Reported Speech — What They Actually Said
When reporting in past → shift all verbs one tense back. am→was, is→was, will→would, can→could. This backshift is the engine of reported speech.
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Collocations — Words That Go Together
🎯 Make a collocation card! On one side write "make" — on the other, write 3 words that go with it. Test yourself every morning!
Second Conditional — Imagining What Could Be Different
No "would" in the if-clause — ever. If + past / would + base. The most common mistake at B1–B2 is "If I would have…" — erase it from your English.
Phrasal Verbs at Work — The Hospitality Edition
Phrasal verbs are not random — group them by theme (work, movement, communication). Learn 3 from one topic area, use them in real sentences. That's the system.
Modal Verbs — Advice, Possibility, Obligation
Must = obligation (rule/law). Should = advice (my opinion). Might = possibility (not sure). These three cover 90% of modal situations at B1.
Present Perfect vs Past Simple — The Rule That Changes Everything
The golden rule: see a finished time (yesterday, in 2019, last year)? → Past Simple. No time, or a life experience? → Present Perfect. Ask yourself: "Does the when matter here?"
Describing Places — Where I Live
🗺️ Draw a map of your town or neighbourhood. Label 5 places in English: the school, the park, the supermarket, the church, the river.
Shopping English — At the Market
🛒 Play "market" at home! One person is the seller, one is the buyer. Use toy food or real items. Say the prices in English!
Past Simple — My Journey Here
After didn't, ALWAYS use the base verb — never the past form. "I didn't go" not "I didn't went." This is the most common mistake at A2.
Asking for Help — Key Phrases for Real Situations
🙋 It's always okay to ask! If you don't understand, say "Sorry, again please?" — teachers love it when students ask.
Daily Routine — Present Simple in Action
⏰ Draw a clock for each thing you do: wake up, eat breakfast, go to school. Write the English verb under each clock!
Food I Love — Vocabulary for Eating and Cooking
🍎 Go to your kitchen! Point at 5 foods and say their name in English. Can't find the word? That's your homework for the day!
My Family — Talking About People You Love
🏠 Draw your family tree! Write each person's English name (mum, dad, grandma…). Show it to your family and teach them their English names!
Numbers 1–20 — Count Like a Pro
🎲 Play counting games! Count your toys, your steps, your snacks. The more you count in English, the faster it becomes automatic.
Colours in English — A World of Colour
🎨 Draw a rainbow and label each colour in English: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. Sing the rainbow song — it really works!
Hello! — Greetings in English
Greetings are like a magic key 🔑 — say "Hello!" with a smile and people always smile back. Practise every morning: say hello to your mirror!
How I Became a Teacher — Building Your Teaching Identity
1. What is a reflective journal for? To notice patterns in your teaching — what you repeat, avoid, improve. Evidence-based self-development.
The Silent Student — Managing Mixed-Ability Classes
1. A strong student finishes the task in 2 minutes. What next? Give an extension: 'Now do the same with a different example', 'Can you think of an exception?', 'Explain it to your partner.'
Songs in Class — Why They Actually Work
1. What is the 'affective filter'? Krashen's term for the emotional barrier that blocks input when learners feel anxious or unsafe. Music lowers it.
Grit and Grammar — Why You Will Hit a Wall
1. What is a language plateau? A stage where progress feels invisible but consolidation is still happening in the brain.