1. Skills
  2. Speaking
  3. A2 speaking
  4. Making plans

Making plans

Gemma and Makayla are making plans for Jack’s birthday.

Instructions

Do the preparation exercise first. Then watch the video and follow the instructions to practise your speaking.

Preparation

Transcript

Gemma: Hi Makayla. How’s it going?
Makayla: Oh, hi Gemma. Fine, thanks. How are you?
Gemma: Yeah, I’m good. Listen, it’s Jack’s birthday next week and we’re going to have a surprise celebration this weekend. Do you want to come with us?
Makayla: Yeah, that would be great. What are you going to do?
Gemma: Well … I’m not sure … have you got any ideas?
Makayla: Mmm … how about going to the cinema?
Gemma: Yeah, maybe … Are there any good films on at the moment?
Makayla: Mmm … There’s that one comedy, Lucky Break.
Gemma: Oh, no … we saw that last week. It’s really not that funny.
Makayla: Oh, right. Erm … How about going ice skating?
Gemma: Mmm, no … Jack doesn’t like ice skating.
Makayla: Well ... what does he like?
Gemma: Well ... he likes bowling … What about bowling?
Makayla: Yeah! That’s a great idea. Everyone likes bowling.
Gemma: OK.
Makayla: When shall we go?
Gemma: How about Saturday afternoon?
Makayla: All right. Where shall we meet?
Gemma: Let’s meet at the shopping centre in front of the bowling place.
Makayla: OK. When shall we meet?
Gemma: Erm … 3 o’clock?
Makayla: OK, that sounds great! So, Saturday afternoon, in front of the bowling place.
Gemma: Yeah, it’s a plan! I’ll tell the others.
Makayla: Cool!

…

Gemma: Hi Makayla. How’s it going?
Makayla: Oh, hi Gemma. F___, t_____. How are you?
Gemma: Yeah, I’m good. Listen, it’s Jack’s birthday next week and we’re going to have a surprise celebration this weekend. Do you want to come with us?
Makayla: Yeah, that would be great. What are you g____ t__ d__?
Gemma: Well … I’m not sure … have you got any ideas?
Makayla: Mmm … h__ a____ going to the cinema?
Gemma: Yeah, maybe … Are there any good films on at the moment?
Makayla: Mmm … T_____ that one comedy, Lucky Break.
Gemma: Oh, no … we saw that last week. It’s really not that funny.
Makayla: Oh, right. Erm … H__ a____ going ice skating?
Gemma: Mmm, no … Jack doesn’t like ice skating.
Makayla: Well ... what d___ he l___?
Gemma: Well ... he likes bowling … What about bowling?
Makayla: Yeah. T____ a great idea. Everyone likes bowling.
Gemma: OK.
Makayla: When shall w__ go?
Gemma: How about Saturday afternoon?
Makayla: All right. Where s____ we meet?
Gemma: Let’s meet at the shopping centre in front of the bowling place.
Makayla: OK. When s____ we m___?
Gemma: Erm … 3 o’clock?
Makayla: OK, that s_____ great! So, Saturday afternoon, in front of the bowling place.
Gemma: Yeah, it’s a plan! I’ll tell the others.
Makayla: Cool!

Worksheets and downloads

Making plans - exercises359.41 KB
Making plans - answers356.22 KB
Making plans - transcript262.2 KB
Discussion

Have you ever had a surprise party? How do you usually celebrate your birthday?

Language level
A2 English level (pre-intermediate)
Topics
speaking skills
making plans
birthdays
Average: 5 (3 votes)
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Comments

Submitted by pomelo on Wed, 02/22/2023 - 14:17

I haven't had a surprise party. I celebrate my birthday with my family and friends at home.

Submitted by Turtle08 on Tue, 09/06/2022 - 07:31

No, I've never had a surprise party. I usually celebrate my birthday with my friends and my family.

Submitted by trungtnd on Mon, 12/27/2021 - 09:14

I haven't had a surprise party. I celebrate my birthday with my family and friends at home or at a restaurant.

Submitted by lemaya5899 on Thu, 09/02/2021 - 17:07

I have never had surprise party. I celebrate my birthday wiht my friends in cafe usually.
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Submitted by FlowerQueen on Thu, 07/08/2021 - 12:26

No, I didn't. I usually celebreate my birthday with my family and my friends. I often celebreate on two days: One with my family and one with my friends. We make the birthday party at home, or we go to a indoor playground. It often makes fun there.

Submitted by GABETA1010 on Thu, 05/27/2021 - 21:56

Birthday party is one of the most important celebraition in my country because most of the families are very happy that their kids are here in this world.

Submitted by hermione123 on Fri, 05/28/2021 - 11:21

Wow that's awesome! But so different from my country. People here just don't care about birthday party, I guess.

