• people in Banyuwangi have a special day

Every year, people in Banyuwangi have a special day. Banyuwangi is a city in Java, Indonesia. People do a dance here. The dance is called Seblang.

People want a good life. They want good food, a clean village, and healthy bodies.

Two villages do this dance. In one village, a young girl dances. In the other village, an old woman dances.

First, a man puts food on a table. He uses rice, fruit, and red flowers. He prays. The dancer wears a big hat. The hat has green leaves and flowers.

The dancer sits on a chair. She closes her eyes and goes to sleep. Then, a spirit comes. The dancer wakes up and stands up.

She dances to the music. Women play music and sing. The dancer moves her arms. She holds a small fan. She throws rice and flowers to the people. People catch the flowers. They smile because the flowers bring good luck.

Many people come to watch. Fathers, mothers, and children sit together. They watch the dancer. They are happy.

This dance is very old. People love this day because families stay together.

_____________________

Vocabulary:

Word / phrase	A1 definition
to be called Seblang	to have the name Seblang
clean	not dirty
a village	a small place where people live
a healthy body	a body that is well and strong
to put food on a table	to place food on a table
to pray	to speak to God
to wear a hat	to have a hat on your head
a leaf (pl. leaves)	the green part of a plant
to close one’s eyes	to shut your eyes
a spirit	a special person or thing that people cannot see
to wake up	to stop sleeping
to stand up	to move from sitting to standing
a fan	a small thing you hold and move to make air
to throw something	to send something through the air with your hand
to catch something	to take something with your hands when it comes to you
good luck	something good that you hope happens
to stay together	to remain with other people

###################

Present Simple

We use the present simple for things that happen regularly, every day, or are generally true.

• Lina rides her bicycle every morning.
• She studies English every day.
• She likes her bicycle.

1. I / You / We / They

Use the basic form of the verb.

• I live in a village.
• You like English.
• We study every day.
• They work hard.

2. He / She / It

Usually, add -s.

• She lives in a village.
• He likes English.
• She wants to be a teacher.
• It works well.

Most verbs: add -s

Basic verb	He / She / It
live	lives
like	likes
want	wants
work	works
help	helps
read	reads
listen	listens
talk	talks
learn	learns

3. Verbs ending in -y

If a verb ends in consonant + y, change y to ies.

• study → studies
• try → tries
• carry → carries

Examples:

• I study English.
• She studies English.
• They try hard.
• He tries hard.

But: vowel [a,e,i,o,u] + y → just add -s

• play → plays
• stay → stays
• enjoy → enjoys

Example:

• I play football.
• She plays football.

4. Have → Has

Have is different.

• I have a bicycle.
• You have a bicycle.
• We have a bicycle.
• They have a bicycle.
• She has a bicycle.
• He has a bicycle.
• It has four legs.

5. Be → am / is / are

Be is also different.

Subject	Be
I	am
You	are
We	are
They	are
He	is
She	is
It	is

Examples:

• I am 16 years old.
• You are happy.
• We are students.
• They are from Cambodia.
• She is 16 years old.
• He is a teacher.

6. Questions

With most verbs, use do or does.

I / you / we / they → DO

• Do you like English?
• Do they study every day?

he / she / it → DOES

• Does Lina like English?
• Does she study every day?

Important!

After does, use the basic verb.

❌ Does she studies English?
✅ Does she study English?

❌ Does Lina likes her bicycle?
✅ Does Lina like her bicycle?

7. Negative sentences

Use don’t or doesn’t.

I / you / we / they → don’t

• I don’t like English.
• They don’t study every day.

he / she / it → doesn’t

• She doesn’t like English.
• Lina doesn’t study every day.

Again, after doesn’t, use the basic verb.

❌ She doesn’t studies English.
✅ She doesn’t study English.

❌ Lina doesn’t likes her bicycle.
✅ Lina doesn’t like her bicycle.

The most important rule

Positive sentences:

I / You / We / They → basic verb

I study.

He / She / It → verb + s

She studies.

Questions and negatives:

do / does + basic verb

Does she study?
She doesn’t study.

