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Lesson 02
Module 01 · Foundations
B1

Module 01 —Introductions & Routines

Speaking 1 (interview) · Reading 1 recycle · present simple vs continuous

60 min Mixed skill · Personal information

PET parts in this lesson · mixed-skill spiral

Speaking 1Reading 1GrammarVocabulary

Why this lesson now? Recycles Reading 1 and Speaking 1 from Lesson 01 with new topics.

CEFR Pathway · You are here

  1. A0/A1Beginner
  2. A1/A2Elementary
  3. A2/B1Pre-Intermediate
  4. B1/B1+Intermediate
  5. B2Upper-Intermediate
  6. C1Advanced
  7. C2Proficiency

Get ready · 01

5 min

Get talking

activity
Two truths

Say two true things about your week and one false. Can your teacher spot the false one?

discussion
Same question, longer answer

'Where do you live?' — give a one-word answer, then the same answer in two sentences. Which sounds better in the exam?

reflection
Routine check

What is one thing you always do, and one thing you are doing only this month?

Grammar for the Exam · 02

8–10 min

Present simple vs present continuous

Grammar Bank: Present simple vs present continuousJumps straight to this rule — full explanation, examples & practice
Quick rule

Present simple = routines and facts. Present continuous = now, or a temporary period around now.

Examples

In Speaking Part 1 the examiner asks about your life. Use the present simple for habits, routines and permanent facts (I live, I work, I usually get up). Use the present continuous for what is happening at the moment or for a temporary situation (I'm staying with my aunt this month, I'm studying for the exam). Mixing the two in one answer instantly makes you sound more B1: 'I usually cycle to work, but this week I'm taking the bus because my bike is broken.'

  • → I live in Seville and I work in a small hotel. (permanent)

  • → I'm working extra hours this week because a colleague is ill. (temporary)

  • → She always answers emails in the morning, but today she's answering them at home.

Question 1.Choose the exam-ready answer to 'What do you do?'

Question 2.'My brother ____ in Lisbon, but he ____ in Porto this summer.'

Question 3.Which verb is NOT normally used in the continuous?

Question 4.'How often ____ you ____ sport?'

Question 5.Pick the temporary situation.

Answer all items, then check.

Quick check 1.Best length for a Speaking Part 1 answer:

Answer all items, then check.

Exam Vocabulary · 03

5–7 min

Words & phrases to own

Open Vocabulary BankTap any word below to jump straight to its entry
1

routine

the things you normally do each day

Use it

Describe your morning routine in three steps.

2

at the moment

now, for a short period

Use it

Finish: 'At the moment I'm…'

3

to commute

to travel to work or school regularly

Use it

How long do you commute each day?

4

free time

time when you are not working or studying

Use it

Name two things you do in your free time.

5

to get on with (someone)

to have a good relationship with someone

Use it

Who do you get on with best in your family? Why?

6

hardly ever

almost never

Use it

Say one thing you hardly ever do.

7

to look forward to

to feel happy about something in the future

Use it

What are you looking forward to this month?

8

neighbourhood

the area around your home

Use it

Say one good and one bad thing about your neighbourhood.

Use it now

Activation · Personalise · Recycle

Answer with full sentences — the examiner is listening for range, not speed.

Ask your partner
Task 1

Ask your partner

  • What does your typical weekday look like?
  • How do you get to work or school?
  • What do you do when you have a free evening?
Useroutinecommutefree time
Complete it
Task 2

"I hardly ever…"hardly ever

Your opinion
Task 3

Is it important to know your neighbours? Say why or why not.

Give your answer + one reason.

Useneighbourhoodto get on with
Quick write
Task 4

Write 35 words about what is different in your life right now compared with last year.

Useat the momentlook forward to

Pronunciation for Speaking · 04

3–4 min

Weak forms in questions

Say it like this

'Do you' sounds like /djə/ and 'are you' like /əjə/ — the stress lands on the main verb.

  • • What d'you do at weekends?
  • • Where are you living now?
  • • D'you enjoy your job?
  • • Are you studying for anything at the moment?

Reading Skills · 05

8–10 min

Reading Part 1 recycle — reading short messages for purpose

Every short message has a job. Some tell you what you must do, some tell you what you must not do, and some simply give information you may find useful.

When you read a notice or a text message in the exam, ask one question first: why did this person write it? A note that says 'Class moved to Room 12 — same time' is giving information. A note that says 'Please leave your bag at the desk' is giving an instruction. They look similar, but the correct option is different.

The wrong options are usually true words in the wrong job. If a sign mentions a price, one wrong option will talk about money — but the sign's real purpose might be to warn you about opening hours. Read the message, decide its job in your own words, and only then look at A, B and C.

Question 1.According to the text, what should you ask first?

Question 2.'Class moved to Room 12 — same time' is an example of…

Question 3.Why are wrong options confusing?

Question 4.The writer advises you to look at A, B and C…

Answer all items, then check.
PET Reading Part 1
Reading Part 1 — read each short message and choose A, B or C.
A text message from a colleague
Dana08:12
Meeting starts at 10, not 9.30 — Paulo is running late. No need to bring the printed report, I've emailed it.

1.Why has Dana written to you?

A notice in a block of flats

LIFT SERVICE — Tuesday 9am–1pm. Please use the stairs during these hours.

2.What does the notice tell residents?

A note left on a kitchen table

I'm working late again tonight. Dinner is in the fridge — 5 minutes in the microwave. Don't wait up!

3.The writer wants the reader to…

An email from a language school
Bridge Language Centre
Subject: Your Tuesday class
Your teacher is unwell this week, so Tuesday's class will take place online at the usual time. The link is on your student page.

4.What must students do?

