GRADE 8 English TOURIST ATTRACTION SITES:AFRICA – LISTENING AND SPEAKING:EVENTS Notes
LISTENING AND SPEAKING: EVENTS — TOURIST ATTRACTION SITES: AFRICA (Kenya) — English (Age 13)
Use these notes to practise the grammar you need when listening and speaking about events at tourist sites in Kenya (Maasai Mara, Mount Kenya, Lamu, Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, Tsavo, Great Rift Valley). Focus on correct forms (tenses, questions, modals, passive, imperatives) and useful phrases for announcements, guided tours and conversations.
- Use past, present and future tenses correctly to talk about events.
- Make polite requests and give instructions with modals and imperatives.
- Understand announcements and answer questions correctly.
- Practice short role-plays for tours, bookings and event descriptions.
- Predict: Look at the title (e.g., "Maasai Dance Tonight") and guess tense/words you will hear.
- Listen for keywords: dates, times, verbs (arrive, start, finish, booked), modals (can, must, should).
- Note down verbs: the tense tells you if it is past, present or future.
- Ask questions: If you miss information, ask: "Could you repeat the time, please?"
Key grammar points & examples (with Kenyan contexts)
- Present simple for facts and schedules: "The safari starts at 6:00 AM."
- Present continuous for planned events or arrangements: "We are holding a guided walk at Mount Kenya this Sunday."
Examples:
- "The boat tour on Lake Nakuru starts every morning at 8 AM." (schedule)
- "Tomorrow we are visiting the Maasai village and the dancers are performing." (arrangement)
- Past simple for finished events with time: "The festival happened last weekend."
- Present perfect for experiences (no time or 'ever/never'): "Have you ever seen the Great Rift Valley?"
Examples:
- "We visited Amboseli last year and saw many elephants." (past simple)
- "I have visited Lamu three times." (present perfect)
- Use "will" for quick decisions or promises: "I will book two seats."
- Use "going to" for plans and intentions: "We are going to hold a bird-watching tour next month."
Examples:
- "I will call the guide now." (decision)
- "They are going to open a new visitor centre at Mount Kenya." (plan)
- Permission: "Can I take photos?" / "May I enter the park?"
- Advice: "You should wear a hat." / "You ought to take water."
- Obligation: "You must follow the guide."
- Imperatives for instructions: "Keep to the path." / "Do not feed the animals."
Use passive for announcements or when the actor is not important: "Tickets are sold at the gate." / "The event was cancelled."
- WH-questions: "When does the tour start?" "Where is the meeting point?"
- Yes/No questions: "Is the guide ready?" — "Yes, she is."
- Use short answers: "Have you been to Maasai Mara?" — "Yes, I have." / "No, I haven't."
Useful speaking phrases for events
- Announcements: "Attention please: the cultural dance starts at 7 PM near the main tent."
- Asking for details: "Could you tell me the meeting point for the safari?"
- Making arrangements: "We would like to book two places for the early morning game drive."
- Safety instructions: "Please stay inside the vehicle at all times."
- Expressing opinions: "I think the sunrise at Mount Kenya is beautiful."
Short example dialogues (practice)
Guide: "Hello! How can I help you?"
Student A: "We are going to join the Maasai Mara safari on Saturday. Are there still seats?"
Guide: "Yes. The safari starts at 6:00 AM and will finish at 6:00 PM. I will reserve two seats for you."
Grammar points: present continuous for plan (are going to join), future with 'will' for decision (I will reserve).
Announcer: "Attention visitors: A cultural dance will be held at 7 PM. Tickets are sold at the entrance. Please arrive on time and do not touch the performers."
Grammar points: passive (Tickets are sold), future 'will' for scheduled event, imperatives for instructions.
Student A: "Have you ever visited Lake Nakuru?"
Student B: "Yes, I have. I saw flamingos and many birds."
Student A: "When did you go?"
Student B: "I went last summer." (past simple)
Grammar points: present perfect for experience, past simple for specific time.
Listening exercise (use grammar to answer)
Listen (teacher reads) or read this short announcement and answer the questions below:
- Which tense is used for the start time? (answer in one word)
- Find the passive sentence.
- Which modal shows advice?
- What happens if it rains? (use full sentence)
- Present simple (for schedule).
- “Tickets are sold from the visitor centre.”
- "should" (You should bring water and a hat.)
- "If it rains, the tour will be cancelled." (the tour will be cancelled)
Practice: Fill the gaps (use the correct verb or modal)
- "We ____ (visit) Amboseli next week." (use present continuous)
- "The festival ____ (take place) last weekend." (use past simple)
- "____ I (take) a photo of the guide?" (ask permission)
- "You ____ (must/should) not feed the animals." (choose correct modal)
- "Tickets ____ (sell) at the main office." (use passive present)
- "We are visiting / We are going to visit Amboseli next week."
- "The festival took place last weekend."
- "May I take a photo of the guide?" or "Can I take a photo of the guide?"
- "You must not feed the animals." (strong obligation) or "You should not feed the animals." (advice)
- "Tickets are sold at the main office."
Speaking activities (pair/group work)
- Role-play: Student A is a guide, Student B is a tourist. Use present continuous for plans and modals for permission.
- Make a 1-minute announcement as if at a national park (use passive, imperatives, times).
- Describe an event you attended in Kenya using past simple and present perfect: "I have seen..." / "I went on..."
Tip: Record your announcement, listen back and check verb tenses and clear instructions.
Pronunciation & intonation (quick tips)
- Rising intonation for yes/no questions: "Is the tour at 6:00?" (rise at the end).
- Falling intonation for WH-questions and statements: "When does it start?" / "It starts at 6:00."
- Stress key words in announcements: "The cultural DANCE starts at SEVEN o'clock."