ENGLISH LANGUAGE FOR TANZANIA PRIMARY SCHOOLS

ENGLISH TEACHING NOTES

CLASS: STANDARD VII

THESE NOTES ARE VERY USEFUL FOR

PRIMARY PUPILS.
 1.0 COMPREHENDING ORAL AND WRITTEN INFORMATION

1.1 Listening and comprehending information presented orally

Definition of the key terms

Comprehension- Refers to the ability to understand something.
- It is the understanding and interpretation of what is read.
- It is a process of understanding the information completely.
To be able to accurately understand written material, pupils need to be able to
1. Decode what they read
2. Make connection between what they read and what they already know
3. Think deeply about what they have read.
Listening- Is the ability to accurately receive and interpret messages in the communication
process. So communication process involves identifying the sound of speech and processing
them into words and sentences.
Note: when we listen our ears receive individual sounds and we also use our brain to convert
them into messages that mean something to us. Not only that but also listening in any
language requires focus and attention.
Oral information-Is the process of expressing information through word of mouth. In other
hand can be defined as the system through which we use spoken words to express knowledge,
ideas, and feelings.
Writing- Include all the knowledge and abilities related to expressing ideas through the
written word. This means that knowledge, ideas, and feelings are expressed through writing.

a) Listen to oral sentences

i. Listen to oral sentences
Sentence is a word or group of words that express the complete thought and usually having a
predicate and subject.

b) Identifying single word coordinators and using them in oral sentences correctly
in different situations.

ii. To identify single word coordinator

Coordinators- are conjunction that join, or coordinate, two or more items such as words, main
clause, or sentences of equal syntactic importance. Coordinators are also known as
coordinating conjunctions.
Examples of coordinators:

For but And nor so or yet

The conjunction “for”

The conjunction “for” is used to introduce a reason or purpose for something. In other way
can be used to explain reason or sights purpose.
Examples:
1. Juma went to the library. He loves reading.
Juma went to the library, for he loves reading.
2. I have to find a new bicycle. I have sold the old one.
I have to find a new bicycle, forI have sold the old one.
3. I will not attend the game. I have no one to go with
 I will not attend the, for I have no one to go with.
4. I wasn’t able to eat. I was very sick.
I wasn’t able to eat, for I was very sick.
5. I hate to waste a drop of gas. It is very expensive these days.
I hate to waste a drop of gas, for it is very expensive these days.
Exercise 1
Join the following sentences using the conjunction “for”
1. Asha has to find a new job. She is unemployed.
2. My friends love me very much. I am generous.
3. Ali went home. He was sick.
4. Asha refused to visit her sister. She was very hungry.
5. She ate all the food at once. She was very hungry.
6. She didn’t go to school. She was sick.

The conjunction “and”

The conjunction “and” is used to connect two or more items that make sense with each other.
It is used to add new item to the previous one. Or it is used to present non-contrasting
items/idea.
Examples
1. I like to eat bananas. I like to drink juice.
I like to eat banana and drink juice.
2. We have one dog. We have two cats.
We have one dog and two cats.
3. I have three brothers. I have four sisters
I have three brothers and four sisters
4. Juma is playing football. Asha is playing netball
Juma is playing football and Asha is playing netball.
5. I like coffee. Joseph likes tea.
I like coffee and joseph likes tea.

Exercise 2
Join the following sentences using the conjunction “and”
1. She is a wife. She is a mother
2. I like coffee. Joseph likes tea.
3. I called Alice. We talked for two hours.
4. Asha likes to dance. Bakari likes to dance too
5. Sumaiyya can speak English. Her friend can speak French.

The conjunction “but”

The conjunction "but" is used to join two items that contradict each other or create a certain
tension with each other.
Examples
1. She is my sister. I have never seen her.
She is my sister but I have never seen her.
2. We studied hard. We failed the test.
We studied hard, but we failed the test.
3. Juma pushed the door vigorously. He failed to get in.
Juma pushed the door vigorously, but he failed to get in.
4. The stick was thin. It was strong
 The stick was thin, but it was strong.
5. She was coming late. She wasn’t punished
She was coming late, but she wasn’t punished

Exercise 3
Join the following sentences using the conjunction "but"
1. The stick was thin. It was strong.
2. Juma likes music. He can't dance.
3. He was ill. He went to school.
4. It was cloudy and warm. It didn't rain.
5. They are poor. They are generous .
The conjunction "yet"
The conjunction "yet" is used to connect statements or phrases in which the second one adds
something different to the previous one.
Examples:
1. My uncle plays football. His favourite sport is basketball
My uncle plays football, yet his favourite sport is basketball.
2. She always tells me good words. I don't trust him.
She always tells me good words, yet I don't trust him.

Exercise 4
Join the following sentences using the conjunction "yet"
1. Asha didn't study for the test. She passed it.
2. He has a good job. He never seems to have any money.
3. She said she was very angry. She was smiling.
4. The weather was bad. We had a great football game.
5. They asked so many questions. Few answers were given.

