Recommended tutor: SarahWhy this matters
Pets and animals are the easiest first English topic for a child. Every kid has something to say — a dog at home, a cat at grandma's, a bird at school, a favourite zoo animal. The vocabulary is short and concrete: cat, dog, brown, big, soft, sleepy. The grammar is the friendliest English ever uses: I have, my, it is.
In this lesson, the tutor stays warm and slow. They ask one question at a time, smile a lot, and celebrate every word the child gets out. There is no "wrong" answer — just more chances to say something in English. By the end of the first lesson, most kids can introduce their pet, name three colours, and say what sound the animal makes.
What you’ll be able to do
- ✓Say "I have a [pet]" with confidence.
- ✓Name common pets in English: cat, dog, rabbit, bird, fish, hamster.
- ✓Describe a pet with one or two adjectives (big, small, brown, soft, sleepy).
- ✓Make animal sounds in English: meow, woof, tweet, hiss.
- ✓Ask another person "Do you have a pet?".
What a lesson actually feels like
A 9-year-old talks about their dog Rex.
Key vocabulary
Useful phrases by situation
About my pet
- “I have a dog.”
- “His name is Rex.”
- “My cat is brown.”
- “My fish is small.”
Asking about pets
- “Do you have a pet?”
- “What is your pet?”
- “Is it big or small?”
- “What is its name?”
Animal sounds
- “A cat says meow.”
- “A dog says woof.”
- “A bird says tweet.”
- “A snake says hiss.”
Common mistakes & how to fix them
Cultural notes
- ★In English, pets often get human names (Max, Lucy, Charlie). It is totally normal to introduce your pet by name.
- ★Some animal sounds are different in English. A pig in Russian says "хрю", but in English it says "oink"!
Tips from our tutors
Frequently asked
Is this safe for my child?+
My child knows almost no English. Will the lesson work?+
Can my child do the lesson alone?+
How long is one lesson?+
Beginner, intermediate, advanced
Tell the tutor your level at the start of the lesson and the conversation adjusts. Same topic, different depth.
Just say what pet you have. The tutor uses very short sentences and accepts one-word answers like "dog" or "cat".
- →Say "I have a [pet]".
- →Name 3 animals in English.
- →Answer "what colour?" with one word.
Describe your pet with two details. Colour, size, name. The tutor still keeps things gentle but pushes for full sentences.
- →Describe a pet with two adjectives ("My cat is small and grey").
- →Say what your pet eats or what sounds it makes.
- →Ask another person if they have a pet.
Tell a tiny story about your pet — one funny moment in two or three sentences. Still all A1 vocab, just longer turns.
- →Tell a 3-sentence story about your pet using simple past.
- →Use "and", "but", "then" to join sentences.
- →Answer follow-up questions without freezing.
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