A sign at a swimming pool

EARLY SWIM

6.30–8.00am, Mondays to Fridays. Members only. Non-members welcome from 8am.

5.What does the sign say about the early swim?

Answer all items, then check.

Listening Skills · 06

8–10 min

Listening — a first-day chat at a language school

Listening audio

Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.

Show transcript

Narrator:Two students meet in the corridor on their first day.

Marco:Hi — are you in the Tuesday group as well?

Sofia:I am, yes. I'm Sofia. I usually study at the centre in town, but they're painting the classrooms this month, so we're all here.

Marco:Ah, that explains it. I'm Marco. I work at the hospital, so I only come in the evenings.

Sofia:Evenings suit me too. I finish at five and it takes me twenty minutes to walk here.

Marco:Lucky. I commute from Ravenna — forty minutes on the train.

Sofia:That's a long day. Why are you taking the course?

Marco:I'm preparing for the B1 exam in June. My hospital wants everyone to have a certificate.

Sofia:Same exam, different reason — I'm hoping to study in Ireland next year.

Question 1.Why is Sofia studying at this centre?

Question 2.When does Marco come to class?

Question 3.How does Sofia travel to the school?

Question 4.Why is Marco taking the exam?

Answer all items, then check.
Tick what you hear
Tick the expressions you actually hear.
Answer all items, then check.

Exam Strategy · 07

5 min

Speaking Part 1 — answer + reason + example

Strategy

Answer + because + one detail. Around three sentences.

Task

The examiner asks short personal questions for about two minutes.

Example

Q: Do you enjoy cooking? A: Yes, I do — I cook almost every evening because it helps me relax. At the moment I'm trying recipes from a Thai cookbook my sister gave me.

Writing Task · 08

5 min

Put it in writing

Sentence transformation
Type a short answer (1–3 words)

Q1.Complete: 'I ____ (work) in a bank, but this week I ____ (work) from home.'

Q2.Make a question: you / usually / do / at weekends / what?

Answer all items, then check.
Writing Part 2Write an article
≈100 words

Write a short profile (35–45 words) for your class page: who you are, your routine, and one thing that is different at the moment.

Your writing draft

0 words Saved
Show model answer & examiner comment

I'm Elena and I live in Bologna with my sister. I work in a bookshop from Monday to Friday and I usually go running before work. At the moment I'm studying for the B1 exam, so my evenings are quite busy.

EX

Examiner comment

Reward range, organisation and style. Penalise lists, off-topic or under-length answers.
Mark scheme extract
5All content points covered; consistent style; range of structures; minor errors only.
3Content mostly covered; mostly suitable style; some range; errors don't stop the reader understanding.
1Limited content; intrusive errors; very basic structures; under-length.

Speaking Task · 09

10–15 min

Make it a real conversation

Open Expressions BankConversation phrases and functional language from across the course

Speaking Part 1 rehearsal: your teacher plays the examiner and asks eight personal questions. Answer each one with answer + reason + detail.

Useful phrases

PET Speaking Part 1 · Examiner script
Speaking Part 1 — the examiner asks factual questions, then one longer prompt.

Phase 1 — short factual questions

  1. 1.Examiner: "What's your name?"

    Tip: Just answer clearly — no long story here.

  2. 2.Examiner: "Where do you live?"

    Tip: Add one detail about the neighbourhood.

  3. 3.Examiner: "Do you work or are you a student?"

    Tip: Use the present simple, then add what you're doing at the moment.

  4. 4.Examiner: "How do you get to work or school every day?"

    Tip: Use 'commute', 'it takes me…'.

  5. 5.Examiner: "What do you usually do at the weekend?"

    Tip: Frequency word + example.

Phase 2 — extended question (aim for 3–5 sentences)

Examiner: "Tell me something about the people you spend most time with."

Tip: Aim for 4–5 sentences: who they are, why you get on, what you're doing together at the moment.

Show model extended answer

I spend most of my time with my two flatmates. We get on really well because we all like cooking, so we take turns making dinner. At the moment we're planning a short trip to the coast in July, which is quite exciting.

Optional · Teacher-led

Teacher Activities

Use these if the interview practice finishes early. ~11 min total

Homework · 10

Take-home

Take it home

Self-study — everything you need is included below. All four skills are covered so you keep the spiral going between lessons; pick the order that suits you.

SpeakingProductive

Record yourself answering the five Speaking Part 1 questions below. Aim for three sentences each, and include one present continuous.

Your response

0 words Saved

Materials included

Questions

1. Where do you live? 2. Do you work or study? 3. How do you travel every day? 4. What do you do in your free time? 5. What are you looking forward to this month?

Attempt the task first, then check your answers.

WritingProductive

Rewrite these one-word answers as full exam answers (3 sentences each).

Your response

0 words Saved

Materials included

Answers to expand

1. 'Yes.' (Do you like your job?) 2. 'Football.' (What sport do you enjoy?) 3. 'By bus.' (How do you get to class?)

Attempt the task first, then check your answers.

ReadingReceptive

Reading Part 1 practice: decide the PURPOSE of each message in your own words before choosing.

Your response

0 words Saved

Materials included

Messages

1. 'Library closes at 6pm today (staff training). Normal hours tomorrow.' 2. 'Don't forget your swimming kit — bag is by the door!' 3. 'Payment received. Your card will arrive within five working days.'

Attempt the task first, then check your answers.

Recap · 11

2–3 min

What you've learned

  • Present simple for routines and facts; present continuous for now and temporary situations.
  • Speaking Part 1 answers = answer + reason + one detail (about three sentences).
  • In Reading Part 1, decide the message's purpose in your own words before reading A, B, C.
  • New vocabulary to reuse: routine, commute, hardly ever, get on with, look forward to.
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