The conjunction "so”

The conjunction "so" is used to introduce a clause that is the effect of the previous one.
Examples:
1. Our monitor is sick. He will not come to school.
Our monitor is sick, so he will not come to school.
2. Our teacher is very charming. Every pupil likes her.
Our teacher is very charming, so every pupil likes her.
3. My father is very polite. His boss loves him.
My father is very polite, so his boss loves him.
4. My leg was hurting. I went to see a doctor
My leg was hurting, so I went to see a doctor
5. Amina had no food. She managed to survive
Amina had no food, so she managed to survive.

Exercise 5
Join the following sentences using the conjunction "so":
1. I know the pupils are tired. I will let them rest.
2. I was not interested with the program. I switched off the TV.
3. The movie was dull. I left the cinema.
 4. Peter didn't study. He failed his exams.
5. I wanted a pen. I bought one.

The conjunction “or”

The conjunction “or” is used to present an alternative item or idea.

Examples
1. You can eat your cake with a spoon or fork
2. Would you like to travel by bus or train
3. I might attend the independence day or I might attend the Nyerere day
4. You can speak English or you can use Kiswahili.
5. Every day they gamble, or they smoke.
Exercise 6
Construct five sentences using the conjunction “or”

The conjunction “nor”

The conjunction “nor” is used to presents a non-contrasting negative idea. It is used to
introduce further negative statement. Nor means “also not”, nor requires unusual grammar,
the first sentence will contain negative verb. The second sentence will contain what looks like
an interrogative.

Examples
1. My friend Debora will not be at the stadium, nor will David.
2. They do not gamble, nor do they smoke.
3. He didn’t study last night, nor did he read his book.
4. She doesn’t drink milk, nor does she eat butter.
5. I can’t whistle, nor can I sing.

Exercise 7
Use the conjunction “nor” to construct five sentences.

Listen the following story about Uhuru parade and then answer the questions after it.

UHURU PARADE
My name is Rebeca. I am standard seven pupil at chang’ombe primary school. Every year I
attend Uhuru parade which takes place at Uhuru stadium on every 9th December many people
like attending this special day for they mark their independence from the British rule in 1961.
To celebrate this important day, Uhuru day is celebrated with speeches, parade and flags
another this about this day is that traditional dances from different tribes of Tanzania are
performed but what people like most is when the soldiers march in different style holding
their guns. This year I will not attend the Uhuru day for I have no one to go with. I will stay
at home and complete my English home work. My friend Debora will not be at the stadium
nor will David. They have gone to the village to see their grandparents so they might be on
their way now. Many of my classmates attended the last year’s Uhuru day but I don’t think if
they will attend again this year. I might attend the next Uhuru day or I might attend the Union
day parade. My class teacher wanted all of us to attend the Uhuru day yet many of us failed.
Going to the Uhuru parade alone is dangerous, so by staying at home I will be safe.

Comprehension questions
1. Why will Rebecca not attend the Uhuru day this year?
2. When is Uhuru day celebrated in our country?
3. When did Tanzania get its independence?
4. Mention three things which are done at Uhuru celebrations.
5. Why do many people like attending Uhuru day.
6. What will Rebecca do at home?
7. Mention two Rebecca’s friend.

Vocabulary
Refers to all the words known and used by a particular person. Vocabulary also known as a
word stock or word-stock is a set of familiar words within a person’s language. A vocabulary
usually developed with age, serves as a useful and fundamental tool for communication and
acquiring knowledge.

Vocabulary can be categorized into four types

1. Reading vocabulary
2. Listening vocabulary
3. Speaking vocabulary
4. Writing vocabulary

Examples of vocabulary
1. Bear
2. Kitten
3. Gorilla
4. Lion
5. Elephant
6. Monkey
7. Bed
8. Zebra
Bear- is a large, heavy, mammal that walks on the soles of its feet with thick fur and a very
short tail. Bears are related to the dog family but most of species are omnivorous.

Lion-a large tawny-coloured cat that lives in prides found in Africa and north-western India.
The male has a flowing shaggy mane and takes little part in hunting, which is done
cooperatively by the females.

Kitten- is a young cat.

Zebra- is an African wild horse with black and white stripes and an erect mane.
Elephant- a heavy plant eating mammal with a prehensile trunk, long curved tusks, and large
ears, native, native to Africa and southern Asia. It is the largest land animal.

Gorilla- A powerfully built great ape with a large head and short neck, found in the forest of
central Africa. It is the largest living primate.

Monkey-Isa small to medium-sized primate that typically has a long tail, most kinds of which
live in trees in tropical countries

Bed- Is a piece of furniture for sleeping or resting, typically a framework with a mattress and
covering

Exercise 8
The following are the ten groups of words. Find one word in each group that does not belong
there. Say why.
One has done for you
Bear, kitten, gorilla, lion
Kitten does not belong here because it is the only word that names a young animal/domestic
animal.
Now find the odd one out
1. elephant, monkey, bed, zebra
2. bread, milk, butter, cheese
3. grass, rose, daisy, tulip
4. store, house, shop, market
5. slim, wide, narrow, thin
6. potato, cabbage, rape, lettuce
7. Peter, Juma, Ali, Anna
8. dog, see, cat, rabbit
9. ship, car, train, lorry
10. tea, milk, tin, coffee