Lesson 27 · Speaking
Writing — Cambridge B1 Preliminary / FCE article (lifestyle change)
Your task
Write a 140–190 word article for an English-language student magazine titled 'One habit that changed me.' Use 'used to' and 'would' at least 3 times each, plus 5 lesson vocabulary items. End with practical advice for readers.
How to do it
Article tasks reward narrative tension — before vs after. (1) Open with the BEFORE state using 'used to' / 'would' / 'I was a…'. (2) Pivot to the trigger ('Then…' / 'One day…' / 'Last year…'). (3) Describe the AFTER honestly — what worked, what didn't. (4) Close with practical advice to the reader, not a summary. Examiners reward range: mix Past Simple, Past Continuous, used to, would, and Present Perfect. Avoid lists of habits — pick ONE and go deep.
Use these phrases
Talk about
- • Name one habit you USED TO have five years ago that you don't have now. What changed?
- • If you could lock in ONE healthy habit forever, which one? Why that one?
- • Tell your teacher about one lifestyle change you tried and gave up on. What killed it?
Model answer
I used to be a complete couch potato. Honestly. I'd spend entire Sundays on the sofa, order takeaway, and tell myself 'next week'. Next week never arrived. Last March, almost by accident, a friend dragged me out for a run. I lasted about four minutes and felt awful, but I went again on Wednesday. And again on Friday. I cut back on takeaways, not because I was virtuous but because they made the next run miserable. A year later, I run three times a week. Not five — five was burnout territory. Three is sustainable. If you're a couch potato reading this — and I see you, I was you — pick ONE habit, not five, and find a friend to drag you out. The first month feels terrible. The second month, it's just what you do. Forgive yourself the days you skip. Just start again on Monday.
Pair / class extension: Role-play with your teacher (or a partner): you're both checking in on lifestyle changes you started a year ago. Discuss what stuck, what didn't, and why. Use 'used to' / 'would' / 'be used to' at least 3 times each, plus 5 lesson vocabulary items. End by each picking ONE habit to focus on for the next 3 months.
Giving opinions
Share what you think clearly and naturally.
- On the whole, I think…“On the whole, I think remote work suits me better.”
- In my view, …“In my view, schools should teach financial literacy.”
- If you ask me, …“If you ask me, it's not worth the money.”
- To be honest, …“To be honest, I wasn't a fan of the film.”
- I'd say (that)…“I'd say that's the best one.”
Speak out loud: use three of these phrases in a one-minute answer.
Agreeing & disagreeing
Respond to opinions without sounding aggressive or weak.
- Absolutely / Definitely.“Absolutely — that's exactly what I meant.”
- I see your point, but…“I see your point, but I'd look at it differently.”
- I'm not so sure about that.“I'm not so sure about that — it depends on the price.”
- Yes and no.“Yes and no — partly true, but it's more complicated.”
- I'd have to disagree.“I'd have to disagree there — I had a great experience.”
Speak out loud: use three of these phrases in a one-minute answer.
Asking questions politely
Soften questions for strangers, customer service, formal contexts.
- Could you tell me…?“Could you tell me where platform 4 is?”
- Do you know…?“Do you know what time it closes?”
- Would you mind + -ing?“Would you mind repeating that?”
- I was wondering if…“I was wondering if you had a moment.”
Speak out loud: use three of these phrases in a one-minute answer.
Clarifying & checking
Make sure you've understood — without saying 'What?'.
- Sorry, do you mean…?“Sorry, do you mean Monday next week or this week?”
- Just to check, …“Just to check, that's £40 each, right?”
- So what you're saying is…“So what you're saying is we should leave earlier.”
- Could you say that again?“Could you say that again — I missed the last part.”
Speak out loud: use three of these phrases in a one-minute answer.
Reactions & follow-ups
Keep conversations alive instead of letting them die.
- Oh really? / No way!“A: I quit my job. — B: No way! When?”
- Have you? / Did you? / Are you?“A: I've moved to Lisbon. — B: Have you?! How is it?”
- How come?“How come you decided to do that?”
- What's that like?“What's that like — working remotely full-time?”
- How about you?“I love thrillers. How about you?”
Speak out loud: use three of these phrases in a one-minute answer.
Suggesting & negotiating
Make plans, propose solutions, find middle ground.
- Why don't we…?“Why don't we meet halfway?”
- How about + -ing?“How about going to the Thai place?”
- Shall we…?“Shall we say 7pm then?”
- Would it work if…?“Would it work if we pushed it to Friday?”
- I'm easy / I don't mind.“I'm easy — whatever suits you.”
Speak out loud: use three of these phrases in a one-minute answer.
Storytelling & anecdotes
Hold attention when you tell a story or share news.
- You'll never guess what happened.“You'll never guess what happened on the way here.”
- So basically, …“So basically, we missed the train by 30 seconds.”
- All of a sudden, …“All of a sudden, the lights went out.”
- Long story short, …“Long story short, we ended up driving instead.”
- Anyway, …“Anyway, that's how I met your dad.”
Speak out loud: use three of these phrases in a one-minute answer.
Hedging & diplomacy
Soften strong opinions, disagree politely, sound less abrupt.
- It might be worth + -ing“It might be worth checking the schedule first.”
- I'd probably…“I'd probably go for the smaller one.”
- I'm not entirely sure, but…“I'm not entirely sure, but I think it closes at 6.”
- That's a fair point, although…“That's a fair point, although there's another side to it.”
Speak out loud: use three of these phrases in a one-minute answer.