E8 G - Growing up – Veränderungen und Herausforderungen beschreiben

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E8 G - Growing up – Veränderungen und Herausforderungen beschreiben

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E8 G - Growing up – Veränderungen und Herausforderungen beschreiben

Mini-Beschreibung: In this aiMOOC you talk about growing up: changes at school, new responsibilities, free time and personal goals. You use familiar English plus some new words. You do not have to share private information. All profiles in this course are fictional.

Look first. What can change when you get older at school? Think of two ideas in English before you read on.

Einleitung

Growing up means change. In Year 8, you may have more schoolwork, new interests, more responsibility and new goals. Some changes feel exciting. Some can be difficult. People grow and learn in different ways.

In this course, English comes first. Try to understand from the context. If you need help, use the hints. German help comes later and only where it is useful.

Privacy rule: You can always use a fictional example instead of talking about yourself. Recordings are voluntary and stay private. Do not upload recordings, photos or personal social-media data without permission.

I can ...

1. I can describe changes in school, free time and everyday life.
2. I can talk about responsibility and say what I have to do.
3. I can talk about goals and give a reason with because, but or so.
4. I can understand short texts and clear audio about growing up.
5. I can write a short connected text such as an email or mini report.
6. I can recognise passive forms and past perfect forms in context.
7. I can report simple statements with says that without changing the tense.

What do you already know?

Try these questions first. Short answers are enough.

1. What do you do after school?
2. What is one thing you are responsible for?
3. What is easier for you now than two years ago?
4. What is one goal you have for this school year?

Hint: Use simple links between ideas: and – but – because – so – when.

Media warm-up

Try: Look at the schedule. What can help a student organise school and free time?

You can say:

1. A schedule can help because ...
2. It is useful when ...
3. One challenge can be ...

Think: Free time can include sport, music, gaming, reading, meeting friends, creative activities or simply resting. There is no one “typical” teenage hobby.

Listening and Viewing

Video laden

YouTube

YouTube sammelt möglicherweise persönliche Daten. Datenschutzrichtlinie

Fortfahren Ausblenden

First viewing – no transcript. Listen for the main idea.

1. Who is talking?
2. What kinds of free-time activities do you hear?
3. How do the speakers feel about some activities?
4. Write down three words you understand.

Second viewing. Listen again. Complete these ideas in your own words:

1. In their spare time, the speakers ...
2. One activity makes a speaker feel ...
3. A new hobby someone could take up is ...

Hint after your first try: spare time means free time. take up a hobby means start a new hobby.

German help if needed: spare time = Freizeit; take up = mit etwas Neuem anfangen.

Mini transcript help – only after listening: The speakers talk about hobbies and exercise in easy English. They mention activities they do in their free time and talk about how these activities make them feel. You do not need every word to understand the main idea.

Viewing: goals and future plans

Video laden

YouTube

YouTube sammelt möglicherweise persönliche Daten. Datenschutzrichtlinie

Fortfahren Ausblenden

Watch a short part, for example the first few minutes.

Your job:

1. Listen for words about plans, goals or ambitions.
2. Choose one useful phrase and write your own simple example.
3. Compare with a partner. Do not copy a complete sentence from the video.

Reading: two fictional profiles

All people below are fictional.

Mia, 14: “School is busier this year. I have more homework, and I need to plan my week better. I still meet my friends and play volleyball, but I also help at home more often. My goal is to become more organised. Sometimes it is hard, but I feel good when I finish my tasks on time.”

Noah, 13: “My free time has changed. I used to play computer games every afternoon, but now I also go cycling and learn guitar. At school, I try to speak more English. My goal is not perfect English. I want to explain my ideas clearly and feel more confident.”

Reading check

1. What has changed in Mia’s school life?
2. Why does Mia want to plan her week?
3. Which new activities does Noah mention?
4. What is Noah’s English goal?
5. Find one sentence with but and explain what two ideas it connects.

Self-check: A good answer uses information from the text and does not add private details.

Context vocabulary

Word or phrase	Easy English meaning	German help if needed
change	something becomes different	Veränderung
challenge	something that is difficult	Herausforderung
responsibility	something you must take care of	Verantwortung
independent	able to do more things on your own	selbstständig
goal	something you want to reach	Ziel
improve	get better	sich verbessern
manage	deal with something successfully	bewältigen
spare time	time when you do not have school or other duties	Freizeit
confident	feeling that you can do something	selbstsicher
on time	not late	pünktlich
take up	start a new activity or hobby	anfangen
give a reason	explain why	einen Grund nennen

Try before translating: Cover the German column and explain five words in easy English.

Pronunciation

Focus on clear speech, not on a “perfect” accent.

1. re-SPON-si-bi-li-ty
2. in-de-PEN-dent
3. CHAL-lenge
4. im-PROVE
5. CON-fi-dent

Say it in a sentence: “I have more responsibility now.” Speak slowly first. Then say the whole sentence naturally.

