Level: Intermediate (B1) General English
B1 Intermediate English
Book 3 of 6 · English Self-Learning Series · 12 weeks
Book 3 of the English Self-Learning Series for learners who have finished A2. In 12 weeks you learn 10 key grammar topics, including the Present Perfect, conditionals, modals and linking words, plus 72 words for work, travel, technology and feelings and the 25 most common phrasal verbs. You practise emails, phone calls, stories, opinions, complaints and short presentations, with Sinhala help from the book, weekly speaking tasks, exercises, weekly review quizzes and a B1 exit test.
- Units
- 13
- Lessons
- 77
- Effort
- 72 hours
- Learning
- Self-paced
What you will learn
- I can talk about my life experiences and say how long I have been doing things.
- I can describe my job, my responsibilities and my career plans.
- I can write clear, polite emails and handle simple phone calls at work.
- I can deal with most situations while travelling: hotels, transport, restaurants and problems.
- I can give my opinion with reasons, and agree or disagree politely.
- I can tell a story or an anecdote about the past with a clear beginning, middle and end.
- I can make plans and complaints, and talk about possible and imaginary situations.
- I can give a short, simple presentation on a familiar topic and answer questions about it.
About this course
About this level
B1, or intermediate level, is the level at which you can manage most situations in daily life and at work in English on your own. This part of the series is for people who have finished A2: you can make simple sentences, but long conversations are still difficult. Over 12 weeks you learn 10 grammar topics, the words you need for work and travel, and the 25 most common phrasal verbs. From this level you also start having real conversations every week with a tutor or a language partner, and practising with AI voice practice. By the end, you can speak and write with confidence about your experiences, opinions and plans.
B1 හෙවත් මධ්යම මට්ටම කියන්නේ එදිනෙදා ජීවිතයේ සහ රැකියාවේ බොහෝ අවස්ථාවල ඔබට ඉංග්රීසියෙන් තනිවම කටයුතු කරගන්න පුළුවන් මට්ටමයි. A2 මට්ටම සම්පූර්ණ කළ, සරල වාක්ය හදන්න පුළුවන් නමුත් දිගු කතාබහක් කරන්න තවමත් අපහසු අය සඳහා මේ කොටස සකස් කර තිබෙනවා. සති 12ක් පුරා ඔබ ව්යාකරණ මාතෘකා 10ක්, රැකියාවට සහ ගමන් බිමන් වලට අවශ්ය වචන සහ බහුලව භාවිතා වන phrasal verbs 25ක් ඉගෙන ගන්නවා. මේ මට්ටමේ සිට ඔබ සතිපතා ගුරුවරයෙක් හෝ භාෂා හවුල්කරුවෙක් සමඟ සැබෑ කතාබහ කිරීමත්, AI voice practice කිරීමත් පටන් ගන්නවා. අවසානයේ ඔබට ඔබේ අත්දැකීම්, අදහස් සහ සැලසුම් ගැන විශ්වාසයෙන් කතා කරන්නත් ලියන්නත් පුළුවන් වෙයි.
Your daily 60-minute routine
Study for 60 minutes a day, six days a week, and use Sunday for review and a 2-minute recording of yourself speaking.
- 10 min – Anki flashcard review (words, phrasal verbs, corrected mistakes)
- 10 min – Grammar study and exercises on this week's topic
- 10 min – Listening: a podcast or video, with 2–3 minutes of shadowing
- 10 min – Reading: an article, a blog post or a graded reader
- 10 min – Speaking: AI voice practice or a tutor/partner conversation (longer on session days)
- 10 min – Writing: a short text for this week's task, then check it for mistakes
How the course follows the book
This course is book 3 of 6 in the English Self-Learning Series and follows the book's 12-week plan in the same order: life experiences, work and careers, emails and phone calls, travel, opinions, stories, health and lifestyle, technology, plans and arrangements, problems and complaints, presentations, and consolidation. Each week has:
- Grammar – the rule in clear English with the book's Sinhala explanation, examples, the common mistake and exercises
- Vocabulary – the week's words and phrasal verbs with Sinhala meanings from the book
- Useful phrases and speaking – phrases for real conversations and the week's speaking tasks as a checklist
- Reading and writing – a reading text with questions, and the book's writing task with a model answer and a self-check list
- Listening and pronunciation – the pronunciation focus and the week's listening tasks with free resources
- Week review – a 10-question quiz (pass mark 70%, unlimited attempts)
Speaking, listening and writing are practised with the book's tasks and checked by you (or your tutor); the exercises and quizzes check grammar, vocabulary and reading.
