School and learning

School & Learning

Talk together:

• What subjects did you study at school?
• What do you enjoy learning now?
• What are you good at?

Unscramble these useful school words. Then use one word in a sentence.

We will use these words to talk about activities you enjoy doing and goals you want to achieve.

Education and learning words

Use the word bank to describe your experience and goals.

Now compare these patterns.

Choosing the next verb form

Verb + -ing

Use verb + -ing after these verbs:

The -ing form often focuses on an activity or process.

I enjoy doing research.
She practises taking notes.
They avoid studying late at night.

Verb + to + verb

Use verb + to + infinitive after these verbs:

The to-infinitive often connects to a goal, decision, plan, or future action.

I want to learn Spanish.
My friend decided to apply to university.
We hope to make progress soon.

Both forms are possible

These verbs can take -ing or to + verb:

For A2 level, both forms are usually possible after these verbs.

Purpose: to + verb

Use to + verb to say why you do something.

I came here to study.
He joined the course to develop his skills.
They read articles to do research.

To + verb here means in order to + verb.

Common mistakes

Do not use to + verb after enjoy, avoid, finish, or practise.

Remember: enjoy doing • want to do • come to do something

Use the patterns in context

Connect each verb to its correct ending

Say the complete phrase before you connect it.

Complete each sentence

Choose the correct form.

1. She enjoys [___] after class.
2. He wants [___] medicine.
3. We finished [___] the assignment.
4. I hope [___] better results.

Now write the correct form.

1. My sister practises [___] English every day.
2. They decided [___] a summer course.
3. I came to the library [___] research.
4. Our teacher hates [___] late for lessons.

How I Learned English

A student’s learning strategy

When I started university, English was my most difficult course. I wanted to pass exams, but I did not enjoy memorising long word lists. My teacher advised me to practise every day. I began watching short videos after class and writing five new phrases in a notebook. I also started speaking with an online partner twice a week. At first, I was afraid to make mistakes and avoided answering in class. Then I decided to use mistakes as notes for learning. I enjoy reading simple articles because they help me notice grammar in context. On the bus, I listen to podcasts to improve my pronunciation. Now I plan to take an English course next summer. My goal is to study abroad, so I need to keep practising. Learning English takes time, but I love seeing my progress.

Find and underline:

• two -ing forms
• two to-infinitives after verbs
• one purpose infinitive

Check the article

1. Why did English feel difficult for the student at university?
2. What did the student begin doing after class?
3. Why did the student listen to podcasts on the bus?
4. What is the student’s plan for next summer?

Difficult words

• memorising — learning something so that you can remember it
• advised — gave someone a helpful suggestion
• phrases — short groups of words
• avoided — tried not to do something
• context — the situation around a word or sentence
• pronunciation — the way a word is spoken
• abroad — in or to another country
• progress — improvement over time

Talk: Which learning strategy from the article would you like to try?

What to remember

Education card

subject • course • lesson • university • exam • assignment • notes • revision • research • practice • skill • strategy • talent • ability • progress

Decide if each statement is correct.

Say one personal sentence with -ing, one with to + verb, and one sentence about purpose.