Lily asks
What did you get up to last weekend?
How to build your answer
Tell a story: four moves, about a minute.
- 1Set the sceneWhen and where. “A few months ago, I…”
- 2What happenedTwo or three moments, in order.
- 3How it feltYour reaction. “I was mortified.”
- 4How it endedThe ending, or what you'd do now.
Lily's answer, three ways
The same story, from easy to advanced. Tap a highlighted phrase to learn it.
Easy
Lily's voice note
Last weekend I went home to see my parents. I got the train on Saturday morning. My mum made a big lunch, and my nan came too. In the afternoon my dad and I went for a wander by the river with Biscuit, their old dog. He's very slow now, ha. On Sunday I had a lazy morning. Then I got the train back to London in the evening. It wasn't long, but it was really nice.
Phrases to borrow
go for a wander
/ˈɡəʊ fə ə ˈwɒndə/
to walk around slowly, with no plan and no hurry
After lunch we went for a wander round the old town.
have a lazy morning
/ˈhæv ə ˈleɪzi ˈmɔːnɪŋ/
relax in the morning and do nothing much
It's Sunday, let's have a lazy morning.
Natural
Lily's voice note
Nothing wild. I went home to see my parents. I took the train on Saturday morning. My mum made a big lunch, and my nan came over too. In the afternoon, my dad and I took their old dog, Biscuit, for a walk by the river. He's very slow now, ha. On Sunday I slept in, and then I caught the train back to London in the evening. It wasn't a long visit, but it was really nice. I'd love to go back soon.
Phrases to borrow
go home
/ˈɡəʊ ˈhəʊm/
go back to your family's house or your own house
I'm going home for Christmas.
catch a train/bus
/ˈkætʃ ə ˈtreɪn | ˈbʌs/
get on a train or bus to travel
I need to catch the train at six.
Advanced
Lily's voice note
I went home to see my parents. Just a flying visit, but I'd really missed them. I got the train on Saturday morning, and Mum had a huge lunch waiting. My nan came over too, so they both spoiled me rotten. In the afternoon Dad and I walked Biscuit, their old dog, by the river. He's so slow now, so we went at his own pace. On Sunday I slept in, then got the train back to London in the evening. It really recharged my batteries.
Phrases to borrow
a flying visit
/ə ˈflaɪɪŋ ˈvɪzɪt/
a very short visit
I can't stay long, it's just a flying visit.
spoil someone rotten
/ˈspɔɪl ˈsʌmwʌn ˈrɒtn̩/
give someone lots of treats and attention
Grandparents always spoil the kids rotten.
at your own pace
/ət jɔː ˈəʊn ˈpeɪs/
as fast or as slowly as you want
The course is online, so you can learn at your own pace.
recharge your batteries
/ˌriːˈtʃɑːdʒ jɔː ˈbætəriz/
rest and get your energy back
A week by the sea really recharged my batteries.
Your turn: answer Lily
What did you get up to last weekend?
Answer out loud, in your own words. Try one phrase you just borrowed.
Daily life
sleep in
sleep later than usual in the morning
“I slept in and missed breakfast.”
heytardy