Exit test
The course ends with the B1 exit test: 28 questions on all 10 grammar topics, the vocabulary sets, the 25 phrasal verbs, emails and reading. You need 70% to pass; if you don't pass, you can try again after one hour. Before you take it, go through the book's exit checklist in Week 12. Pass the exit test before you start the next book, B2 Upper-Intermediate.
Certificate
Complete all the lessons and pass the exit test to receive a myedu.lk certificate of completion. It shows that you finished this course; it is not an official English language qualification.
Who this course is for
Adults and young adults in Sri Lanka who have finished A2 and want to use English on their own in daily life, at work and when travelling, studying about 60 minutes a day with Sinhala help.
Before you start
You have finished A2 (Elementary), for example book 2 of this series: you can make simple sentences about yourself, your daily routine and past events, but long conversations are still difficult. Not sure? Take the free placement check.
Course structure
13 units · 77 lessons · about 21.5 hours of lessons
-
Week 1: Life experiences
Talk about your life experiences with the Present Perfect and the Past Simple (ever, never, already, yet, just). Learn 12 words for emotions and personality and the experience verbs travel, try, win, lose and meet, and have your first 30-minute conversation with a tutor or partner.
ShowHide 6 lessons of Week 1: Life experiences · about 2 hours
-
Grammar: Present Perfect vs Past Simple
Choose between the Present Perfect and the Past Simple to talk about your experiences and say when they happened.
-
Vocabulary: emotions, personality and experiences
Describe feelings and personality with 12 key adjectives, and use travel, try, win, lose and meet to talk about experiences.
-
Useful phrases and speaking: talking about experiences
Ask and answer Have you ever...? questions, ask follow-up questions and manage a conversation with a tutor or partner.
15 min -
Reading and writing: a life story
Understand a short biography and write a 120-word paragraph about the things you have done in your life.
25 min -
Listening and pronunciation: weak forms of have and has
Say I've, she's and Where have you been? with natural weak forms, and listen to one podcast episode three times for different purposes.
12 min -
Week 1 review
Show that you can use this week's grammar and vocabulary (Present Perfect vs Past Simple, emotions and personality, experience verbs) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 12 min
-
-
Week 2: Work and careers
Describe your job, your responsibilities and how long you have been doing it. Grammar: the Present Perfect Continuous with for and since. Vocabulary: 12 work and office words. Practise job interviews, read a job advertisement and write about your job or studies.
ShowHide 6 lessons of Week 2: Work and careers · about 1.5 hours
-
Grammar: Present Perfect Continuous with for and since
Say how long you have been doing things with the Present Perfect Continuous and for or since.
20 min -
Vocabulary: work and office
Use 12 work and office words and their collocations (meet a deadline, get a promotion) to talk about your job.
15 min -
Useful phrases and speaking: job interviews
Answer common job interview questions about yourself, your experience, your responsibilities and your plans.
15 min -
Reading and writing: jobs and careers
Understand the main information in a job advertisement and write a 130-word description of your job or studies.
25 min -
Listening and pronunciation: word stress
Stress the correct syllable in longer work words and pick out useful questions and answers from a job interview video.
12 min -
Week 2 review
Show that you can use this week's grammar and vocabulary (Present Perfect Continuous with for and since, work and office words) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 12 min
-
-
Week 3: Emails and phone calls
Write short, polite emails and make simple phone calls in English. Grammar: gerunds and infinitives (look forward to hearing, would like to ask). Vocabulary: collocations with make and do, and standard email and phone phrases.
ShowHide 6 lessons of Week 3: Emails and phone calls · about 1.5 hours
-
Grammar: gerunds and infinitives
Choose between the -ing form and to + verb after common verbs and prepositions, as in I look forward to hearing from you.
20 min -
Vocabulary: make and do, and email phrases
Use common make and do collocations and standard phrases to open, organise and close a polite email.
18 min -
Useful phrases and speaking: phone calls
Make and answer a simple work phone call, ask for someone, give the reason for your call and leave a clear message.
15 min -
Reading and writing: work emails
Find the purpose, request and closing in a work email and write three short, polite emails of 80–100 words.
25 min -
Listening and pronunciation: spelling on the phone
Spell names and email addresses aloud clearly and pick out phone and email phrases from a work-based listening series.
