A message with no small talk in it, and a list with his name spelled correctly, on purpose.
Level A2≈ 25 minutesBritish EnglishPast and future, together
How to Get the Most from This Lesson
First, just read and listen. Nothing is checked here. Tap the underlined words to see them in Ukrainian.
Then do the exercises.
At the end, speak out loud. This is the most important part of the lesson. Do not skip it.
Lesson 1 Lesson 1 · On your own · текст, аудіювання, словник
Warm-up · From Episode 10
Before you start
Two minutes on Episode 10
Do not look back at the lesson. Guess, even if you are not sure. Remembering something badly is what makes it stay.
When Danny asked, Tom .
Danny’s been Tom about Nina for two months.
Tom first noticed Nina at the .
Tom’s small confession: “I’m .”
Emma’s verdict on herself: “I’m always .”
Episode 10 in one line: the truth was smaller than the story Nina built, and it changed everything.
This episode is what people do after the truth: they start again, honestly this time.
Before you read
After the honest conversation
After a hard, honest conversation clears the air, what usually comes next?
Step 1 · Text
On Purpose
Read it twice: once on your own, then again with the audio. Notice the past and the future, side by side.
Two days after the confession, Tom sends a message that starts with no small talk at all: “I want to do this properly. Are you free Thursday?”
Через два дні після зізнання Том надсилає повідомлення, яке починається зовсім без світської бесіди: «Я хочу зробити це як слід. Ти вільна в четвер?»
Nina reads it three times, and this time the third reading does not change the meaning.
Ніна перечитує його тричі, і цього разу третє прочитання не змінює сенсу.
She thinks about everything that got them here: a bus stop in the rain, a gig that went wrong, a Monday she almost didn’t have the courage for. Then she types: “I’m free. What are we going to do?”
Вона думає про все, що привело їх сюди: зупинку під дощем, концерт, який пішов не так, понеділок, на який їй ледве вистачило сміливості. Потім вона друкує: «Я вільна. Що ми будемо робити?»
“I’m not telling you,” he writes back. “Last time I planned something small, and it turned into a whole misunderstanding. This time, I’m going to surprise you properly.”
«Не скажу», пише він у відповідь. «Минулого разу я спланував щось маленьке, і воно перетворилося на ціле непорозуміння. Цього разу я збираюсь здивувати тебе як слід.»
Nina laughs out loud, alone in her kitchen, which has not happened in a while.
Ніна сміється вголос, сама на кухні, чого не траплялося вже давно.
She writes three things in her list that morning, and for the first time, one of them has his name in it, spelled correctly, on purpose.
Того ранку вона пише три речі у своєму списку, і вперше одна з них має його ім'я, написане правильно, навмисно.
Some stories do not start over. They just finally start telling the truth.
Деякі історії не починаються заново. Вони просто нарешті починають говорити правду.
Step 2 · Listen and write
What did you hear?
Five sentences from the story. Play each one on its own with the button beside it, as many times as you need, and write the missing word.
“I want to do this .”
The third reading does not change the .
A Monday she almost didn’t have the for.
It turned into a whole .
Spelled correctly, on .
Step 3 · Words and phrases
Listen and repeat
Try to remember first, then flip the card. Say every phrase out loud. Not in your head, out loud, so your mouth remembers it.
no small talk at allбез жодної світської бесіди
the third readingтретє прочитання
properly/ˈprɒpəli/як слід, належним чином
not very reassuringне дуже заспокійливо
a whole misunderstandingціле непорозуміння
surprise you properlyздивувати тебе як слід
comfortable shoesзручне взуття
slightly concerningтрохи тривожно
deciding things, instead of guessing themвирішуючи, а не гадаючи
You’re welcome.Прошу, нема за що.
eventually/ɪˈventʃuəli/врешті-решт
Lead the way.Веди, показуй дорогу.
on purposeнавмисно
Lesson 2 Lesson 2 · With your teacher · діалог, граматика, вправи, говоріння
Before we start
Doing it properly
You just read Tom's message: “I want to do this properly.” What does doing it properly mean to you, in a new relationship?
Before the dialogue
Quick check: the text
You read this at home. Three questions, no looking back.
Tom’s message starts with no small talk at all.
Tom tells Nina exactly where they are going.
Nina writes his name in her list, spelled correctly, on purpose.
Before the dialogue
Answer in a few words
Short answers, from the text. The last one needs a full thought, not one word.
How many days after the confession does Tom message Nina?
What does Tom ask Nina?
What happened last time Tom planned something small?
What does Tom tell Nina to wear?
What does the closing line say some stories do, instead of starting over?
Step 4 · Dialogue
Tom, Nina, and Emma
Text messages, Wednesday. Then Emma's sofa. Then, Thursday, Nina's front door.
Scene 1 · No small talk
TomI want to do this properly. Are you free Thursday?
NinaI’m free. What are we going to do?
TomI’m not telling you.
NinaThat’s not very reassuring, after last time.
TomLast time I planned something small, and it turned into a whole misunderstanding. This time, I’m going to surprise you properly.
