🎓 Lesson 8.3: Review Project — My Life Story & Future Plans

This is it — the final lesson of A2. 🎉 Today you won't learn a new rule. Instead, you'll bring together everything you can now do: your past (past simple, past continuous, used to), your "up to now" (present perfect with for and since), and your future (going to, will, the first conditional). We'll listen to someone tell their life story, and then you'll tell yours. Let's celebrate how far you've come. 🌟

📚 What You'll Learn

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Listen to a "getting to know you" interview and understand the main points
Review past tenses, the present perfect, and future forms together
Tell your own life story — where you grew up, what you've done, how long
Share your plans and predictions using going to, will, and the first conditional

⏱️ Estimated Time: ~60 minutes

🎯 Project: Speak (and write) 10+ sentences telling your life story and future plans, mixing all the A2 tenses — recorded on your phone or shared with a partner.

In This Lesson

Bringing It All Together

Think back to your very first A2 lesson. Now look at what you can do: you can describe your childhood, tell a story with two actions happening at once, say how long you've done something, and share your plans and dreams. That's a whole life on the timeline — past, present, and future — all in English. 🕰️

This lesson is a project lesson. You'll listen first, then speak and write. There's nothing new to memorize — just a chance to use it all and feel proud of how much you know. 💪

🧠 Mindset

Don't worry about being perfect. Real speakers make small mistakes and keep going — the message still lands. Your goal today is to tell your story and be understood. Every sentence you speak is proof of your progress. And if a tense slips, remember your magic word: "I can't tell my whole story perfectly… yet." 🌱

Your A2 Tense Toolkit

Here is everything you'll use today, in one place. Read each row aloud and notice the shape.

Time	Form	Use it for	Example
Past	past simple	a finished action	I moved here in 2018.
Past	past continuous	an action in progress	I was living with my family then.
Past	used to	a past habit / old state	I used to play soccer every day.
Up to now	present perfect + for/since	started before, still true	I have lived here for six years.
Future	going to	a plan you've decided	I am going to study nursing.
Future	will	a prediction or promise	I think I will move to the city.
Future	first conditional	a real future "if"	If I pass the exam, I will celebrate.

graph LR
    PAST["Past: used to, past simple, past continuous"] --> NOW["Now: present perfect for and since"]
    NOW --> FUT["Future: going to, will, first conditional"]

💡 A Simple Plan for Your Story

Tell it in three parts: (1) Where you come from (used to, past continuous, past simple), (2) What you've done and how long (present perfect + for/since), and (3) Your plans and predictions (going to, will, first conditional). Three parts, one story. 🧭

Listening: A Life Story

Meet Maya, who is answering friendly "getting to know you" questions from Sam. Read along, and tap the 🔊 speaker buttons (or use the 🎧 Audio control) to hear each line. Listen for the tenses — where does Maya talk about the past, about "up to now," and about the future?

Sam: So, Maya, tell me a little about yourself. Where did you grow up?
Maya: I grew up in a small town by the sea. When I was young, my family used to run a little café.
Sam: That sounds lovely! What was life like there?
Maya: Busy and warm. Every summer, lots of tourists came to our town, and we cooked all day. I used to help my mother in the kitchen. One summer, I was helping her when my college acceptance letter arrived!
Sam: And how long have you lived in the city now?
Maya: I've lived here for four years — since I started college. I've studied design, and I've just finished my final project.
Sam: Congratulations! Have you found a job yet?
Maya: Not yet. But I'm going to apply to a design studio next week. I'm quite hopeful.
Sam: I'm sure you'll do well. What are your plans after that?
Maya: If I get the job, I'll stay in the city for a while. And one day I'm going to open my own studio — maybe back by the sea.
Sam: That's a beautiful dream. I think you'll make it happen.
Maya: Thank you! If I keep working hard, I think everything will be fine. 🌊

🔊 Listen & Repeat

Play the conversation line by line: tap the 🔊 button beside each speaker's name, or use the 🎧 Audio control (bottom-right) to choose a UK or US voice and slow the speed down. Listen once for the whole story, then a second time and repeat each line out loud after Maya and Sam — copy their rhythm and melody. This is the best way to make the A2 tenses feel natural in your own mouth. 🎧

✅ Notice the Whole Timeline

In one short chat, Maya used used to (past habit), I was helping (past continuous), grew up / came / arrived / started (past simple), I've lived… for four years / since… / I've just finished (present perfect), I'm going to apply (going to), you'll do well / I'll stay (will), and If I get the job, I'll stay (first conditional). That's the entire A2 toolkit in action! 🎉

Did You Catch It?

