Speaking Boost · A1 · Lesson 50 of 50
Speaking Boost A1 · Block 10: Past and Plans

Speaking Marathon: tell your story

This is the last lesson of Speaking Boost A1. Tell your story: your past, your present and your plans. Review was / were, the Past Simple and going to, and give the final talk of Block 10.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Your story

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. Where were you born?
  2. Where did you go to school?
  3. What did you do yesterday?
  4. What are you doing now?
  5. What are you going to do tomorrow?
  6. What are you going to do next year?
2

Words and phrases

12 min
2.1

New words

Read each word and the example. Then say one sentence with the word.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word that fits.

  1. Things that happened to a person make a .
  2. Something that you remember from the past is a .
  3. The time when you were a child is your .
  4. The town where you grew up is your .
  5. A person who is happy about something that he or she did is .
  6. To is to keep something in your mind.
  7. To is to say a story to a person.
  8. To is to become different.
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. a story is things that
  2. a memory is something from the
  3. a childhood is the time when you were
  4. a hometown is where you
  5. proud =
  6. to remember = to keep something in your
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to tell your story.

  • I was born in...Я народився в...I was born in Uzhhorod.
  • I grew up in...Я виріс у...I grew up in a small town.
  • When I was a child, I...Коли я був дитиною, я...When I was a child, I played football.
  • Last year, I...Минулого року я...Last year, I visited Lviv.
  • Now I...Зараз я...Now I live in Kyiv.
  • I am proud of...Я пишаюся...I am proud of my family.
  • Next year, I'm going to...Наступного року я збираюся...Next year, I'm going to travel.
  • My dream is to...Моя мрія — це...My dream is to speak English well.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

A life story

Read the text. Hover over the dotted words for help.

Tell your story

Everyone has a story. Here is Daria's story.

"I was born in a small town in the west of Ukraine, and I grew up there. When I was a child, I loved books and animals. My hometown was quiet, and my family was big. I didn't have a computer, but I played outside with my friends every day. I remember my first day at school: I was very happy, but I was also a little afraid.

Last year, I changed my job. I learned a lot of new things, and I met many interesting people. I also started to learn English, and I went to my first English lesson in January. At first, I didn't understand a lot, but now I can speak a little.

At the moment, I am living in a big city. I am working in an office, and I am studying English in the evenings. I am proud of my work and my progress.

Next year, I'm going to travel to another country, and I'm going to speak English there. I'm not going to be afraid. My dream is to meet new people and to tell them my story."

Now it is your turn. Tell your story: where you were born, what you did, what you do now and what you are going to do.

What is your story?

3.2

True or false?

  1. Daria was born in the west of Ukraine.
  2. She had a big computer in her childhood.
  3. Last year she changed her job.
  4. She is working in an office now.
  5. She is going to stay at home next year.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. What is a happy memory from your childhood?
  2. What are you proud of?
  3. How did your life change last year?
  4. What is your dream?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Review: was / were and the Past Simple

Use was / were for the past of be. Use -ed or an irregular form for the past of other verbs. Use didn't + base verb for the negative and Did + person + base verb for questions.

I was born in 1990. We were at school. I visited my aunt. I went to the park. I didn't see the film. Did you go there? Yes, I did.

Review: going to, now and last year

Use am / is / are going to + base verb for plans. Use the Present Continuous for now. Use last year, yesterday, ago for the past and next year, tomorrow for the future.

I'm going to learn English. She isn't going to move. I am working now. Last year, I travelled. Next year, I'm going to study.

Block 10 review

Use the grammar from this block.

was / were (L46) · Past Simple: regular and irregular verbs (L47) · Past Simple negatives and questions (L48) · going to (L49)

Common mistakes: was / were, did / didn't + base verb, am / is / are going to + base verb. ✗ I were born in Kyiv → I was born in Kyiv. ✗ I didn't went to school → I didn't go to school. ✗ I going to learn English → I am going to learn English.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. I
    born in Kyiv.
  2. We
    at school.
  3. She
    her aunt yesterday.
  4. I
    to school.
  5. you see the film?
  6. I
    learn English.
  7. She
    going to move.
  8. I
    now.
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. I were born in Kyiv. →
  2. I didn't went to school. →
  3. I going to learn English. →
  4. She buyed a bag. →
  5. Did you saw it? →
  6. They was at home. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer with full sentences. Use the past, the present and the future.

