You've Come So Far!
A2 full review and celebration. Maya reflects on one year in Toronto, the grammar she's mastered, and the people who made it real. A capstone for everything you've learned in A2.
📖 Reading: One Year in Toronto
Maya has been in Toronto for one year. She is sitting in Café Colibri — Leo's café — writing in her journal.
"When I arrived last January, I was nervous and my English was basic. I understood most things, but I was too shy to speak."
"Now I can talk to anyone. I've had difficult client calls, complained in a shop, made jokes in English, and even dreamed in English twice!"
"A lot has happened this year. I've visited Niagara Falls, learned to cook Mexican food (badly), been to a design conference in Montreal, and watched Café Colibri open its doors."
"My grammar is better. I understand conditionals, I use the past simple naturally, and I know when to use present perfect versus past simple — most of the time!"
"But the best thing about this year isn't the English. It's the people."
"Leo, who always has time for a coffee and a conversation. Omar, who taught me that losing is part of learning. Priya, who reminded me that ambition and kindness are not opposites. And Jess, who made the first phone call."
"If Jess hadn't called, I wouldn't be here. If I hadn't come, I would have missed all of this."
"My English is still not perfect. But I've decided that perfect isn't the goal — connection is."
"On to B1!"
🔑 Vocabulary Box
Eight key words and phrases from this lesson.
| Word | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| journal | A personal diary where you write your thoughts and experiences | n. — Maya is writing in her journal. |
| complaint | An expression of dissatisfaction about something | n. — She has complained in a shop in English. |
| ambition | A strong desire to achieve something | n. — Ambition and kindness are not opposites. |
| connection | A relationship between people; a feeling of closeness | n. — Connection is the real goal. |
| remind | To cause someone to remember something | v. — Priya reminded her that kindness matters. |
| conditional | A grammar structure using 'if' to express conditions and results | n. — She understands conditionals now. |
| versus | As opposed to; compared with | prep. — Present Perfect versus Past Simple. |
| on to | Moving forward to the next stage | phrase — On to B1! |
📚 Key Verbs in This Lesson | |
to reflect | Maya reflects on her year in Toronto. |
to dream (in a language) | She has dreamed in English twice. |
to complain | She has complained in a shop in English. |
to remind | Priya reminded her that kindness matters. |
📚 Grammar Focus
📚 A2 Grammar Review — Key Structures | |
Past Simple (regular + irregular) | I walked. / She went. / Did you see? / He didn't finish. |
Past Continuous | I was walking when... / While she was talking, he arrived. |
Present Perfect | I've been. / Have you ever...? / I've already / not yet / just. |
Going to + will | I'm going to open a café. / It will rain tomorrow. |
Present Continuous (future) | I'm meeting Leo on Friday. (arrangement) |
Comparatives + Superlatives | bigger than / the most interesting / the best |
First Conditional | If it rains, I'll stay home. |
Second Conditional | If I won, I'd travel the world. |
Should / Must / Have to | You should rest. / You must arrive early. / I don't have to. |
Used to | I used to live in Taipei. / She didn't use to like coffee. |
A2 Communication Checklist
📚 A2 Communication Checklist | |
✓ Tell a story | Using past tenses in sequence with detail and emotion. |
✓ Compare things | Using comparatives and superlatives naturally. |
✓ Talk about the future | Using going to, will, and present continuous. |
✓ Talk about experiences | Using present perfect with ever/never/already/yet/just. |
✓ Give and receive advice | Using should, ought to, why don't you, have you tried. |
✓ Make polite requests | Would you mind? / Could you? / Shall I? |
✓ Talk about rules | Must / mustn't / have to / don't have to / allowed to. |
🎭 Dialogue: One Year On
It's Maya's one-year anniversary in Toronto. Leo asks her how it's been and what comes next.
Maya, it's your one-year anniversary in Toronto!
I know! I've been writing about it in my journal.
Has it been what you expected?
Better. I've met incredible people, seen amazing places, and improved my English.
Have you achieved what you came for?
I came to improve my English and my career. Both are going well!
What's next? Are you going to stay in Toronto?
If the café keeps making good coffee — definitely!
Practice Exercises
3 questionsNew exercises to reinforce what you learned. Different from the lesson material.
What was Maya like when she first arrived in Toronto?
What does Maya consider the best thing about her year?
What does Maya say Omar taught her?
Practice Exercises
3 questionsNew exercises to reinforce what you learned. Different from the lesson material.
She ___ in Toronto for one year now. (live — duration up to now)
While she ___ to the café, it
If she ___ to Toronto, she
🎭 Final A2 Role Play — Your Story
Practice with a partner. Build your own 12-line conversation that uses at least 5 of these A2 structures:
- Past Simple (telling an event)
- Present Perfect (life experience)
- going to or Present Continuous (future)
- Comparative or Superlative
- First or Second Conditional
- Should / Must / Have to / Would you mind
- used to (past habit)
Perform it for your class, or record it on your phone. You've earned this. On to B1.