Show What You Can Do

Everyone has talents and skills, but expressing them clearly in English makes communication easier and more confident. In this subchapter, you will learn how to ask about and talk about abilities, so you can share what you can or cannot do naturally in conversations.

Mission 1. Can You Do This?

Read the conversation carefully between Ari and Bima about their abilities and inabilities. After reading, answer the questions below in complete sentence. Pay attention to how they ask about and talk about what they can or cannot do. Think about your own abilities and inabilities as you read, so you can relate the conversation to your own experiences. Ari: Hi Bima! I heard you joined the school band. Can you play the guitar? Bima: Yes, I can play the guitar, but I can't play the drums yet. How about you? Ari: I can play the drums a little, but I'm not very good at singing. Bima: That's okay! I can sing quite well, so maybe we can practice together. Ari: That's a great idea! Can you also play the piano? Bima: No, I can't play the piano, but I want to learn. Can you play it? Ari: Yes, I can play the piano. I learned last year. Bima: Awesome! Then maybe we can start a small music group for our friends. Ari: I'd love that! I can also help with composing simple songs. Bima: Me too! I can write lyrics. This is going to be fun! Answer the questions below: 1. Which instrument can Bima play well, and which can he not play yet? 2. What is Ari's ability in playing the drums and singing? 3. Who can sing well, and how do they plan to use this skill together? 4. What does Bima want to learn, and what can Ari already do? 5. How do Ari and Bima plan to use their skills to work together in the future?

Mission 2. Let's Find Out What Can You Do

Work in pairs and take turns asking each other questions using "Can you…?" about different activities or skills, such as swimming, drawing, or cooking. The other student answers using "Yes, I can" or "No, I can't" and adds extra details to make the answer more interesting, for example, "Yes, I can, but only in a small pool.". Ask and answer 3–5 questions, then switch roles so both of you get a chance to ask. Examples: Rina: "Can you swim?" Dika: "Yes, I can, but only in a small pool. I'm still learning to swim in the sea." Rina: "Wow, that's great! Can you ride a bicycle too?" Dika: "Yes, I can ride a bicycle, but I can't do tricks like jumping over ramps." Rina: "That's okay! Can you play any musical instrument?" Dika: "No, I can't play the piano, but I can play the guitar a little." Rina: "Interesting! How about cooking? Can you cook something?" Dika: "Yes, I can cook simple dishes like fried rice and scrambled eggs."

Mission 3. Ability Hunt: Survey Game

Walk around your classroom or study space and ask your classmates about their abilities using the question "Can you…?" For example, "Can you swim?" or "Can you draw?" Record their answers in a checklist of abilities such as swim, ride a bike, draw, sing, or cook. Make sure to ask as many persons as possible to collect diverse answers.

After finishing the survey, organize your data into a simple chart or table, and share the most interesting findings with the class, for example, "Most people around me can swim, but only a few can cook."

Mission 4. Skills Around Us

Look at the table below showing the names of people and their abilities. Read each sentence carefully and fill in the blanks using the correct form of can or can't based on the table. Write complete sentences. You can also add extra information if you want, like "but only a little" or "but not very well.".

Sentences to Complete: Rina ______ swim in the pool. Budi ______ draw very well. Sari ______ ride a bike around the park. Dika ______ cook delicious meals. Rina ______ sing beautifully. Budi ______ swim in the river. Sari ______ draw animals and flowers. Dika ______ ride a bike to school. Niko ______ play football with his friends. Niko ______ sing at the school talent show. Rina ______ play the piano. Budi ______ cook tasty food. Sari ______ play football at lunch. Dika ______ draw a picture of his house. Niko ______ swim in the swimming pool.

Mission 5. My Superpowers Chart

Create a chart with two columns: one for things you can do and one for things you cannot do. List 5 items in each column. Then, practice presenting your chart to a partner, a family member, or even by yourself, using full sentences. For example, say: "I can swim, but I can't play basketball." Try to add extra details, if possible, like "I can draw, but I can't draw animals well.".

Mission 6. Daily Life Mini Interview

Choose a family member or a friend to interview. Ask them questions about their abilities using "Can you…?" Write down their answers. Then, create a short report about what you learned, using complete sentences. Example Question: "Can you drive? Can you cook? Can you play the piano?" Example Report: My brother can ride a bike, but he can't swim. My father can cook, but he can't play basketball. My sister can sing, but she can't draw well.

Mission 7. Conversation Puzzle

The conversation below is scrambled. Rearrange the sentences so the conversation makes sense. Pay attention to the flow: who is speaking, how one person responds, and how ideas connect naturally. After arranging, read the conversation aloud or rewrite it neatly. Ardi: "Hi Dimas! What can you do well?" (8) Dimas: "……………………………………………………………………………………….." Ardi: "……………………………………………………………………………………….." Dimas: "……………………………………………………………………………………….." Ardi: "……………………………………………………………………………………….." Dimas: "……………………………………………………………………………………….." Ardi: "……………………………………………………………………………………….." Dimas: "……………………………………………………………………………………….." Ardi: "……………………………………………………………………………………….." Dimas: "……………………………………………………………………………………….." Ardi: "……………………………………………………………………………………….." Ardi: "……………………………………………………………………………………….." Dimas: "……………………………………………………………………………………….." Ardi: "……………………………………………………………………………………….."