Talking AboutYour Life Now
Present Simple vs Present Continuous · daily routines & right-now actions
CEFR Pathway · You are here
Get talking · Section 1
5 minWarm up
What are you doing at this exact moment (apart from English)?
Describe a typical Tuesday — three things you usually do.
Tell your partner one thing you're doing this week that's different from usual.
Grammar focus · Section 2
8–10 minPresent Simple vs Present Continuous
Present Simple = routines and facts.
→ I work in a small office. (routine)
→ I'm working from home this week. (temporary, around now)
→ She doesn't usually drink coffee, but she's drinking one right now.
→ I know what you mean. (state verb — not 'I am knowing')
More detail
Present Continuous = right now or around now. State verbs (know, like, want, believe) stay in the simple form.
Use these adverbs with the Present Simple.
- 100%
always
I always check my phone in the morning.
- 85%
usually
I usually take the bus.
- 70%
often
We often eat out on Fridays.
- 45%
sometimes
She sometimes works late.
- 15%
hardly ever
He hardly ever cooks.
- 0%
never
I never skip breakfast.
Question 1.Sorry, I can't talk now — I ____ dinner.
Question 2.My brother ____ in Berlin. He moved there in 2020.
Question 3.She ____ what you mean. Try to explain again.
Question 4.We ____ a new series on Netflix this week — it's great.
Build the sentence → spot the natural chunks → say it aloud → reply like a real conversation.
1.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
2.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
3.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
Quick check 1.Choose the state verb that does NOT take the continuous form.
Vocabulary · Section 3
5–7 minWords & phrases to own
Don't just read these — say one out loud, then use it about your life.
routine
the things you do regularly, often in the same order
"My morning routine is coffee, news, then a quick walk."
Describe one part of your weekday routine in 10 seconds.
commute
the journey between home and work / school
"My commute is 40 minutes by metro."
How long is your commute? Tell your partner two details.
wind down
to relax after work or a busy day
"I wind down by cooking something slow."
Finish: 'After a hectic day I wind down by…'
hectic
very busy and full of activity
"Mondays are always hectic in our office."
Which day of your week is the most hectic — and why?
lie in
to stay in bed later than usual in the morning
"I love a long lie in on Sundays."
When did you last have a lie in? How long?
get a chance to
to have the opportunity to do something
"I don't get a chance to read much during the week."
Name one thing you never get a chance to do — and one you do.
Discuss with a partner
- →Whose week is more hectic — yours or your partner's? Use 3 of today's words to prove it.
- →Describe your ideal Sunday using lie in, wind down and get a chance to.
Finish the sentence about you
- My commute is …
- I rarely get a chance to …
- The fastest way for me to wind down is …
Rank & justify
Rank from most → least hectic in your life. Compare with your partner and explain why.
- Monday mornings
- Friday evenings
- Sunday afternoons
- the start of a holiday
60-second write
Write 2 sentences: one routine you have, one thing that makes your week hectic. Use at least 2 vocab items.
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Pronunciation · Section 4
3–4 minWeak forms in '-s' endings and contractions
- • She's working today. → /ʃiːz/
- • They're commuting by train. → /ðeə/
- • He works from home. (final /s/)
- • She watches Netflix. (final /ɪz/)
How to say it
In natural speech, 'is' often becomes /z/ or /s/ after a noun, and 'are' is reduced to /ə/. Listen for the shape, not every letter.
Reading · Section 5
8–10 minA week in Maya's life
Maya is 27 and lives in Lisbon. She normally works in an open-plan office in the city centre, but this month her team is testing a new four-day week, so she's working from home on Fridays. 'I usually start at nine,' she says, 'but on Fridays I get up a bit later and go for a run first.' Maya doesn't drink coffee — 'I know everyone loves it, but I just prefer tea.' At the moment she's also learning Italian online twice a week. 'It's hectic, but I'm enjoying the change.'
Read carefully, then answer the detail questions. Underline the words in the text that gave you each answer.
Question 1.Where does Maya normally work?
Question 2.Why is her Friday routine different this month?
Q1.Maya drinks coffee every morning.
Q2.Maya is learning a new language right now.
Q3.Maya works five days a week as usual.
Listening · Section 6
8–10 minTwo friends catching up
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Sam:Hey! How's the new job going?
Alex:Honestly, it's pretty hectic. I'm learning a lot, but I barely have time to wind down.
Sam:Do you still go to the gym in the mornings?
Alex:Not this month. I'm cycling to work instead — it saves me about 40 minutes.
Sam:Nice. And what are you doing this weekend?
Alex:Probably nothing exciting. I just want a long lie in.
Listen once for the whole picture, then again for the details before you answer.
Question 1.How does Alex describe the new job?
Question 2.Why isn't Alex going to the gym this month?
Exam skills · Section 7
5 minSpeaking Part 1 — personal questions
Task
Answer short personal questions in 2–3 full sentences using a routine + an example.
Strategy
Use: Routine + Right-now + Detail.
Example
Q: Do you do any sport? — A: Yes, I usually play football on Sundays. At the moment I'm also trying yoga. I quite enjoy it.
Practice · Section 8
8–10 minFill in the blank
Question 1.We ____ TV every evening — it helps us relax.
Question 2.Be quiet! The baby ____.
Question 3.How often ____ you ____ your grandparents?
Question 4.I ____ this book at the moment — it's excellent.
Q1.Rewrite: 'My usual breakfast is toast.' → I usually ____ toast for breakfast.
Q2.Make a question: 'You / live / in a flat?'
Q3.Complete: 'Look outside — it ____ (rain) again.'
Writing · Section 9
5 minPut it in writing
Write your own version first, then open the model and compare — what would you change?
Your task
Write a short paragraph (60–80 words) describing your life right now: one routine you have, one thing that is different this month, and how you feel about it.
Compare with the model
I'm a student in Madrid and I normally have classes every morning. This month, however, I'm doing an internship at a small design studio in the afternoons, so my days are quite long. I usually finish at seven and then meet a friend for dinner. It's hectic, but I'm learning a lot and I really enjoy the team. I'm definitely planning a long lie in on Sunday!
Speaking · Section 10
10–15 minMake it a real conversation
Compare a normal week vs this week. Ask 3 questions each, extend every answer.
Useful phrases
- • On a normal day I…
- • But this week I'm…
- • How about you?
- • That sounds hectic / relaxing / interesting.
- • I hardly ever… / I usually…
Role-play & swap
Role-play the scenario once. Then swap roles and change two details so the second run is not a repeat.
- AWhat do you usually do on Sunday mornings?
- B_______________
- ANice! And what are you doing this Sunday?
- B_______________
Optional · Teacher-led
Teacher Activities
Use these to push speaking time and recycle the target language in freer practice. ~28 min total
Homework · Section 11
Take-homeTake it home
Record a 60-second voice note describing your week (3 routines + 2 'right-now' actions).
Write 5 sentences using state verbs (know, like, want, believe, need).
Find a 1-minute English video about someone's daily routine and note 3 new expressions.
Recap · Section 12
2–3 minWhat you've learned
- Present Simple = routines, habits, permanent facts.
- Present Continuous = right now or around now (this week, these days).
- State verbs (know, like, want…) stay in the simple form.
- Use frequency adverbs to make routines more natural.
- Extend short answers: routine + right now + small detail.
Extra Practice
Grammar · Vocabulary · Speaking · Review
Found this lesson tricky? Practise the language from Lesson 01 again.
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