CC1 · Suggested level: A2–B1 · Learners: Adults and teens · Time: 45–50 minutes, or a 20-minute speaking selection · Format: Free PDF and lesson audio · No signup needed.
Help learners explain the difference between some coffee and two coffees, exchange missing information and agree how to solve a café shortfall. Start with illustrated book-swap scenes, then move from noticing quantity language to using it in conversation.
Preview and teaching route ↓ · Choose files to print or share ↓ · Play the lesson audio ↓
Prepare before the lesson
For the complete pack, give page 1 to everyone, page 2 only to Partner A and page 3 only to Partner B. Keep pages 6–8 for teacher notes, answers and the listening script. Pages 4–5 contain optional homework and its key; share the task before releasing the answers.
Online: send each learner their separate partner file. The combined student PDF contains both roles, so use it for printing rather than sending it to both partners. One-to-one: take the other partner role.
Audio: play the supplied recording or read the dialogue from the teacher pages. The 20-minute speaking route skips the listening.
Choose what to print or share
CC1: Coffee, cups and conversations
- Student pages (3 pages, for printing)
- Partner A: common opening and private role (2 pages)
- Partner B: common opening and private role (2 pages)
- Teacher notes, answers and listening script (3 pages)
- Optional homework and answer key (2 pages)
Share carefully: the three-page student file contains both roles. For online pair work, send A and B their separate files. Each includes common page 1 and only that partner’s information. Optional homework and its key are pages 4–5 of the complete pack, also available separately. Keep teacher pages 6–8 private.
Preview and teaching route
Start with pictures of a book swap, explore amounts and separate servings, then solve a café shortfall with a partner.
- 7 minutes: discuss the pictures, check the brief language guide and sort six phrases into things and amounts.
- 8: play the existing recording or read the dialogue. Listen first for the problem, then for the selected details.
- 12: compare some coffee and two coffees, then give A and B their private café information. Agree what to borrow.
- 12: choose from twelve wider conversation questions. Ask for details and follow interesting answers.
- 6–10: give brief feedback, then check quantity language in a new spoken problem with worksheets, chalk and paper.
Short route, 20 minutes: coffee contrast (3), private information gap (7), selected conversation questions (7), feedback and one fresh spoken shortfall (3). This route skips the listening.
Prepare: common page 1 for everyone, page 2 only for A and page 3 only for B. Pages 4–5 are optional homework and its key; pages 6–8 are teacher-only. In one-to-one teaching, take the partner role.
Classroom trial is still needed. Please adapt the suggested timings to your learners.
Listen to the CC1 lesson audio
Download the CC1 lesson audio (MP3). Use it with the listening task in the PDF. The script is included in the teacher pages.
Why this lesson?
This is an original classroom extension to our discussion of intermediate progress and context-dependent grammar. Read the teaching explanation behind the coffee example, or explore the S01E06 podcast episode.