Check your listening. Try to answer before you open each one.

1. Where did Maya grow up, and what did her family do?

She grew up in a small town by the sea. Her family used to run a little café.

2. How long has Maya lived in the city, and since when?

She has lived there for four years — since she started college.

3. Has Maya found a job yet? What is she going to do?

No, not yet. She is going to apply to a design studio next week.

4. What is Maya's big dream, and what will she do if she gets the job?

Her dream is to open her own studio one day, maybe by the sea. If she gets the job, she'll stay in the city for a while.

🔊 Hear It & Repeat — Model Sentences

Listen to each model sentence, then say it back. Use the 🎧 Audio control (bottom-right) to pick a UK or US voice and make the speed slower. These sentences mix all the A2 tenses you'll use in your own life story.

I grew up in a small town near the mountains.
When I was a child, I used to play outside every day.
I have lived in this city for six years.
Next year I am going to start a new job.
If I work hard, I will reach my goals.

Practice & Capstone Project

🏋️ Exercise 1: Mixed-tense review

Objective: Fill each gap with the correct form. Choose from the words shown in parentheses.

When I was a child, I live by the sea. (used to / going to)
I here for five years. (have lived / lived)
She when I called her last night. (was working / works)
Next month we move. (are going to / used to)
If it rains tomorrow, we stay home. (will / would)

✅ Answer

1. used to · 2. have lived · 3. was working · 4. are going to · 5. will

🏋️ Exercise 2: Correct the mistake

Objective: Each sentence has one wrong word. Type the correct word in the gap to fix it.

I've lived here three years. (wrong word: "since three years")
She's lived in Rome 2015. (wrong word: "for 2015")
I want travel next year. (wrong word: "want travel")
When I was young, I used to soccer. (wrong word: "used to played")
I haven't finished my homework . (wrong word: "haven't finished already")

✅ Answer

1. for (a length of time) · 2. since (a start point) · 3. to (want + to-infinitive) · 4. play (used to + base verb) · 5. yet (negatives use "yet", not "already")

🎯 Your Capstone Project: My Life Story & Future Plans

This is your big A2 project. Speak out loud — to a partner, in class, or into your phone's recorder — and then write it down. Tell your story in three parts, using at least 10 sentences in total.

(4 min) Where you come from. Say where you grew up or used to live, and what life was like. Use used to, the past continuous, and the past simple: "I grew up in… I used to… When I was young, I was living…"
(3 min) What you've done, and how long. Use the present perfect with for and since: "I've lived in… for… I've studied… since… I've just…"
(3 min) Your plans and predictions. Use going to, will, and a first conditional: "I'm going to… I think I'll… If I…, I'll…"
(2 min) Record yourself telling the whole story from start to finish. Then listen back and check your tenses.

Model answer (mixing all the tenses):
"I grew up in a small village in the mountains. When I was a child, I used to walk to school with my brother, and my parents were working on a farm. Life was simple and happy. I've lived in the capital for three years now — since I came here for work. I've learned a lot, and I've just started an evening English class. Next year, I'm going to look for a better job. I think I'll study more, too. If I improve my English, I'll apply for a position abroad. One day, I'm going to visit every country I've read about!"

✅ Capstone Completion Checklist

☐ I told my story in three parts (past, up to now, future)
☐ I used used to, the past continuous, and the past simple
☐ I used the present perfect with for and since
☐ I used going to, will, and a first conditional
☐ I spoke 10+ sentences and recorded or shared them
☐ I listened back and checked my tenses

🎯 Quick Quiz

Question 1: Which sentence correctly talks about a past habit?

