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Today we did a video lesson on what is required to start your own business. We also brainstormed ideas in groups for a food truck business and presented this to each other.

Good luck everyone with your future use of English. I have put in a link where you can find bite-sized practice activities.

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Everything you find here has been specially created by the British Council, the world's English teaching experts.

We provide you with the right tools to help you interact confidently in the real world.

Practise your listening, reading, writing and speaking and learn useful language to use at work or to communicate effectively with friends.

Audio and video to practise your listening and speaking skills.

Model texts for all types of writing tasks.

Work on your reading skills to read more quickly and understand more.

Revise and practise your grammar to improve your language level and increase your confidence.

Clear and simple grammar explanations to help you revise and practise different grammar points.

Online exercises to help you check your understanding of the grammar points.

Use the grammar reference for further practice and more detailed explanations.

Learn new words and improve your language level to be able to communicate in English effectively.

Online exercises to help you learn the meaning, pronunciation and spelling of new words.

Learn new words connected to a wide range of different topics.

Play our word games and have fun as you improve your vocabulary.

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Learn English online using our high-quality resources to quickly improve your English. Take our free level test to help you find your English language level, then find lessons and resources that are just right for you.

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Today, we did an end of course test. We role-played a question and answer interview and played a game of Taboo. This went to a tie-breaker, which Mari won for her team (Mari, Ana and Florin). Bad luck Titus and Catalina.

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Today we talked about what makes a business ethical and did listening for specific information tasks on the same topic. We also analysed and practised use of 3rd conditional sentences.

You can see the homework task in the next post.

On Friday, we will have a short test.

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In this lesson, we looked at how to ask better questions. We also role played a police interview situations.

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Today we revised time expressions. We also read a text about talking to strangers and analysed and practised some different question forms.

The homework task is to read more about indirect questions and complete two short exercises forming such questions.

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Today we talked about time management and worked on vocabulary related to time - verb and noun collocations plus expressions including the word 'time'. We also did a quiz about recent vocabulary, which was won by Mari and Florin.

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Today, we did a word-building activity on abstract nouns connected with personal growth and then discussed some questions to personalise the language.

We also completed a narrative tenses review. The homework task is to write a short account of a personal success story, around 100 word, using the narrative tenses. This is for presentation in the next lesson on 27 June.

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In Friday's lesson, we talked about management qualities and practised listening for specific information. We also considered the role of management in motivating staff and read a text about personal development. The handouts can be found here. If you are coming to Wednesday's class, please bring the Personal Development handout with you.

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Model text for email requesting updates.

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Model text for email requesting updates.

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In today's lesson, we looked at writing an email to request updates from colleagues. The handout we used is attached. In the lesson, we also looked at some examples of dependent prepositions. As there is no general rule to follow with prepositions, it is important to record both noun/verb or adjective plus the preposition that corresponds.

The homework task is to write up the email asking for updates from the lesson materials.

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In the lesson today, we studied vocabulary for talking about 'perks' at work. We also reviewed language for softening the message in a negotiation and role played a meeting in which an employee tries to negotiate a pay increase with their employer. The lesson handout is attached.

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Today we reviewed 1st and 2nd conditional sentences and practised using them in a meeting role play on which start up companies to invest. Alina demonstrated the best head for business and impressed her colleagues. If you want to learn more about conditional sentences, use the link above.

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Look at these examples to see how zero, first and second conditionals are used.

If you freeze water, it becomes solid.
If it rains tomorrow, I'll take the car.
If I lived closer to the cinema, I would go more often.

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Read the explanation to learn more.

Grammar explanation

Conditionals describe the result of a certain condition. The if clause tells you the condition ( If you study hard) and the main clause tells you the result ( you will pass your exams). The order of the clauses does not change the meaning.

If you study hard, you will pass your exams.
You will pass your exams if you study hard.

Conditional sentences are often divided into different types.

Zero conditional

We use the zero conditional to talk about things that are generally true, especially for laws and rules.

If I drink too much coffee, I can't sleep at night.
Ice melts if you heat it.
When the sun goes down, it gets dark.

The structure is: if/w hen + present simple >> present simple.

First conditional

We use the first conditional when we talk about future situations we believe are real or possible.

If it doesn't rain tomorrow, we'll go to the beach.
Arsenal will be top of the league if they win.
When I finish work, I'll call you.

In first conditional sentences, the structure is usually: if/ when + present simple >> will + infinitive.

It is also common to use this structure with unless, as long as, as soon as or in case instead of if.

I'll leave as soon as the babysitter arrives.
I don't want to stay in London unless I get a well-paid job.
I'll give you a key in case I'm not at home.
You can go to the party, as long as you're back by midnight.

Second conditional

The second conditional is used to imagine present or future situations that are impossible or unlikely in reality.

If we had a garden, we could have a cat.
If I won a lot of money, I'd buy a big house in the country.
I wouldn't worry if I were you.

The structure is usually: if + past simple >> + would + infinitive.

When if is followed by the verb be, it is grammatically correct to say if I were, if he were, if she were and if it were. However, it is also common to hear these structures with was, especially in the he/ she form.

If I were you, I wouldn't mention it.
If she was prime minister, she would invest more money in schools.
He would travel more if he was younger.

