Review &Future Lab
Review Lab · debate, predictions & arrangements
CEFR Pathway · You are here
Review Lab
A checkpoint, not a test.
Fluency warm-up · Section 1
5 minGet talking — no pressure
Talk for 45 seconds non-stop about your next 24 hours. Mix arrangements + intentions + one prediction.
Make a prediction about your partner's weekend. They confirm or correct.
Your partner invites you somewhere. Accept once, refuse once politely, suggest a counter-plan once. Go.
Grammar recap · Section 2
8–10 minMixed review: the four faces of the future
Unit 3 in one breath: Present Continuous = fixed arrangement.
→ I'm seeing my parents tomorrow (fixed). I'm going to ask them about the holiday (intention). I think they'll say yes (prediction). But they might want to wait until July (possibility).
→ 'It's cold.' — 'I'll close the window.' (spontaneous decision)
→ Chances are, prices will keep rising, but I doubt they'll double.
More detail
be going to = intention / decided plan. will = prediction OR spontaneous decision. might / may = possibility. Strong speakers move between all four in a single conversation — and that's exactly what we'll do today.
Challenge 1.I ____ (have) lunch with Marie tomorrow — it's confirmed.
Challenge 2.(Doorbell rings) — 'I ____ (get) it!'
Challenge 3.She ____ probably ____ (come) — she's exhausted.
Challenge 4.I ____ (start) the gym next month — I've decided.
Challenge 5.Chances are, it ____ (rain) this afternoon.
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.
Vocabulary recap · Section 3
5–7 minRecycle your toolkit
Don't just read these — say one out loud, then use it about your life.
chances are…
it's quite likely that…
"Chances are it'll rain on Saturday."
Finish: 'Chances are this weekend I'll…'
to pencil something in
to provisionally arrange
"Let's pencil in Thursday at 7."
Pencil in a real plan with your partner.
to bail (on someone)
to cancel last-minute
"He bailed on us at the last second."
Have you ever been bailed on? How did it feel?
on second thoughts
after reconsidering
"On second thoughts, let's eat in."
Change a plan using on second thoughts.
to take a rain check
to politely postpone
"I'll take a rain check this time."
Politely take a rain check now.
a no-brainer
an obvious decision
"Italy in May? No-brainer."
Name a holiday destination that's a no-brainer for you.
to be tied up
to be busy / unavailable
"I'm tied up Monday morning."
When are you tied up this week?
to be up for (it)
to be keen / willing
"Pizza tonight? I'm up for it."
What are you up for this weekend?
Discuss with a partner
- →Plan a weekend together using 5 of today's phrases.
- →When is bailing acceptable — and when is it rude?
Finish the sentence about you
- Chances are, …
- On second thoughts, …
- I'll have to …
60-second write
Write a 5-line WhatsApp exchange using ≥4 of today's expressions.
Pronunciation polish · Section 4
3–4 minContracting future forms for natural speed
- • I'll probably go → /aɪl ˈprɒbəbli ɡəʊ/
- • I'm going to call her → /aɪm ˈɡənə kɔːl/
- • I won't be long → /aɪ wəʊnt bi lɒŋ/
- • We're meeting at six → /wɪə ˈmiːtɪŋ ət sɪks/
How to say it
Three contractions unlock huge fluency: 'll' (will), 'm going to' → 'gonna', and 'won't'. Saying full forms ('I will go', 'I am going to start') makes you sound textbook-stiff. Practise blending these into normal sentences.
Reading challenge · Section 5
8–10 minThree short messages
1) Sara, voice note: 'Hey, just to confirm — I'm coming on Saturday but I'll be late, probably around eight. Chances are the train will be a nightmare again. I'll text you when I'm on it.' 2) Adam, email: 'Hi team, quick heads-up: I'm going to be tied up in workshops all of Thursday. I might pop into the standup at the end, but if I don't, don't wait for me — go ahead.' 3) Mei, text: 'Sooo… I'd love to come tonight, but on second thoughts I think I'll take a rain check. Long week. Can we pencil in next Friday? I promise I won't bail.'
Challenge 1.Why might Sara be late?
Challenge 2.What is Adam doing on Thursday?
Challenge 3.What is Mei doing tonight?
Q1.Sara is definitely cancelling.
Q2.Adam might briefly join the standup.
Q3.Mei promises to come next Friday.
