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Episode 4 · English Energy

Train Your
Brain

Her list has a new name in it. She has not written it down yet.

Level A2 ≈ 25 minutes British English Habits and connectors

How to Get the Most from This Lesson

  1. First, just read and listen. Nothing is checked here. Tap the underlined words to see them in Ukrainian.
  2. Then do the exercises.
  3. At the end, speak out loud. This is the most important part of the lesson. Do not skip it.
Nina looking out of a café window, lost in thought
Lesson 1 Lesson 1 · On your own · текст, аудіювання, словник
Warm-up · From Episode 3
Before you start

Two minutes on Episode 3

Do not look back at the lesson. Guess, even if you are not sure. Remembering something badly is what makes it stay.

Last September, Nina something very small.

It two minutes.

Emma said: “You look well. Something’s .”

The man from the bus stop finally got a name. It’s .

Episode 3 in one line: the brain finds what it for.

Episode 3 in one line: notice something good, write it down, and the brain starts looking for more.
This episode is about the noticing that happens without permission.
Before you read

When your brain repeats something

Everybody’s brain does this: repeats a song, a worry, a name, a sentence, for no reason at all. What does yours repeat most?

Step 1 · Text

One Name, Four Times

Read it twice: once on your own, then again with the audio.

Nina’s list still has three things every morning. But lately, one name keeps trying to join it, and she keeps leaving it out.

Список Ніни й досі має три речі щоранку. Але останнім часом одне ім'я намагається туди потрапити, а вона щоразу його забирає.
Nina writing in her notebook, leaving a name out of her list

She notices small things. That is the whole point of the habit. And most mornings, the small thing is: Tom said “Morning” again today. She writes about the tea instead.

Вона помічає дрібниці, у цьому й суть звички. І більшість ранків та дрібниця це: «Том знову сказав "Morning" сьогодні». Натомість вона пише про чай.

Her brain does something strange. It repeats his voice for no reason: in the shower, on the bus, right before sleep. She does not choose this. It just happens, again and again, like a song she did not ask for.

Її мозок робить щось дивне. Він повторює його голос без жодної причини: у душі, в автобусі, перед сном. Вона цього не обирає. Це просто трапляється, знову і знову, як пісня, яку вона не замовляла.
Nina on the bus, his voice repeating in her head for no reason

She likes her routine, and she likes her quiet mornings, but now there is a small, new problem: her mornings are not quiet anymore, because one thought keeps interrupting them.

Їй подобається її рутина, і подобаються тихі ранки, але тепер є маленька нова проблема: її ранки більше не тихі, бо одна думка постійно їх перериває.

Tom comes to the café most days. He always orders a flat white, so the barista does not even ask anymore, and then he sits near the window with his laptop. Nina knows his coffee order better than she knows anything else about him.

Том приходить до кав'ярні майже щодня. Він завжди замовляє flat white, тому бариста вже навіть не питає, а потім сідає біля вікна з ноутбуком. Ніна знає його замовлення кави краще, ніж будь-що інше про нього.
Tom ordering his usual flat white and sitting by the window with his laptop

Emma notices everything, so of course she notices this too. She says nothing, but she smiles into her coffee cup in a very particular way.

Емма помічає все, тож, звісно, помічає й це. Вона нічого не каже, але усміхається у свою чашку кави якимось дуже особливим чином.
Emma smiling into her coffee cup, having noticed everything

Nina does not have a plan. She just has a name that will not stay quiet, and a notebook that is starting to feel a little dishonest.

У Ніни немає плану. У неї є лише ім'я, яке не хоче мовчати, і блокнот, який починає здаватися трохи нечесним.

Some habits change your mornings before you understand why.

Деякі звички змінюють твої ранки ще до того, як ти розумієш чому.
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.

One name keeps trying to it.
She writes about the instead.
It just happens, again and .
He always orders a flat .
A notebook that is starting to feel a little .

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.