  1. Where were you born?
  2. Where did you grow up?
  3. What did you do last year?
  4. What are you doing now?
  5. What are you going to do next year?
  6. What is your dream?
5

Three life stories, and the Speaking Marathon

8 min
5.1

Three life stories

Three people tell their stories. Compare them. Who lived in another country? Who is going to change something? What is your story?

Person 1

Daria, 30

  • Was born in the west of Ukraine
  • Changed her job last year
  • Is learning English now
  • Is going to travel next year
Person 2

Max, 45

  • Grew up in a big city
  • Went to university in another country
  • Works as a teacher now
  • Is going to move to the mountains
Person 3

Lena, 70

  • Was a child in a village
  • Worked in a school for forty years
  • Is a happy grandmother now
  • Is going to visit her sister
5.2

Final talk of Block 10: Speaking Marathon

This is the final speaking task of Speaking Boost A1. Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for two minutes.
  2. Part 1: say where you were born and what you did in the past.
  3. Part 2: say what you are doing now.
  4. Part 3: say what you are going to do and what your dream is.
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. Where were you born?
  2. Where did you grow up?
  3. What was your favourite game as a child?
  4. What did you do yesterday?
  5. What are you doing now?
  6. What are you going to do tomorrow?
  7. What are you going to do next year?
  8. What is your dream?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Who in your family was born in another town?
  2. Who changed their job last year?
  3. Who is learning something new now?
  4. Who is going to travel next year?
  5. Who tells you stories?
  6. Who remembers your childhood?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Is the past important?
  2. Is it good to have a dream?
  3. Is it better to remember the past or to think about the future?
  4. Is it hard to change?
  5. Is learning English difficult?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

Speaking Marathon: my story

You

Speaker

A friend (your teacher) asks you to tell your story:
  • say where you were born and where you grew up
  • say what you did last year
  • say what you are doing now
  • say what you are going to do and what your dream is
Speak for at least 3 minutes in total. Use the past, the present and going to.
Your teacher

Friend

Says things like:
  1. Where were you born?
  2. What did you do last year?
  3. What are you doing now?
  4. What is your dream?
7.2

A new friend

You

Speaker

You meet a new friend (your teacher) and talk about your lives:
  • say where you are from and where you were born
  • say what you did yesterday
  • say what you are going to do tomorrow
  • ask your friend three questions
You do most of the talking. Use: I was... · I didn't... · I'm going to...
Your teacher

Friend

Says things like:
  1. Where are you from?
  2. What did you do yesterday?
  3. What are you going to do tomorrow?
  4. Nice to meet you!
8

Homework

at home

Your homework score

Do all four exercises, then press Check all homework. Correct answers will appear next to your mistakes.

– / 30
H1

Complete with a word

storymemorychildhoodhometownproudremembertellchange
  1. Things that happened to a person make a .
  2. Something that you remember from the past is a .
  3. The time when you were a child is your .
  4. The town where you grew up is your .
  5. A person who is happy about something that he or she did is .
  6. To is to keep something in your mind.
  7. To is to say a story to a person.
  8. To is to become different.
H2

Block 10 review: choose the correct word

  1. I born in Lviv.
  2. We at home yesterday.
  3. She her aunt last week.
  4. I to work.
  5. you see the film?
  6. I learn Spanish.
  7. He going to move.
  8. I now.
H3

Correct or incorrect? (Block 10 review)

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. I was born in Kyiv.
  2. I were born in Kyiv.
  3. I didn't go to school.
  4. I didn't went to school.
  5. I am going to learn English.
  6. I going to learn English.
  7. Did you see it?
H4

Match the two halves

  1. I was born
  2. I grew up
  3. Last year,
  4. Now I
  5. I am proud
  6. Next year,
  7. My dream

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© Yevheniia Kolesnykova, Academy of Languages. All rights reserved. No copying or reuse without written permission.