Question 2: Complete the first conditional: "If I ___ the exam, I'll celebrate."

Tips & Common Mistakes

✅ Do's

Plan your story in three parts — past, up to now, future — before you speak.
Use time words as signals: when I was young, for, since, next year, if…
Record yourself, then listen back — hearing your own English is powerful.
Keep going even if you make a small mistake — communication comes first.

❌ Common Mistakes

⚠️ Watch Out

"I used to played." ❌ → "I used to play." ✅ (base verb after used to).
"I've lived here since three years." ❌ → "…for three years." ✅ (a length takes for).
"If it will rain, I'll stay home." ❌ → "If it rains, I'll stay home." ✅ (present simple in the if part).
"I moved here for five years." ❌ → "I've lived here for five years." ✅ (present perfect for time reaching now).

📓 Learning Journal

Keep your learning journal going. After this lesson, take a few minutes to write down:

Key concepts you learned
Things that clicked for you
Questions or confusion points to revisit
Ideas you want to try
Your progress and feelings about finishing the whole A2 level

✍️ This lesson's prompt: Write your full life story in 10 or more sentences, using the three parts (past, up to now, future). Then read back through your first A2 lessons and write one sentence about how much your English has grown since you started. You've earned this moment — be proud. 🎓

📝 Lesson Summary

🎓 Key Takeaways

Your past: past simple (finished actions), past continuous (in progress), used to (old habits).
Your "up to now": present perfect with for and since, plus just, already, yet.
Your future: going to (plans), will (predictions/promises), the first conditional (real "if").
A clear story has three parts: where you come from, what you've done, and what's next.
Communication first — small mistakes are normal, and you keep the story moving.

🎉 What You've Accomplished

You did it — you've completed all 24 lessons of A2! 🎉 Look back at everything you can now do: greet and describe people, shop and order food, tell stories about your past, talk about your health and appointments, make comparisons, and share your plans and dreams. You can move freely across the whole timeline — past, present, and future — and tell your own life story in English. When you started A2, that story might have felt out of reach. Now it's yours. Take a moment to feel proud. This is a real, hard-won milestone. 🌟

❓ Common Questions at This Stage

I still make tense mistakes. Am I really ready to move on?

Yes! Even confident speakers mix tenses sometimes — the important thing is that people understand your story, and they do. You don't need to be perfect; you need to keep using English. Mistakes are part of learning, and they get fewer with practice. Keep going. 🌱

What's the best way to keep my A2 English strong?

Use it a little every day: tell yourself your plans in the morning, describe your day at night, listen to short conversations, and repeat lines aloud (like our 🔊 model sentences). Small daily practice beats long, rare study sessions.

What comes after A2?

Next is B1 — Intermediate ("Independent English"). There you'll express opinions, tell longer stories, use more tenses with confidence, and handle real situations more independently. You're ready. See the "Looking Ahead" note below for the link. 🚀

🔭 Looking Ahead

Your journey doesn't stop here — it grows. The next step is the B1 (Intermediate) "Independent English" course. At B1, you become a more independent speaker: you'll give opinions and reasons, tell richer stories, and manage everyday situations — travel, work, and conversations — with real confidence. Everything you built in A2 is the foundation for it. When you're ready, open the course roadmap and take the next step into B1. 🚀

✅ Before You Move On

Record your full life story and listen back once more.
Review the A2 tense toolkit table and say one example of each aloud.
Write your final A2 Learning Journal entry — celebrate your progress.
Visit the roadmap and look at the B1 course.

🌟 Congratulations — You've Finished A2!

Take a deep breath and look how far you've come. When you began, you were putting single words together. Now you can tell your whole life story — your past, your present, and your dreams for the future — in English. That is a wonderful, real achievement, and you earned every bit of it. 🎉 Rest, celebrate, and when you're ready, step into B1 (Independent English). Your story is just getting started. Thank you for learning with me — I'm proud of you. See you at B1! 👋