Describing Your Daily Routine and Habits.

This lesson moves you into A2 territory by helping you talk in detail about everyday life. You follow different characters through a typical weekday and weekend, noticing how they describe what they usually do, how often and where. You practise using adverbs of frequency such as always, usually, sometimes and never, together with time expressions like every day and at weekends, to make your routine sound natural and complete. Short listening tasks train you to understand talks about work and study days, while guided speaking practice helps you explain your own schedule. You also write a simple description of a typical day in your life, using clear paragraphs and time order. By the end, you can ask and answer questions about routines and understand similar descriptions from other people.

1. Meeting Alex and his weekday routine.

In this first part of the lesson, I would like you to meet Alex. Alex is a young graphic designer who lives and works in Manchester. We are going to listen to him talking about a typical weekday, from the moment he gets up to the moment he goes to bed. Your job is not to understand every single word. Instead, focus on the main steps in his day and a few key times. When does he usually get up? What time does he start work? What does he normally do in the evening? After you listen, you will see a simple timetable of his day on the screen. This will help you connect what you hear with what you read. Then in the activity at the bottom, you will listen again and answer a few questions in full sentences. Try to notice some useful phrases for your own routine, such as I usually get up at seven or I finish work at five. You will use these later to describe your life.

Meet Alex and his weekday.

To talk about daily routines, it is helpful to follow a real person. In this lesson you will follow Alex, a 26-year-old graphic designer in Manchester. He has a normal office job and a fairly regular routine.

When you talk about routines in English, we normally use the present simple:

• I get up at seven.
• I start work at nine.
• I finish work at five.

We often add time expressions and adverbs of frequency to make our description clear and natural:

• I usually get up at seven.
• I have a shower every morning.
• I sometimes go to the gym after work.

Here is a simple picture of Alex's weekday:

In the audio for this block, you will hear Alex describing this day in his own words. While you listen, try to match what you hear with the timetable above.

Do not worry about understanding everything perfectly. Focus on these questions:

1. Where does Alex live?
2. What time does he usually get up?
3. How does he go to work?
4. What does he usually do in the evening?

You will answer these in the activity below after you listen.

Practice & Feedback

Now listen carefully to Alex talking about his typical weekday. You can listen more than once. While you listen, think about the four questions on the screen above. After listening, write your answers in full sentences, not just single words.

For example, instead of only writing Manchester, write Alex lives in Manchester. This will help you practise the present simple for routines. Number your answers 1–4 so it is clear which question you are answering. If you are not sure about one answer, make your best guess and write a complete sentence anyway. The goal is to communicate clearly.

When you finish, I will check if your ideas match the audio and help you correct any problems with verbs, word order or time expressions.

2. Noticing adverbs of frequency in Alex's day.

You have now heard Alex describe a normal weekday, and you know the basic steps in his day. In this part, we are going to look more closely at how he talks about habits. English speakers rarely just say I get up at seven or I have coffee. We almost always add little words like always, usually, often, sometimes or never. These are called adverbs of frequency, and they show how often something happens. They make your routine sound more natural and more complete. On the screen you will see a short text about Alex with these adverbs highlighted, plus a quick guide to where we put them in the sentence. Read the text slowly and try to feel the rhythm: subject, adverb, verb. After that, in the activity, you will first take some adverbs from the text, and then you will write a few simple sentences about your own life using the same patterns. This will help you move from understanding Alex's routine to describing your own routine more confidently.

How often does Alex do these things?.

Listen again in your head to part of Alex's description. Notice the little words that show how often he does something. These are adverbs of frequency.

Here is a short paragraph about Alex:

> Alex usually gets up at about seven o'clock. He always has a shower and he always has a big coffee in the morning. He sometimes checks his emails on his phone before work. He usually drives to the office and he normally finishes work at half past five. In the evening he often watches a series on Netflix or reads a book. He does not usually go to bed very late.

These words in bold answer the question How often?

