Chapter 1. All About Me: Talking and Listening FREE
Welcome to Grade 4! This year you will read, write, speak and listen every day. A good place to start is with something you know very well: yourself. When you talk about who you are and listen carefully to others, you are already using your language skills.
Introducing yourself
When you introduce yourself, you tell people a few clear things about who you are. You speak slowly, look at the person and use your normal voice. A short introduction usually shares your name, your age and something you like.
- Your name: "My name is Thandi Mokoena."
- Your age and grade: "I am nine years old and I am in Grade 4."
- Something about you: "I love drawing and playing soccer."
Being a good listener
Listening is not the same as just hearing. A good listener pays attention, does not interrupt and waits for a turn to speak. When you listen well, you can answer questions and ask your own questions too.
- Look at the person who is speaking.
- Keep quiet until they are finished.
- Think about what they said before you answer.
Sharing news about your life
You often share news about your family, your holidays and your favourite things. When you share news, tell it in a simple order so the listener can follow. For example: "In the December holidays my family went to my grandmother in Limpopo. We ate mangoes from her tree. It was my best holiday."
What makes a sentence
A sentence is a group of words that tells a full idea. Every sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with a full stop. A sentence must make sense on its own.
| Correct sentence | Not a sentence |
|---|---|
| My dog is brown. | my dog brown |
| We play at school. | play at the |
Naming words (nouns)
A noun is a naming word. It names a person, an animal, a place or a thing. Nouns are all around you.
- People: teacher, sister, farmer
- Animals: dog, lion, chicken
- Places: school, shop, farm
- Things: pencil, ball, chair