Submitted by cat0122 on Wed, 05/26/2021 - 01:48

No, i haven’t. I never had a surprise party. I usually celebrate my birthday with my family and friends. I like to hang out with my friends to celebrate my birthday because usually I celebrate in my home with my family. But actually I like the party’s.

Submitted by hermione123 on Fri, 05/07/2021 - 13:35

No, birthday party isn't popular here. Not many people celebrate it. When you're 9 years old or older no one will care about it so much. Maybe some of your closest friends will congratulate you, but they won't give you any present.

Submitted by hermione123 on Fri, 05/28/2021 - 11:24

I know. How about in your country? What kind of birthday party do you have there?

Submitted by Arivelde on Tue, 04/13/2021 - 18:26

Maybe yes, but more when I was younger. Usually my birthdays are celebrated in my house with my family and some relatives, but not with many people. I prefere it like that. Sometimes we have barbecue, and at night we eat cake and some sweets, we try to do as many things as possible, and preferible things outside. It's very nice, and I am very apricieted for all the effort that they do for me, in my birthday and in the rest of the year.

Submitted by hermione123 on Fri, 05/28/2021 - 11:29

It must be very nice to do those fun things with your family! :)

Submitted by Ashley_122 on Tue, 02/23/2021 - 17:01

I didn't remember about I had a suprise birthday party or I didn't. I don't celebrate my birthay party with party or with all of my friends.We celebrate it with my family. Just me, my mom and dad, and my two brothers. My father buys a little birthday cake and we eat it together. That's enough for me. No need to big parties.

Submitted by Andorra on Tue, 02/09/2021 - 12:51

Yes, always we make a party in my house with my friends and Family, and then we buy a cake and for finish we go to the cinema. I like to do that and I wish to have more opportunities for have a good party and :)

Submitted by bareket on Tue, 01/05/2021 - 15:03

I usually going to a restaurant with my all family and I get lots of presents.
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Submitted by rafaelyeshua on Mon, 12/21/2020 - 16:55

i have not surprises, but once was my friend's birthday and we made his birthday in a terraza, when he arrived, we susprised him, he didn't think that we were going to do that

Submitted by hohooibin on Wed, 12/02/2020 - 02:41

I never had a surprise party. I usually celebrate my birthday at home with my family.

Submitted by samianaznin on Sun, 10/04/2020 - 06:28

. Usually I celebrate my birthday with my family at my house

Submitted by cookiepg on Sun, 09/13/2020 - 03:59

I just celebrate my friends or family birthday party.........

Submitted by Ferriniclass on Wed, 09/09/2020 - 16:33

My birthday was interesting because i share with my family

Submitted by Mar07 on Sat, 09/12/2020 - 04:43

Yes, I have had a surprise birthday parties. I usually celebrate my birthday with my family in my house or we go to the mall to see a movie or something fun.

Submitted by Lerat on Wed, 09/09/2020 - 13:47

I never had a surprise birthday party ): I don’t really have friends. I celebrate pretty normal just a cake and family, that’s all I do

Submitted by Gat0_blanco on Wed, 09/09/2020 - 13:46

it's a great idea to surprise him on his birthday
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Submitted by Inca033 on Sat, 09/05/2020 - 20:10

Yeah, I usually celebrate my birthdays but they were not suprize. I want have but I can live without that :D

Submitted by Migueaguirre on Wed, 09/09/2020 - 13:48

There is nothing better than to surprise someone, I don't like to celebrate my birthday so I celebrate it with what they do to me
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Submitted by zagrybast on Mon, 08/10/2020 - 12:03

No, I haven’t had a surprise for my birthday party. Always I celebrate my birthday with my boyfriend and my friends and my family, we go to a cafe or my house.
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Submitted by Xuka on Sun, 08/09/2020 - 08:44

Yes, I have. I don't usually celebrate my birthday but I had a surprise birthday party from my colleagues last year. In the morning on that day, everybody only gave me congratulations and they continued with their works. But by the end of the day, they gathered around my desk, sang "Happy birthday to you" and clapped hands, then brought out an adorable chocolate cake. I blew candles, made wishes, unwrapped all presents. After that, we came to a cozy restaurant to have dinner, and chat with each other. It was a happy party, we all had a lot of unforgettable memory.
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Submitted by JoModerator on Tue, 08/11/2020 - 06:38

Hi Xuka,

Thanks for your comment on LearnEnglish Teens. This website is specially for teenagers aged 13-17 years old but it sounds like you are older than that. You are welcome to keep on using LearnEnglish Teens but if you are over 17, please do NOT post any more comments as we must keep this strictly for teenagers to interact with each other.