Listening challenge · Section 6
8–10 minThe 2030 podcast
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Host:Welcome back to Future Talk. Today we're asking: what will daily life actually look like in 2030? Lina, you first.
Lina:Honestly, I doubt life will look as different as people predict. I'm going to bet that most of us will still be commuting, still drinking too much coffee, still complaining about the weather.
Host:Fair. Hugo?
Hugo:I disagree a bit. Chances are AI will take over a huge chunk of our admin work. We probably won't write our own emails by 2030 — we'll just edit what a machine writes. Cities might be quieter too, with electric everything.
Lina:Maybe. But you know what? I'll bet flying cars are still 'five years away' in 2030, just like they have been for the last fifty.
Host:Ha! Safe prediction. On second thoughts — let's pencil in this exact conversation again in 2030 and see who was right.
Challenge 1.What is Lina's main prediction?
Challenge 2.What does Hugo predict about emails?
Challenge 3.What does Lina joke about?
Skills challenge · Section 7
5 minCambridge PET — Speaking Parts 2 + 4 combined
Task
Plan something together (Part 2 style) AND discuss a related opinion question (Part 4 style). Show you can switch between arranging and predicting/discussing.
Strategy
Examiners reward RANGE within one minute. Try to use: 1 arrangement (Present Cont.), 1 intention (going to), 1 prediction (will + probably), 1 possibility (might), 1 functional phrase (Shall we / How about). Don't aim for perfection — aim for variety.
Example
'Shall we go camping next month? I'm visiting my parents that weekend, but I'm going to be free the week after. It'll probably rain, knowing UK weather, but it might be a really nice change.'
Fluency builder · Section 8
8–10 minQuick-fire practice
Challenge 1.Sorry, I can't on Friday — I'm ____ up all evening.
Challenge 2.Chances are, the meeting ____ (run) late again.
Challenge 3.(Phone rings) — 'I ____ get it!'
Challenge 4.Hmm, on ____ thoughts, I'll have the tea.
Challenge 5.I ____ (start) Italian classes next month — already paid.
Q1.Make it more polite: 'No, I can't come.' →
Q2.Soften: 'It will rain.' →
Q3.Reorder: 'Shall / book / I / for / a / two / table / ?'
Writing challenge · Section 9
5 minShow what you can do
Your task
Write a 100-word message to a friend about your next 2 weeks. Use ALL four future forms (Present Continuous, be going to, will, might) and at least 2 functional phrases from this unit.
Show model answer
Hey! Quick update on the next two weeks. Tomorrow I'm seeing the dentist (joy), and on Friday I'm meeting Tom for a proper catch-up. Next week I'm going to finally sort out my taxes — I've been putting it off forever. I might also pop down to see my parents on Saturday, but it depends on the weather. Chances are I'll be exhausted by the end of it all. Are you around any evening for a quick coffee? Honestly, I can't wait for the weekend after next when I won't have a single thing in my diary.
Communication lab · Section 10
10–15 minTalk it out
FUTURE FLUENCY LAB · Three rotating stations, 5 minutes each. STATION 1 (Diary roleplay): pairs find ONE evening to meet using diary phrases. STATION 2 (Prediction debate): pairs argue YES/NO on 'Cities will be car-free by 2040.' STATION 3 (Decision game): one student names a situation, the other replies with an instant 'I'll…' decision. Rotate. Teacher monitors for range across all 4 future forms.
Useful phrases
- • I'm ____-ing on Tuesday.
- • I'm going to + verb…
- • Chances are / I doubt / I'm sure…
- • Shall we…? / How about…?
- • I'll just + verb…
- • Can I take a rain check?
- ADo you fancy doing something on Saturday?
- B_______________
- ASunday works. Do you think the weather will hold?
- B_______________
Optional · Teacher-led
Teacher Activities
Maximise student talk time. The goal isn't to teach the future — it's to make them USE all four forms in one breath. ~32 min total
Keep it going · Section 11
Take-homeExtend it at home
Record a 2-minute voice note about your next 2 weeks using all 4 future forms.
Write a 10-line text thread arranging plans + 1 polite cancellation.
Find a 2-min English vlog about the future; note every future form you hear.
Checkpoint reflection · Section 12
2–3 minWhat you've reviewed
- Present Continuous = fixed arrangement.
- be going to = intention / pre-made plan.
- will = prediction OR spontaneous decision.
- might / may = possibility.
- Range is the goal — natural speakers move between all four constantly.