Grade 7 English LAND TRAVEL – LISTENING AND SPEAKING:EXTENSIVE LISTENING Notes

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LISTENING & SPEAKING — EXTENSIVE LISTENING: LAND TRAVEL (ENGLISH)

Age: 12 (Kenya). Focus: grammar items you should listen for and practise when you hear or tell long travel stories about land travel (buses, matatus, boda‑bodas, trains, cars, walking).

Quick idea

When you listen for a long time (extensive listening), try to notice grammar forms: tenses, reported speech, prepositions, modals and sequencing words. Use them when you speak back (retell or give directions).

Grammar points to listen for

  • Past simple — short finished actions. Example: "We travelled to Mombasa by train." 🛤️
  • Past continuous — background action. Example: "I was waiting when the matatu arrived." ⏳
  • Past simple vs past perfect — use past perfect for an action that happened before another past action. Example: "I had bought my ticket before the train left." ✔️
  • Reported (indirect) speech — change direct words when you tell later. Example: Direct: "I missed the bus." → Reported: He said (that) he had missed the bus.
  • Modals for advice and possibility — should/ought to (advice), could (suggestion), must/need to (strong advice). Example: "You should buy a ticket early."
  • Imperatives for directions — commands for giving directions. Example: "Turn left at the roundabout. Go straight for two blocks."
  • Prepositions of movement/place — to, from, along, across, through, into, out of, on/off. Example: "Get on the bus. Get off at the station."
  • Sequencing words — first, then, after that, next, finally. These help order events in a travel story.
  • Question forms — Who/What/When/Where/How + past tense for travel stories. Example: "How did you travel to Kisumu?"

Short examples (Kenya context)

Past simple & past continuous:

"I was waiting at the bus stop when the matatu arrived. We travelled to Nakuru and reached at 6 pm."

Reported speech:

Direct: He said, "I left Nairobi at 5 am."
Reported: He said (that) he had left Nairobi at 5 am.

Directions (imperatives + prepositions):

"Go straight along the road. Turn right at the petrol station. Get off the matatu at the market."

Listening tasks (grammar focus)

While you listen to a long travel story (e.g., a 5–10 minute talk), do these:

  1. Tick every verb you hear and write its tense (past simple, past continuous, etc.).
  2. Mark any reported speech (someone telling what another person said).
  3. Underline prepositions of movement (to, from, along, across, into, out of).
  4. Count how many times the speaker uses sequencing words (first, then, next, finally).
  5. Note any modals that give advice (should, must, could).

Speaking tasks (use grammar you heard)

  • Retell the travel story in your own words using the correct tenses and sequencing words. Try to use at least one past continuous sentence and one reported speech sentence.
  • Practice giving directions: use imperatives and prepositions (e.g., "Walk straight, then turn left, cross the bridge").
  • Give advice about safe travelling using modals: "You should keep your bag close."

Short exercises

1) Change to reported speech:

  1. Direct: "I missed the last matatu," she said. → Reported: __________________
  2. Direct: "We will arrive early," they said. → Reported: __________________
  3. Direct: "I bought my ticket yesterday," he said. → Reported: __________________

2) Fill the blanks with a correct preposition (to, from, on, off, along, across):

  1. I travelled ____ Kisumu ____ a bus.
  2. Walk ____ the road and turn right ____ the market.
  3. Get ____ the matatu at the next stop and get ____ at the station.

3) Choose past simple or past continuous:

  1. I (waited / was waiting) when the boda‑boda arrived.
  2. We (left / were leaving) home early and (reached / were reaching) before noon.

Answers

  1. Reported speech answers:
    1. She said (that) she had missed the last matatu.
    2. They said (that) they would arrive early.
    3. He said (that) he had bought his ticket the day before. (or "yesterday" may become "the day before")
  2. Prepositions:
    1. I travelled to Kisumu by a bus. (or "by bus")
    2. Walk along the road and turn right at the market. (or "towards the market")
    3. Get on the matatu at the next stop and get off at the station.
  3. Tenses:
    1. I was waiting when the boda‑boda arrived. (past continuous + past simple)
    2. We left home early and reached before noon. (past simple, past simple)

Tip: When you do extensive listening, focus on meaning first. After listening, check grammar by answering the tasks above. Repeat by speaking — this helps grammar become natural when you travel or tell travel stories.

Safe travels! 🚌🚶‍♀️🚆

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Subjects in Grade 7

AgricultureArabicCRECREATIVE ARTS AND SPORTSEnglishfrenchGermanhindu religious educationindigenous languagesIntegrated Scienceislamic religious educationKiswahiliMandarin ChineseMathematicsPre-technicalSocial Studies

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Competency Based Curriculum Junior Secondary School