Talking AboutYour Life Now
Present Simple vs Present Continuous · daily routines & right-now actions
CEFR Pathway · You are here
Warm-up · Section 1
5 minGet talking
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.'
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.
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
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.
Show model answer
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…
- 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.