Speaking Boost · B1 · Lesson 1 of 50
Speaking Boost B1 · Block 1: Who I Am

Can people really change?

Is your personality fixed, or can you become a different person? Talk about who you are, read what scientists say about personality change, play detective, and argue your point of view.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

First thoughts

Answer and explain. Give an example from your life for each one.

  1. Are you the same person you were ten years ago? What is the biggest difference?
  2. What do people usually get wrong about you when they first meet you?
  3. Do you behave differently with your family, your friends and your colleagues?
  4. Which habit of yours would surprise people who don't know you well?
  5. Have you ever decided to change something about your character? Did it work?
  6. Do you think you are different when you speak English?
2

Words and phrases

10 min
2.1

Personality words

For each word, name a real person you know (or a famous person) who fits it and explain why.

2.2

Who is it?

Choose the word that describes each person.

  1. Mark always keeps his promises. You can count on him.
  2. Anna talks to everyone at parties and loves meeting new people.
  3. My boss never changes her mind, even when she's wrong.
  4. Tom doesn't get stressed about anything. Nothing worries him.
  5. Kate gets upset very easily when people criticise her.
  6. My grandad always pays for everyone's coffee.
  7. Oleh wants to be the director of the company in five years.
  8. She's happy one minute and angry the next.
2.3

Opposites

Choose the opposite of each word, then press Check answers.

  1. outgoing
  2. patient
  3. open-minded
  4. hard-working
  5. self-confident
  6. considerate
2.4

Phrases to talk about yourself

Use each phrase to say something true about you. Don't use the same personality word twice.

  • I'd describe myself as...Я б описав(-ла) себе як...I'd describe myself as quite reserved at first.
  • I tend to...Я схильний(-на)... / Зазвичай я...I tend to plan everything in advance.
  • I'm the kind of person who...Я з тих людей, які...I'm the kind of person who always arrives early.
  • People often say I'm...Люди часто кажуть, що я...People often say I'm too honest.
  • Deep down, I'm...У глибині душі я...Deep down, I'm very sensitive.
  • It depends on...Це залежить від...It depends on who I'm with.
  • I'm not very good at...Мені не дуже вдається...I'm not very good at saying no.
  • When it comes to..., I...Коли йдеться про..., я...When it comes to money, I'm careful.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

Are you stuck with your personality?

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

For a long time, many psychologists believed that our personality was basically set in stone by the age of 30. You could change your job, your city or your hairstyle, but not who you really were.

Newer research tells a different story. Scientists who followed thousands of people for many years found that personality keeps changing slowly throughout life. Most people become calmer, more organised and kinder as they get older. Psychologists sometimes call this the "maturity principle".

Big life events play a part too. Starting a first serious job often makes people more responsible. Moving abroad can make people more open-minded. Difficult experiences can make some people stronger and more empathetic.

And what about deliberate change? In some studies, people who wanted to become more outgoing were given small weekly challenges, such as starting a conversation with a stranger. Many of them really did change a little, but only when they actually completed the tasks. Wanting to change was not enough.

So the answer seems to be: you are not stuck, but change is slow, and it comes from what you do every day, not from what you promise yourself on New Year's Eve.

3.2

True or false?

  1. Psychologists have always agreed that personality can change.
  2. Most people become calmer as they get older.
  3. A first serious job often makes people more responsible.
  4. Just wanting to change was enough to make people more outgoing.
  5. According to the article, change comes from small everyday actions.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Does the "maturity principle" describe you or people you know?
  2. Which life event changed your personality the most?
  3. Would you take a weekly "challenge" to change one trait? Which trait and what challenge?
  4. Do you believe in New Year's resolutions? Have you kept any?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Who you are vs how you're acting

Present Simple

Your usual character and habits.

He is calm. He usually listens carefully.

Present Continuous

Temporary behaviour, now or these days.

He's being really impatient today. I'm working a lot this month.

State verbs

Usually not in Continuous: know, believe, like, love, hate, prefer, seem, understand, want, need, belong.

I know him well. ✗ I'm knowing him well.

Useful trick: be + being + adjective shows that someone's behaviour is unusual right now. She's usually generous, but she's being a bit selfish today.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. My sister
    a very calm person.
  2. Why
    so rude today?
  3. I
    why he's so stubborn.
  4. These days I
    to be more patient.
  5. She
    her neighbours. That's just who she is.
  6. He
    shy, but he's actually very funny.
  7. I
    a great book about introverts at the moment.
  8. We
    quiet evenings at home.
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake in the verb. Type the correct verb form.

  1. He is usually being very reliable. →
  2. Look! Max helps the old lady with her bags. →
  3. Are you believing in horoscopes? →
  4. She's wanting to be more confident. →
  5. I'm not usually getting angry. →
  6. This sweater is belonging to my brother. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer in detail. Mix Present Simple (what you are usually like) and Present Continuous (what is happening these days).

  1. What are you usually like at work, and how are you feeling about work these days?Usually I... but this month I'm...
  2. Which of your habits are you trying to change at the moment? Why?
  3. Who in your life is acting differently than usual lately? What's going on?
  4. What do you normally do to relax, and what are you doing instead these days?
  5. What new thing are you learning or reading right now? How is it changing you?
  6. When were you last "not yourself"? What were you being like, and why?
5

Personality detective

7 min
5.1

Who owns this?

