← Back to course English Energy · Episode 7
0 / 21
Episode 7 · English Energy

Second
Thoughts

Eleven at night, the night before Friday, and a brain that will not stop building stories.

Level A2 ≈ 25 minutes British English Plans and worry

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 on the phone late at night, notebook open beside her
Lesson 1 Lesson 1 · On your own · текст, аудіювання, словник
Warm-up · From Episode 6
Before you start

Two minutes on Episode 6

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

It . (rain)

Tom and Nina meet again, by chance, under the same bus .

For once, nobody is .

I exactly how this feels. (state verb)

Emma’s line: “You’re it again.”

Episode 6 in one line: Present Continuous is for right now, or for something true only for a while.
This episode adds a third job for it: a plan that is already fixed, for a day that has not come yet.
Before you read

The night before something matters

You have something small but important tomorrow. What does your brain do the night before?

Step 1 · Text

Rent-Free

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

Before he left the shelter, Tom said one sentence that is now living in Nina’s head, rent-free: “I’m working from the café on Friday, if you fancy the same table.”

Перш ніж піти з-під навісу, Том сказав одне речення, яке тепер живе в голові Ніни, безкоштовно: «У п'ятницю я працюю з кав'ярні, якщо тобі підходить той самий столик.»
Tom inviting Nina to share his table on Friday, remembered from the bus shelter

It sounded like nothing. It sounded like everything. Nina has been rehearsing what to say on Friday, and she already said yes on Wednesday.

Це прозвучало як нічого. Це прозвучало як усе. Ніна вже репетирує, що скаже в п’ятницю, а погодилась вона ще в середу.

Now it is Thursday night, and her brain is doing what it does best: finding problems that do not exist yet. What if she is talking too much? What if he is only being polite? What if the whole thing is happening in her head and nowhere else?

Зараз четвер увечері, і її мозок робить те, що вміє найкраще: знаходить проблеми, яких ще не існує. А що, якщо вона забагато говорить? А що, якщо він просто ввічливий? А що, якщо все це відбувається лише в її голові й ніде більше?
Nina alone on the sofa late Thursday night, overthinking

“You’re always doing this,” Emma says later, on the phone. “Building a whole story before the first page is even written.”

«Ти завжди так робиш», каже Емма пізніше, по телефону. «Вигадуєш цілу історію ще до того, як написана перша сторінка.»
Nina calling Emma late at night from her sofa

“What if it’s nothing?” Nina asks. “Then it’s nothing,” Emma says. “You’re not losing anything on Friday. You’re just finding out.”

«А що, якщо це нічого не означає?» питає Ніна. «Тоді це нічого не означає», каже Емма. «Ти нічого не втрачаєш у п'ятницю. Ти просто дізнаєшся.»

It is a small thing to say, but it is exactly the thing Nina needs to hear at eleven at night, the night before a coffee that might mean everything or nothing at all.

Це невелика фраза, але саме те, що Ніні треба почути об одинадцятій вечора, напередодні кави, яка може означати все або нічого.
Nina relaxed on the sofa after the reassuring phone call

Some doubts are just excitement, wearing a worried face.

Деякі сумніви це просто хвилювання, що вдягло стурбоване обличчя.
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’m from the café on Friday.”
Nina has been what to say on Friday.
What if he is only being ?
Building a whole before the first page is written.
You’re just out.

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.

  • rent-free безкоштовно, не платячи за це (ідіома)
  • rehearsing /rɪˈhɜːsɪŋ/ репетируючи
  • You’re always doing this. Ти завжди так робиш.
  • building a whole story вигадуючи цілу історію
  • You’re just finding out. Ти просто дізнаєшся.
  • Are you awake? Ти не спиш?
  • Obviously not. Очевидно, що ні.
  • something matters щось важливе, щось має значення
  • nervous /ˈnɜːvəs/ знервована
  • being polite просто ввічливий
  • cancelling /ˈkænsəlɪŋ/ скасовуючи
  • the calm one та, що спокійна
  • wearing a worried face вдягнувши стурбоване обличчя
Lesson 2 Lesson 2 · With your teacher · діалог, граматика, вправи, говоріння
Before we start

Your own doubts

You just read about Nina's eleven-at-night doubts. Does your brain ever do this too, right before something good?

Before the dialogue

Quick check: the text

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

Tom invited Nina to the café on Friday.

Nina said yes on Thursday night.

Nina has been rehearsing what to say.

Before the dialogue

Answer in a few words

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

When did Nina say yes to Friday?
What is Nina doing at eleven at night?
Who does Nina call?
What is Nina thinking about doing, instead of going on Friday?
What does Emma say to calm Nina down?

