Everyday English (Elementary)

Topic: Smartphones

In this lesson, students will develop vocabulary and conversation skills by talking about their smartphones.

Lesson Notes April 28, 2026 (Elementary)

Words & Phrases

• We drove to the park, and it took three hours.

  • We went to the park in my car.

• Hamamatsu is famous for its kite festival during Golden Week.

  • Did you fly a kite when your kids were born?

• My friends and I had a wine tasting party, and we also ate rice gratin. (= creamy rice dish topped with breadcrumbs or cheese, and browned under a grill)

  • Recently, natural wine is popular. Can it keep long without preservatives.

• Before opening a winery, he was in IT. (= worked in)

  • When she was younger she was in education.

• Fresh fruits go bad after a few days.(= to spoil, rot, decay, become unsafe to eat or drink)

  • I think the wine in the fridge has gone bad, it tastes like vinegar.

Grammar

By & In / On

• We use "by" for the general type of transport, but we use "in" or "on" when we mention a specific vehicle (like "my car" or "that bus”).

  • I got to work by car. (general)

  • I travel by train. (general)

  • We went in my friends car. (specific car)

  • I was on the 9:00 train. (specific train)

Smartphones

Section 1

• iPhone gestures (noun/phrase) = finger-based movements (swipes, taps, and pinches) used to navigate an iPhone.

  • Tap is a very fast touch.

  • Swipe (left / right / up / down)

  • Two Types of Pinching

    • Pinch In (Zoom Out): Put two fingers on the screen and move them together (closer). This makes the image smaller. You can see more of the map or the whole photo.

    • Pinch Out (Zoom In): Put two fingers on the screen and move them apart (away from each other). This makes the image bigger. You can see small details or read small text.

• iPhone dock (noun) = the permanent bar at the very bottom of your screen.

Next lesson

May 5, 2026

• Lesson 10 page 2 - Vocabulary Categorization