NinaShould I be worried?
TomYou should wear comfortable shoes. That’s all I’m saying.
Scene 2 · Telling Emma
EmmaHe’s planning something and won’t tell you?
NinaApparently.
EmmaThat’s either very romantic or slightly concerning.
NinaI’ve decided it’s romantic.
EmmaLook at you. Deciding things, instead of guessing them.
NinaI learned from somewhere.
EmmaYou’re welcome.
Scene 3 · Thursday
TomReady?
NinaI still don’t know where we’re going.
TomThat was the plan.
NinaYou’re going to have to tell me eventually.
TomEventually. Not today.
NinaFine. Lead the way.
Переклад діалогу. Сцена 1: «Я хочу зробити це як слід. Ти вільна в четвер?» «Я вільна. Що ми будемо робити?» «Не скажу.» «Не дуже заспокійливо, після минулого разу.» «Минулого разу я спланував щось маленьке, і воно перетворилося на ціле непорозуміння. Цього разу я збираюсь здивувати тебе як слід.» «Мені варто хвилюватись?» «Одягни зручне взуття. Оце й усе, що я скажу.» Сцена 2: «Він щось планує і не скаже тобі?» «Виявляється.» «Це або дуже романтично, або трохи тривожно.» «Я вирішила, що романтично.» «Ти диви. Вирішуєш, а не гадаєш.» «Десь же я цьому навчилась.» «Нема за що.» Сцена 3: «Готова?» «Я досі не знаю, куди ми йдемо.» «Такий був план.» «Тобі доведеться сказати мені врешті-решт.» «Врешті-решт. Не сьогодні.» «Гаразд. Веди.»
After the dialogue
Complete the line
Straight from the scenes you just heard. Pick the word that completes each line.
“I want to do this .”
“That’s not very , after last time.”
“It turned into a whole .”
“That’s either very romantic or slightly .”
“You’re going to have to tell me .”
Step 5 · Grammar
Past Simple and going to, together
1 · Meaning: looking back, and looking forward, in one breath
Real conversation rarely stays in one tense. People explain what already happened, and then say what they are going to do about it, often in the very next sentence.
Справжня розмова рідко лишається в одному часі. Люди пояснюють, що вже сталося, а потім кажуть, що вони збираються з цим робити, часто вже наступним реченням.
Past Simple
what already happened Last time I planned something small, and it turned into a misunderstanding.
going to
what happens because of it This time, I’m going to surprise you properly.
Notice the small word that often sits between them: this time, so, now. These words mark the turn from the past into the plan.
Зверни увагу на маленьке слово, яке часто стоїть між ними: this time, so, now. Ці слова позначають перехід від минулого до плану.
2 · Form: a quick side-by-side recap
Past Simple
going to
I planned something small.
I’m going to surprise you.
It turned into a misunderstanding.
I’m not going to make that mistake again.
She almost didn’t have the courage.
She’s going to ask next time, without waiting.
Ліва колонка: одна завершена дія в минулому. Права колонка: намір чи план, am/is/are + going to + базове дієслово.
One trick for choosing: if you can point to a moment that is already finished, use Past Simple. If you are still standing in front of that moment, deciding what comes next, use going to. I planned something small (finished). I’m going to surprise you (still ahead).
3 · Four mistakes almost everybody makes
Last time I plan something small. → Last time I planned something small.A finished past event needs Past Simple, not the base form.
Завершена минула подія потребує Past Simple, а не базової форми.
This time I surprise you properly. → This time I’m going to surprise you properly.A plan for what comes next needs going to, not plain Present Simple.
План на те, що буде далі, потребує going to, а не простого Present Simple.
She decided it's romantic, and she guess it before. → She decided it’s romantic, and she guessed it before.Two past actions in one sentence both need the past form, even the second one.
Дві минулі дії в одному реченні обидві потребують минулої форми, навіть друга.
You going to have to tell me. → You’re going to have to tell me.Are can never disappear before going to, even in a fast, casual sentence.
Are ніколи не може зникнути перед going to, навіть у швидкому, розмовному реченні.
4 · Check the idea before you practise
“Last time I planned something small, and it turned into a misunderstanding.” Is this finished, or still happening?
Finished. It is a completed story from the past, told with Past Simple.
Завершено. Це закінчена історія з минулого, розказана в Past Simple.
“This time, I’m going to surprise you properly.” Has this happened yet?
No. It is a plan, standing just before the moment it describes.
Ні. Це план, що стоїть якраз перед моментом, який описує.
Why does a story about the past sometimes end with a sentence in going to?
Because telling the past often leads naturally into a decision about the future, and the tense simply follows the meaning.
Бо розповідь про минуле часто природно переходить у рішення про майбутнє, і час просто йде за змістом.
Now the practice. Every sentence comes from this episode. Choose Past Simple or going to, whichever fits.