  • keeps trying to join it намагається туди потрапити
  • for no reason без жодної причини
  • interrupting /ˌɪntəˈrʌptɪŋ/ перериваючи
  • a flat white кава з еспресо й молоком
  • a little dishonest /dɪsˈɒnɪst/ трохи нечесний
  • I’m concentrating. Я зосереджуюсь.
  • glanced at the window /ɡlɑːnst/ кинула погляд на вікно
  • a crush /krʌʃ/ закоханість, симпатія
  • That’s not the same thing. Це не те саме.
  • complicated /ˈkɒmplɪkeɪtɪd/ складний, заплутаний
  • Nobody’s asking for a plan. Ніхто не просить план.
  • The usual, thanks. Як завжди, дякую.
  • It’s very loud. Це дуже помітно.
Lesson 2 Lesson 2 · With your teacher · перевірка, діалог, граматика, говоріння
Before we start

Your own list

You read about Nina’s list today. Does your brain ever add something to a list without meaning to?

Before the dialogue

Quick check: the text

You read this at home. Three questions, no looking back.

One name keeps trying to join Nina’s list.

Nina writes his name in her list every day.

Tom orders something different every time.

Before the dialogue

Answer in a few words

Short answers, from the text. The last one needs a full thought, not one word.

What does one name keep trying to do?
What does Nina write instead of his name?
Where does Tom sit at the café?
What does Tom always order?
Why does Nina’s notebook feel a little dishonest?

Step 4 · Dialogue

Emma and Nina

A café, Tuesday morning. Nina is reading, or trying to.

Scene 1 · Reading the window, not the book
EmmaYou’ve read that sentence four times.
NinaI’m concentrating.
EmmaYou’re concentrating on the window.
Nina(laughing) Okay, fine. Maybe I glanced at the window.
EmmaNina. You glance at that window every single morning now.
NinaI like the light.
EmmaYou like the light that arrives at nine, with a flat white. So, are we talking about this or not?
Nina reading by the café window, not really reading at all
Scene 2 · The brain thing
NinaOkay, weird question. Does your brain ever repeat someone’s name for no reason?
EmmaEvery single day. It’s called having a crush.
NinaI don’t have a crush. I just notice him. That’s different.
Emma(laughing) Sure. And I “just notice” chocolate cake.
NinaThat is not the same thing.
EmmaIt’s exactly the same thing.
Emma teasing Nina about having a crush on Tom
Scene 3 · The list problem
NinaMy gratitude list is getting complicated.
EmmaHow complicated can three sentences be?
NinaI keep almost writing his name, and then I write “the tea” instead.
EmmaThat is the most English thing I have ever heard. A whole feeling, hidden inside a cup of tea.
NinaI don’t have a plan, Emma.
EmmaNobody’s asking for a plan. Just write the real sentence one day.
Nina talking about her complicated gratitude list
Scene 4 · The usual
Tom(to the barista, passing) The usual, thanks.
Nina(very quickly, to her tea, not looking up) The tea’s good today.
Emma(watching Nina not look) Very convincing.
Emma watching Nina pretend not to look at Tom
NinaI wasn’t looking.
EmmaYou were doing the opposite of looking. It’s very loud.
Переклад діалогу. Сцена 1: «Ти прочитала це речення вчетверте.» «Я зосереджуюсь.» «Ти зосереджуєшся на вікні.» «Гаразд, добре. Може, я й глянула у вікно.» «Ніно. Ти дивишся у те вікно щоранку тепер.» «Мені подобається світло.» «Тобі подобається світло, яке приходить о дев'ятій, разом із flat white. Отже, ми про це говоримо чи ні?» Сцена 2: «Гаразд, дивне питання. Твій мозок коли-небудь повторює чиєсь ім'я без жодної причини?» «Щодня. Це називається закоханістю.» «У мене немає закоханості. Я просто його помічаю. Це інше.» «Аякже. А я «просто помічаю» шоколадний торт.» «Це не те саме.» «Це те саме.» Сцена 3: «Мій список вдячності стає заплутаним.» «Наскільки заплутаними можуть бути три речення?» «Я весь час мало не пишу його ім'я, а потім пишу «чай» натомість.» «Це найанглійськіша річ, яку я коли-небудь чула. Ціле почуття, сховане в чашці чаю.» «У мене немає плану, Еммо.» «Ніхто не просить план. Просто напиши правдиве речення одного дня.» Сцена 4: «Як завжди, дякую.» «Чай сьогодні смачний.» «Дуже переконливо.» «Я не дивилась.» «Ти робила протилежне до дивитися. Це дуже помітно.»
After the dialogue