• always
• usually
• normally
• often
• sometimes
• not usually
• never

Where do we put them?.

We usually put adverbs of frequency before the main verb:

• I usually get up at seven.
• She often has breakfast at home.
• They sometimes go to the gym.

With the verb be, the adverb normally goes after be:

• I am always tired in the morning.
• He is never late for work.

We can also use longer expressions such as:

• every day
• on weekdays
• at weekends
• twice a week
• three times a month

For example: I study English every day. I go swimming twice a week. At weekends I never work.

You will now read Alex's paragraph again in the activity and then begin to use these adverbs to talk about your own habits.

Practice & Feedback

Read the short text about Alex in the resource box carefully. Then do two small tasks in one answer box.

1. First, copy four adverbs of frequency from the text. Write them in a simple list (for example: always, usually, sometimes, never). This is to show that you can recognise them in context.
2. Second, write three sentences about your own life using adverbs of frequency. Try to use different ones each time. For example: I usually get up at seven. I sometimes go for a walk after dinner. I never work on Sundays.

Write everything together, but make it clear which part is your list of adverbs and which part is your three sentences. Do not worry if your spelling is not perfect; focus on clear, complete present simple sentences.

3. Comparing Alex and Maria's weekday and weekend.

You now understand Alex's typical weekday quite well and you have practised using adverbs of frequency for your own habits. Next, we are going to meet another character, Maria, and compare her routine with Alex's routine. This will help you talk not only about what you do, but also about differences between people. Maria works in a café, so her timetable is very different. She starts later, finishes later and her weekends are not the same as Alex's weekends. In the audio for this block, you will hear Maria talk about both her weekdays and her weekends. While you listen, try to notice two things: first, the **time expressions** she uses, such as during the week, at weekends, on Saturdays, in the evening; and second, how her day is different from Alex's day. On the screen you will see a short summary of Alex and some example sentences that compare them. After you listen, your task will be to write a few sentences that describe the differences, using words like but, while and on the other hand. This is a very useful skill for real-life conversations when you want to say, for example, I never work at the weekend, but my friend always works on Saturdays.

A new character: Maria.

Let us add another person to our story. Maria is 24 and she works in a busy café in the centre of town. Her routine is quite different from Alex's routine.

First, let us quickly remind ourselves about Alex:

• Alex usually gets up at about seven.
• He starts work at nine and finishes at about half past five.
• He usually drives to work.
• In the evening he often watches a series or reads a book.
• At weekends he does not work and he sometimes sees his friends.

Now, Maria will describe her days in the audio. As you listen, focus on these time expressions:

• during the week
• at weekends
• on Saturdays
• on Sunday afternoons
• in the evening

Also listen for verbs like get up, start work, finish work, go out and relax.

Comparing two routines.

When we compare routines, we often use but or while:

• Alex usually starts work at nine, but Maria normally starts at eleven.
• While Alex drives to work, Maria walks to the café.
• Alex never works at weekends, but Maria often works on Saturdays.

You will now listen to Maria talking about her routine. After that, in the activity, you will write three sentences comparing their routines. Try to mention both Alex and Maria in each sentence.

Practice & Feedback

Listen to Maria describing her weekday and weekend. You can listen more than once. Then write three full sentences comparing Maria's routine with Alex's routine.

Each sentence should include both names, Alex and Maria, and should show a clear difference. Use connecting words like but, while or on the other hand. For example: Alex usually starts work at nine, but Maria usually starts at eleven.

Try to use some of these ideas: what time they get up, when they start and finish work, how they go to work, and what they do at weekends. Use the information from Alex's timetable in the previous block and from Maria's audio here. Focus on clear present simple forms.

Write your three sentences in one paragraph. I will then tell you if your comparisons are correct and help you improve the grammar or vocabulary if necessary.