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

Language level

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Do you know how to use the zero, first and second conditionals? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

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Follow the link if you want to learn more about this grammar area.

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Look at these examples to see how the past perfect is used.

He couldn't make a sandwich because he'd forgotten to buy bread.
The hotel was full, so I was glad that we'd booked in advance.
My new job wasn't exactly what I'd expected.

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Read the explanation to learn more.

Grammar explanation

Time up to a point in the past

We use the past perfect simple ( had + past participle) to talk about time up to a certain point in the past.

She'd published her first poem by the time she was eight.
We'd finished all the water before we were halfway up the mountain.
Had the parcel arrived when you called yesterday?

Past perfect for the earlier of two past actions

We can use the past perfect to show the order of two past events. The past perfect shows the earlier action and the past simple shows the later action.

When the police arrived, the thief had escaped.

It doesn't matter in which order we say the two events. The following sentence has the same meaning.

The thief had escaped when the police arrived.

Note that if there's only a single event, we don't use the past perfect, even if it happened a long time ago.

The Romans spoke Latin. (NOT The Romans had spoken Latin.)

Past perfect after before

We can also use before + past perfectto show that an action was not done or was incomplete when the past simple action happened.

They left before I'd spoken to them.
Sadly, the author died before he'd finished the series.

Adverbs

We often use the adverbs already (= 'before the specified time'), still (= as previously), just (= 'a very short time before the specified time'), ever (= 'at any time before the specified time') or never (= 'at no time before the specified time') with the past perfect.

I called his office but he'd already left.
It still hadn't rained at the beginning of May.
I went to visit her when she'd just moved to Berlin.
It was the most beautiful photo I'd ever seen.
Had you ever visited London when you moved there?
I'd never met anyone from California before I met Jim.

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

Language level

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Do you know how to use phrases like They'd finished the project by March or Had you finished work when I called? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

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Today, we successfully completed a quiz on use of past simple vs. past perfect. We also read about and discussed alternative to the stock market for investment and worked with vocabulary related to making, losing and taking risks with money. The homework is to analyse five start-up companies in order to decide which to invest in. We will hold meetings to negotiate this in the next lesson. Materials are attached/posted.

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Today, we discussed making and receiving phone calls in English. The materials are attached.

We also did a quiz on the use of articles, which Titus won.

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This is the prompt for the email.

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Don't forget this. You can give it to me next week or email it me -

katherine.byrne@britishcouncil.org

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Today we checked the homework on past simple vs present perfect. You can hand your homework to me next week if you missed the class.

We also discussed email etiquette and analysed some sample emails. We prepared for a writing task to send an email stating action points to a mentee David Jessops, with you in the role of mentor. The materials for the writing task are attached and the deadline is Wednesday 11th June.

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Today, Florin T, Mari and Daniela give mini-presentations about their job requirements. If you want, you can prepare your 2 minute talk for tomorrow or you can record it and send it to me at:

katherine.byrne@britishcouncil.org

In the remainder of the lesson, we read a text about storytelling and discussed our story preferences. We then studied and practised past simple vs. present perfect. The materials and homework tasks are attached.

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Today, we looked at vocabulary for describing job requirements and grammatical structures for talking about obligation and prohibition.

The homework task is to prepare a short - 2 minute - presentation talking about the requirements of your job. The context is giving a short talk at a careers fair to students interested in working in your field.

The handout from the lesson is above.

There is also a link to the BBC Sounds site. There you can find podcasts and other materials to practise listening skills.

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Listen without limits, with BBC Sounds. Catch the latest music tracks, discover binge-worthy podcasts, or listen to radio shows - all whenever you want.

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In this lesson, we discussed who we collaborate with and potential barriers to successful collaboration. We listened to people holding a meeting to brainstorm ideas for solving a problem. We also looked at useful phrases for involving participants in a collaborative meeting. Then, we role played short meetings to discuss ways of raising money for a local hospital. No homework from this lesson.

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We did a lot of work on writing today. First, we studied useful language for summarising annual reports. Then we tried to re-write a poorly written example using the phrases studied.

We also looked at techniques for 'softening' your message in writing to avoid sounding rude or too direct - known technically as 'hedging'. The homework task, if you choose to do it, is to use some of this 'hedging' language to rewrite a paragraph describing an academic study.

I sensed that you were not too convinced about softening your communications, so you might find this article interesting.

If you missed this week's lessons, I can give you the materials next week.

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Why trimming back on hedging language is good for business.

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Don’t be fooled into thinking that I’ve started a new career in gardening and this is a blog about how to keep and maintain perfect hedges. No, this is a blog about ‘hedging’ language and our use of it in our daily communications.

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Today, we listened to information on causes and effects of economic crises. We also reviewed vocabulary for the same. The video clip (that you couldn't see) is attached if you want to review it.

We talked about our personal money habits and also our favourite foreign destinations and the reasons for our choices.

No homework today but there will be after Friday's lesson.

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I hope you enjoyed your first lesson. You can find the Needs Analysis form using the link above. The homework task is also here. You can either send the email task to me at

katherine.byrne@britishcouncil.org or hand it to me in our next lesson on 15 May.