Speaking

Task: Growing up – then and now

Talk for about one minute. You can talk about yourself or use a fictional person.

Include:

1. one change at school,
2. one change in free time,
3. one responsibility,
4. one personal goal,
5. one reason.

Useful frames:

1. I used to ..., but now I ...
2. One change is ...
3. I have to ...
4. My goal is ... because ...

Partner feedback: Listen for one clear idea and one reason. Then say: “Your idea was clear because ...” or “You could add one reason.”

Writing

Choose one task.

A – Email: Write 80–100 words to a fictional English-speaking friend. Describe what has changed in your school life or free time and name one goal.

B – Mini report: Write 80–100 words with the heading “Growing up in Year 8”. Use three short paragraphs: changes – challenges – goals.

Writing guide:

1. Start with the main topic.
2. Connect ideas with and, but, because, so or when.
3. Give at least one example.
4. Finish with a goal or next step.

Check your text: Is it clear? Are the verbs understandable? Did you give a reason? You do not need difficult words if a simple word works.

Mediation

A new exchange student does not understand this German school note:

“Am Freitag endet der Unterricht um 12:15 Uhr. Die AGs finden trotzdem statt. Wer nicht teilnehmen kann, sagt der Lehrkraft vorher Bescheid.”

Explain the important information in simple English. Do not translate every word.

Help: Think: What does the student really need to know?

Functional grammar

At G level, some forms are mainly for understanding. You do not have to force them into your own speaking or writing.

Reported speech without backshift

Direct: Mia says, “I have more homework now.”

Reported: Mia says that she has more homework now.

Direct: Noah says, “I want to speak more English.”

Reported: Noah says that he wants to speak more English.

Try: Change this sentence: “I need more time,” Leo says.

Hint: Start with: Leo says that ...

Passive – recognise the meaning

“More homework is given in some subjects.”

The important information is the homework, not who gives it.

Your job: What is the sentence about?

1. the homework
2. the person who gives it

You only need to recognise this kind of form here.

Past perfect – recognise what happened first

“Before the club started, Leo had finished his homework.”

Two past actions are mentioned. had finished shows the earlier action.

Try: What happened first: the club started or Leo finished his homework?

You do not need to use past perfect in your own text unless it helps you.

Help ladder

Use help step by step.

1. Step 1 – Context: Read or listen again. What words do you already know?
2. Step 2 – Try: Write a short answer with simple words.
3. Step 3 – Ask: Ask a partner or teacher: “What does ... mean here?”
4. Step 4 – Hint: Use the vocabulary table or a sentence frame.
5. Step 5 – German help: Use the short German clue only if you still need it.

Direct feedback and error analysis

Look at these learner sentences.

1. “I have more homeworks now.” → Better: I have more homework now. Homework is normally uncountable.
2. “My goal is improve my English.” → Better: My goal is to improve my English.
3. “I am more independent because I can manage my time better.” → This is clear and connected.
4. “I play football. I like it.” → More connected: I play football because it helps me relax.

Your turn: Find one sentence in your own text that you can make clearer. Change only one thing at a time.

Media task: goals

Before watching, write one school goal in simple English.

After watching:

1. Is your goal clear?
2. Can you make it smaller or more realistic?
3. What is one first step?

Safe and sensible use of AI

AI can give language feedback, but you stay in control.

1. Do not enter private names, addresses, photos, recordings or social-media data.
2. Ask for feedback on your text, not for a replacement text.
3. Check whether the language is really at your level.
4. Check facts and examples before you use them.
5. If feedback is too difficult, ask for simpler English.
6. Your own ideas and learning matter more than a perfect-looking answer.

Transfer

Imagine a fictional student starts at a new school. The student has more homework, joins a new club and wants to make new friends.

Explain:

1. one possible challenge,
2. one useful action,
3. one personal goal,
4. one reason why the goal could help.

Try to connect your ideas into four or five sentences.

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

Which sentence gives a personal goal? (My goal is to become more organised.) (!I finished school at one o’clock.) (!My bag is under the table.) (!The lesson starts on Monday.)

What does responsibility mean in this course? (Something you must take care of) (!A place where you meet friends) (!A type of school subject) (!A free-time game)

Which connector gives a reason? (because) (!and) (!but) (!when)

Which sentence describes a change? (I used to play games every afternoon, but now I also go cycling.) (!My name is Sam.) (!The book is blue.) (!It is Tuesday.)

What is the best meaning of spare time? (Time when you do not have school or other duties) (!Time before breakfast only) (!Time during a test) (!Time when you are always late)

Which sentence reports a statement without backshift? (Mia says that she has more homework.) (!Mia asks more homework.) (!Mia that homework says.) (!Mia says has homework she.)

In the sentence “Homework is given”, what should you mainly understand? (The focus is on the homework.) (!The sentence is about a future plan.) (!The sentence is a question.) (!The sentence describes free time.)

In “Leo had finished his homework before the club started”, what happened first? (Leo finished his homework.) (!The club started.) (!Leo joined a new school.) (!The homework disappeared.)

