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

8 NA C2 Topic 5 Free Time 1

Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection. (Winston Churchill)

Grammar	Future time
Language Function	Describing time
Listening	Tarot readings + audio
Reading	Good & bad reviews
Speaking	Cultural entertainment
Vocabulary	Boogy woogers
Writing	Theatre group

 

7 NA C1 2 Topic 5 Free Time 1

The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. We can help write that story by setting goals. (Melody Beattie)

Grammar	Prepositions
Language Function	Agreeing & contradicting
Listening	Jean-Michel Basquiat + audio
Reading	Vinyl revival
Speaking	Streaming leisure
Vocabulary	Music
Writing	Free time

6 NA C1 1 Topic 5 Free Time 1

T'was the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. (Clement Clarke Moore)

Grammar	Prepositions
Language Function	Agreeing & contradicting
Listening	Digital camera basics + audio
Reading	Golden years
Speaking	Entertainment
Vocabulary	The arts & entertainment
Writing	TV programmes

5 NI B2 2 Topic 5 Free Time & Christmas

I once wanted to become an atheist, but I gave up - they have no holidays. (Henry Youngman)

Grammar	Leisure & pleasure
Language Function	Drawing conclusions
Listening	Christmas traditions + audio
Reading	Eating & partying
Speaking	Cultural activities
Vocabulary	Crossword
Writing	Leisure time

 

4 NI B2 1 Topic 5 Free Time & Christmas

I absolutely adore Christmas. (Aurora)

Grammar	Verbs with two objects
Language Function	Describing the weather
Listening	New Year Resolutions + audio
Reading	Christmas
Speaking	Christmas
Vocabulary	Books & reading
Writing	The best present

3 NI B1 Topic 5 Free Time & Christmas

Spend your free time the way you like, not the way you think you're supposed to. (Susan Cain)

Grammar	Yet, still, already
Language Function	Describing a film
Listening	Keira Knightly + audio
Reading	Go Spanish this Christmas
Speaking	A New Year's Eve anecdote
Vocabulary	Participle adjectives
Writing	Getting to a party

2 NB 2 Topic 5 Christmas

At Christmas play and make good cheer, for Christmas comes but once a year. (Thomas Tusser)

Grammar	So, neither & auxiliaries
Language Function	Agreeing
Listening	Changing plans + audio
Reading	Christmas plans
Speaking	Speaking
Vocabulary	Advent calendar
Writing	Informal email

 

1 NB 1 Topic 5 Holiday 1 - Christmas

There's nothing better than curling up with a good book and sitting in front of the fire on winter evenings. (Leo Sayer)

Grammar	Adverbs of frequency
Language Function	Expressing likes
Listening	Hobbies : audio
Reading	University sports club
Speaking	Christmas
Vocabulary	Christmas
Writing	Christmas

8 NA C2 Topic 4 Health & Welfare

Sleep is that golden chain that ties health and our bodies together. (Thomas Dekker)

Grammar	Health & cigarettes
Language Function	Comprehending text
Listening	Health insurance : audio
Reading	Worrying
Speaking	Anti-vax movements
Vocabulary	Health & the body
Writing	Traditional & modern medicines