Complete the line

Straight from the scenes you just heard. Pick the word that completes each line.

“I’m .”

“Maybe I at the window.”

“It’s called having a .”

“My gratitude list is getting .”

“The , thanks.”

Step 5 · Grammar

Joining ideas: and, but, because, so

1 · Meaning: what each word adds

Four small words turn short, separate sentences into one natural one. Every one of them comes straight from this episode.

Чотири маленькі слова перетворюють короткі, окремі речення на одне природне. Кожне з них узято прямо з цього епізоду.
and adds one idea to another
She likes her routine, and she likes her quiet mornings.
but shows a contrast, a surprise turn
...but now there is a small, new problem.
because gives the reason
Her mornings are not quiet, because one thought keeps interrupting them.
so gives the result
He always orders a flat white, so the barista does not even ask.
and додає одну думку до іншої: «Їй подобається її рутина, і подобаються тихі ранки». but показує протиставлення, несподіваний поворот: «...але тепер є маленька нова проблема». because дає причину: «Її ранки не тихі, бо одна думка постійно їх перериває». so дає результат: «Він завжди замовляє flat white, тому бариста вже навіть не питає».
2 · Form: word order and the comma

All four sit between two full sentences, each with its own subject and verb. When you join two complete sentences with and, but or so, a comma goes before the connector.

Усі чотири стоять між двома повними реченнями, кожне зі своїм підметом і дієсловом. Коли ти з'єднуєш два повних речення за допомогою and, but або so, кома ставиться перед сполучником.
and / but / soShe likes her mornings, but now there is a problem.
comma + connector + new sentence
becauseHer mornings are not quiet, because one thought keeps interrupting them.
works the same way, mid-sentence
Because can also open the sentence, but then the whole first half needs a comma before the main idea starts.
Because one thought keeps interrupting her, Nina cannot concentrate.
Because також може починати речення, але тоді перед головною думкою ставиться кома. Because one thought keeps interrupting her, Nina cannot concentrate. (Через те, що одна думка постійно її перериває, Ніна не може зосередитись.)
3 · Four mistakes almost everybody makes

She likes her mornings, and now there is a problem. → She likes her mornings, but now there is a problem. The second half contrasts with the first. And only adds, it never contrasts.

Друга частина суперечить першій. And лише додає, ніколи не протиставляє.

He orders a flat white, because the barista does not ask. → He orders a flat white, so the barista does not ask. Not asking is the result of his habit, not the reason for it.

Те, що бариста не питає, це результат його звички, а не причина.

Because she did not sleep, tired. → Because she did not sleep, she is tired. The second half needs its own subject and verb, it cannot be just one word.

Друга частина мусить мати власний підмет і дієслово, це не може бути просто одне слово.

She likes her routine but now there is a problem. → She likes her routine, but now there is a problem. Two full sentences joined by but, so or and get a comma before the connector.

Два повних речення, з'єднані but, so чи and, отримують кому перед сполучником.

4 · Check the idea before you practise
“She likes her mornings, but now there is a problem.” Does but add information, or show something different from what came before?
Something different. But always turns the sentence, it never just adds.
Щось відмінне. But завжди повертає речення в інший бік, ніколи просто не додає.
“Because one thought keeps interrupting them.” Is because giving a reason, or a result?
A reason. Because always answers the question “why”.
Причину. Because завжди відповідає на питання «чому».
“He orders a flat white, so the barista does not ask.” Is so the cause, or the result?
The result. So always comes after the cause, and it answers “what happened because of that”.
Результат. So завжди йде після причини і відповідає на питання «що сталося через це».

