Reading: Understanding Different Text Types & Genres (Basic): A2 Lesson 1: Reading Simple Stories, Postcards, Short Emails, Signs, and Menus
CEFR Level: A2 (Elementary)
Target Reading Sub-skill: Understanding Different Text Types & Genres (Basic)
Specific Focus: Reading Simple Stories, Postcards, Short Emails, Signs, and Menus
What You Will Learn
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Identify a simple story and its basic parts.
- Identify a postcard and its common features.
- Identify a short email and its structure.
- Identify common signs and understand their purpose.
- Identify a simple menu and what information it gives.
- Tell the difference between these common text types.
Hello Cambodian Learners!
When you read in English, you'll see many different types of texts. A story is different from a sign at Phsar Nat (Old Market) in Battambang, and a postcard from Angkor Wat is different from an email from your friend. Knowing what kind of text you are looking at helps you understand why it was written and what information to look for!
Different Kinds of Texts
Let's look at some common text types. Click on the examples to hear them read.
1. Simple Story
A little mouse lived in a big house. One day, he saw a big piece of cheese. He was very happy and ate the cheese.
Look for: Characters (mouse), a setting (house), events (saw cheese, ate cheese). Stories often tell what happened.
2. Postcard
Dear Srey Mom,
Hello from Siem Reap! Angkor Wat is amazing. The weather is hot.
See you soon,
Piseth
Look for: A greeting (Dear...), a short message, a closing (See you soon,...), and a sender's name. Often has a picture on one side.
3. Short Email
To: Chhaya
From: Lin
Subject: Homework
Hi Chhaya,
Can you help me with the English homework? I don't understand question 3.
Thanks,
Lin
Look for: "To:", "From:", "Subject:", a greeting, a message, and a closing.
4. Sign
Look for: Short text, often one or two words. Gives information, a warning, or a direction. You see them on doors, roads, shops.
Practice Time!
Activity 1: What Type of Text Is It?
Look at each text example below. Click the button that says what type of text it is.
Quick Quiz!
Great Job!
You are learning to identify different types of texts! This skill helps you know what to expect when you start reading something new.
How do you feel about this lesson?
Note for Educators/Platform Development: This lesson introduces various basic text types for A2 learners. Activities focus on identification based on key features and purpose. Ensure Web Speech API is supported. Use clear, simple examples for each text type, ideally with visual cues that mimic their real-world appearance. Placeholder examples are used and should be replaced with more specific content.