Same writing, different level

When you do a writing task, it's more important how you say things than what you actually say. The same writing task will have a different result when your English is more advanced.

 

1 ESO

Alex is a 15-year-old student. He gets up at 7:00 AM every morning. He eats breakfast and goes to school by bus. School starts at 8:30 AM and finishes at 3:00 PM.

After school, Alex plays football with his friends. He loves sport because it is fun. In the evening, he does his homework for two hours.

Before bed, Alex uses his digital devices. He watches videos on his smartphone and plays games on his computer. Finally, he goes to sleep at 10:00 PM. He has a busy day!

 

2 ESO

Alex is a 15-year-old student who lives with his family. Every weekday, his alarm rings at 7:00 AM. After eating a quick breakfast, he catches the bus to school. His classes start at 8:30 AM and finish at 3:00 PM.

After school, Alex usually plays football with his classmates in the park. He enjoys sport because it helps him relax and stay healthy. When he gets home in the evening, he finishes his homework before dinner.

At night, he likes to spend time using his digital devices. He chats with friends on his smartphone and plays computer games. Finally, Alex goes to bed around 10:00 PM.

 

3 ESO 

Alex, a fifteen-year-old high school student, usually starts his day early when his alarm goes off at 7:00 AM. After getting ready and having a quick breakfast, he takes the bus so he won't be late for his 8:30 AM class.

Once school finishes at 3:00 PM, Alex heads straight to the park for a football match with his classmates, which is a great way for him to relax after a long day of studying. By the time he returns home, he focuses on completing his homework before having dinner with his family.

Later in the evening, he chills out by connecting to his digital devices—scrolling through social media, messaging friends, and occasionally gaming online. Although he tries to turn off his screen by 10:00 PM to get enough rest, he often ends up staying up a bit later.

 

Elevator pitch

 

MY HOBBY – ELEVATOR PITCH

Your challenge

Imagine you are in an elevator with someone who knows nothing about you. You have 30 seconds to tell them about your favourite hobby and make them interested in it!

Include these 5 things:

1. Introduce your hobby
   • What is your hobby?
   • When did you start? (Use Past Simple or Present Perfect)
2. Explain what you do (Use Present Simple and frequency adverbs)
   • What do you usually do?
   • Where and when do you do it?
3. Say why you like it (Use Present Simple)
   • Why is it interesting or fun?
   • How does it make you feel?
4. Give some details (Use Present Simple and frequency adverbs)
   • Who do you do it with?
   • How often do you do it?
   • What do you need?
5. Finish with a recommendation (Use modal verbs)
   • Why should other people try it?
   • Give a final interesting or funny fact!

Some useful expressions

Starting

• My favourite hobby is...
• I’m really interested in...
• I'm keen on
• I'm crazy about

Giving reasons

• I like it because...
• I think it’s fun/exciting/relaxing...
• It makes me feel...

Finishing

• I really recommend it because...
• You should try it!
• Why don't you give it a try?

⭐ Remember!

• Speak for 30 seconds
• Don't read your presentation.
• Look at your audience.
• Speak clearly and not too fast.
• Use adjectives to make your pitch interesting.
• Try to convince your classmates to try your hobby!

Penpal project

  

Digital pen palling is the modern, internet-based version of traditional letter-writing where people connect across the globe using digital tools instead of paper and postal mail.

 

Pen palling Don'ts

1. Don't share personal information too soon, like full name, address, phone number

2. Don't share pictures 

3. Don't send personal documents like your ID 

4. Don't send links to your pen pal and don't click on links, stick to writing messages.

Pen palling Do's

1. Always be polite when you write.

2.  Stick to general topics  like hobbies or favorite foods.

3.  Watch for Red Flags: If a pen pal pushes for personal details like your home address, politely decline: “I’d rather keep things general for now.”  

4.   Trust Your Instincts: If your pen pal sends to you things that don't seem right, ask your teacher for advice. 

 

5. Avoid pushy behaviour.  Agree with your pen pal how often you will communicate,

what you can discuss and what not.

Mathematical comparison

proportion  x out of  y           x de cada y

x percent

modal value (most frequently occurring) 

Range (maximum value-minimum value)

most of

more than

less than

the most

the least

the average (la media)

twice as much                        dos veces más que

three times as                         much tres veces más que 

more than double that of        más del doble que 

European Space Week: the conquest of Space

 

 

Use the Present Perfect to describe achievements in the conquest of space and the Past Simple to mention what happened and when.

For example,

People have reached the Moon. In 1969, Neil Armstrong landed on the Moon.

 Here are some facts:

Primer satélite artificial: El Sputnik 1 de la Unión Soviética orbitó la Tierra el 4 de octubre de 1957. 

Primer ser vivo en el espacio: La perra Laika viajó a bordo del Sputnik 2 el 3 de noviembre de 1957. 

