Learn how to talk about your family in English with this fun beginner ESL lesson. Includes song lyrics, free worksheet, speaking practice, and more.
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Learning English becomes easier and more meaningful when you talk about something close to your heart: your family. In this beginner-friendly lesson, you’ll learn how to talk about your parents, siblings, and extended family in English—and even enjoy a classic soul song while you’re at it.
If you’re looking for more ways to improve your English, try Rocket Languages or English Class 101 for self-paced practice. You can also get a personal tutor on italki or learn with gamified fun on Mondly.
Summary: In this beginner ESL lesson, you’ll explore common family vocabulary, learn how to use possessive adjectives, enjoy a meaningful listening activity with the song Color Him Father, and practice writing and speaking about your own family. Download a free cloze worksheet and explore more resources to improve your English today!
How do I talk about my family in English?
To talk about your family in English, you can use simple vocabulary words like mother, father, sister, and cousin. You also need to learn possessive adjectives like my, your, his, and her to show relationships. For example, “She is my sister” or “Their grandfather is very kind.”
This lesson will help you practice speaking, listening, and writing about your family using common English patterns.
What’s included in the free ESL lesson?
This beginner-level ESL lesson includes:
- Vocabulary words for family members
- Possessive adjective practice (my, your, his, her, our, their, its)
- A touching listening activity using the song “Color Him Father” by The Winstons
- A fill-in-the-blank worksheet (free download below)
- A picture dictionary with realistic images
- An infographic to help you visualize relationships
Download the Free Sample Worksheet
You can download our free cloze listening activity below and listen for key words while enjoying the song.
Watch and listen to the Song on YouTube
Download the cloze worksheet sample
Vocabulary Table: Common Family Words
| English Word | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Mother | Female parent | My mother is a teacher. |
| Step-father | Husband of your mother | My step-father is kind. |
| Cousin | Child of your aunt/uncle | Her cousin lives nearby. |
| Niece | Your sibling’s daughter | Our niece is very funny. |
| Sibling | Brother or sister | I have two siblings. |
Possessive Adjectives Chart with Visuals
Understanding possessive adjectives helps you describe relationships and ownership. Here’s a quick guide:
- My — used to show something belongs to me.
- Example: “My sister is a doctor.” (She is the sister of the speaker.)
- Your (singular) — used to show something belongs to you (one person).
- Example: “Is that your father?”
- Your (plural) — used to show something belongs to you all (a group).
- Example: “Your children are very polite.”
- His — used to show something belongs to him.
- Example: “His mother is here.” (The mother of a man/boy.)
- Her — used to show something belongs to her.
- Example: “Her cousin lives in New York.” (The cousin of a woman/girl.)
- Our — used to show something belongs to us (speaker + others).
- Example: “Our grandparents live in Texas.”
- Their — used to show something belongs to them.
- Example: “Their house is next door.”
- Its — used to show something belongs to an animal or thing.
- Example: “The cat hurt its paw.”
- (Note: “Its” is rarely used for people.)
Final Thoughts
Talking about your family is a great way to learn real English. Whether you’re in class or studying at home, this lesson helps you speak from the heart.
What do you think? Did this lesson help you? Let us know in the comments!
I’d love to hear from you. I always reply.
Ready to Learn More?
- Get the Full Lesson on TPT
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- Learn with Rocket Languages and build your skills fast
- Try English Class 101 for audio and video lessons
- Explore English on Mondly through fun games and challenges
- Join the Free Resource Library
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#LearnEnglish #ESLFamilyLesson #TalkAboutFamily #ColorHimFather #ESLwithKBob
This is a very nice article. I used to tutor ESL when I was at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Now I am getting ready to retire so I am thinking of tutoring ESL again so I can keep earning some income besides what I will get from the government. A focus on learning English with topics like ones family is a wonderful idea. I would definitely use that as a means to help in my tutoring. I also have to help my wife learn English because she knew no English when I met her. She still uses “he” for everybody. She can read this article. I am going to watch the Color Him Father video and download the cloze worksheet. Thank you for the information. MAC.
Hi Mac, thanks for your comments. I hope your wife is able to learn from me, especially with you help. There are lots of other lessons on the website.
KBob