Subject File HOUSING

Ex. 1: Listen to the podcast and note down the types of houses mentioned.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/features/real-easy-english/250117

Ex. 2: Different types of housing in the United Kingdom and the United States. 

manor house - farmhouse - thatched cottage - mobile home (BE), caravan, trailer (AE) - detached house (BE), single family house (AE) -mansion - semi-detached house (BE), two-family house (AE), skyscraper - terraced house (BE), row house (AE) - high-rise residential building - flat/block of flats (BE), apartment - penthouse 

Subject File THE WORLD OF WORK: Gig Economy

• The gig economy, also known as the sharing or access economy, consists of a labor market that emphasizes short-term, temporary, flexible, part-time and freelance work engagements rather than permanent positions, often facilitated through digital platforms, representing a shift from traditional employment structures.

• People earn money from providing on-demand work, services, or goods. 

• Remote positions allow gig workers to live anywhere that has an internet connection.

• Positions are often filled by independent contractors. While offering flexibility and independence to workers, this type of of work removes job security and benefits like health insurance and paid leave. 

• Companies save costs by hiring freelancers without these benefits. Employers benefit by saving costs and hiring from a larger, globally accessible talent pool due to remote work options. 

Ex. 1: Study the vocabulary items below. 

• digital freelancing
• in demand
• digital gig platforms 
• earnings 
• entrepreneur 
• to freelance (verb)
• perks 

Ex. 2: Watch the video and complete the sentences with the items in Ex. 1. (KEY below)

Paid vacation, sick leave, life insurance and retirement plans are among the ... (1) that come with salaried jobs. Freelancers, though, will have to take responsibility for these themselves. 

... (2) come with drawbacks and may not provide a reliable living wage but they offer convenience and opportunities to find paid work fast. 

Freelancers may find it hard to find out how much money they actually make as ... (3) are based on location and often include business expenses and the digital platforms' cuts. 

Freelancing requires becoming an ... (4) because marketing, negotiating, administration, networking, and client acquisition are central to the gig economy. 

If a person has a skill that is ... (5), they can charge more for the services they deliver to their clients.

... (6) is a new development where freelancers collaborate with digital platforms such as Uber or Upwork. 

When people decide to ... (7), it is often because they enjoy the independence and flexibility these short-term and flexible work arrangements bring. 

Subject File SOCIAL TIES: Friendships

 

Ex. 1: Talking about friendship. Study the phrasal verbs and watch the video.

• to get on with: to have a friendly relationship with a person
• to fall out with: to have an argument
• to run into/to bump into: to meet a person unexpectedly
• to hear from: to receive communication from
• to make up with: to become friends again after having an argument
• to hang out with: to spend time relaxing and socialising with 
• to catch up with: to talk to someone about what has happened since the last time you met that person

Ex. 2: Find out more about the importance of friendship and how to make friends.

Psychology Today: importance of friendship

Friendships: enrich your life and improve your health

Ex. 3: For different stages in life, we need different types of friends. Find out more about it.

BBC Learning English 6 Minute English podcast: making 'mum friends'

👉What should friends be like for ...

• toddlers and young children between the ages of 5 and 10
• teenagers
• young parents and parents in general 
• middle-aged career professionals between the ages of 35 to 55
• retirees
• elderly people in need of care (age groups 80+)

Subject File THE WORLD OF WORK: At work

Introduction

The average person spends approximately 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime, which equates to roughly one-third of their life. On a weekly basis, employees typically spend between 35 and 44.5 hours in their main job, with full-time US employees averaging around 8 hours per weekday or 2,080 hours annually. 

Key Time-at-Work Statistics:

Lifetime Total: ~90,000 hours, or about 13 years and two months.

Weekly Average: 35–40+ hours, depending on industry and country.

Actual Productivity: While on the clock, studies suggest the average worker is truly productive for only about 2 hours and 53 minutes to 4 hours per day.

"Work About Work": Significant time is lost to meetings, checking emails, and unproductive tasks, sometimes averaging over 6 hours lost weekly due to distractions.

Commuting: In the UK, the average commute adds another 28–30 minutes per day. 

In the EU, 37.3% of employees worked between 40.0 and 44.5 hours per week in 2024, with some European countries seeing higher concentrations in the 35–39.5 hour range.

Subject File ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: The Importance of Energy in Europe

The Importance of Energy in Europe

In Europe, energy is the fundamental engine that powers every aspect of modern life, from basic survival to global economic competition. Beyond just "keeping the lights on," energy is essential for three primary reasons: functional daily life, economic stability, and strategic autonomy

Courtesy of: https://ourfuture.energy/cop26/the-energy-transition/

Subject File ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: Pollution

• Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials (pollutants) into the environment, damaging ecosystems and human health. 
• Major types include air, water, soil, noise, and light pollution, largely driven by industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and burning fossil fuels. 
• Key impacts range from respiratory diseases to habitat loss.

Grammar Review: FUTURE SIMPLE with "going to"

Ex. 1: Learn more about the 'going-to' future in this video.

Ex. 2: Practise the use of the 'going-to' future. 

Prior Plans and Intentions ... for actions you have already decided on or planned before the moment of speaking. 

Example: "I'm going to buy a new car next month" (I already made this decision). 

Exercise: Answer the following questions. 

• What are you going to do tonight? 
• What are you going to do tomorrow? 
• What are you going to do Saturday night? 
• What are you going to do next week? 
• What are you going to do on 24 December 2026? 

 

Predictions Based on Present Evidence ... when you can see something in the present that indicates what will happen next. 

Example: "Look at those dark clouds! It is going to rain". 

Exercise: Make predictions based on present evidence. 

• “Look! The sun is setting over the mountains! ...” 
• “There is a cake in the oven! This afternoon, ...” 
• “She is 8 months pregnant. I think, ...” 
• “My wallet is empty. I have no money left this month! ...” 

 

Events About to Happen ... to describe something that is just about to occur. 

Example: "Watch out! That phone is going to fall off the table". 

• “There is an alligator in the water! ...” 
• “The lights are flickering! ...” 
• “I can hear someone breaking down the door! ...” 

Commands or Instructions: In informal contexts, it can be used to give a firm order. 

Example: "You are going to clean your room right now!"