Young Sheldon · Can You Learn to Make Friends?

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Hibiscus Teach · Series

Young Sheldon

Can You Learn to Make Friends?

Start a conversation, find common ground and ask a useful follow-up question.

B1+ English60-minute tutor lesson

Created by , British English teacher.

Content note: A verbal reference to a hobby accident and a garage fire; no instructions are taught.

Advice from a book

Sheldon wants a reliable way to make friends. Missy suggests a new approach.

Watch for: Why does Missy think other readers may be useful people to meet?

Original source

Clip A quiz · 6 questions

Choose one answer for each question. Check your answers, then read the feedback.

1. What problem is Sheldon trying to solve?
2. What source of advice has he used?
3. Has his first approach been successful?
4. Who offers him another idea?
5. Whom does she suggest approaching?
6. Why does she think these people may be interested?

Useful English

Original practice phrases.

How did you get interested in that?

Ask a follow-up question.

Have you tried a different approach?

Offer a suggestion without a command.

Keep talking · 3 questions

Say your answer aloud before opening the support. With a partner, take turns and ask a follow-up question.

  1. What makes advice useful rather than simply correct-sounding?

    Support and one possible answer

    Useful advice…

    Useful advice fits the person and suggests something they can actually try.

  2. Where could someone meet people with a shared interest?

    Support and one possible answer

    They could…

    They could join a small club and help with an activity.

  3. Ask a follow-up question about someone's hobby.

    Support and one possible answer

    How did…? What do…?

    How did you get interested in photography? What do you like taking pictures of?

Something in common

Sheldon meets someone who understands part of his problem.

Watch for: What gives the conversation a natural direction?

Original source

Clip B quiz · 6 questions

Choose one answer for each question. Check your answers, then read the feedback.

1. Who notices Sheldon with the book?
2. What helps Tam recognise Sheldon's difficulty?
3. What difficulty do they discuss?
4. Which interest do they discover they share?
5. What changes as the conversation develops?
6. Which description fits their interaction best?

Useful English

Original practice phrases.

We seem to have that in common.

Recognise a shared interest.

Tell me a little more about it.

Invite a longer response.

Keep talking · 3 questions

Say your answer aloud before opening the support. With a partner, take turns and ask a follow-up question.

  1. Do friends need to have everything in common?

    Support and one possible answer

    They need… but…

    They need some connection, but different interests can make conversation interesting.

  2. What could you say when someone describes an unfamiliar hobby?

    Support and one possible answer

    Tell me…

    Tell me a little more about it. What do you enjoy most?

  3. Respond to someone who shares your interest.

    Support and one possible answer

    I also… How…?

    I also enjoy drawing. How did you learn to draw people?

Mastery quiz

Use language from both clips in new situations.

Mastery · 6 questions

Choose one answer for each question. Check your answers, then read the feedback.

1. You use a library book and then return it. You ___ it.
2. You both enjoy the same hobby. You have an interest ___.
3. You tell a classmate about your first week. You ___ an experience.
4. A second question about the answer helps you ___.
5. Someone says they enjoy astronomy. Choose a relevant follow-up.
6. You want to suggest another method politely. Choose the best opening.

Put it all together — speaking

Speak first, then use the support if you need it. For the final conversation, take a role each or practise both roles alone.

  1. What is different between following a method in A and finding common ground in B?

    Support and one possible answer

    In A… In B…

    In A Sheldon looks for a method. In B the conversation develops around something both people enjoy.

  2. What two things can a listener do to help a new conversation?

    Support and one possible answer

    A listener can…

    A listener can respond to what was said and ask a relevant follow-up.

  3. Can you meet a new club member and find one shared interest?

    Support and one possible answer

    Introduce yourself, ask follow-ups and suggest a next conversation.

    Hi, I am Sam. What brought you to this club? I also like science. How did you get interested in rockets? We could compare our projects next week.

Role A

You are new to a club. You enjoy astronomy and drawing but know nobody there.

Role B

You enjoy photography and astronomy. Ask two follow-up questions and suggest a simple shared activity.

Check your conversation

  • Use a greeting and two relevant follow-ups.
  • Find one genuine point in common.
  • Use three target items and close naturally.

Try again: Repeat the final interaction once. Improve one expression and one response to your partner.

Original teaching activities: Hibiscus Teach. Film and television clips belong to their respective owners.