Remember:

I study → She studies
I live → She lives
I like → She likes
I have → She has
I am → She is

###################

Match the words with the definitions

1. to wake up
2. a village
3. good luck
4. to wear a hat
5. a fan
6. clean
7. to catch something
8. a spirit
9. to stay together
10. a leaf (pl. leaves)
11. to pray
12. to stand up
13. a healthy body
14. to put food on a table
15. to throw something
16. to close one’s eyes
17. to be called Seblang

A. to remain with other people
B. to have a hat on your head
C. to speak to God
D. the green part of a plant
E. to take something with your hands when it comes to you
F. a small place where people live
G. something good that you hope happens
H. to stop sleeping
I. not dirty
J. to send something through the air with your hand
K. a special person or thing that people cannot see
L. to move from sitting to standing
M. a body that is well and strong
N. to place food on a table
O. to shut your eyes
P. a small thing you hold and move to make air
Q. to have the name Seblang

_____________________

Answers:
1-H, 2-F, 3-G, 4-B, 5-P, 6-I, 7-E,
8-K, 9-A, 10-D, 11-C, 12-L,
13-M, 14-N, 15-J, 16-O, 17-Q
###############

Match the definitions with the words

1. to remain with other people
2. to have a hat on your head
3. to speak to God
4. the green part of a plant
5. to take something with your hands when it comes to you
6. a small place where people live
7. something good that you hope happens
8. to stop sleeping
9. not dirty
10. to send something through the air with your hand
11. a special person or thing that people cannot see
12. to move from sitting to standing
13. a body that is well and strong
14. to place food on a table
15. to shut your eyes
16. a small thing you hold and move to make air
17. to have the name Seblang

A. a healthy body
B. to throw something
C. to stay together
D. a spirit
E. to wear a hat
F. a fan
G. clean
H. to catch something
I. a village
J. to put food on a table
K. to close one’s eyes
L. to be called Seblang
M. to wake up
N. good luck
O. a leaf (pl. leaves)
P. to stand up
Q. to pray

___________________

Answers:
1-C, 2-E, 3-Q, 4-O, 5-H, 6-I, 7-N,
8-M, 9-G, 10-B, 11-D, 12-P,
13-A, 14-J, 15-K, 16-F, 17-L

##############

True or false

1. The dancer wears a big hat with green leaves and flowers.
2. The Seblang dance is very new.
3. People catch the flowers that the dancer throws.
4. Banyuwangi is a city in Java, Indonesia.
5. The dancer sits on a chair before she dances.
6. Men play the music while women watch.
7. People want a clean village.
8. The dancer holds a small fan.
9. A man puts rice, fruit, and red flowers on a table.
10. The dancer dances without music.
11. In one village, an old man dances.
12. The dancer throws flowers to the people.
13. The dancer wears a small blue hat.
14. Only women and children come to watch the dance.
15. The dancer stays awake before the spirit comes.
16. People are happy because the flowers bring bad luck.

_____________________

False: 2,6,10,11,13,14,15,16

_____________________

Correct version:

1. The dancer wears a big hat with green leaves and flowers.
2. The Seblang dance is very new.
   True is: The Seblang dance is very old.
3. People catch the flowers that the dancer throws.
4. Banyuwangi is a city in Java, Indonesia.
5. The dancer sits on a chair before she dances.
6. Men play the music while women watch.
   True is: Women play the music and sing.
7. People want a clean village.
8. The dancer holds a small fan.
9. A man puts rice, fruit, and red flowers on a table.
10. The dancer dances without music.
    True is: The dancer dances to the music.
11. In one village, an old man dances.
    True is: In one village, an old woman dances.
12. The dancer throws flowers to the people.
13. The dancer wears a small blue hat.
    True is: The dancer wears a big hat with green leaves and flowers.
14. Only women and children come to watch the dance.
    True is: Fathers, mothers, and children come to watch the dance.
15. The dancer stays awake before the spirit comes.
    True is: The dancer closes her eyes and goes to sleep before the spirit comes.
16. People are happy because the flowers bring bad luck.
    True is: People are happy because the flowers bring good luck.

###############

Match the Sentence Halves

1. Every year, people in Banyuwangi
2. People want
3. Two villages
4. A man puts food
5. The dancer wears
6. The dancer closes her eyes
7. A spirit comes
8. Women play music
9. The dancer throws rice and flowers
10. Families stay

A. to the people.
B. a good life.
C. and goes to sleep.
D. a big hat.
E. on a table.
F. do this dance.
G. and sing.
H. together.
I. have a special day.
J. to the dancer.

____________________

Answers:
1-I, 2-B, 3-F, 4-E, 5-D,
6-C, 7-J, 8-G, 9-A, 10-H
____________________

Correct version:

1. Every year, people in Banyuwangi have a special day.
2. People want a good life.
3. Two villages do this dance.
4. A man puts food on a table.
5. The dancer wears a big hat.
6. The dancer closes her eyes and goes to sleep.
7. A spirit comes to the dancer.
8. Women play music and sing.
9. The dancer throws rice and flowers to the people.
10. Families stay together.