Step 4 · Dialogue

Nina and Emma

A phone call, Thursday, eleven at night.

Scene 1 · The overthinking begins
Nina at eleven at night, phone to her ear, asking if Emma is awake
NinaEmma, are you awake?
EmmaIt’s eleven at night. Obviously not. What’s wrong?
NinaNothing’s wrong. I’m just… thinking.
EmmaAbout Friday.
NinaHow did you know?
EmmaBecause you’re always doing this before something matters.
Emma at home, understanding immediately what Nina is calling about
Scene 2 · What if
NinaWhat if I’m talking too much on Friday?
Nina leaning forward on the sofa, nervously asking what if
EmmaYou’re not talking too much. You’re talking normally, and normal feels loud when you’re nervous.
NinaWhat if he’s only being polite?
EmmaIs he inviting random strangers to his work table every day?
NinaNo.
EmmaThen it’s not politeness. It’s something else, and you know it.
Emma firmly reassuring Nina on the phone
Scene 3 · The reassurance
NinaI’m thinking about cancelling.
EmmaYou are not cancelling.
NinaI could just… not go.
EmmaYou’re not losing anything on Friday, Nina. You’re just finding out. That’s all it is.
NinaSince when are you the calm one?
EmmaSince you started doing my job for me. Someone has to be calm.
Переклад діалогу. Сцена 1: «Еммо, ти не спиш?» «Одинадцята вечора. Очевидно, що ні. Що сталося?» «Нічого не сталося. Я просто... думаю.» «Про п'ятницю.» «Звідки ти знаєш?» «Бо ти завжди так робиш перед чимось важливим.» Сцена 2: «А що, якщо я забагато говоритиму в п'ятницю?» «Ти не говориш забагато. Ти говориш нормально, а нормальне звучить голосно, коли ти знервована.» «А що, якщо він просто ввічливий?» «Він що, запрошує випадкових незнайомців до свого робочого столика щодня?» «Ні.» «Тоді це не ввічливість. Це щось інше, і ти це знаєш.» Сцена 3: «Я думаю скасувати.» «Ти нічого не скасовуєш.» «Я могла б просто... не піти.» «Ти нічого не втрачаєш у п'ятницю, Ніно. Ти просто дізнаєшся. Оце й усе.» «Відколи ти стала спокійною?» «Відколи ти почала виконувати мою роботу за мене. Хтось має бути спокійним.»
After the dialogue

Complete the line

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

“It’s eleven at night. not.”

“Because you’re always doing this before something .”

“Normal feels loud when you’re .”

“I’m thinking about .”

“You’re not losing anything on Friday. You’re just out.”

Step 5 · Grammar

Present Continuous: fixed plans, and always

1 · Meaning: a third job, for the future

From Episode 6, Present Continuous already does two jobs: right now, and a temporary situation. It has a third job: a fixed plan, already arranged, for a specific time in the future.

З Епізоду 6 Present Continuous уже має два значення: дія просто зараз і тимчасова ситуація. У нього є третє значення: фіксований план, уже узгоджений, на конкретний час у майбутньому.
right nowIt is raining.
temporaryShe is staying with her sister this month.
a fixed future planI’m working from the café on Friday.
Already arranged, not just an idea.

The signal is a specific time: on Friday, tomorrow, at six, next week. Without a time word, the same sentence usually means right now instead.

Сигнал це конкретний час: on Friday, tomorrow, at six, next week. Без слова часу те саме речення зазвичай означає «прямо зараз».
2 · Bonus meaning: always + Present Continuous

Always with Present Simple is neutral: I always drink tea. But always with Present Continuous adds feeling, usually a complaint, or gentle teasing about something that happens more than expected.

Always із Present Simple нейтральне: I always drink tea. Але always із Present Continuous додає почуття, зазвичай скаргу або легке піддражнювання про те, що трапляється частіше, ніж очікувалось.
neutral habitNina writes in her list every day.
Just a fact.
always + -ingYou’re always doing this.
Emma is half-complaining, half-teasing.
3 · Four mistakes almost everybody makes

I work from the café on Friday. → I’m working from the café on Friday. A fixed, arranged plan for a future day uses Present Continuous, not Present Simple.

Фіксований, узгоджений план на майбутній день використовує Present Continuous, а не Present Simple.

She is always drink coffee. → She always drinks coffee. A plain, neutral habit stays in Present Simple. Always + -ing is only for the complaining, surprised feeling.

Простенька, нейтральна звичка лишається в Present Simple. Always + -ing лише для скаржливого, здивованого відтінку.

