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Sunday, 15 June 2025

Book 7 2025 The Train from Platform 2 by Stephanie Steel

'Sometimes you needed that brash American energy to put people in their place. She'd interviewed a witness once, a tourist from Kansas who'd seen a mugging, and taken it upon themselves to intervene and hold the culprit down until the police had arrived. Idiotic, yes, but something about this Kansas mum's confidence in having done the right thing had charmed Jess a little. She'd still read her the riot act though and told her not to play hero anymore on London streets; muggers often have knives. The woman had laughed at that and then said sadly, 'Oh honey, even our teachers have guns.'   


For our seventh book of the year I recommend The Train from Platform 2 by Stephanie Steel. I thought it was time for another murder mystery to keep us on our toes and glued to the page. I hope this does not put you off underground travel just as you are all probably setting your summer travel plans in motion! Here is the worksheet.

Meetup: Friday, 25th July 5pm

Sunday, 8 June 2025

8 NA C2 Topic 12 Free Time and the Summer

Never, ever underestimate the importance of having fun. (Randy Pausch)


Grammar

      Family shots      

Language Function

      Holiday complaint      

Listening

        Australian visas + audio    

Reading 

       Gamification          

Speaking

       The travel bug         

Vocabulary

         Great expectations       

Writing

            Close to nature       

Saturday, 7 June 2025

7 NA C1 2 Topic 12 Free Time and the Summer

Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability. (Sam Keen)


Grammar

     Television     

Language Function

      Evaluating      

Listening

       Reality shows + audio 

Reading 

      Reality TV        

Speaking

          Planning a trip           

Vocabulary

      Travelling      

Writing

           TV shows           

   

Friday, 6 June 2025

6 NA C1 1 Topic 12 Free Time and the Summer

Aaah, summer - that long anticipated stretch of lazy, lingering days, free of responsibility and rife with possibility. It's a time to hunt for insects, master handstands, practise swimming strokes, conquer trees, explore nooks and crannies, and make new friends. (Darell Hammond)

Grammar

       Reporting verbs         

Language Function

  Explaining  

Listening

       Holidays audio

Reading 

       A letter of protest          

Speaking

       Silent retreat        

Vocabulary

      Television        

Writing

       Leisure time          






 

Thursday, 5 June 2025

5 NI B2 2 Topic 12 Free Time & the Summer

The summer night is like a perfection of thought . (Wallace Stevens). 

Grammar

      The Longest Day        

Language Function

   Relating Past Events    

Listening

       Singapore + audio

Reading  

      Summer 2021          

Speaking

      On the move          

Vocabulary 

    Driving       

Writing

     A complaint    

 

Wednesday, 4 June 2025

4 NI B1 1 Topic 12 Free Time & the Summer

 Summer break: the time when parents realise teachers are grossly underpaid. (Unknown)

Grammar 

        Sentence transfer        

Language Function

       Making arrangements  

Listening

     Flying + audio  

Reading

      Fun in Spain        

Speaking

      Travelling   

Vocabulary

      Holidays    

Writing 

      A letter    

Tuesday, 3 June 2025

3 NI B1 Topic 12 Free Time & the Summer

Do what we can, summer will have its flies. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Grammar

  Say & tell   

Language Function

      Reporting       

Listening

      Bad service + audio 

Reading

      Travelling by train      

Speaking  

      Travelling        

Vocabulary

      Travelling by plane        

Writing

       An interesting trip          

 

Monday, 2 June 2025

2 NB 2 Topic 12 Home or Away

I love holidays. It's such a wonderful time for the whole family to be together and not have to worry about schedules and that kind of thing.  (Toni Collette)

Grammar

   For & since       

Language Function

      Describing actions     

Listening

       Travel complaint + audio 

Reading

     A trip to England  

Speaking

    Summer holiday     

Vocabulary    

     In the kitchen   

Writing

    Staycation