8 NA C2 Topic 6 House & Home

Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful. (William Morris)

Grammar	Home hunting
Language Function	Renting
Listening	First impressions + audio
Reading	Heritage sites
Speaking	Biophilic cities
Vocabulary	Housing
Writing	Waste collection

     

7 NA C1 2 Topic 6 House & Home

The best time to buy a home is always five years ago. (Ray Brown)

Grammar	Active & passive voice
Language Function	Interpreting information
Listening	Wonders of the world  + audio
Reading	High ideals
Speaking	The perfect city
Vocabulary	Dwellings
Writing	Renting a property

     

6 NA C1 1 Topic 6 House & Home

Where we love is home, home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.  (Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.)

Grammar	Active & passive voice
Language Function	Interpreting information
Listening	Favourite buildings + audio
Reading	Architecture & feelings
Speaking	Renting or buying property
Vocabulary	Living with words
Writing	Living in a commuter town

     

5 NI B2 2 Topic 6 Dwelling & Residing

Home is where one starts from. (T.S. Eliot). 

Grammar	Pets
Language Function	Asking for confirmation
Listening	Home improvements + audio
Reading	Neighbours
Speaking	Dialogue
Vocabulary	Tools
Writing	An appropriate apartment

      

4 NI B2 1 Topic 6 House & Home

A man's house is his castle. (James Otis)

Grammar	Adjectives
Language Function	Describing things
Listening	Renting + audio
Reading	Plans
Speaking	Accommodation
Vocabulary	Places to live
Writing	Living in a village

       

3 NI B1 Topic 6 Home

There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort. (Jane Austen)

Grammar	Compounds some, any, every, no
Language Function	Criticising
Listening	Dream house + audio
Reading	Living alone
Speaking	Your town/city
Vocabulary	Soft furnishings
Writing	Apartment to rent

     

2 NB 2 Topic 6 A Life

Every man dies. Not every man really lives. (William Wallace)

Grammar	The past
Language Function	Interpreting information
Listening	Life changes + audio
Reading	Nelson Mandela
Speaking	Life story
Vocabulary	A footballer's life
Writing	A biography

             

1 NB 1 Topic 6 Food & Eating Out

If you want to eat well in England, eat three breakfasts. (W. Somerset Maugham)

Grammar	much, many, a lot
Language Function	Expressing likes
Listening	Ordering food in a café : audio
Reading	School meals
Speaking	Food poem
Vocabulary	Food & drink
Writing	My favourite meal

Book 2 2026 Cloudless by Rupert Dastur

'And Alice, who has the sharpest ear of all, despite her age, also hears the phone but she is well practised at ignoring things she deems ugly; and how easy it is when her daughter is here, playing like this, as Alice always knew she could, like a dream, a miracle - and her own composition no less!'

For our second book of the year I recommend Cloudless by Rupert Dastur. After a very challenging start to the year, I think you will enjoy this beautifully written book. Against the backdrop of the war in Iraq, it is a deeply moving portrayal of a family's struggle to navigate the challenges of everyday life on a farm in Wales, far from the armed conflict, which, nonetheless, is threatening that which they hold most dear. Here is the worksheet.

Meetup: Friday, 27th February 5pm 

Book 1 2026 The Twelve Murders of Christmas by Sarah Dunnakey

'It looks like the scene of a murder, ironically, thought Judy, putting her suitcase down on the gravel and stepping back to get a fuller view of the façade of Bracestone House .'

For our first book of the year I recommend The Twelve Murders of Christmas by Sarah Dunnakey. Yes, we are continuing with the theme of Christmas, but you will need time to read this book if you want to do the puzzles as well! And on the subject of time, you will have only a maximum of two minutes to narrate each one of the murder mysteries so you will need all your summarising skills to accomplish the task successfully. Here is the worksheet.

Meetup: Friday, 30th January 5pm