What if he only be polite? → What if he is only being polite? Be needs its own -ing form here, being, plus am/is/are in front of it.

Be тут потребує власної форми -ing, being, плюс am/is/are перед ним.

I meeting him on Friday. → I’m meeting him on Friday. Am, is or are can never disappear, even when the meaning is already clear from the rest of the sentence.

Am, is чи are ніколи не може зникнути, навіть якщо сенс і так зрозумілий з решти речення.

4 · Check the idea before you practise
“I’m working from the café on Friday.” Is this an idea, or something already arranged?
Already arranged. A fixed future plan, not just a possibility.
Уже узгоджено. Фіксований майбутній план, а не просто можливість.
“You’re always doing this.” Is Emma stating a neutral fact, or reacting with feeling?
Reacting with feeling, a mix of complaint and affection. Always with Present Continuous is never fully neutral.
Реагує з почуттям, суміш скарги й теплоти. Always із Present Continuous ніколи не буває повністю нейтральним.
Why is “What if he only be polite?” wrong?
Because be itself needs to become being, and it still needs is in front of it: is only being polite.
Бо саме be мусить стати being, і йому все одно потрібне is перед ним: is only being polite.

Now the practice. Every sentence comes from this episode. Write the correct form of the verb in brackets.

from the café on Friday. (I / work)
You this before something matters. (always / do)
What if he polite? (only / be)
too much? (you / talk)
Nina anything on Friday. (not / lose)
You . (not / cancel)
We at the same table next time. (meet)

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 invitation

What did Tom say before he left the shelter?

He said he’s working from the café on Friday, if she fancies the same table.
Step 2 · the answer

When did Nina say yes?

She already said yes on Wednesday.
Step 3 · the doubts

What does Nina's brain start doing on Thursday night?

It starts finding problems that don’t exist yet.
Step 4 · Emma's line

What does Emma say Nina always does?

She says Nina builds a whole story before the first page is written.
Step 5 · the reassurance

What does Emma say Nina is not losing?

She says Nina isn’t losing anything on Friday, she’s just finding out.

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

A plan, and a habit that annoys you

One thing you have already arranged this week, and one thing you always do, that maybe you shouldn’t.

1 · A fixed plan “I’m __________ on __________.”
2 · A habit that annoys you “I’m always __________.”
3 · What you tell yourself “I’m just __________.”

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 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 invites Nina to the same table on Friday.

Nina has not answered Tom yet.

Nina calls Emma late at night, around eleven.

Emma agrees that Tom is probably only being polite.

Nina considers cancelling on Friday.

Emma is just as worried as Nina about Friday.

Exercise 3

Habit, now, or a fixed plan?

Pick the form that fits the meaning.

Tom from the café on Friday. (already arranged)

Nina tea every morning. (a plain habit)

You this before something matters. (complaint, not neutral)

Right now, Nina about Friday. (this exact moment)

We at six on Friday. (already fixed)

What if he polite? (be + -ing)

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.

  1. Nina: Emma, are you awake?
  2. Emma: It’s eleven at night. Obviously not. What’s wrong?
  3. Nina: Nothing’s wrong. I’m just… thinking.
  4. Emma: About Friday.
  5. Nina: How did you know?
  6. Emma: Because you’re always doing this before something matters.

Exercise 5

Translate into English

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

У п'ятницю я працюю.
Ти завжди так робиш.
А що, якщо він просто ввічливий?
Ти нічого не втрачаєш.
Я думаю скасувати.

Speaking 5 · In real life

Your mission this week

Catch yourself building a story before the first page is written, and say the calmer sentence instead.

Bonus · What my brain is doing
Bonus

Right now, my brain is…

Not checked, not sent anywhere. Just yours. What is your brain building a story about today?

Emma’s line, that Nina needed to hear: “You’re not losing anything. You’re just finding out.”

Most worry is a story your brain tells before it has any real information. Naming it, in English, often takes half its power away.

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

0 words

Текст лишається у твоєму браузері. Його не бачить ніхто, навіть викладач.

Займаєшся з викладачем? Прочитай свою рефлексію вголос на наступному занятті.

Send

Send your work to your teacher

This is what will be sent:



    

    

  


    

  


  
  

    Takeaways
    
What to take with you

    
You made it through Episode 7. Here is what stays with you: language, ideas, and one steady friend.
      


    
Key expressions

    

    
Key ideas

    

    
The grammar you practised

    

    
Words to remember

    

    
“You’re not losing anything on Friday. You’re just finding out.”
      Emma · Episode 7, English Energy


    
  


  

    ← Episode 6. Caught in the Rain
    
    Episode 8. The Question →