4. Asking questions about daily routines in chat.

So far you have listened to routines and described some habits, but in real life you also need to **ask** other people about their day. In this part of the lesson we will focus on present simple questions like What time do you get up, Do you drive to work and How often do you exercise. These questions are very common in friendly conversations, both face to face and in messages. On the screen you will see a short chat between Alex and Maria. Look carefully at the word order in the questions and answers. Notice the small words do and does, and the question words what time and how often. After that, in the activity, you will write a short WhatsApp-style chat between you and Alex. Alex will ask you about your routine, and you will answer. Then you will also ask Alex some questions. This mini conversation will give you good practice with questions and answers about daily life. Remember to keep your questions simple and natural, and use the adverbs and time expressions from earlier, such as usually, sometimes, every day and at weekends.

Question time: talking to Alex and Maria.

To have a real conversation about routines, you need both questions and answers.

Look at this short chat between Alex and Maria:

> Alex: Hi Maria, what time do you usually get up during the week?

>

> Maria: Hi Alex! I usually get up at about eight thirty.

>

> Alex: How do you go to work?

>

> Maria: I always walk. I never drive to work.

>

> Alex: How often do you work at weekends?

>

> Maria: I often work on Saturday, but I never work on Sunday.

Present simple question patterns.

Here are some useful patterns for routines:

• What time do you get up?
• What time do you start work?
• How do you go to work? (by bus, by car, on foot)
• How often do you exercise? (every day, twice a week, sometimes)
• Do you work at weekends?
• Do you study English every day?

Notice the word order:

• Question word + do / does + subject + verb
• What time do you get up?
• What time does he start work?

For yes / no questions we often just use do or does:

• Do you drive to work?
• Does she work on Sunday?

In answers we do not use do / does in the same way:

• I get up at seven.
• Yes, I do. / No, I do not.
• She works on Sunday.

In the activity, you will write your own small chat. Try to keep the style simple and friendly, like messages between two friends.

Practice & Feedback

Imagine you are chatting with Alex on WhatsApp about your daily routine. Write a short conversation with at least six lines.

Follow this pattern:

• Line 1: Alex: asks you a question about your routine (for example: Alex: What time do you usually get up?).
• Line 2: You: answer with a full sentence using a time and, if possible, an adverb of frequency.
• Line 3: Alex: asks another question (for example about transport, lunch, evenings, exercise or weekends).
• Line 4: You: answer again in a full sentence.
• Line 5 and 6: now you ask Alex two questions about his routine, using patterns from the screen (What time do you..., How often do you..., Do you...). You do not need to write his answers.

Write the whole mini chat in one box. I will check your question forms, your answers and your use of adverbs of frequency, and then I will reply as Alex with short natural answers to your last questions.

5. Writing about your typical weekday.

You have now collected many pieces of language for talking about daily routines: common verbs like get up, go to work and have lunch, time expressions like at seven o'clock and in the evening, and adverbs of frequency such as usually, often and never. It is time to put them together in a short piece of writing about your own life. In this block we will focus on writing **one clear paragraph** about your typical weekday. On the screen you will see a model text from a person called Sam. Notice how Sam organises the day in time order, from morning to evening, and how they use adverbs of frequency to show habits. Also look at the simple linking words first, then, after that and finally. In the activity, you will use Sam's text as a guide and write about your own weekday. Do not worry about making it long or complicated. Six to eight simple sentences are enough. The most important thing is that someone who does not know you can understand what your normal day looks like.

A model: Sam's typical weekday.

Read this example text from Sam. Sam is a student who also works part time. Notice the time order, the adverbs of frequency and the simple linking words.

> On weekdays I usually get up at about seven o'clock. First, I have a quick shower and I always have coffee and toast for breakfast. Then I walk to the bus stop and I take the bus to college. I normally start classes at nine o'clock.

>

> At about one o'clock I have lunch in the college café with my friends. After that I often go to the library to study. I usually finish classes at three o'clock. Twice a week I go to my part-time job in a shop from four to seven.

>

> In the evening I have dinner with my family. We sometimes watch television together. I usually study English for half an hour before bed. Finally, I go to bed at about eleven because I am often tired.

What makes this a good routine paragraph?.

• It is in time order: morning, afternoon, evening.
• It uses present simple verbs: get up, have, start, go, finish.
• It includes adverbs of frequency: usually, always, often, normally, sometimes.
• It has clear time expressions: at seven o'clock, at about one o'clock, twice a week, in the evening.
• It uses simple linking words: first, then, after that, finally.

When you write about your own weekday, you can follow the same structure. You do not need to copy the exact words, but you can reuse useful chunks like I usually get up at..., I have lunch at..., After that I..., Finally, I go to bed at about....

In the activity below, you will write your own paragraph about a typical weekday in your life.

Practice & Feedback

Write one paragraph about your typical weekday. Imagine you are explaining your routine to a new friend who does not know you.

Try to include:

• 6–8 sentences in time order, from morning to evening.
• At least three adverbs of frequency (for example: always, usually, often, sometimes, never).
• At least three time expressions (for example: at seven o'clock, in the morning, at lunchtime, in the evening, at about eleven).
• A few simple linking words such as First, Then, After that and Finally.

You can use Sam's paragraph as a model, but write about your real life. Use the present simple, just like in the examples. When you have finished, I will give you feedback on your verbs, adverbs of frequency and overall clarity, and I will offer one improved version of one or two of your sentences.

6. Final task: describing your week to Maria.

You are almost at the end of this lesson, and you have done a lot: listened to Alex and Maria, noticed adverbs of frequency, practised questions in a chat, and written about your typical weekday. For the final task, I would like you to bring everything together in a more complete message. Imagine that Maria is your new online friend. She wants to know more about your life, not only your weekdays but also your weekends. On the screen you will see a short message from Maria asking about your routine and your English study. Your job is to write a friendly reply that answers her questions and gives a clear picture of your week. Try to use as much of the language from the lesson as you can: present simple, adverbs like usually and sometimes, time expressions like every day and at weekends, and linking words such as first, then and finally. This is your small performance for the lesson. Take your time, plan your ideas and then write your message. After you send it, I will respond with detailed feedback and a model answer that you can use as a reference.

Your final performance: a message to Maria.

It is time to use your new language in a more complete and realistic way. Imagine you and Maria are now friends and you often chat in English.

Here is a message from Maria:

> Hi! It was really interesting to hear about Alex's routine. I am also curious about your life. What is your typical weekday like? What time do you usually get up and go to work or school? What do you normally do in the evening?

>

> I also want to know about your weekends. Do you usually work at weekends or are you free? What do you often do on Saturday and Sunday? And how often do you study English?

>

> Write and tell me about your week. I am excited to read about your routine!

What to include in your reply.

In your answer to Maria, try to:

• Say something about your weekday mornings, afternoons and evenings.
• Describe what you usually do at weekends, and say if you ever work or study then.
• Use at least three adverbs of frequency, for example: always, usually, often, sometimes, never.
• Use at least three time expressions, such as: every day, at weekends, on Saturday evenings, at about seven o'clock, twice a week.
• Answer Maria's question about how often you study English.
• Finish with one question back to Maria about her routine.

You do not need to write a very long text, but try to write at least eight to ten sentences. Think of it as a friendly email or long chat message.

Practice & Feedback

Write a friendly reply to Maria's message. Imagine you are sending her an email or a long chat message.

Aim for 8–10 sentences. Organise your ideas into a clear order: first talk about your typical weekday (morning, afternoon, evening), then talk about your weekend, and finally ask Maria one question about her routine.

Make sure you:

• Use present simple verbs to describe your routine, like I usually get up at..., I work, I study, I go.
• Include at least three adverbs of frequency (always, usually, often, sometimes, never, hardly ever, not usually).
• Include at least three time expressions (every day, on weekdays, at weekends, on Saturday, in the evening, at about eleven).
• Answer Maria's question about how often you study English.

Write the whole message in one block of text. Do not worry if it is not perfect. I will help you improve it and show you a more natural version.