Beginner Season 1
Learn beginner English through native dialogues.
Beginner

Curriculum

Beginner Season 1

Follow the daily lives of typical American college students in this 25-lesson season of the Beginner Series. Your hosts, Daniel and Jessi (later Daniel and Chihiro), will teach you useful English grammar and phrases that will help you if you plan to study abroad in the United States. Not only will you learn relevant grammar and vocabulary, but you'll also learn useful cultural tips you won't find in a textbook!

Title Topic Function Grammar Vocabulary Expressions Cultural Insight
1 How's It Going? Daily Greetings How to ask and answer about personal health and situations Asking About the Health or General Situation of Someone.
"How are you doing? / How's it going?"
How's it going?
How are you doing?
Very good.
Not so good.
summer vacation
pretty good
not bad
all right
How's it going?
How are you doing?
American Greetings
2 Nice Meeting You! Introducing Friends How to introduce people in a casual situation. "this" and "that"
This is …
never been better
roommate
this
Nice to meet you!
Hi
Hey
How's it going?
not bad
never been better
Nice to meet you.
English Introductions
3 Who Is She? Talking about People How to describe people. "this" and "that" pt. 2
That is …
great
party
fun
tall
wear
yeah
math
teacher
How are you doing?
How's it going?
How do you like ~?
Who is ~?
Pointing at people
4 What's Your Ethnicity? Nationality/Ethnicity How to talk about nationality/ethnicity. Subject-Verb Agreement with "Be" What's up?
Not much.
Ukrainian
yup
Italian-American
Asian-American
ethnicity
kimchi
What's up?
Not much.
part-Italian
none
5 What's Your Major? School Majors How to talk about school majors and classes. Subject-Verb Agreement with "Be" I've been better
What's wrong?
Do you have a cold?
by the way
major
help
study
nice talking with you
see ya
I've been better
What's your major?
Talking About Majors in English
6 Will You Join Us for Lunch? Classes How to talk about unchanging habits and events Simple Aspect What's up?
couple
guys
join
study
test
class
Calculus
hard
tell me about it
guys
Tell me about it.
none
7 We're Seeing the New Movie Date How to use the progressive aspect Progressive Aspect what's up?
not much
by the way
apartment
exchange student
dorm
accent
handsome
attraction
romantic
by the way
handsome
The Romance of a Foreign Accent
8 I've Been Better Date How to talk about events that happened before the main event. Perfect Aspect hey
I've been better
movie
guy
date
What's wrong?
find out
change the subject
pretty
several
at once
feel sorry for
let's
hard
dang!
finish
what's wrong?
that … guy
Are They Speaking Your Romantic Language?
9 We Study Together Every Week Date Plans How to talk about habits and general truths Simple Present What's up?
How's it going?
Pretty good.
Calculus
hard
subject
actually
date
Italian
handsome
speaking of …

he IS handsome
Movie Night in America
10 I'm Seeing a Play Tomorrow Meeting people How to talk about events in progress. Present Progressive never been better
graduate
plan
excuse me
ticket window
beautiful
free
look at the time
the dorms
apartment
I was wondering …

Have you heard of it?
Making Light Conversation in English
11 They Have Seen the Movie Confession How to talk about past experiences. Present Perfect separately
you're kidding
to wish
of course
already
accept
month
to need
to know
to date
There's something I need to tell you...

I had no idea!
Making Friends at the University Level
12 Could I Speak with You? Homework Talking about past actions Simple Past professor
literature
sick
miss
midterm
term
once
twice
seat
to receive
I'm joking

I did catch him once or twice
Talking with Your Professor in English
13 I Was Always Asking Questions Studying Talking about past actions Past Progressive extension
paper
to sit
to shift
to catch-up
lend a hand
deal
during
concentration
library
I was hoping that...

catch you later
Have You Been to the Student Union?
14 If I Had Studied Harder, I Would Have Done Better Small talk Talking about past actions Past Perfect definitely
tough
free
work
bookstore
nearby
switch
class
grab
ice-cream
flavor
How have you been

On the corner of 5th and San Carlos
Earning Some Cash During College
15 He Will Pay for That! Small talk Talking about future actions The Simple Future with "will" mad
to suffer
my pleasure
to bet
to find
roommate
to invite
noon
wait
to betray
I bet...

He will pay for that
Living Quarters in American Colleges
16 She Will Be Sitting Close By Evil plan Talking about future actions The Future Progressive Tense plan
Art History
to distract
whole
bottle
gulps
slice
to sprinkle
to prepare
to distract
chili powder
turns out

can't wait
Get a Slice Here, There, and Everywhere in the United States
17 I Will Have Been in the U.S. Plans Talking about future actions Future Perfect Tense paper
likewise
semester
to complete
photo
homework
vacation
parent
study
midnight
no problem

coming up
Typical Assignments for American College Students
18 When Are You Going to the Gym? Exercise Using articles Articles gym
weight
recently
jeans
exercise
stress
pool
to fit
to concentrate
to remember
freshman fifteen

count on you
Where You Can Lose the Freshman Fifteen on Campus
19 He Was Drinking So Much Water! Small talk Using auxiliary verbs Auxiliary Verbs tap
mastermind
career
to date
ironically
bite
wicked
definitely
to cool off
to chew
not one to mess with

I'm in
Getting "Punked" in College
20 Yes, I Will Come With You Study abroad Asking yes-no questions Yes-No Questions town
study abroad
flyer
bulletin board
to complain
barely
definitely
relative
Berlin
session
I bet Choosing to Study Abroad
21 Who Are the Professors? Classes Asking wh-questions Wh-Questions professor
boring
interesting
semester
science
dynamic
gymnastics
cart wheel
chemistry
recommend
sounds like my kind of thing

give yourself enough time
College Class-Choosing Strategies
22 Hurry Up! Study abroad session How to give commands and requests Imperatives notebook
to drop
to calm down
completely
organized
core
desk
opening
important
to forget
hurry up

a minute ago
Common Places Where American College Students Gather for Meetings
23 I Haven't Seen You Jog Gym Making negative sentences Negative Sentences shorts
to remember
to jog
funny
to help
to stretch
to fit
gym
to put
to know
Oh jeez Joggers on campus
24 That Tall Guy From Italy Gossip Describing things Adjectives tall
Italy
guy
girlfriend
multiple
several
to get back
to upset
to sprinkle
tongue
record breaking speed Gossiping
25 I'm Taking That Test Tomorrow Exams "Be"-Verb Tenses "Be"-Verb Tenses exam
tight
to expect
difficult
advice
celebrate
outside
to remember
schedule
to worry
hit the books Is College in America All Play and No Work?