Updated September 2026. Mabby leaves her old bicycle outside a shop for just two minutes. When she comes back, someone is riding away on it. The bike is worth very little money, but she depends on it to get to her night shift at the hospital. Then, later that day, something unexpected appears at her
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A man goes into a cafe to enjoy some breakfast. But then he finds a note. And then another. And another. Something is amiss but he is not sure. But then he finds it is too late. Check out my complete lesson plan with a thrilling short story, Kidnap Cafe. The lesson plan comes complete
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I received an email recently asking me how to describe someone’s face in English. You could be asked to describe someone’s face in conversation, if talking to the police, or to help someone recognise another person. If you are planning to take the IELTS test, this could be a question that comes up. The examiner
In the following guide, I want to show you how to talk about your neighbourhood in English. You might have to do this in the IELTS speaking test. It could be a topic that comes up in parts one, two or three. It could certainly come up in part one, as it is a topic
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Everyone owns a smartphone these days. We can see them everywhere. People use them for many different things — making phone calls, checking apps, using a map or a calendar. It seems that life is impossible to live without a smartphone in your hand. But how to talk about your smartphone in English? What vocabulary
The Lucky Horse Updated July 2026 Hedley has made himself a promise: this is the last time. One final bet, one final horse, and he’ll finally fix everything — the rent, his daughter’s college fund, his marriage. But when two horses on the racecard share almost the same name, a moment of panic sends Hedley’s
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Are you preparing for the IELTS speaking test all alone? This can be a real challenge. You have no other people to practise with, no classmates to ask and no one to check if your answers are correct. It can be really daunting. But for many English learners, this is the harsh reality. There is
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I receive many questions from English learners about how to improve their reading. Many English students tell me how much they hate reading and they can never finish any book they pick up to read. But unfortunately, if you want to see improvement in your English skills you have to read. It is without question.
The Oldest Profession in The World… What is it? And is it an acceptable way to make money? This lesson plan is about sex workers. It covers a story of a woman who sells her body to make money. This lesson plan could be very controversial depending on which country you are in and the
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Money, money, money! Some people say it is the root of all evil. Others say it means nothing at all. But we all use it in our daily lives and we all need to talk about it at some point. You might have to talk about money in the IELTS speaking test. Could be in