Lesson 7: Nicknames
I’m known as Dragon, but my real name is Ryuichi.

I can talk about nicknames.

INTRODUCE

Sometimes, people have very interesting stories about how they got their nicknames. You can learn a lot about their past by asking about them.

PRESENT

STEP A EXPRESSIONS

Go over the expressions with your tutor and answer the questions.

    1. If someone is known as something, it means that a person is usually called by a name that isn’t his/her real name.


    My boyfriend’s real name is Tim, but at work, he’s known as TJ.


    Q:     What were you known as in high school?

     

     

    2. If something fits someone’s personality, it means that it matches his/her personality well.


    Her nickname’s Bookworm Betty. It fits her personality because she reads a lot.

     

    Q: Would the nickname Chatterbox (meaning someone who talks a lot) fit your personality?

     

     

    3. Use the phrase That makes sense. to say that something is understandable.


    Liam told me he was nicknamed Brains as a kid. That makes sense. He was really smart.


    Q:     If your best friend said his/her nickname in school was Brains, would you say, “That makes sense?”

STEP B PRONUNCIATION

When the end of one word and the beginning of the next word are the same consonant, the two sounds are often merged.
Phrase Example

makes sense

/ meyk-sens /

Oh, that / meyk-sens /.

UNDERSTAND

SPEAKING

Yuko and Mami are drinking at a bar.

Owner:

Here you go, ladies: one orange juice and one lemon sour.

Yuko:

Thanks. By the way, the name of your bar is catchy – Dragon’s.   

Owner:

It’s named after me. I’m known as Dragon, but my real name is Ryuichi.

Yuko:

Is it because of the ‘Ryu’ in your name?

Owner:

Yeah, you got it.

Yuko:

That makes sense. People just called me Yu-chan when I was young. I guess Yuko’s too long for them. (laughs)

Owner:

Well, that’s not very creative. (laughs) When I was young, people used to call me Sobakasu to make fun of my freckles. I didn’t really like it. I’m glad nobody calls me that now. I prefer Ryu or Dragon better.

Yuko:

Oh, that’s really mean! And I also think Dragon suits you better. But you know what, Sobakasu just reminded me of someone…

Mami:

It’s Kelsie, right? (sighs) I hope you can fix things between you two before my wedding. I’d really love to have both of you there.

TRIVIA

Many English nicknames are shortened versions of a person’s real name. For example, Andy and Drew are both nicknames for Andrew, Sam is a nickname for Samantha, and Kate and Kat are both nicknames for Katherine. Sometimes these shortenings look almost nothing like the original name:  Chuck is a nickname for Charles, Hank is a nickname for Henry, and Billy is a nickname for William!

PRACTICE

STEP A EXERCISE

Follow the instructions in parentheses using the expressions in the box. The form of some expressions may need to be changed.

fit someone’s personality
That makes sense.
be known as something

1.

Tutor: Did you know that Emily was called Einstein back in high school?

Student: (Say that that nickname matches her well because she likes to talk about science.)

Tutor: I think so too.

 

2.

Student: What was your nickname when you were younger?

Tutor: People just called me Pat, short for Patricia.

Student: (Say that that’s understandable.)

 

3.

Tutor: What did people call you when you were young?

Student: (Say that people nicknamed you Ginger because of your red hair.)

Tutor: Oh, that’s cute!

STEP B EXERCISE

Rephrase the sentences using the expressions in the box. The form of some expressions may need to be changed.

fit someone’s personality
That makes sense.
be known as something
  1. My real name is Samantha, but at school, people call me Jinx.
  2. A lot of people call her Robogirl? Well, I can understand that nickname. She’s always talking about robots!
  3. Eric’s nickname is Joker. I think it’s a good match – he’s always making jokes.

CHALLENGE

Challenge 1

Your foreign friend is visiting your house. You’re looking at old pictures together. Talk about your childhood.

Today's Expressions

  • be known as something
  • fit someone’s personality
  • That makes sense.

Challenge 2

Discuss your ideas.

If Time
Allows
1

JAPANESE AND FOREIGN NICKNAMES
2

GIVING NICKNAMES TO OTHERS
3

PERSONALITIES
1

JAPANESE AND FOREIGN NICKNAMES

  1. Do many people have nicknames in Japan?
  2. What are some common Japanese nicknames?
  3. Do you know any foreign nicknames?
  4. What English nickname would you like to have?

2GIVING NICKNAMES TO OTHERS

  1. Why do you think people give nicknames to others?
  2. Do you like calling people by their names or by their nicknames?
  3. What’s the funniest nickname you’ve seen someone give another person?
  4. If you had to give a nickname to your best friend, what would it be?

3PERSONALITIES

  1. What was your personality like when you were young?
  2. What did people like best about your personality when you were young?
  3. Has your personality changed since then?
  4. Why do you think people's personalities sometimes change when they grow up?

FEEDBACK

I can talk about nicknames.

LESSON GOAL ACHIEVEMENT

  • 4
    Very Good

    Could complete the task with ease

  • 3
    Good

    Could complete the task with some clarifications

  • 2
    Fair

    Could complete the task with additional instructions

  • 1
    Poor

    Could somehow complete the task with difficulty

PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK