Lesson 27

Module 07 · Words in Context

Module 07 —Short Exchanges

Listening Part 1 recycle (three options) · picture options · listening for the whole answer

60 min Mixed skill · Short listening

PET

Teacher Notes

PET parts in this lesson · mixed-skill spiral

Listening 1StrategyVocabulary

Why this lesson now? Recycles Listening 1 with visual options.

CEFR Pathway · You are here

A0/A1Beginner
A1/A2Elementary
A2/B1Pre-Intermediate
B1/B1+Intermediate
B2Upper-Intermediate
C1Advanced
C2Proficiency

Get ready · 01

5 min

Get talking

activity

Picture guess

Look at three pictures of transport. Guess which one a short conversation might be about, before you listen.

discussion

Word trap warning

Why might a wrong answer option repeat a word you actually hear? Discuss with your partner.

activity

Quick chat

How do you usually travel to work or school? Tell your partner in two sentences.

Grammar for the Exam · 02

8–10 min

Listening for the whole answer, not single words

Grammar Bank: Listening for the whole answer, not single wordsJumps straight to this rule — full explanation, examples & practice

Quick rule

The correct picture/option is usually confirmed by the LAST thing said, after a change of mind.

Examples

In short listening exchanges, speakers often mention two or three possible answers before settling on the real one. A speaker might say 'I was going to take the bus, but actually the train's faster', where 'bus' is a trap and 'train' is correct. To answer correctly, you must listen to the whole exchange and understand what is finally agreed or decided, not just tick the first word you recognise. Phrases like 'actually', 'in the end', 'but' and 'instead' often signal that the real answer is coming.

→ I thought about walking, but in the end I got the bus.
→ We were going to meet at the café, but actually let's meet at the station instead.
→ He wanted a coffee, but he decided on tea in the end.

Question 1.Which word signals a change of mind?

Question 2.'I was going to walk, ____ I took the bus.'

Question 3.'Let's meet at the café ____ of the station.'

Question 4.Which phrase often introduces the FINAL decision?

Question 5.Why do wrong options often repeat words from the recording?

Answer all items, then check.

Quick check 1.How many times is each short exchange usually played in the exam?

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

actually

used to correct or change what was just said

Use it

Say a sentence where you change your plan using 'actually'.

in the end

finally, after considering options

Use it

What did you decide to do in the end last weekend?

instead (of)

in place of something else

Use it

Name something you did instead of your original plan.

to change your mind

to decide something different from before

Use it

When did you last change your mind about a plan?

to be about to

to be going to do something very soon

Use it

What are you about to do after this lesson?

on second thoughts

used to say you have reconsidered

Use it

Use 'on second thoughts' in a sentence about food or travel.

it turns out

used to introduce a surprising fact learned later

Use it

Tell a short story using 'it turns out'.

rather than

instead of, showing preference

Use it

Say what you'd choose rather than something else.

Matching

Match each phrase with its function.

Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.

Answer all items, then check.

Use it now

Activation · Personalise · Recycle

Practise recognising and using change-of-mind language.

Ask your partner

Task 1

Ask your partner

Tell me a plan you changed using 'actually'.
What did you do in the end last time you were unsure?
Name something you had instead of your first choice.

Useactuallyin the endinstead

Complete it

Task 2

"I was going to order pizza, but on second thoughts…"on second thoughts

Your opinion

Task 3

Is it a bad thing to change your mind often? Give a reason.

Give your answer + one reason.

Usechange your mind

Quick write

Task 4

Write 35 words describing a day when your plans changed.

Useactuallyin the endit turns out

Pronunciation for Speaking · 04

3–4 min

Stress on the correcting word after 'actually'

Say it like this

The word right after 'actually' or 'instead' usually carries the main stress — that's the real answer.

• I was going to walk, but ACTUALLY I took the BUS.
• Let's meet at the STATION instead.
• On second thoughts, let's have TEA.

Reading Skills · 05

8–10 min

Reading recycle — Changing travel plans

Many people plan their journey carefully but end up changing it at the last minute. A recent survey asked commuters about their morning journey and found that nearly a third of them had changed their original plan that same week.

The most common reason for changing plans was traffic or delays. One commuter explained that she was going to drive, but actually decided to take the train instead after hearing about roadworks on the radio. Another said he had planned to cycle, but on second thoughts walked instead because it started raining.

Interestingly, the survey also found that once people change their plan and it works well, they often stick with the new option. It turns out that many 'temporary' changes to a daily routine become permanent within a few weeks, simply because the new way turned out to be more convenient.

Question 1.What did the survey ask commuters about?

Question 2.What was the most common reason for changing travel plans?

Question 3.What did the woman in the text decide to do in the end?

Question 4.Why did the man walk instead of cycling?

Question 5.What did the survey find about 'temporary' changes?

Answer all items, then check.

Listening Skills · 06

8–10 min

Listening Part 1 recycle — Short exchanges about travel

Listening audio

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

Show transcript

Woman:Are you driving to the meeting later?

Man:I was going to, but actually I think I'll take the train instead — parking's a nightmare near the office.

Woman:Good idea. What time does it leave?

Man:There's one at nine, but on second thoughts I might get the nine-thirty so I'm not too early.

Woman:Makes sense. Are you still bringing the reports?

Man:Yes, though I thought I'd email them first, just in case something happens on the way.

Woman:Smart. By the way, it turns out the meeting room has changed.

Man:Oh really? Where is it now?

Woman:Room 4 instead of Room 2 — someone booked Room 2 by mistake.

Man:Thanks for letting me know, I'll head straight there.

Question 1.How is the man finally travelling to the meeting?

Question 2.What train does the man decide to catch?

Question 3.What will the man do with the reports?

Question 4.What has changed about the meeting?

Question 5.Which room is the meeting now in?

Question 6.Why was the room changed?

Answer all items, then check.

Tick what you hear

Tick the change-of-mind phrases you actually hear.

Answer all items, then check.

Question 1.Which room is the meeting in now?

Answer all items, then check.

Exam Strategy · 07

5 min

Listening Part 1 — short exchanges with three picture or text options

Strategy

Trust the LAST clear statement, not the first thing you hear.

Task

Listen to seven short recordings, each with a question and three options (often pictures). Choose the option that matches what is finally true.

Example

Question: Where will they meet? You hear two places mentioned, but the second one, introduced by 'instead', is correct.

Writing Task · 08

5 min

Put it in writing

Sentence transformation

Type a short answer (1–3 words)

Q1.Rewrite: 'First I planned tea, but then I chose coffee.' using 'actually'.

Answer all items, then check.

Writing Part 2Write an article

≈100 words

Write a short message (35–45 words) telling a friend about a plan that changed, using at least two change-of-mind phrases.

Your writing draft

0 words Saved

Show model answer & examiner comment

Hi! Quick update — we were going to meet at the cinema, but actually the film's sold out, so let's meet at the café instead. On second thoughts, maybe 6pm is better than 5. See you soon!

Examiner comment

Reward range, organisation and style. Penalise lists, off-topic or under-length answers.

Mark scheme extract

5	All content points covered; consistent style; range of structures; minor errors only.
3	Content mostly covered; mostly suitable style; some range; errors don't stop the reader understanding.
1	Limited 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

In pairs, describe a day when your plans changed, using at least three phrases from today's lesson.

Useful phrases

Optional · Teacher-led

Teacher Activities

Use if the listening 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.

ListeningReceptive

Listen again to the office dialogue (or reread the script) and note every change-of-mind phrase used.

Your response

0 words Saved

Materials included

Task

List all phrases signalling a change of plan in the dialogue.

Attempt the task first, then check your answers.

VocabularyLanguage

Complete five gap-fill sentences with the correct change-of-mind phrase.

Your response

0 words Saved

Materials included

Gaps

1. I was going to walk, but ____ I drove. 2. ____ the end, we chose the blue one. 3. On ____ thoughts, let's cancel. 4. It ____ out he was right. 5. Let's go to the park ____ of the mall.

Attempt the task first, then check your answers.

SpeakingProductive

Record a 1-minute description of a plan that changed, then check yourself against the checklist.

Your response

0 words Saved

Materials included

Checklist

Did you use at least 2 phrases: actually, in the end, on second thoughts, it turns out, instead?

Recap · 11

2–3 min

What you've learned

Listen for the whole answer — speakers often mention a wrong option before the real one.
Signal words for the real answer: actually, in the end, on second thoughts, it turns out, instead.
The final, corrected piece of information is usually stressed by the speaker.
In Listening Part 1, expect at least one tempting wrong answer picture/option per item.

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