Now the practice. Every sentence comes from this episode. Choose the connector that fits.

She likes her mornings, now there is a problem.
Her mornings are not quiet, one thought keeps interrupting them.
He orders a flat white, the barista does not even ask.
She likes her tea, she likes her quiet mornings.
Nina writes about the tea, she does not write his name.
Emma notices everything, of course she notices this too.
Nina’s notebook feels dishonest, she keeps leaving his name out.
Tom sits near the window, he opens his laptop.

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 list

What keeps trying to join Nina’s list?

One name keeps trying to join Nina’s list every morning.
Step 2 · instead

What does Nina write instead?

She writes about the tea instead.
Step 3 · the order

What does Tom always order?

He always orders a flat white.
Step 4 · Emma

What does Emma do when she notices?

She says nothing, but she smiles into her coffee cup.
Step 5 · no plan

What does Nina have, and what does she not have?

She has a name that will not stay quiet, and she does not have a plan.

Now all five sentences in a row, in one recording.

Speaking 2 · From the dialogue

Be Nina

Emma 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 does your brain repeat?

Not your whole life. One small thing your brain keeps repeating this week, and why, probably.

1 · What repeats “My brain repeats __________.”
2 · Why, probably “…, because __________.”
3 · What you do about it “…, so __________.”

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. Answer short and answer true.

Get ready to speak out loud.

Lesson 3 Lesson 3 · On your own · вправи, 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.

Nina writes Tom’s name in her gratitude list every day.

Tom comes to the café most days.

Emma does not notice anything different about Nina.

Nina says she definitely has a crush on Tom.

Nina’s gratitude list is getting complicated.

Tom says something long and complicated to the barista.

Exercise 3

And, but, because, or so?

One connector is missing. Pick it. Think about what job it does: add, contrast, reason, or result.

She likes her mornings, now there is a problem.

Her mornings are not quiet, one thought keeps interrupting them.

He orders a flat white, the barista does not even ask.

She likes her tea, she likes her quiet mornings.

Nina writes about the tea, she does not write his name.

Emma notices everything, of course she notices this too.

Exercise 4

Put the lines in order

This is Scene 2. 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.

  1. Nina: Okay, weird question. Does your brain ever repeat someone’s name for no reason?
  2. Emma: Every single day. It’s called having a crush.
  3. Nina: I don’t have a crush. I just notice him. That’s different.
  4. Emma: Sure. And I “just notice” chocolate cake.
  5. Nina: That is not the same thing.
  6. Emma: It’s exactly the same thing.

Exercise 5

Translate into English

Write full sentences. Capital letters and punctuation are not checked.

Їй подобаються її ранки, але тепер є проблема.
Одна думка постійно перериває її ранки.
Він завжди замовляє flat white.
У мене немає плану.
Це просто трапляється, знову і знову.

Speaking 5 · In real life

Your mission this week

Notice what your brain does without asking permission, and be honest about it, in English.

Bonus · What repeats
Bonus

Today, my brain keeps repeating…

Not checked, not sent anywhere. Just yours. Write honestly, even if it is small or strange.

Nina’s honest line, from her notebook: “I keep almost writing his name, and then I write the tea instead.”

Yours does not have to be about a person. A worry, a song, an unfinished sentence, a decision you have not made, it all counts.

Tap a starter, then finish the sentence. Three lines are enough.

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    Takeaways
    
What to take with you

    
You made it through Episode 4. Here is what stays with you: language, ideas, and a bit more honesty.
      


    
Key expressions

    

    
Key ideas

    

    
The grammar you practised

    

    
Words to remember

    

    
“Nobody’s asking for a plan. Just write the real sentence one day.”
      Emma · Episode 4, English Energy


    
  


  

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    Episode 5. Two Cups of Tea →