You find these clues about three strangers. For each case, describe the owner's personality and job, and explain which clue tells you that.

Case 1

The phone

  • 2,314 unread emails
  • 11 alarms between 6:00 and 7:10
  • A notes app with 40 to-do lists, none finished
  • Battery always at 4%
  • Screen time: 9 hours a day
Case 2

The flat

  • 30 plants, half of them dying
  • A guitar covered in dust
  • Three unfinished online courses
  • A perfectly organised spice rack
  • Post-it notes with motivational quotes
Case 3

The calendar

  • Every evening booked for a month
  • Birthday reminders for 87 people
  • No free time at all
  • A trip to Bali booked two days ago
  • "Call Mum" moved 6 times

Useful language: The owner is probably... · I bet they're the kind of person who... · They must be..., because... · This clue tells me that...

5.2

Your turn

  1. What five clues would a detective find on your phone? What would they think about you?
  2. Would they be right? What would they get wrong?
  3. Which of the three strangers would you like to be friends with, and which would be a nightmare as a colleague?
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. What three words would your best friend use to describe you? Would you agree?
  2. Which personality trait are you most proud of?
  3. Which trait would you like to change? Why?
  4. Are you more outgoing or reserved? Does it depend on the situation?
  5. What makes you lose your patience?
  6. Are you a planner or do you prefer to go with the flow?
  7. How do you usually react when someone criticises you?
  8. Do you find it easy to say no? Give an example.
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Who is the most reliable person you know? How do you know you can trust them?
  2. Which personality type do you find difficult to work with?
  3. Do opposites attract, or do we prefer people who are like us?
  4. Is it better to have a boss who is strict or one who is easy-going?
  5. Have you ever been completely wrong about someone after a first impression?
  6. How are you similar to your parents? How are you different?
6.3

Part III: Thinking deeper

  1. Are we born with our personality, or does life shape it?
  2. Do you think personality tests (like MBTI) are useful or nonsense?
  3. Is it better to be honest or to be polite?
  4. Do social media show who we really are?
  5. Are introverts undervalued at work?
  6. Is stubbornness a weakness or a strength?
7

Roleplay

10 min
7.1

The reference call

You

A former colleague

Someone you worked or studied with (a real person) has applied for a great job. The HR manager calls you for a reference. Describe this person honestly:
  • what they're like as a person and at work
  • two strengths, each with a real story
  • one weakness, said politely
  • whether you'd recommend them and why
Speak for at least 3 minutes in total. Use 6 words from this lesson.
Your teacher

HR manager

Asks short questions, for example:
  1. How do you know them?
  2. How would you describe them?
  3. Can you give me an example?
  4. How do they deal with stress?
  5. What could they improve?
  6. Would you work with them again?
7.2

The life coach

You

Life coach

Your client wants to change one personality trait. Ask about their situation, then give a clear plan:
  • ask at least 4 questions to understand the problem
  • give 3 practical weekly challenges (like in the article)
  • explain why each one will help
You do most of the talking. Use: You could try... · Why don't you...? · The first step is... · If you..., you'll...
Your teacher

Client

Chooses one problem:
  1. "I'm too shy at work meetings."
  2. "I can't say no to anyone."
  3. "I'm really impatient with my family."
  4. "I start things and never finish them."
8

Debate

7 min
8.1

Agree or disagree?

"By the age of 30, your personality doesn't change."

Ideas for

Habits are hard to break. Most people react the same way all their lives. Our basic temperament comes from our genes.

Ideas against

The article shows slow change all through life. Big events change us. People can learn patience and confidence.

Round 1: give your real opinion for 1–2 minutes. Round 2: defend the opposite side for 1 minute. Use: I strongly believe... · On the one hand... on the other hand... · Take my friend, for example... · That's why I'm convinced that...

9

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 personality word

reliablestubborngenerousopen-mindeddown-to-earthimpatientconsideratecurious
  1. She's very famous, but she's still so . She takes the bus like everyone else.
  2. My neighbour gave me his old car for free. He's incredibly .
  3. I hate waiting. I'm the most person in my family.
  4. He always texts if he's going to be late. He's very .
  5. My son asks "why?" a hundred times a day. He's so .
  6. You can trust Iryna with the keys. She's totally .
  7. My grandma tries sushi, yoga and TikTok. She's really .
  8. Once he decides something, nothing can change his mind. He's so .
H2

Present Simple or Present Continuous?

  1. Shh! The baby .
  2. My brother in a bank. He's been there for years.
  3. I exactly what you mean.
  4. You very quiet tonight. Is everything OK?
  5. She people who are late.
  6. This week I at 5 because of a big project.
  7. He usually to the gym after work.
  8. Your idea great!
H3

Correct or incorrect?

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. I'm loving this song! It's so good.
  2. She seems really nervous today.
  3. He's being so generous lately. What does he want?
  4. We are needing more time to decide.
  5. I don't believe people can change completely.
  6. Do you understanding the question?
  7. My manager is usually very calm.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. I'm the kind of person who
  2. When it comes to money,
  3. People often say
  4. It depends on
  5. Deep down,
  6. I'm not very good at
  7. I tend to

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