Last time I something small. (plan)
This time, I you properly. (surprise)
It into a whole misunderstanding. (turn)
I it’s romantic. (decide, just now)
You to tell me eventually. (have)
“That the plan,” Tom said. (be)
Part 3 · Speak
Speaking 1 · From the text
Retell the story in five steps
One sentence out loud for each card. Say it yourself first, and only then open the model.
Step 1 · the message
How does Tom's message start?
It starts with no small talk at all: “I want to do this properly.”
Step 2 · the reply
What does Nina ask back?
She asks what they are going to do.
Step 3 · the reason
Why won't Tom tell her the plan?
Last time a small plan turned into a misunderstanding, so this time he wants to surprise her properly.
Step 4 · Emma
What does Nina decide, instead of guessing?
She decides it’s romantic.
Step 5 · the list
What does Nina finally write in her list, on purpose?
She writes his name, spelled correctly, on purpose.
Now all five sentences in a row, in one recording.
Speaking 2 · From the dialogue
Be Nina
Tom speaks, you answer as Nina. Round 1: read along with the model. Round 2: speak on your own, with only a Ukrainian hint on screen.
Speaking 3 · Your turn
What happened, and what's next
Something that did not go perfectly, once. And what you are going to do differently, this time.
1 · What happened “Last time, __________.” 2 · What you're going to do “This time, I’m going to __________.” 3 · Why “Because __________.”
Now say them out loud. The page will listen and tell you which phrases from the lesson you used.
Speaking 4 · Fast
Ten seconds to answer
Five questions in a row, half past, half future. Answer short and answer fast.
Get ready to speak out loud.
Lesson 3 Lesson 3 · On your own · місія, рефлексія, надсилання
Part 2 · Exercises
Exercise 1
Match the pairs
Tap a phrase on the left, then its meaning on the right.
Exercise 2
True or False?
About the text and the dialogue.
Tom’s message has no small talk in it at all.
Tom tells Nina exactly what they are going to do on Thursday.
Tom tells Nina to wear comfortable shoes.
Emma says the secret plan is either romantic or slightly concerning.
Nina finds out the plan before Thursday arrives.
For the first time, Nina writes Tom’s name in her gratitude list, on purpose.
Exercise 3
Past Simple, or going to?
Already finished, or still ahead? Pick the form that fits.
Last time, Tom something small. (finished)
This time, I you. (still ahead)
It into a misunderstanding. (finished)
You to tell me eventually. (still ahead)
Nina his name in her list this morning. (finished)
“That the plan,” Tom said. (finished)
Exercise 4
Put the lines in order
This is Scene 1. Drag a line by its handle, or move it with the arrows, until the conversation makes sense. Not sure? Listen to the scene and let your ear decide.
Tom: I want to do this properly. Are you free Thursday?
Nina: I’m free. What are we going to do?
Tom: I’m not telling you.
Nina: That’s not very reassuring, after last time.
Tom: Last time I planned something small, and it turned into a whole misunderstanding.
Nina: Should I be worried?
Exercise 5
Translate into English
Write full sentences. Capital letters and punctuation are not checked.
Я хочу зробити це як слід.
Що ми будемо робити?
Минулого разу я спланував щось маленьке.
Я збираюсь тебе здивувати.
Веди.
Speaking 5 · In real life
Your mission this week
Take something that did not go perfectly, and plan, out loud, how you would do it differently.
Bonus · On purpose
Bonus
Something I finally did on purpose
Not checked, not sent anywhere. Just yours. What have you finally started doing honestly, on purpose, instead of avoiding it?
The line from the story: “Some stories do not start over. They just finally start telling the truth.”
Starting over rarely means erasing everything. It usually means finally being honest about what was already there.
Tap a starter, then finish the sentence. Three lines are enough.
0 words
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Займаєшся з викладачем? Прочитай свою рефлексію вголос на наступному занятті.
Send
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Takeaways
What to take with you
You made it through Episode 11. Here is what stays with you: language, ideas, and one plan nobody will explain yet.
Key expressions
no small talk at all Starting straight with what matters.
properly Doing something the right way, fully, this time.
a whole misunderstanding A small thing that grew much bigger than it should have.
not very reassuring Politely admitting a plan sounds risky.
deciding things, instead of guessing them The whole emotional arc of this course, in one line.
on purpose Choosing honesty, deliberately, not by accident.
Key ideas
Starting over usually means starting to tell the truth, not starting from nothing.
A plan built after a mistake often carries more care than the first one did.
Deciding, instead of guessing, is a skill you can watch yourself learn.
Some things are worth writing down on purpose, once you are finally sure.
The grammar you practised
Past Simple, for what already happened: Last time I planned something small.
going to, for what comes next: This time, I’m going to surprise you properly.
The turn between them: this time, so, now.
One trick: a finished moment = Past Simple; a moment still ahead = going to.
Words to remember
properly in the right, full way
a misunderstanding a mistake in what someone understood
reassuring making a worry feel smaller
eventually at some point, after some time
deliberately on purpose, by choice
trust believing someone, without needing every detail
“Some stories do not start over. They just finally start telling the truth.”
Narrator · Episode 11, English Energy