###############

Basics of present simple:

Personal Pronoun	am / is / are
I	am	8 years old
You	are	8 years old
He	is	8 years old
She	is	8 years old
It	is	8 years old
We	are	8 years old
You (plural)	are	8 years old
They	are	8 years old

Personal Pronoun	am not / is not / are not
I	am not	8 years old
You	are not	8 years old
He	is not	8 years old
She	is not	8 years old
It	is not	8 years old
We	are not	8 years old
You (plural)	are not	8 years old
They	are not	8 years old

Question:

Question Word	Personal Pronoun
Am	I	8 years old?
Are	you	8 years old?
Is	he	8 years old?
Is	she	8 years old?
Is	it	8 years old?
Are	we	8 years old?
Are	you (plural)	8 years old?
Are	they	8 years old?

Statement:

Personal Pronoun	Verb
I	like	ice cream
You	like	ice cream
He	likes	ice cream
She	likes	ice cream
It	likes	ice cream
We	like	ice cream
You (plural)	like	ice cream
They	like	ice cream

Negation:

Personal Pronoun	Verb (negative)
I	do not like	ice cream
You	do not like	ice cream
He	does not like	ice cream
She	does not like	ice cream
It	does not like	ice cream
We	do not like	ice cream
You (plural)	do not like	ice cream
They	do not like	ice cream

Question:

Do / Does	Personal Pronoun	Verb	Sugar?
Do	I	like	sugar?
Do	you	like	sugar?
Does	he	like	sugar?
Does	she	like	sugar?
Does	it	like	sugar?
Do	we	like	sugar?
Do	you (plural)	like	sugar?
Do	they	like	sugar?

###############

Fill in the correct form:

1. Where ______ (be) Banyuwangi?
   Banyuwangi ______ (be) in Java, Indonesia.
2. What ______ (be) the dance called?
   The dance ______ (be) called Seblang.
3. How many villages ______ (do) the dance?
   Two villages ______ (do) the dance.
4. What ______ (do) the man put on the table?
   The man ______ (put) rice, fruit, and red flowers on the table.
5. What ______ (do) the dancer wear?
   The dancer ______ (wear) a big hat with green leaves and flowers.
6. What ______ (do) the dancer do before the spirit comes?
   The dancer ______ (close) her eyes and ______ (go) to sleep before the spirit comes.
7. Who ______ (play) music and ______ (sing)?
   Women ______ (play) music and ______ (sing).
8. What ______ (do) the dancer hold?
   The dancer ______ (hold) a small fan.
9. What ______ (do) the dancer throw to the people?
   The dancer ______ (throw) rice and flowers to the people.
10. Why ______ (do) people smile?
    People ______ (smile) because the flowers bring good luck.

——————————

Correct answers:

Where is Banyuwangi?
Banyuwangi is in Java, Indonesia.

What is the dance called?
The dance is called Seblang.

How many villages do the dance?
Two villages do the dance.

What does the man put on the table?
The man puts rice, fruit, and red flowers on the table.

What does the dancer wear?
The dancer wears a big hat with green leaves and flowers.

What does the dancer do before the spirit comes?
The dancer closes her eyes and goes to sleep before the spirit comes.

Who plays music and sings?
Women play music and sing.

What does the dancer hold?
The dancer holds a small fan.

What does the dancer throw to the people?
The dancer throws rice and flowers to the people.

Why do people smile?
People smile because the flowers bring good luck.

#################

Make negative sentences

1. The dancer wears a small hat.
2. People want a bad life.
3. Women play football.
4. The dancer holds a drum.
5. Families stay apart.
6. The man puts vegetables on the table.
7. The dancer sings alone.
8. People catch the fruit.

________________________

Correct negations:

The dancer doesn’t [does not] wear a small hat.

People don’t catch the fruit.

People don’t want a bad life.

Women don’t play football.

The dancer doesn’t hold a drum.

Families don’t stay apart.

The man doesn’t put vegetables on the table.

The dancer doesn’t sing alone.

People don’t catch the fruit.

#################

Make questions

1. People want a good life.
2. The dancer wears a big hat.
3. Women play music.
4. The dancer holds a fan.
5. Families stay together.
6. A young girl dances in one village.
7. Banyuwangi is in Java, Indonesia.
8. The flowers are beautiful.
9. The dancer throws rice and flowers.
10. People catch the flowers.

________________________

Correct answer:

1. Do people want a good life?
2. Does the dancer wear a big hat?
3. Do women play music?
4. Does the dancer hold a fan?
5. Do families stay together?
6. Does a young girl dance in one village?
7. Is Banyuwangi in Java, Indonesia?
8. Are the flowers beautiful?
9. Does the dancer throw rice and flowers?
10. Do people catch the flowers?

