Review &Future Lab
Review Lab · plans, predictions & debate
CEFR Pathway · You are here
Review Lab
A checkpoint, not a test.
Fluency warm-up · Section 1
5 minGet talking — no pressure
Tell your partner your next 24 hours using Present Continuous and 'going to'.
Make one bold 10-year prediction. Convince your partner using will + because.
Look around: name 3 quick 'I'll…' offers you could make to your classmates right now.
Grammar recap · Section 2
8–10 minThe four future tools — when to use which
PRESENT CONTINUOUS = fixed arrangement (time + place).
→ I'm meeting Pat at 8 (fixed).
→ I'm going to learn Spanish (intention).
→ I'll grab it for you (spontaneous).
→ I might join later — depends on work.
More detail
BE GOING TO = intention or evidence-based prediction. WILL = spontaneous decision, confident prediction, offer, promise. MIGHT / MAY = possibility. Quick test: 'Decided already + when/where?' → Present Continuous. 'Decided already + intention?' → going to. 'Just decided now?' → will. 'Not sure yet?' → might / may. In real speech we mix all four within seconds.
Challenge 1.(phone rings) — 'I ____ answer it.'
Challenge 2.We ____ ____ Greece in July — flights booked.
Challenge 3.I'm not sure — I ____ come tonight.
Challenge 4.I ____ ____ run a marathon next year — that's the plan.
Challenge 5.Look at those clouds — it ____ ____ pour.
Vocabulary recap · Section 3
5–7 minRecycle your toolkit
Don't just read these — say one out loud, then use it about your life.
to follow through
actually do what you said
"He talks a lot but never follows through."
Name something you'll follow through on this month.
to flake out
back out at the last minute (informal)
"Don't flake out — I've booked the table."
Have you flaked out on anyone recently?
to nail down
fix details firmly
"Let's nail down the time before Friday."
Nail down a real plan with your partner now.
to look forward to
be excited about
"I'm really looking forward to the weekend."
Three things you're looking forward to?
to put off
delay / postpone
"I keep putting off the gym."
What are you guilty of putting off?
the bigger picture
the long-term overall view
"Think about the bigger picture, not just today."
What's the bigger picture for you this year?
Discuss with a partner
- →What's something you keep putting off?
- →What will you absolutely follow through on this year?
Finish the sentence about you
- I'm really looking forward to… …
- Let's nail down… …
- In the bigger picture, … …
Pronunciation polish · Section 4
3–4 minSwitching between 'gonna' /ˈɡənə/ and 'll /əl/
- • I'm GONna call her later. (plan)
- • I'll CALL her — give me a sec. (now)
- • We're GONna move next year.
- • We'll FIGure it out. (reassurance)
How to say it
Native speakers move between reductions effortlessly. Drill the contrast: 'I'm gonna learn it' (planned) vs 'I'll learn it' (just decided). Listen for the unstressed 'gonna' and the smooth 'll attached to the pronoun.
Reading challenge · Section 5
8–10 minMy next twelve months
I'm flying to Tokyo in March — that's the only thing already set in stone. After that, the year is going to be busy in a good way. I'm going to start saving for a small flat (something I've been putting off for two years) and I'm going to take an evening course in design. I might also adopt a dog if my landlord agrees — fingers crossed. There are things I'll definitely follow through on: I'll spend more time with my grandparents and I'll go back to the gym. Other things I'm less sure about — I may visit my brother in Canada, or I may just save the money. Sooner or later, I'll have to nail down what I really want from this year. The bigger picture matters more than the small worries.
Challenge 1.Which is the only fixed plan?
Challenge 2.What is the writer uncertain about?
Challenge 3.What is the writer guilty of putting off?
Q1.The writer has already adopted a dog.
Q2.Tokyo is in March.
Q3.The writer is certain about Canada.
Listening challenge · Section 6
8–10 minTwo friends mix all four future forms
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Eva:What are you doing tomorrow?
Sam:I'm meeting Joe at 11 for a run — that's fixed. After that I'm going to start packing.
Eva:Packing? Where for?
Sam:I might go to Porto next weekend — flights are cheap. Not nailed down yet.
Eva:Oh nice. I'll come with you if you go.
Sam:Really? Don't flake out then.
Eva:I won't, I promise. Let's nail it down by Thursday.
Sam:Deal. I'll check the flights tonight and text you.
Challenge 1.What's fixed for tomorrow?
Challenge 2.What's still uncertain?
Challenge 3.When will they decide?
Skills challenge · Section 7
5 minCambridge PET — Speaking Parts 2 & 3 (collaborative + discussion)
Task
With a partner, plan a 3-day weekend AND debate whether you'll achieve your year's resolutions.
Strategy
Switch tenses naturally. Use Present Continuous for booked items, going to for intentions, will for offers and promises, might/may for uncertainty. The examiner is listening for tense VARIETY — repeating one form drops your score.
Example
I'm flying out Friday at 6 — that's confirmed. We're going to spend Saturday on the coast. On Sunday I might rent a bike, depends on weather. I'll book the train tonight. We'll absolutely follow through this time.
Fluency builder · Section 8
8–10 minQuick-fire practice
Challenge 1.I ____ ____ start running this month.
Challenge 2.(suddenly) — 'I ____ get the door!'
Challenge 3.I ____ come tonight — depends on work.
Challenge 4.We ____ ____ at 8 — table booked.
Challenge 5.Don't ____ ____ on me this time!
Q1.Fixed arrangement: 'meet Tom / 7pm' →
Q2.Spontaneous offer: 'bag heavy' →
Q3.Uncertain plan: 'maybe Italy / summer' →
Writing challenge · Section 9
5 minShow what you can do
Your task
Write a 130-word post titled 'My next 3 months' mixing all four future forms (mark each: PC, GT, WILL, MIGHT). Include 3 vocab phrases from today.
Show model answer
My next three months are looking interesting. I'm flying to Berlin on the 14th [PC] — that's the only thing set in stone. After that, I'm going to start a part-time design course [GT] I've been putting off for ages. I'll definitely follow through this time [WILL]. I might also adopt a dog [MIGHT] if my landlord agrees. I'm really looking forward to long autumn walks. Honestly, the bigger picture matters: I want a slower, more intentional year. I'll work less and read more. We might travel less than last year, but we'll travel better. Nothing else is nailed down yet — and that's fine. Sometimes leaving space in the diary is the plan.
Communication lab · Section 10
10–15 minTalk it out
FUTURE LAB · Groups of 3. Round 1: each student shares one fixed plan + one intention for next month. Round 2: each makes one bold prediction for 2035. Round 3: each makes a spontaneous offer to the others. Teacher monitors for tense variety — must hit all four forms.
Useful phrases
- • I'm meeting / flying / starting…
- • I'm going to…
- • I'll definitely…
- • I might / may…
- • It's only a matter of time.
- • Let's nail it down.
- AWhat are you doing this weekend?
- B_______________
- AWill it rain on Sunday?
- B_______________
Optional · Teacher-led
Teacher Activities
Push for fluent switching, not isolated forms. ~30 min total
Keep it going · Section 11
Take-homeExtend it at home
Write your 'next 3 months' using all four future forms — label each.
Record a 2-minute voice note: 3 plans, 3 predictions, 3 spontaneous offers.
Listen to a podcast intro; note one example of each future form.
Checkpoint reflection · Section 12
2–3 minWhat you've reviewed
- Present Continuous = fixed plan (time + place).
- be going to = intention / evidence-based prediction.
- will = spontaneous decision, offer, confident prediction, promise.
- might / may = possibility.
- Real speech mixes all four — variety scores higher than one perfect form.