 Primer humano en el espacio: El cosmonauta soviético Yuri Gagarin completó una órbita terrestre a bordo del Vostok 1 el 12 de abril de 1961. 

Primera mujer en el espacio: Valentina Tereshkova voló en la misión Vostok 6 el 16 de junio de 1963. 

 

Find other facts and write similar statements using the Present Perfect and the Past Simple, as in the example. 

  

 

European Space Week

 Watch the following video and answer the questions

Where was Sarah Gillis born and raised?

What instrument did Sarah play in space, and why was this important?

What message did Sarah give to the students when she visited her old school?

 

European Space Week

  

Part 1 – Before You Read

A. Match the words with their meanings.

Word	Meaning
1. Eclipse	a. A special pair of glasses that protect your eyes.
2. Telescope	b. A moment when the Moon blocks the Sun.
3. Hiking trail	c. A path for walking in nature.
4. Eclipse glasses	d. An instrument for looking at distant objects.
5. Campsite	e. A place where people stay in tents.

 

Part 2 – Reading

A Memorable Day Under the Moon

Last summer, my family and I watched a solar eclipse together. We had planned the trip for weeks because the weather forecast looked perfect. We packed snacks, water bottles, a blanket, and our special eclipse glasses before leaving home early in the morning.

We drove to a quiet hill near a hiking trail where many people had gathered. Some visitors had brought telescopes, while others simply sat on the grass and waited. Everyone was excited because it was the first eclipse that many of us had ever seen.

As the Moon slowly moved in front of the Sun, the sky became darker. Birds became quieter, and the air felt cooler. We never looked directly at the Sun without our protective glasses because we knew it was dangerous.

Since that day, I have thought about that experience many times. I have already shared photos with my friends, although the pictures do not show how amazing it really felt. My parents have suggested camping there next year if another interesting event happens in the night sky. Watching the eclipse has made me more interested in astronomy and outdoor adventures. It reminded me that nature can surprise us in incredible ways, especially when we take time to explore it together.

B. Answer the questions.
1. Why did the family leave home early?
2. Where did they watch the eclipse?3. Why did they wear eclipse glasses?
4. What happened to the birds during the eclipse?
5. How has the experience changed the writer?
6. What have the writer and the parents done or planned after the eclipse? 

C. Complete the sentences.Use these words:
blanket – telescope – campsite – hiking trail – eclipse glasses – forecast
1. We checked the weather __________ before leaving.
2. We spread a __________ on the grass.
3. A __________ helped people see distant objects.
4. We walked along a __________ to reach the hill.5. We slept at a __________ after the event.
6. You must wear __________ to watch a solar eclipse safely. 

Past Continuous review exercises

1 What were you doing at these times?

Write sentences as in the examples. The past continuous is not always necessary (see the second example).

Example:

1. (at 7.30 yesterday evening) → I was having dinner.
2. (at 6.15 last Saturday) → I was on a bus on my way home.
3. (at 10.45 yesterday morning) → ___________________________________________
4. (at 3.00 yesterday afternoon) → ___________________________________________
5. (at 9.20 last night) → ___________________________________________
6. (twenty minutes ago) → ___________________________________________

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2 Use your own ideas to complete the sentences.

Use the past continuous.

1. Emma called while we were having dinner.
2. The phone rang while I ___________________________________________.
3. We saw a strange man while we ___________________________________________.
4. Jack fell asleep while he ___________________________________________.
5. The music was playing, but nobody ___________________________________________.

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3 Put the verb into the correct form, past continuous or past simple.

1. I (see) Laura in town last Saturday, but she (not / see) me.
She (look) the other way.

2.I (meet) Daniel and Sophie at the train station a few months ago. They (go) to Barcelona and I (go) to Valencia. We (have) a chat while we (wait) for our trains.

3.I (walk) home yesterday when a cyclist (fall) off his bike in front of me. Luckily, he (not / hurt) himself because he (wear) a helmet.

---

4 Put the verb into the correct form, past continuous or past simple.

1. Alex __________________ (wait) for me when I __________________ (arrive).
2. “What __________________ (you / do) at 8 o'clock yesterday evening?”
   “I was watching a film.”
3. “__________________ (you / go) out last Saturday?”
   “No, I stayed at home.”
4. How fast __________________ (you / run) when you __________________ (fall)?
5. Maria __________________ (take) a photograph of me while I __________________ (not / look).
6. We were in a very difficult situation. We __________________ (not / know) what to do.
7. I haven't seen Ben for ages. When I last __________________ (see) him, he __________________ (look) for a new flat.
8. I __________________ (walk) home when suddenly I __________________ (hear) a noise behind me. Someone __________________ (follow) me, so I __________________ (start) to run.
9. When I was younger, I __________________ (want) to become a professional footballer.
10. Last Sunday I __________________ (drop) a glass while I __________________ (wash) the dishes. Fortunately, it __________________ (not / break).