12 min -
Week 3 review
Show that you can use this week's grammar and vocabulary (gerunds and infinitives, make and do, email and phone phrases) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 12 min
-
-
Week 4: Travel situations
Make requests at hotels, airports and railway stations, and understand rules and advice. Grammar: should, must, have to, might and could (mustn't vs don't have to). Vocabulary: 12 travel and services words and take collocations.
ShowHide 6 lessons of Week 4: Travel situations · about 1.5 hours
-
Grammar: modals for advice, rules and possibility
Give advice with should, talk about rules with must and have to, say what is possible with might and could, and use mustn't and don't have to correctly.
20 min -
Vocabulary: travel and services
Use 12 travel and services words and the collocations take a bus, take a photo and take a risk at hotels, stations and airports.
15 min -
Useful phrases and speaking: hotels, stations and directions
Check in at a hotel, buy a train ticket, ask for and give directions, and give a tourist advice with should.
15 min -
Reading and writing: hotel reviews and enquiries
Find positive and negative points in hotel reviews and write a 130-word email asking a hotel about rooms, prices and an airport transfer.
25 min -
Listening and pronunciation: question intonation
Use rising intonation in Yes/No questions and falling intonation in Wh- questions, and learn travel phrases from vlogs about Sri Lanka.
12 min -
Week 4 review
Show that you can use this week's grammar and vocabulary (modals should, must, have to, might and could; mustn't vs don't have to; travel and services words; take collocations) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 12 min
-
-
Week 5: Opinions, agreeing and disagreeing
Give your opinion with reasons and agree or disagree politely. Grammar: linking words because, so, but, although and however. Vocabulary: opinion phrases (In my opinion, I see what you mean, but...) and a review of emotions and personality.
ShowHide 6 lessons of Week 5: Opinions, agreeing and disagreeing · about 1.5 hours
-
Grammar: linking words
Join ideas with because, so, but, although and however to give reasons, results and contrasts.
20 min -
Vocabulary: opinion phrases and personality review
Give opinions and agree or disagree politely with the book's opinion phrases, and review the emotions and personality words.
15 min -
Useful phrases and speaking: discussions
Take part in a short discussion: give an opinion with a reason, agree or disagree politely and invite others to speak.
15 min -
Reading and writing: opinions
Find the main opinion and reasons in a blog post and write a 150-word opinion paragraph with all five linking words.
25 min -
Listening and pronunciation: sentence stress
Stress the key words in opinion sentences so that you sound natural, and note each speaker's opinion in a discussion podcast.
12 min -
Week 5 review
Show that you can use this week's grammar and vocabulary (linking words because, so, but, although and however, opinion phrases, emotions and personality) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 12 min
-
-
Week 6: Stories and anecdotes
Tell a story about something that happened to you with a clear beginning, middle and end. Grammar: the Past Continuous and the Past Simple with when and while. Vocabulary: -ed/-ing adjectives (bored/boring) and story linkers (first, then, suddenly, in the end).
ShowHide 6 lessons of Week 6: Stories and anecdotes · about 1.5 hours
-
Grammar: Past Continuous and Past Simple
Use the Past Continuous and the Past Simple with when and while to describe interrupted actions and set the scene of a story.
20 min -
Vocabulary: -ed/-ing adjectives and story linkers
Choose between -ed and -ing adjectives (bored or boring) and use story linkers such as first, suddenly and in the end.
15 min -
Useful phrases and speaking: telling anecdotes
Tell a short anecdote with a beginning, middle and end, and react to other people's stories with interest.
15 min -
Reading and writing: stories
Follow the events of a short story and write a 150-word true story with the Past Continuous, the Past Simple and story linkers.
25 min -
Listening and pronunciation: -ed endings
Pronounce -ed endings correctly as /t/, /d/ or /ɪd/, and retell a short personal story you have listened to.
12 min -
Week 6 review
Show that you can use this week's grammar and vocabulary (Past Continuous and Past Simple with when and while, -ed/-ing adjectives, story linkers) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 12 min
-
-
Week 7: Health and lifestyle
Compare your lifestyle in the past and now, and give simple advice about health. Grammar: used to / didn't use to, and should for advice (review). Vocabulary: collocations with have and take (have a rest, take medicine) and health words such as symptom, fever, prescription and pharmacy.
ShowHide 7 lessons of Week 7: Health and lifestyle · about 2 hours
-
Grammar: used to and didn't use to
Compare your life in the past and now with used to, didn't use to and Did you use to...?
