Study guide
How to study a lesson
Each lesson is a short video about a real person, plus everything you need to learn from it. Follow these 7 steps. It takes about 30 minutes, and you can split it over a few days.
A short video tour of a lesson. Prefer to read? Every step is below with pictures.
Step 1 · 1 min
Choose a story at your level
Every story has a level from A1 (beginner) to C2 (advanced). A story at the right level feels a little hard, but you can follow it.
- Tap a level to see only the stories at that level.
- Pick a story that looks interesting to you. Each card shows the level and the video length.
Tip: Not sure about your level? Take the 3-minute Level Test, then follow the learning path for your level.
Step 2 · 5 min
Watch the story
Watch once just for the story. Don’t stop and don’t worry about every word. Then watch again.
- Press play to start the video.
- Watching again? Choose 0.75× to make it slower.
- A hard sentence? Press Repeat sentence to hear it again and again.
- The step list shows your progress. It is saved on your phone or computer.
Tip: On the second watch, say the sentences out loud with the video. This is called “shadowing” and it helps your speaking a lot.
Step 3 · 5 min
Read the transcript
Press Show transcript to read every sentence from the video. With “Follow along” on, the line you are hearing lights up.
- Tap a time to jump to that moment in the video.
- Tap an orange word to see what it means.
- Press Listen to hear the word, or See the card to practise it.
- Words in bold show today’s grammar.
Tip: Read one line, then close your eyes and say it from memory.
Step 4 · 5 min
Learn the words
Each story has 8 useful words on flashcards. Look at the word, guess its meaning, then tap the card to flip it.
- Tap the card to see the meaning and an example from the story.
- Press Listen to hear the word. Then press Say it and speak: the site checks how you say it.
- Press I know this or Still learning. The words you are still learning come back in Practise again.
- The circle counts the words you have learned.
Tip: Make your own sentence with each new word, about your life.
Step 5 · 3 min
Grammar in the story
Each story uses one grammar pattern many times. See how it works, find it in the story, then try it yourself.
- The pattern and when we use it.
- Find it in the story: tap a line to hear it in the video.
- Your turn: choose the right word for each gap.
Tip: Write three sentences about yourself with today’s pattern.
Step 6 · 4 min
Play the Story Challenge
Nine quick questions about the story, the words and the grammar. Answer correctly in a row to get bonus points.
- The bar shows how many questions are left.
- Read the question and choose your answer.
- Wrong answer? Press Watch that part to hear that part of the video. Then press Next.
Tip: At the end, add your score to This week’s top 10, or share it and challenge a friend.
Step 7 · 5+ min
Print the worksheet and come back tomorrow
Write by hand to remember more. Every lesson has a free worksheet you can print or save as a PDF.
- Press Printable worksheet at the top of the lesson.
- Need help? Press Language to see the page in your language.
- Your streak counts the days in a row you study. Do one step every day to keep it!
Tip: At the end of the lesson, read the questions in Take it further and answer them out loud.
Busy week?
One story in three short sessions
- Day 1Watch the story (steps 1–2) and learn the words (step 4).
- Day 2Watch again at 0.75×, read the transcript and do the grammar (steps 3 and 5).
- Day 3Play the Story Challenge, print the worksheet and tell the story in your own words (steps 6–7).
A little every day is better than a lot once a week. Your streak will thank you!