Which feedback is most useful for speaking? (Your idea was clear because you gave a reason.) (!Your accent must be perfect.) (!Use the longest words possible.) (!Never pause when you speak.)

What is a safe way to use AI for this course? (Ask for feedback on your own text and check the result.) (!Upload private recordings without asking.) (!Let AI replace all your own writing.) (!Share personal social-media data.)

Memory

responsibility	something you must take care of
goal	something you want to reach
challenge	something difficult
spare time	time without school or other duties
independent	able to do more things on your own
improve	get better

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Thema
more homework	school change
helping with a task	responsibility
learning guitar	free time
speaking more English	personal goal
planning the week	organisation

Kreuzworträtsel

responsibility	What is the English word for something you must take care of?
challenge	What word means something difficult that you try to manage?
hobby	What is an activity you do in your free time?
school	Where do students have lessons?
goal	What word means something you want to reach?
future	What word describes the time after now?

Lückentext

Vervollständige den Text.

Growing up can bring new at school and at home. A difficult new situation can be a . In your you can relax or follow a hobby. A personal is something you want to reach. You can connect an opinion and a reason with . If you can organise more things on your own, you may become more . The phrase can mean to start a new hobby. Clear communication is more important than a perfect .

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

1. Growing up vocabulary: Create six small word cards with an English word, an easy English explanation and one example sentence.
2. My week: Make a simple weekly plan for a fictional student and mark school time, free time and one responsibility.
3. Picture talk: Choose one course image and say four English sentences about what you can see and what it could mean.
4. One goal: Write one realistic school goal and two small steps that could help.

Standard

1. Fictional profile: Create a fictional Year 8 profile with school, free time, one challenge and one goal. Do not use real private data.
2. Speaking interview: Interview a partner about a fictional character using five questions about changes, responsibility and goals.
3. Email writing: Write an 80–100 word email about changes in a fictional student’s life and exchange feedback with a partner.
4. Media comparison: Compare the school-life image and the free-time image. Explain two differences and one thing both situations can teach.

Schwer

1. Mini report: Write a short report called “Growing up: more freedom, more responsibility?” Give two examples and your own reasoned view.
2. Mediation challenge: Explain a short German school notice in simple English for a fictional exchange student without translating word for word.
3. Error detective: Collect five typical language mistakes from fictional example sentences, correct them and explain the rule in easy English.
4. Video project: Plan a 60–90 second private video or audio about a fictional student’s changes and goals. Recording is voluntary and must not be uploaded without permission.

Lernkontrolle

1. Change and reason: A fictional student has less free time because school is busier. Suggest two ways to organise the week and explain why they could help.
2. Perspective task: Compare Mia and Noah. Which changes are similar and which are different? Support your answer with information from the texts.
3. Language transfer: Turn three separate short sentences about school, hobbies and goals into one connected mini paragraph using because, but or so.
4. Grammar in context: Explain the meaning difference between “Leo finished his homework before the club started” and “Leo had finished his homework before the club started.” Focus on the order of events.
5. Reported speech transfer: Read three short direct statements from fictional students and report them with says that without backshift.
6. Communication strategy: You do not know the English word for a new responsibility. Explain two ways to keep speaking instead of stopping.

Can-do-Check

Mark what is true for you.

Can-do	Yes	Almost	Not yet
I can describe a change with a connected sentence.	□	□	□
I can name a responsibility and explain it.	□	□	□
I can talk about a goal and give a reason.	□	□	□
I can understand the main idea of a short clear video.	□	□	□
I can write a short email or report with connected ideas.	□	□	□
I can recognise simple passive and past perfect forms.	□	□	□

Next step: Choose one “Almost” or “Not yet” point and practise it once more.

Lernnachweis

Für einen Lernnachweis zu diesem Thema ist wichtig:

1. Du beschreibst mindestens zwei Veränderungen in verständlichem Englisch.
2. Du nennst mindestens eine Verantwortung und ein persönliches oder fiktives Ziel.
3. Du verbindest Aussagen sinnvoll mit and, but, because, so oder when.
4. Du begründest mindestens eine Meinung.
5. Du verstehst die Hauptaussage eines kurzen Hör- oder Sehtexts.
6. Du schreibst einen kurzen zusammenhängenden Text mit klarer Struktur.
7. Du erkennst passive Formen und past perfect in einfachen Beispielen, ohne sie produktiv erzwingen zu müssen.
8. Du kannst eine einfache Aussage mit says that wiedergeben.
9. Du nutzt Hilfen schrittweise und verbesserst mindestens einen eigenen Fehler.
10. Du gehst mit Medien, Aufnahmen und KI datensparsam und verantwortungsvoll um.

Verknüpfte Lernbereiche

Growing up Englisch Wortschatz Listening Viewing Reading Speaking Writing Mediation Reported Speech Passive Voice Past Perfect Lernstrategien

Folgekurs: E8 G - Future plans – Ziele und Pläne ausdrücken