#################

Choose do, does, is or are

1. ______ the dancer wear a big hat?
2. ______ people catch the flowers?
3. ______ women sing?
4. ______ the man put food on the table?
5. ______ families stay together?
6. ______ the dancer hold a fan?
7. ______ people want a clean village?
8. ______ a young girl dance in one village?
9. ______ Banyuwangi a city in Java?
10. ______ the flowers beautiful?
11. ______ the dancer move her arms?
12. ______ two villages do the dance?
13. ______ the dancer asleep?
14. ______ many people watch the dance?
15. ______ the old woman dance in the other village?
16. ______ the flowers on the table?
17. ______ people smile when they catch the flowers?
18. ______ the dancer wear a big hat?
19. ______ women play music?
20. ______ the families together?

#################

Correct answer:

Does the dancer wear a big hat?

Do people catch the flowers?

Do women sing?

Does the man put food on the table?

Do families stay together?

Does the dancer hold a fan?

Do people want a clean village?

Does a young girl dance in one village?

Is Banyuwangi a city in Java?

Are the flowers beautiful?

Does the dancer move her arms?

Do two villages do the dance?

Is the dancer asleep?

Do many people watch the dance?

Does the old woman dance in the other village?

Are the flowers on the table?

Do people smile when they catch the flowers?

Does the dancer wear a big hat?

Do women play music?

Are the families together?

#################

Rewrite the statement as
a) question:
b) negation:
c) negative question:

1. Banyuwangi is a city in Java, Indonesia.
   
   YOU WRITE:
   a) Is Banyuwang a city in Java, Indonesia?
   b) Banyuwangi is not a city in Java, Indonesia.
   c) Isn’t Banyuwang a city in Jaca, indonesia?
   
2. Two villages do the Seblang dance.
3. People want a good life.
4. The dancer wears a big hat.
5. The dancer has green leaves and flowers on her hat.
6. Women play music and sing during the dance.
7. The dancer holds a small fan.
8. The flowers are a sign of good luck.
9. Many people watch the dancer.
10. Families stay together on this special day.

_________________________

Correct version:

1. Banyuwangi is a city in Java, Indonesia.

a) Is Banyuwangi a city in Java, Indonesia?
b) Banyuwangi is not a city in Java, Indonesia.
c) Isn’t Banyuwangi a city in Java, Indonesia?

2. Two villages do the Seblang dance.

a) Do two villages do the Seblang dance?
b) Two villages do not do the Seblang dance.
c) Don’t two villages do the Seblang dance?

3. People want a good life.

a) Do people want a good life?
b) People do not want a good life.
c) Don’t people want a good life?

4. The dancer wears a big hat.

a) Does the dancer wear a big hat?
b) The dancer does not wear a big hat.
c) Doesn’t the dancer wear a big hat?

5. The dancer has green leaves and flowers on her hat.

a) Does the dancer have green leaves and flowers on her hat?
b) The dancer does not have green leaves and flowers on her hat.
c) Doesn’t the dancer have green leaves and flowers on her hat?

6. Women play music and sing during the dance.

a) Do women play music and sing during the dance?
b) Women do not play music and sing during the dance.
c) Don’t women play music and sing during the dance?

7. The dancer holds a small fan.

a) Does the dancer hold a small fan?
b) The dancer does not hold a small fan.
c) Doesn’t the dancer hold a small fan?

8. The flowers are a sign of good luck.

a) Are the flowers a sign of good luck?
b) The flowers are not a sign of good luck.
c) Aren’t the flowers a sign of good luck?

9. Many people watch the dancer.

a) Do many people watch the dancer?
b) Many people do not watch the dancer.
c) Don’t many people watch the dancer?

10. Families stay together on this special day.

a) Do families stay together on this special day?
b) Families do not stay together on this special day.
c) Don’t families stay together on this special day?

##################

Form questions to which the word/s given is/are the answer:

1. Banyuwangi is in Java, Indonesia.
   
   YOU WRITE:
   a) Banyuwangi: What is in Java, Indonesia?
   b) Java, Indonesia: Where is Banyuwangi?
   
2. The dance is called Seblang.
   a) The dane:
   b) Seblang
   
3. Two villages do the dance.
   a) Two villages:
   b) do the dance:
   c) Two:
   
4. A young girl dances in one village.
   a) A young girl:
   b) young:
   c) dances in one viallge:
   d) in one village:
   
5. An old woman dances in the other village.
   a) An old woman:
   b) old:
   c) dances in the other viallge:
   d) in the other village:
   e) other:
   
6. The dancer holds a small fan.
   a) The dance:
   b) holds a small fan:
   c) a small fan:
   d) small
   
7. People catch the colourful flowers.
   a) People:
   b) catch the colourful flowers:
   c) the colourful flowers:
   d) colourful:

___________________________

Correct version:

1. Banyuwangi is in Java, Indonesia.
   a) Banyuwangi: What is in Java, Indonesia?
   b) Java, Indonesia: Where is Banyuwangi?
   
