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Lesson 01
Natural Conversation
B1

Talking NaturallyAbout Yourself

Extending personal answers · Present Simple vs Continuous · sounding natural

60 min Identity & lifestyle

Your level · You are here

  1. A0/A1Beginner
  2. A1/A2Elementary
  3. A2/B1Pre-Intermediate
  4. B1/B1+Intermediate
  5. B2Upper-Intermediate
  6. C1Advanced
  7. C2Proficiency

Get Talking · Section 1

5 min

Start the conversation

discussion
Right now

What are you doing this week that's a bit different from your normal routine?

discussion
Three things

Share three sentences that describe you — and explain WHY for each one.

reflection
First impressions

When you meet someone new in English, what's the hardest part for you?

Grammar · Section 2

8–10 min

Present Simple vs Present Continuous (for talking about yourself)

Open in Grammar Bank
How it works
  • Use the Present Simple for routines, permanent situations and things that are generally true about you.
  • Use the Present Continuous for what you're doing around now, current projects or temporary situations.
  • Don't forget state verbs (know, like, want, believe) — they stay in the simple form even when meaning is 'right now'.
In action

I work in marketing, mostly on social media campaigns. (general, permanent)

I'm actually working on a big rebrand at the moment — it's quite hectic.

I'm not really into team sports, but I run twice a week.

I know what you mean, but I'm not sure I agree. (state verb)

Visual
How often do you do it?

Drop these adverbs into your Present Simple answers to sound more natural.

0%50%100%
  • 100%

    always

    I always check the news first thing.

  • 85%

    usually

    I usually walk to work.

  • 70%

    often

    We often meet up on Fridays.

  • 45%

    sometimes

    I sometimes work from a café.

  • 15%

    hardly ever

    I hardly ever watch TV in the week.

  • 0%

    never

    I never skip breakfast.

Question 1.Q: 'What do you do?' Best natural answer:

Question 2.Sorry, I can't chat — I ____ a deadline today.

Question 3.These days I ____ Italian online twice a week.

Question 4.Choose the natural sentence with a state verb:

Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.
Conversation Builder
Say it naturally

Build the sentence → spot the natural chunks → say it aloud → reply like a real conversation.

1.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.

Step 1 · Build
Tap words below to build the sentence…

2.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.

Step 1 · Build
Tap words below to build the sentence…

3.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.

Step 1 · Build
Tap words below to build the sentence…

Quick check 1.Which is a state verb?

Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.

Vocabulary · Section 3

5–7 min

Words & phrases to learn

Open in Vocabulary Bank
1

to be into (something)

to really enjoy or be interested in something

In context

"I'm really into live music at the moment — I go to a gig nearly every month."

Now try it yourself

Tell your partner two things you're really into right now and why.

2

easy-going

relaxed and not easily upset

In context

"I'd describe myself as pretty easy-going — small things don't bother me."

Now try it yourself

Who is the most easy-going person you know? Give one example.

3

a people person

someone who enjoys being with and talking to people

In context

"I'm a people person, so working from home alone doesn't really suit me."

Now try it yourself

Are you a people person? Give a situation that proves it.

4

to come from

to be born in or originally live in a place

In context

"I come from a small town near Edinburgh, but I moved to London for work."

Now try it yourself

Where do you come from? Add one detail people usually don't know about it.

5

to work in

to have a job in a particular field or sector

In context

"I work in education — I train new teachers."

Now try it yourself

What field do you work (or study) in? Describe it in one sentence without naming your job title.

6

to be based in

to live or operate from a particular city/place

In context

"I'm based in Manchester, but I travel down to London twice a month."

Now try it yourself

Where are you based? Mention one thing you love and one thing you'd change about it.

Make it yours
Use the new words

Pick at least three words from above and use each one in a sentence about your real life. Say each one aloud before you write.

Quick exchange

Ask your teacher (or a partner) a question that uses one of today's words. They reply using a different word.

Ranking

Rank today's words from most to least useful for you this week. Defend your top choice.

Opinion

Finish: "Honestly, I'd say…" using one of today's words.

Tip: aim to reuse at least two of these words later in the Speaking and Writing tasks.

Matching
Match each expression with its closest meaning.

Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.

Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.
Categorise
Sort the expressions into 'About me' or 'About what I do'.
Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.

Pronunciation · Section 4

3–4 min

Contractions and weak forms (sounding natural, not slow)

British English speakers contract auxiliary verbs and weaken 'and', 'of', 'to' and 'a'. Aim for the music of the sentence, not every letter.

  • • I'm based in Bristol. → /aɪm/
  • • I work in a small team. → /ɪn ə/
  • • I've been doing it for years. → /aɪv bɪn/
  • • Cup of tea? → /kʌp ə tiː/

Reading · Section 5

8–10 min

Three short introductions

Hi, I'm Hannah. I'm originally from Cardiff, but I'm based in London now. I work in design — mostly branding for small businesses. At the moment I'm taking a part-time Italian course because I'd like to move to Milan one day. I'd describe myself as quite easy-going, although I can be a bit of a perfectionist at work.

