A2 Lesson: My Exchange Week Abroad

Level: A2 (Elementary)

Content Objective: Students follow Maya, a student on a week-long school exchange trip to Japan, and learn about the surprises and new customs she experienced with her host family.

Language Objective: Students learn to use the simple past tense with time expressions (on the first day, during the week, that night, by the end of the week, on the last day) to tell a story that happens over several days.

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1. Reading Section

My name is Maya, and I am fifteen years old. Last month, my school sent me on an exchange trip to Japan for one week. I stayed with a host family in a small town near Kyoto.

On the first day, I was very nervous. I met my host sister, Yuki, at the airport. She smiled and gave me a small gift, a pretty pen. “Welcome to Japan,” she said in English.

During the first two days, I learned the family’s customs. I took off my shoes before I went inside the house. I put on soft slippers instead. It felt strange, but I liked it.

On the third day, I went to school with Yuki. I wore a school uniform, just like the other students. The school day was longer than my school at home, but the classes were interesting.

That night, we had a special family dinner. I ate with chopsticks for the first time. I dropped my food two times, and everyone laughed kindly. By the end of dinner, I could hold the chopsticks much better.

During the week, I learned a few Japanese words, like “thank you” and “delicious.” Yuki’s grandmother taught me how to fold paper into a small crane. I was surprised how patient she was with me.

By the end of the week, I felt comfortable in my new home. I wasn’t nervous anymore. I understood the family’s daily routine, and I even helped Yuki cook dinner one evening.

On the last day, I said goodbye to the family at the train station. Yuki’s grandmother gave me the paper crane we made together. I cried a little, but I was also happy. Now, I am already planning to visit them again next year!

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2. Vocabulary Section

Word / Phrase	Meaning	Example
exchange trip	a trip where students visit another country and often stay with a family there	My school sent me on an exchange trip to Japan.
host family	a family that lets a visitor stay in their home	I stayed with a host family in a small town.
custom	a traditional way of doing something in a place or culture	I learned the family’s customs.
uniform	special clothes that everyone at a school wears	I wore a school uniform.
chopsticks	two thin sticks used for eating food, especially in East Asia	I ate with chopsticks for the first time.
patient	able to stay calm while waiting or teaching someone	I was surprised how patient she was with me.
comfortable	relaxed, without worry or stress	I felt comfortable in my new home.
routine	the usual things you do every day, in the same order	I understood the family’s daily routine.

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3. Example Sentences (Target Grammar in Use)

• On the first day, I was very nervous.
• During the first two days, I learned the family’s customs.
• That night, we had a special family dinner.
• By the end of the week, I felt comfortable in my new home.
• On the last day, I said goodbye to the family at the train station.

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4. Grammar Section

Simple Past Narrative + Time Expressions

When we tell a story about the past, we use the simple past tense for the actions. Time expressions like on the first day, during the week, that night, by the end of the week, and on the last day help the listener follow when each part of the story happens.

Time Expression	Use	Example
on the first day	the very beginning of an experience	On the first day, I was very nervous.
during + noun phrase	a period of time in which something happens	During the first two days, I learned the family’s customs.
that night	the evening or night of a day already mentioned	That night, we had a special family dinner.
by the end of + noun phrase	a change that is true when a period of time finishes	By the end of the week, I felt comfortable in my new home.
on the last day	the final day of an experience	On the last day, I said goodbye to the family at the train station.

Quick Tip: A time expression at the start of a sentence is usually followed by a comma: “On the first day, I was very nervous.” This comma is a small signal that tells the reader a new part of the story is starting.

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5. Comprehension Questions

A. True or False

1. Maya’s host sister is named Yuki.
2. Maya wore her own clothes to school in Japan.
3. Maya used chopsticks perfectly on her first try.
4. By the end of the week, Maya still felt nervous all the time.

B. Short Answer

5. What did Yuki give Maya at the airport, and how did Maya feel that day?
6. What new custom did Maya learn during her first two days?
7. What happened during the family dinner, and how did it end?
8. How did Maya feel on the last day, and what does she plan to do next?

C. Fill in the Blank / Transform — Use one of the time expressions from the grammar table to complete each sentence.

9. ___, Maya met Yuki at the airport.
10. ___, Maya learned to take off her shoes before going inside.
11. ___, the family ate a special dinner together.
12. ___, Maya felt comfortable and wasn’t nervous anymore.

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More A2 lessons are coming soon!