3

Unit
The local Around the
area Around the world
Skills UK
• What • Is family culture
facilities and • What do you different in places Staying
Getting • How do you keep in activities are know about you know around safe
started contact with friends there for family culture in the world?
and families? families with the UK? • Are there different • How do you
• What is the story What technology do children in • Can we make any roles and habits? stay safe using
of your name? you use? your area? generalisations? • Is it easier to make social media?
What does it • What language(s) do • Are there • Is it easy to make friends in other parts • How do
mean? Why do you use with friends good friends in the UK? of the world? you protect
you have it? and family? activities for young family
• Is there a adults? members or
difference friends?
between close
friends and
family, for you?

Family and friends

Personal
view
Useful apps Social / • Can you
and websites Community Our rights and describe some
Taking the responsibilities important
• [Link] topic further family
Personal_name • Would you like to
organise a social • What special rights members and/
• Intro to BSL and fingerspelling: • Plan and run a do children have? or friends?
group party or event in your
[Link] community? • Does everyone • Are you a
• Keeping kids safe online: picnic to celebrate sociable
Eid/Christmas/ How can you do it? have the right to
[Link] • Can you plan be with family? person
• [Link]/cbbc/ summer etc. (extrovert) or
and invite family a trip with family What are
findoutmore/help-me-out- or friends to the barriers? do you prefer
staying-safe-online Top tips for and friends. to spend time
a museum?
staying safe online by yourself
(introvert)?
Family and friends
3

Unit
Introduction to the topic
This topic is about Family and friends. Learning names and a little about
each other can help to build community within the group and reduce
isolation. Participants can share their experience of meeting people in
the area, including through social media.

Session ideas at a glance

Welcome If required, participants sign in or you record attendance on a register.

Opening chat/ Introductions for anyone new. General chatting. Anything to follow up or report
circle time back on from the previous session? Any news from anyone?

Getting Remind/tell new participants what the topic of the session is: Family and friends.
started Choose one or more warm up activities linked to the topic. See next page for
ideas on: You and your name.
Ask some questions to get the conversation started and find out which aspects
of the topic participants are most interested in talking about. (See mind map and
next page for ideas)

Conversations Plan to have 2 or 3 main conversations linked to the topic, possibly with supporting
activities. See next page for ideas on:
• Around the UK: Visiting family or friends
• Staying safe: Social media
• Staying safe: Social media safety
• The local area: Making new friends
If you have a large group and participants divide into small groups or pairs for
each activity/conversation, finish each of these with the whole group reporting
back and maybe discussing their ideas further together.

Closing chat/ Feedback about today’s topic and conversations.

circle time Discuss ideas for any follow up action/research for taking the topic further, e.g.
visiting a community centre, going to a social event together, organising a party
or picnic etc.
Share ideas and agree the main topic for the next session. Any reminders or
important dates/events coming up?

Level of English: Activities can easily be adapted for lower levels, e.g. use fewer icons for the social media
discussion and/or use icons only, i.e. no text. If helpful, revise family vocabulary, e.g. sister, uncle

Things to consider: Family can be an emotional subject so take the lead from participants. Be sensitive to the
fact that people may have lost or be separated from family, or may want to have children but are unable to.
Participants are usually very interested to find out more about their volunteer supporter/ facilitator. Sharing
photographs of your own family and friends can help set a broader context for conversations. Some
participants may not have smart phones and some may not be able to afford data. Some conversations may
prompt participants to share views on groups including LGBTQ+, unmarried couples, single parents, etc.
Consider how to respond if negative or non-inclusive views are expressed, and how to encourage respect for
differences in regard to religion, race, gender, disability and sexuality.

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Family and friends
3

Unit
Getting started: You and your name
• Sit in a circle. Ask participants to take turns to say their name and give an example of something
they like that begins with the same letter as their name, e.g. My name is Habiba and I like hats.
• They can go round again and, if they wish, they can give more information about the meaning of
their name, who gave it to them and why.

Around the UK: Visiting family or friends

The aim of this activity is for participants to discuss visiting their friends or family in the UK: where
they live, how they travel to see them (methods of transport), how often they meet up and what they
do when they meet.
Resources and preparation: Print/project/display images of different methods of transport and
check understanding. Prepare the question cards for each group/pair. (Alternatively, write them on
a flipchart.) Bring in some photographs of your own family and friends.
• Start by showing a few of your photographs and talking about who the people are, where they live,
how you travel to see them etc. In small groups or pairs, participants take turns to ask and answer
similar questions. They can use the cards if helpful.
• Encourage groups/pairs to show pictures of their family/friends and ask follow up questions, as
appropriate, e.g. How long have you known ….? Where did you meet?

Staying safe: Social media

Resources and preparation: Print and cut up the social media icons and names – one set for each
small group.
• Show the icons. Have a discussion about which participants recognise and use. Encourage
participants to point to or hold up the relevant icon as they discuss it.
• Use the question prompts together with the icon pictures to explore which apps participants
would use for different activities and who they think the apps are suitable for. Participants can
share some examples, e.g. I talk to my sister in Canada on WhatsApp.
• Use the discussion as an opportunity for some participants to show others how to download/use
apps which may be of interest.

Staying safe: Social media safety

Resources and preparation: For higher levels you can project, display or print and cut up the
Social media safety cards – one set for each small group.
• Discuss some of the good and bad things about social media. Include possible dangers and ways
to manage or avoid these, e.g. personal information, sharing your location, addiction, fake news,
cyber bulling etc.
• Higher level learners can use the Social media safety cards to explore the dangers of social media/
individual apps and ways of staying safe. Depending on the group, focus on either adults or children.
• Discuss where to find further information (see mind map for some ideas).

The local area: Making new friends

• In small groups, ask participants to share their ideas and experiences for how to make new friends
in the local area, e.g. join a class, group, gym, take up a new hobby, volunteer, etc.
• Write ideas on a flipchart to share with the rest of the group
• Participants can vote for the best suggestions – and discuss how to follow them up!

Volunteers, English language learners and conversation clubs / Conversation club resources / 3
Family and friends
3

Unit
Around the UK:
Visiting family or friends

Images: New to ESOL picture pack

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Family and friends
3

Unit
Around the UK:
Visiting family or friends (questions)

Who do you visit?

Where do they live?

How do you travel to

see them?
How often do you
see them?
What do you do when
you meet?
Which language(s) do
you speak together?
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Family and friends
3

Unit
Staying safe: Social media

LinkedIn

WhatsApp

Instagram

Snapchat

Skype
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Family and friends
3

Unit
Staying safe: Social media

Viber

Imo

Facebook

Text

YouTube
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Family and friends
3

Unit
Staying safe: Social media safety

Which social media apps Which social media apps

would you use for: do you think are:

• Posting a video • Popular with young

children
• Organising a family event
• Popular with teenagers
• Making a video call
• Popular with adults
• Sending a message to
one or more people • Popular with all ages
• Phoning a friend or • Not suitable for children
family member • Addictive
• Getting your voice heard • Most useful
• Finding a job
• Meeting professionals
• Playing games
• Posting photos

Social media safety Social media safety

for adults: for children:

• What are the dangers • What are the dangers

of using social media of using social media
for adults? for children?
• How can we stay safe? • How can we keep
them safe?

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