/She/They பயன்படுத்தவும்
Look around the room. Describe 5 things you can see.
Starter phrases:
Tamil tip: A/An/The — Tamil-ல் இவை இல்லை; English-ல் ஒவ்வொரு பெயர்ச்சொல்லுக்கு முன் தேவை
What do you do every morning from waking up to going to school?
Starter phrases:
Tamil tip: Tamil SOV: நான் சாதம் சாப்பிடுகிறேன்; English SVO: I eat rice
Ask 5 questions about your partner's favourite things.
Starter phrases:
Tamil tip: என்ன=What, எங்கே=Where, யார்=Who, எப்போது=When, ஏன்=Why, எப்படி=How
Tell about the best day you had last week. What happened?
Starter phrases:
Tamil tip: Tamil: சாப்பிட்டேன் (-ட்டேன்); English: I ate (irregular — no pattern!)
What will you do this weekend? What are you going to try?
Starter phrases:
Tamil tip: Will = திட்டமில்லாமல் முடிவு; Going to = ஏற்கனவே திட்டமிட்டது
What is one thing you would change about your school, and why?
Starter phrases:
Tamil tip: Because = ஏனென்றால்; So = அதனால்; But = ஆனால் — கருத்தை இணைக்கவும்
Explain to a visitor how to get from your school gate to your classroom.
Starter phrases:
Tamil tip: In/On/At + Under/Between/Next to — இடத்தை சொல்ல prepositions தேவை
Make up a short story about an animal that learns something new. Use past, present, and future tense.
Starter phrases:
Tamil tip: 3 காலங்கள் கலந்து பேசுங்கள்: நேற்று (past), இன்று (present), நாளை (future)
Parent guide
- Let your child finish speaking before correcting. Confidence comes before perfect grammar.
- If they mix Tamil and English, that is fine — gently repeat the sentence in full English after.
- You do not need to speak perfect English yourself. The Tamil support notes help you guide.
- Aim for 3–5 minutes of English conversation daily. Short and regular beats long and rare.
Part of these learning packs
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