I'm Diego and I come from Bogotá. I've been living in Manchester for about three years. I work as a software engineer, mainly on mobile apps. These days I'm also volunteering at a coding club for teenagers, which is honestly the best part of my week.

Hi, I'm Amelia. I'm a teacher — I teach drama in a secondary school. I'm fairly creative and definitely a people person, so the job suits me. Outside school I run a small podcast about local stories. We're doing a special series on hidden parks this month.

Question 1.What is Hannah doing to prepare for a possible move to Milan?

Question 2.What is the topic of Amelia's podcast series this month?

Question 3.What do Hannah and Diego have in common?

Question 4.Diego says volunteering is 'honestly the best part of my week.' What does this suggest?

Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.
True / False
Decide if each statement is True or False

Q1.Hannah works full-time on her Italian studies.

Q2.Diego has lived in Manchester for around three years.

Q3.Amelia's podcast is about international news.

Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.

Listening · Section 6

8–10 min

Two colleagues introduce themselves at a conference

Listening audio

Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.

Show transcript

Olivia:Hi, I don't think we've met. I'm Olivia.

Harry:Nice to meet you, Olivia. I'm Harry. So, what brings you to the conference?

Olivia:I work in HR, mostly on training programmes. We're rolling out a new one next month, so I'm here for ideas, really. How about you?

Harry:I'm based in the Bristol office — I look after recruitment. At the moment we're trying to hire about twenty people, which is quite intense.

Olivia:Oh wow, that does sound full-on. Are you originally from Bristol?

Harry:No, I'm from Newcastle, but I've been in Bristol for about five years now. And you?

Olivia:I'm in London, although I'm working from home most weeks. It's a good balance.

Question 1.What is Olivia's main area of work?

Question 2.Where is Harry originally from?

Question 3.Why is Olivia at the conference?

Question 4.What does Olivia mean when she says working from home is 'a good balance'?

Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.
Tick what you hear
Tick the natural expressions you hear in the conversation.
Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.

Exam tip · Section 7

5 min

Speaking Part 1 — personal questions (extending your answer)

Task

Answer 'Tell me a little about yourself' in 4–5 natural sentences.

Strategy

Use the formula: Routine (Present Simple) + Right now (Present Continuous) + Why / how I feel + Small follow-up. Never stop at one short sentence.

Example

Well, I work as a project manager for a small architecture firm in Leeds. I usually handle two or three sites at the same time, so it's quite varied. At the moment I'm leading a school renovation, which is honestly the most interesting project I've worked on so far. Outside work, I'm into hiking — what about you?

Practice · Section 8

8–10 min

Fill in the blank

Question 1.I ____ (live) in Liverpool, but I'm visiting friends in Spain this week.

Question 2.I ____ (think) you're absolutely right.

Question 3.These days I ____ (try) to do more exercise.

Question 4.She ____ (work) for a tech start-up. She loves it.

Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.
Sentence transformation
Say it naturally

There isn't one "right" answer — write a natural version, then compare with the model.

Q1.Extend: 'I'm a student.' → Add ONE detail about your studies.

Q2.Make a natural answer to: 'Where are you from?'

Q3.Reply naturally: 'What do you do?'

Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.

Writing · Section 9

5 min

Put it in writing

Your task

Write a 70–90 word introduction of yourself for a new online community. Include: where you're from / based, what you do, one current project, and one thing you're into.

Your answer

Your work saves automatically

0 words

Show model answer

Hi everyone, I'm Ella. I'm originally from Brighton, but I'm based in Edinburgh now. I work as a freelance graphic designer, mostly for small food brands. At the moment I'm building my own website, which has been more work than I expected! Outside work I'm really into bouldering — I usually go twice a week with a friend. Looking forward to chatting with you all.

Speaking · Section 10

10–15 min

Make it a real conversation

Open in Useful Expressions

Role-play a first meeting at a casual networking event with your teacher (or a partner). One person introduces themselves; the other keeps the conversation going for at least four turns using a current project, a small detail and a follow-up question. Then swap roles. Group extension: rotate partners every two minutes.

Useful phrases

  • • I don't think we've met — I'm…
  • • I work in / as…
  • • At the moment I'm…
  • • How about you? What brings you here?
  • • Oh really? That sounds…

Speaking reflection & notes

Your work saves automatically

0 words

Dialogue completion
Choose the most natural reply.
  • ASo, what do you do?
  • B_______________
  • AOh nice. And are you working on anything in particular right now?
  • B_______________
Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.

Homework · Section 11

Take-home

Take it home

speaking

Record a 90-second voice note introducing yourself naturally (routine + right now + a small detail).

writing

Write 5 sentences using state verbs (know, like, want, believe, need) about yourself.

listening

Find a 1-minute self-introduction online (TED, LinkedIn, etc.) and note 3 natural expressions you could borrow.

Homework notes

Your work saves automatically

0 words

Recap · Section 12

2–3 min

What you've learned

  • Use Present Simple for permanent / routine information about you.
  • Use Present Continuous for current projects and temporary situations.
  • Keep state verbs (know, like, believe…) in the simple form.
  • Extend every answer: routine + right now + a small detail.
  • Ask back ('How about you?') to keep the conversation alive.
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