A Child Who Was Afraid to Speak in Class
Level: (A2 – low B1)
Story: My Voice Was Too Quiet
Adam was a quiet boy.
He liked listening more than speaking.
In class, the teacher often asked questions.
Many hands went up.
Adam knew the answers, but his hand stayed down.
His heart beat fast.
“What if I say the wrong word?”
“What if everyone laughs?”
One day, the teacher read a short story about a brave mouse.
After the story, she asked,
“Who wants to tell us what the mouse learned?”
Adam knew the answer.
He looked at his desk.
Then he slowly raised his hand.
The classroom felt very quiet.
“Yes, Adam?” the teacher said with a smile.
Adam spoke softly,
“The mouse learned that being brave does not mean not being afraid.”
The teacher nodded.
“That is a wonderful answer.”
No one laughed.
Some children smiled.
Adam felt warm inside.
His voice was quiet, but it was strong enough.
The next time, raising his hand felt a little easier.
Discussion Questions (Big Ideas & Feelings)
- How did Adam feel when the teacher asked questions?
- Why was Adam afraid to speak?
- Have you ever felt the same way in class?
- Was Adam’s answer perfect, or was it honest?
- What does “being brave” mean to you?
Vocabulary from the Story
- quiet – not loud
- raise (your hand) – to put your hand up
- afraid – feeling fear
- brave – doing something even when you are afraid
- softly – in a quiet way
- smile – a happy face
Language Focus (In Context)
1️⃣ Talking about feelings
- I am afraid to speak.
- My heart beats fast.
- I feel warm inside.
👉 make one sentence about how YOU feel in class.
2️⃣ Simple past tense (from the story)
- Adam was quiet.
- He raised his hand.
- The teacher smiled.
👉 Find 2 verbs in the past tense from the story.
Creative Task (Speaking or Writing)
Option A – Speaking:
Tell your partner:
- One thing you are afraid to do
- One thing that helps you feel brave
Option B – Writing:
Write 3 short sentences:
I feel brave when __________.
I feel afraid when __________.
I want to try __________.