 

Best wishesn

Jo (LearnEnglish Teens team)

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Submitted by IANPAUL on Wed, 07/08/2020 - 18:32

Well surprise parties I haven't had, we usually plan everything

Submitted by Aeren on Tue, 07/07/2020 - 08:33

No, I haven't. I celebrate my birthday with my family and we have lunch in a restaurant or in my house. We always have bithday cake that my aunt bakes.

Submitted by Thapa01 on Thu, 07/02/2020 - 12:00

I have never had a surprise party. I usually cleberte my birthday party with my parents and friends. We go to reastaurant for party. We ate many foods.

Submitted by Yulia15 on Wed, 05/27/2020 - 06:14

I have never had surprise party. I celebrate my birthday wiht my friends in cafe usually.

Submitted by RomanDraholiuk on Wed, 05/27/2020 - 06:04

I have not ever had a surprise party. Usually I celebrate my birthday at home with my family. There is always a holiday cake and many dishes. After the feast I am given presents, we also play music

Submitted by JasmineD03 on Tue, 05/26/2020 - 18:29

Yes, I had a birthday surprise as a child. I usually celebrate my birthday with my friends and go to the restaurant and then take a ride downtown. In the evening I celebrate with all my relatives.

Submitted by beasam0109 on Sun, 05/17/2020 - 17:31

yes, I had, when I was little. In the last years i'm celebrate my birthdays at the sea whit my family and my friends

Submitted by BttChiara on Thu, 04/23/2020 - 16:10

No, i haven’t. I usually celebrate my birthday with my family, maybe on the sea.

Submitted by MatildePace on Thu, 04/23/2020 - 13:10

No, I never had a surprise party. Usually to celebrate my birthday I go out with my friends, we go to the restaurant or we go to do something special such as for example skating or we just stay at home and we watch a romantic movie together. I also have a dinner to celebrate my birthday with relatives.

Submitted by gattifederica on Wed, 04/22/2020 - 08:03

No, I’ve never had a surprise party. I have always organized to celebrated with my family and friends. I usually celebrate my birthday with my parents, grandparents, cousins, uncles and aunts at my home. Instead I usually celebrate my birthday with my friends in Turin centre, so we can go shopping, and then we go to the pizzeria.

Submitted by Desy on Mon, 04/20/2020 - 17:10

Yes, when I was younger I often had a surprise party. I usually celebrate my birthday with my friends in a pizzeria or in the park and with my family at my house or at the home of one of my uncles.

Submitted by bea_mara on Mon, 04/20/2020 - 14:59

No, I’ve never had a surprise party. I usually celebrate my birthday at home, with my family, and after I go out with my friends.

Submitted by kusz on Mon, 04/13/2020 - 10:41

LOL easy : )

Submitted by Davinchi on Fri, 03/20/2020 - 20:04

I never have surprise party because I do not have abillity but I am sure I will have abillity and at that time I could do surprise and also maybe give from someone. )
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Submitted by empty on Sun, 06/23/2019 - 13:25

Have you ever had a surprise party? Yeah , only once . My parents and my sister surprised me , we ate cake and had a lot of fun together .

Submitted by WolfLucas on Tue, 06/11/2019 - 17:57

I have plans to go to the cinema in 27th of june to watch Annabelle Comes Home. I maybe go ice skating in Ribeirão Shopping. How about you guys? What would you like to do?
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Submitted by Shashi on Wed, 06/05/2019 - 12:33

I have never had a surprise party. I usually take something like cake to my school. I celebrate party with my family and friends. My friends just talk on the phone and they wish me. My mum and dad give me a gift. I love my birthday so much.

Submitted by Samiraaval on Thu, 05/23/2019 - 12:52

Well actually I have never had a surprise party . And about birthday I usually take something to school like a cake and we listen to music and once we've done that my friends give me my gifts .

Submitted by anikaasad__ on Tue, 03/19/2019 - 14:05

Mmm...yeah actually! It was in my school. My parents, friends and teachers, who I should say were so helpful, planned the whole thing for me and made all the arrangements there. Though I was very little at that time, I remember being so happy and having fun with them. There were a huge number of people. The cake cutting and gifts were the best part of course. One of my happiest days and memories. Usually, I celebrate my birthday with my family. Friends, if we happen to invite them, otherwise, we just talk on the phone and they wish me. Makes plans for the whole day which always includes special dinner, outings and all.
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Submitted by Tutor on Wed, 09/26/2018 - 03:05

Q:Have you ever had a surprise party? How do you usually celebrate your birthday? A:Yes, I have had.... My college mate had had a birthday party when we were college hostel. And that was really surprising party. At that party we ourselves made birthday cake with eggs. And bought candles. We celebrated it with joy. That was really a memorable event.
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