20 min -
Grammar practice: should for advice (review)
Give and ask for health advice with should, shouldn't, Why don't you...? and It's a good idea to...
12 min -
Vocabulary: health, have and take
Describe common symptoms and treatments with 10 health words and collocations such as have a rest and take medicine.
15 min -
Useful phrases and speaking: at the doctor's
Describe your symptoms to a doctor, understand advice and instructions, and talk about your childhood habits.
15 min -
Reading and writing: healthy habits
Understand advice in a health article and write a 150-word paragraph comparing your lifestyle in the past and now.
25 min -
Listening and pronunciation: linking sounds
Link words together in connected speech (turn it off, have a rest) and say used to naturally, and follow a podcast about health.
12 min -
Week 7 review
Show that you can use this week's grammar and vocabulary (used to and didn't use to, should for advice, health words, have and take collocations) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 12 min
-
-
Week 8: Technology
Describe the technology you use and make longer, connected sentences. Grammar: relative pronouns who, which and that. Vocabulary: 12 technology words such as download, password, update, device and settings.
ShowHide 6 lessons of Week 8: Technology · about 1.5 hours
-
Grammar: relative pronouns who, which and that
Join two sentences with who, which or that to describe people and things in one connected sentence.
20 min -
Vocabulary: technology
Talk about phones, computers and apps with 12 technology words, and use borrow and lend correctly.
15 min -
Useful phrases and speaking: technology
Explain step by step how to use an app, describe a tech problem and suggest solutions.
15 min -
Reading and writing: technology news and reviews
Understand the main points of a short technology news article and write a 150-word review of your phone or laptop.
25 min -
Listening and pronunciation: stress in technology words
Stress technology words correctly (technology, application, develop) and summarise a reviewer's opinion from a tech video.
12 min -
Week 8 review
Show that you can use this week's grammar and vocabulary (relative pronouns who, which and that, technology words, borrow and lend) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 12 min
-
-
Week 9: Making plans and arrangements
Plan a meeting with a friend or colleague and talk about possible situations. Grammar: the first conditional (If + present, will) and going to / the present continuous for arrangements (review). Vocabulary: 12 phrasal verbs for daily life.
ShowHide 7 lessons of Week 9: Making plans and arrangements · about 2 hours
-
Grammar: the first conditional
Talk about real possible situations in the future with If + Present Simple, will + verb, and use when + Present Simple.
20 min -
Grammar practice: going to and the present continuous (review)
Talk about plans with going to, arrangements with the present continuous and decisions made now with will.
12 min -
Vocabulary: phrasal verbs for daily life
Use 12 common phrasal verbs (get up, pick up, look after, run out of...) to talk about your daily routine and plans.
15 min -
Useful phrases and speaking: making plans
Invite someone, suggest a time and place, accept or decline politely and change a plan.
15 min -
Reading and writing: invitations and messages
Find what, when, where and how to register on an event page, and write short messages to invite, accept and change a plan.
25 min -
Listening and pronunciation: contractions
Say and hear the contractions I'll, we're and won't in plans, and note the date, time and place in a dialogue about plans.
12 min -
Week 9 review
Show that you can use this week's grammar and vocabulary (the first conditional, going to and the present continuous for arrangements, daily-life phrasal verbs) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 12 min
-
-
Week 10: Problems and complaints
Make a complaint politely but clearly, in speech and by email. Grammar: the 25 most common phrasal verbs, separable and inseparable (sort out, run out of, turn down, fill in). Vocabulary: the remaining 13 phrasal verbs and travel and services words for complaints: refund, receipt, delay, customer service.
ShowHide 6 lessons of Week 10: Problems and complaints · about 1.5 hours
-
Grammar: phrasal verbs – separable and inseparable
Use the 25 most common phrasal verbs and put pronouns in the right place (turn it off, not turn off it).
20 min -
Vocabulary: the other 13 phrasal verbs and complaints
Use the remaining 13 phrasal verbs (check in, sort out, put off...) and the key words for complaints: refund, receipt, delay, customer service.
15 min -
Useful phrases and speaking: complaining politely
Make a polite but clear complaint, say what you want, and respond to a complaint with an apology and a solution.
15 min -
Reading and writing: reviews and complaint emails
Understand a customer review and a manager's reply, and write a 150-word complaint email asking for a refund or a replacement.
25 min -
Listening and pronunciation: polite intonation
Make complaints and requests sound polite with a soft, friendly tone, and pick out complaining and apologising phrases from videos.
