Vocabulary and Expressions Your Name
to name something or someone What is your name in your first
to call someone names (note culture/language? What
plural here)/name-calling significance or meaning does this
To name someone in court name have? Do you feel that your
To give a problem or difficulty a given name fits your personality?
name Do you have an English name?
To give someone a title Did you pick the name, or did
Surname someone pick it for you? What
Given name does your English name mean?
Family name What are some names in your first
To bring honor, or shame, on the culture you particularly like the
family name sound/meaning of, and why?
To change your name What are some English names
you particularly like the
To make a name for yourself
sound/meaning of, and why?
Matrilineal
Patrilineal
Your Name and Your Family Names and Eternity
How important is it, in your first Why do you think people want to
culture, not to bring shame on the be famous?
family name? What are some What are some ways people try to
ways people in your culture can have their names remembered for
bring honor or glory to their a long time?
family name? What are some Is it important to you to have
ways people bring shame on the people remember your name after
family name? you die? Why or why not?
Is your culture matrilineal What are some famous names in
(descendants are traced from the your culture, and why do you
mother) or patrilineal (traced from remember them?
the father)? How many In your first culture, would
generations back can you trace someone be likely to change his
your family? or her name? Under what
What, in particular, about your circumstances would s/he change
family makes you especially his/her name?
proud to belong to it? When people hear your name,
Does your family name have any what do you think they think
special significance in your first about?
culture – and if so, what is it? How do you feel when people
(e.g. in Danish culture, forget your name, and why?
“Pedersen” means, “Peter’s son.)
N.B. Group leaders may wish to bring along a book of English names to the
class, as students will probably ask about English names.
Copyright Kristin Chong, 2011. www.eslsheets.com.