The Basic Core

ESL English
ESL, February 2019

© 2019 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

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What is the Basic Core?
The Basic Core contains essential elements of the
language you will need to master in order to fulfill
your purpose in your mission language. It will help you
establish a foundation, focus your study, and evaluate
your progress. The Basic Core includes vocabulary,
phrases, and scriptures that will help you master the six
teaching tasks. Set goals and work diligently to quickly
master these tasks.

What are the 6 Tasks?

Meet Someone
Offer a Prayer
Testify
Extend an Invitation
Share a Scripture
Give a Simple Overview

Which Scriptures and Passages?

Your Missionary Purpose

Moroni 10:3-5

Baptismal Invitation

Joseph Smith’s First Vision

How Long Do I Have?

You will have ten days to master the six tasks, additional
vocabulary, and the four scriptures and passages.

How Do I Track My Progress?

Your teacher or companion will check the box to the left
of the task or vocabulary when you can correctly answer
the question “what is _____ in English?”

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 The 5 Principles of Memorization
1. Know the Meaning: Always find out the meaning of
what you are learning and write it down if necessary.
When you are learning words, don’t ignore how
prefixes and suffixes affect meaning. Additionally, you
should practice repeating the meaning of each word
out loud.

2. Focus on the Form: All language is made up of

two things: the meaning and the words which carry
that meaning. Form includes how it sounds, how it’s
pronounced, and how it’s written. Form also includes
noticing patterns in grammar and word order in
phrases. Find out how to say each word and practice
until you can pronounce it correctly.

3. Practice Aloud: We learn and remember language

better when we practice it physically, building muscle
memory. Practice your words, phrases, or grammar
out loud, repeatedly. Say it again and again until it
becomes automatic and you can do it without looking.

4. Apply it: Applying it well means using what you are

learning in real situations. If it’s part of a lesson,
practice teaching it to your companion. Finally, think
about the meaning of what you say and express it
with feeling.

5. Plan Spaced Reviews: Step 5 moves language to your

long-term memory where it will remain for good. Early
reviews should be done aloud and may require you to
use notes or materials to look up certain parts. They
are completed when you can fluently produce the
vocabulary or grammar without looking at notes. Later
reviews can be less frequent and can be done without
notes while doing other physical tasks like walking
or standing.

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Scriptures and Passages

Your Missionary Purpose

Preach My Gospel, 1

The Baptismal Invitation

Preach My Gospel, 40

Joseph Smith’s First Vision

Preach My Gospel, 37

Moroni 10:3-5

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 Alphabet and Pronunciation
English Alphabet
Letter Pronunciation
Aa
Bb
Cc
Dd
Ee
Ff
Gg
Hh
Ii
Jj
Kk
Ll
Mm
Nn
Oo
Pp
Qq
Rr
Ss
Tt
Uu
Vv
Ww
Xx
Yy
Zz

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3
 Meet Someone
Phrases
How are you doing?
I am Elder ____.
I am from ____.
I am Sister ____.
My name is ____.
Pleased to meet you.
What is your name?
Where are you from?
Hello
Goodbye

Vocabulary Words
brother
Brother (title)
city
companion
country
countryside
daughter
Elder
family
father
good
good afternoon
good evening
good morning
he
her
his
how
husband
I
it
its
Lord
married
missionary

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mother
my
name
nice
of, from
pleasure
representative
servant
she
Sister
sister
son
The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints
their
they
to be
to come
to get to know
to go
to grow up
to have
to know
to know
to live
to meet
to please
to represent
town
we
where
which, what
wife
you
you all
your

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 Offer a Prayer
Phrases
Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank thee for Thy love.
We ask Thee to bless us
with Thy Spirit
Please help us to learn ____.
Please bless my
companion.
In the name of Jesus Christ,
amen.
God always listens to our
prayers.