12 min -
Week 10 review
Show that you can use this week's grammar and vocabulary (separable and inseparable phrasal verbs, the 25 phrasal verbs, words and phrases for complaints) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 12 min
-
-
Week 11: Presentations basics
Give a short 3-minute presentation with a clear structure. Grammar: the second conditional (If I had..., I would...) and linking words for presentations (first, however, so, finally). Vocabulary: presentation phrases (Today I'm going to talk about..., Let's move on to..., To sum up...) and a review of work and office words.
ShowHide 7 lessons of Week 11: Presentations basics · about 2 hours
-
Grammar: the second conditional
Talk about imaginary situations and give advice with If + Past Simple, would + verb, and compare it with the first conditional.
20 min -
Grammar practice: linking words for presentations
Use signposts such as first of all, secondly, however, so and to sum up to show the structure of a talk.
12 min -
Vocabulary: presentation phrases and work review
Use phrases for the introduction, main part and conclusion of a presentation, and review the 12 work and office words.
15 min -
Useful phrases and speaking: giving a presentation
Plan and give a 3-minute presentation from keywords, and answer questions about it politely.
15 min -
Reading and writing: a presentation script
Follow the structure of a short talk and write a 200-word script for a 3-minute presentation with an introduction, 3 points and a conclusion.
25 min -
Listening and pronunciation: stress, pauses and speed
Deliver a presentation with clear sentence stress, pauses after signposts and a speed of about 120–140 words per minute.
12 min -
Week 11 review
Show that you can use this week's grammar and vocabulary (the second conditional, linking words and signposts for presentations, presentation phrases, work and office review) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 12 min
-
-
Week 12: Consolidation and exit test
Review all 10 B1 grammar topics, the 6 vocabulary sets (72 words) and the 25 phrasal verbs. Do a mock speaking test, write three exit-test texts in 60 minutes, check yourself against the book's exit checklist and get ready for the B1 exit test.
ShowHide 7 lessons of Week 12: Consolidation and exit test · about 2 hours
-
Grammar review: tenses and time
Choose correctly between the Present Perfect, Past Simple, Past Continuous, Present Perfect Continuous and used to.
20 min -
Grammar review: modals, verb patterns, conditionals and more
Use modals, gerunds and infinitives, both conditionals, relative pronouns, phrasal verbs and linking words correctly.
20 min -
Vocabulary review: 72 words and 25 phrasal verbs
Recall and use the words from all six B1 vocabulary sets and the 25 most common phrasal verbs.
15 min -
Useful phrases and speaking: a mock speaking test
Talk about yourself for 2 minutes, tell a 3-minute story and take part in a 5-minute discussion without switching to Sinhala.
15 min -
Reading and writing: exit-test practice
Find the main idea, key details and best summary of an article, and write an email, a story and an opinion paragraph in 60 minutes.
25 min -
Listening and pronunciation: review and the exit checklist
Review the B1 pronunciation points, understand the main idea of a podcast after two listenings and check yourself against the exit checklist.
15 min -
Week 12 review
Show that you can use this week's grammar and vocabulary (all 10 B1 grammar topics, the six vocabulary sets and the 25 phrasal verbs) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 12 min
-
-
Exit test
The B1 exit test, based on the book's exit test page: 28 questions on all 10 grammar topics, the vocabulary sets, the 25 phrasal verbs, emails and reading. Pass with 70% or more before you start book 4, B2 Upper-Intermediate.
ShowHide 1 lesson of Exit test · about 25 minutes
-
B1 exit test
Pass the B1 exit test (28 questions on the grammar, vocabulary, phrasal verbs and reading of Weeks 1–12) with a score of 70% or more.
Test 25 min
-
Estimated effort
Plan for 72 hours in total, including practice and reviews. At about an hour a day, six days a week, that is about 12 weeks.
How you will learn
- Grammar explanations with Sinhala help
- Vocabulary and useful phrases
- Interactive exercises
- Weekly review quizzes
- Speaking, listening, reading and writing tasks
- Exit test
Try it free
2 lessons of this course are free to try, without an account. Your progress is saved once you enrol.
Completion and certificate
You complete the course when you have:
- finished every required lesson (77 lessons), and
- passed the required course test.
When you complete the course, you receive a myedu.lk certificate of completion with a code that anyone can check online.
A certificate of completion shows that you finished this course on myedu.lk. It is not an independent certification of your English proficiency.
Ready to start B1 Intermediate English?
This course is free. Enrol and start your first lesson today.