2. The dance is called Seblang.
   a) The dance: What is called Seblang?
   b) Seblang: What is the dance called?
   
3. Two villages do the dance.
   a) Two villages: Who does the dance?
   b) do the dance: What do two villages do?
   c) Two: How many villages do the dance?
   
4. A young girl dances in one village.
   a) A young girl: Who dances in one village?
   b) young: Which girl dances in one village?
   c) dances in one village: What does a young girl do?
   d) in one village: Where does a young girl dance?
   
5. An old woman dances in the other village.
   a) An old woman: Who dances in the other village?
   b) old: Which woman dances in the other village?
   c) dances in the other village: What does an old woman do?
   d) in the other village: Where does an old woman dance?
   e) other: Which village does an old woman dance in?
   
6. The dancer holds a small fan.
   a) The dancer: Who holds a small fan?
   b) holds a small fan: What does the dancer do?
   c) a small fan: What does the dancer hold?
   d) small: Which fan does the dancer hold?
   
7. People catch the colourful flowers.
   a) People: Who catches the colourful flowers?
   b) catch the colourful flowers: What do people do?
   c) the colourful flowers: What do people catch?
   d) colourful: Which flowers do people catch?

##################

Interview – just listen:

Interviewer: What is the special dance in Banyuwangi called?
Answer: The special dance is called Seblang.

Interviewer: Where is Banyuwangi?
Answer: Banyuwangi is in Java, Indonesia.

Interviewer: When do people have this special day?
Answer: People have this special day every year.

Interviewer: Who dances in one of the villages?
Answer: A young girl dances in one of the villages.

Interviewer: Who dances in the other village?
Answer: An old woman dances in the other village.

Interviewer: What does the man put on the table?
Answer: He puts rice, fruit, and red flowers on the table.

Interviewer: What does the dancer wear?
Answer: She wears a big hat with green leaves and flowers.

Interviewer: When does the spirit come?
Answer: The spirit comes after the dancer goes to sleep.

Interviewer: Who plays music and sings?
Answer: Women play music and sing.

Interviewer: What does the dancer hold?
Answer: She holds a small fan.

Interviewer: Why do people smile?
Answer: They smile because the flowers bring good luck.

Interviewer: Why do people love this special day?
Answer: They love it because families stay together.

####################

Final exercise, fill in words below:

food – together – special – chair – villages – throws – clean – spirit – fan – city – old – leaves

Every year, people in Banyuwangi have a _____ day. Banyuwangi is a _____ in Java, Indonesia. People do the Seblang dance. Two _____ do the dance. In one village, a young girl dances, and in the other, an _____ woman dances. People want good food, a _____ village, and a healthy body. A man puts _____ on a table and prays. The dancer wears a big hat with green _____ and flowers. She sits on a _____, closes her eyes, and goes to sleep. A _____ comes, and she wakes up and stands up. Women play music and sing. She holds a _____, moves her arms, and _____ rice and flowers. People catch them for good luck. Families stay _____.

——————————–

Correct version:

Every year, people in Banyuwangi have a special day. Banyuwangi is a city in Java, Indonesia. People do the Seblang dance. Two villages do the dance. In one village, a young girl dances, and in the other, an old woman dances. People want good food, a clean village, and a healthy body. A man puts food on a table and prays. The dancer wears a big hat with green leaves and flowers. She sits on a chair, closes her eyes, and goes to sleep. A spirit comes, and she wakes up and stands up. Women play music and sing. She holds a fan, moves her arms, and throws rice and flowers. People catch them for good luck. Families stay together.

##################

##################

##################

Please use the box below
to write your feedback.
Only I can read it.
It is not public.

Please tell me:

• Are the texts and exercises OK?
• Are the topics OK?
• Is the level OK?
• Is it too easy or too difficult?
• Do you want texts about other topics?

Thank you! I appreciate your feedback.

##################

##################

##################

Remember how babies
learn a language:

Babies learn a language by listening.
They use their ears to hear sounds.
Their brain remembers these sounds.
Babies connect sounds with people and things.
They listen to their parents.
Then they copy the sounds they hear. They imitate words.
Slowly, babies learn to speak.

So,
LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN………………