Vocabulary Words
always
amen
answer
blessing
charity
comfort
dear
for
gift of tongues
grateful
gratitude
guidance
Heavenly Father
help
house
inspiration
Jesus Christ
opportunity
our
patience
prayer
prophet
safety

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strength
thankful
thanks
The Holy Ghost
to address
to ask
to bless
to close
to communicate
to confirm
to express
to feel
to find out
to forgive
to give
to hear
to help
to invite
to kneel
to learn
to listen
to offer
to pray
to receive
to thank
to want
today
tomorrow
truth
when
with

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 Testify
Phrases
God is our Heavenly
Father.
We are His children.
Jesus Christ is the Son
of God.
Through His Atonement,
we can receive eternal life.
We can return to God by
keeping ourselves clean.
I know that ____.
I am thankful for the love
of our Heavenly Father.

Vocabulary Words
atonement
because
blessed
children
church
clean
closer
commandment
effect
feeling
forgiveness
God
gospel
heart
Holy Ghost
hope
if
Joseph Smith
joy
lives
living
love
loving
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mind
must
peace
priesthood
sacred
Savior
Spirit
testimony
that
The Book of Mormon
this
to answer
to appear
to be able to
to believe
to change
to desire
to exist
to follow
to keep
to love
to sacrifice
to testify
to witness
true

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 Extend an Invitation
Phrases
Will you be baptized?
How can we help you to
prepare for baptism?
In order to be baptized,
you need to attend church
regularly.
I know that God will bless
you for your faith to repent.
Will you pray to God about
the truthfulness of the Book
of Mormon?

Vocabulary Words
baptism
commitment
congratulations
covenant
daily
difficult
doubt
evening
example
happiness
message
problem
question
Sabbath day
sad
suggestion
the Word of Wisdom
to attend
to baptize
to begin
to call
to come by
to commit
to continue

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to discuss
to experience
to extend
to hope
to make sure
to obey
to overcome
to prepare
to promise
to recommit
to repent
to return
to start
to stop
to strengthen
to trust
to try

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 Share a Scripture
Phrases
May we read a scripture
in the Book of Mormon
together?
Let's read a scripture about
faith.
Please, read these verses
out loud.
It's on page ____.
According to this verse, why
is baptism important?
How do you feel about _____ ?
Diligent scripture study helps
us to understand truth.

Vocabulary Words
about
aloud
Bible
chapter
Doctrine and Covenants
during
eight
experience
five
four
important
New Testament
nine
number
Old Testament
on
one
page
Pearl of Great Price
people
please
principle

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promise
scripture
section
seven
six
ten
there is
thought
three
to apply
to become
to explain
to find
to like
to look for
to mean
to notice
to read
to share
to show
to study
to teach
to think
two
verse
while

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 Give a Simple Overview
Phrases
Do you believe in God
and Jesus Christ?
What has led you to
believe that?
Through Jesus Christ, we
can overcome sin.
We are missionaries
of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day
Saints.
The Book of Mormon
testifies of Jesus Christ.
Would you like to learn
more about the Book of
Mormon?
We have a message
about Jesus Christ.

Vocabulary Words
faith
first
in
knowledge
life
more
no
obedience
or
plan
repentance
restored
salvation
thing
time
to come back
to enjoy
to restore
to take

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to talk
well
what

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 Helpful Phrases
Phrases
Bless you.
Did I understand you
correctly?
Did you understand?
Excuse me.
Good job!
Help me, please.
How do you say ____?
I don't understand.
I have a question.
I'm not sure that I
understand you.
I'm sorry.
It's ____ o'clock.
It's okay.
May I speak in (language)?
No problem.
Please say it again.
Repeat that please.
Say it slower, please.
Thank you.
What does ____ mean?
What is this called in
English?
What is this called?
What is your question?
What time is it?
Where are we going?
Would you repeat that
please?
You're welcome.

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Vocabulary Words
bathroom
book
cafeteria
camera
cell phone
chair
classroom
clock
companionship study
computer
devotional
dictionary
district
English
notebook
paper
pen
pencil
personal study
slow
teacher
Telephone
there
to repeat
to review
to say
to understand

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