Unit 1 · Identity & Connection · Lesson 01
Who You Are Now
Learn how to talk about who you are right now with more precision. Practise natural B2 present forms so you can describe your personality, habits and values with confidence.
Warm-up · §1
5 minGet talking
Choose three words that honestly describe you right now (not five years ago). One personality word, one role word, one mood word. Share with your teacher (or a partner) and say why.
Tell your teacher (or a partner) one thing about yourself that has changed in the last two years, and one thing that has stayed the same. Try to use the present perfect at least once.
If your closest friend introduced you to a new group, what would they probably say about you? Is it the same as how you see yourself?
Grammar focus · §2
8–10 minPresent forms for identity: simple, continuous & perfect (continuous)
Quick rule
Mix the three present forms on purpose: simple for who you are, continuous for what's changing, perfect (continuous) for what shaped you.
Compare
| Form | Use it for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present simple | Stable identity, habits, traits | I work in design. I tend to overthink. |
| Present continuous | Current phase, changing reality | I'm becoming more patient lately. |
| Present perfect (cont.) | Started before now, still relevant | I've lived abroad for six years. |
Examples
- →
I work in marketing, but lately I've been thinking about a change.
- →
I tend to be quite reserved at first — it usually takes me a while to open up.
- →
I'd say I'm the kind of person who listens more than they speak.
- →
I've lived abroad for almost six years now, and it's shaped how I see things.
- →
I'm becoming much more comfortable with disagreement than I used to be.
Common mistakes
I am working here since 2020.
✓ I've worked / I've been working here since 2020.
'Since' needs the perfect.
I'm knowing him for years.
✓ I've known him for years.
Stative verbs don't take continuous.
Natural English
B2 self-description blends all three forms in one or two sentences — that's the level marker examiners listen for.
Typical B2 self-description blends all three — not just present simple.
- 45%
Present simple
I work / I live / I tend to
- 30%
Present perfect (cont.)
I've lived / I've been trying
- 25%
Present continuous
I'm becoming / I'm spending
Deep dive (full explanation)
At B2 you stop choosing between 'I work' and 'I'm working' — you mix them on purpose. Use the present simple for stable identity and habits ('I work in design', 'I tend to overthink things'). Use the present continuous for current phases and changing realities ('I'm spending a lot of time with my family these days', 'I'm becoming more patient'). Use the present perfect (and present perfect continuous) for things that started in the past but are still part of who you are now ('I've lived in three cities', 'I've been trying to slow down lately'). Mixing these forms is what makes B2 self-description sound natural rather than textbook.
Question 1.Choose the most natural B2 answer: 'So, what do you do?' — '___ in healthcare, but I'm thinking of moving into education.'
Question 2.'How long have you lived here?' — '___ in Lisbon for about four years now.'
Question 3.'You seem different.' — 'Yes, ___ to be more direct lately.'
Question 4.'Tell me about yourself.' — 'I'd say I'm the kind of person ___ deeply about things.'
Question 5.Which is most B2 in register? '____ a fairly private person, to be honest.'
Build the sentence → spot the natural chunks → say it aloud → reply like a real conversation.
1.Talk about a long, ongoing part of your life.
2.Describe a personal habit, not a one-off action.
3.Soften a strong statement about yourself.
Quick check 1.'_____ becoming more confident in meetings.' (a temporary, changing state)
Quick check 2.'_____ lived in five different countries.' (life experience that defines you now)
Vocabulary · §3
5–7 minWords & phrases to own
values (n.)
the things that matter most to you and guide your choices — e.g. 'honesty is one of my core values'.
to identify with (sth/sb)
to feel a personal connection with an idea, group or character.
down-to-earth (adj.)
practical, modest and easy to talk to; not pretentious.
self-aware (adj.)
able to see your own behaviour and emotions clearly.
to come across as
to give a particular impression to others — 'I sometimes come across as shy.'
a people person
someone who enjoys and is good at being around people.
to take after (sb)
to look or behave like an older relative.
to find your feet
to settle into a new place, role or stage of life.
a stage of life
a particular phase you're going through (e.g. 'a transitional stage').
to redefine yourself
to deliberately change who you are or how others see you.
Activate it now
Use the new language straight away — speak first, polish later.
- Make it yours#1
Finish this for yourself, out loud: 'One of my core values is ___ — because ___.'
values - Discuss#2
Tell your teacher (or a partner) about a character, podcaster or YouTuber you really identify with — and why.
to identify with - Complete#3
Finish two of these about yourself: 'I'd say I'm fairly ___', 'I sometimes come across as ___', 'I take after my ___ in that I ___'.
down-to-earthself-awareto come across asto take after - Your view#4
Agree or disagree, and say why: 'Calling yourself a people person is a bit of a cliché.'
a people person - Rank#5
Rank these from most to least true of you right now: finding my feet, redefining myself, in a transitional stage of life. Compare with your teacher (or a partner).
to find your feetto redefine yourselfa stage of life - Quick write#6
Write a 40-word self-intro using at least THREE expressions from the list. Read it to your teacher (or a partner) — they guess which three you used.
valuesdown-to-earthself-awarea people person
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Pronunciation · §4
3–4 minWeak forms in 'I've been / I'd say / I tend to'
These B2 'identity' chunks lose strength on the auxiliaries in connected speech. 'I've been' often sounds like /aɪv bɪn/, 'I'd say' like /aɪd seɪ/, and 'tend to' becomes /ˈtend tə/ — the second 'to' is almost swallowed. Stressing the wrong word makes you sound robotic; stressing the content word (the verb or adjective) makes you sound natural and confident.
- I've been /aɪv bɪn/ — 'I've been thinking about it for a while.'
- I'd say /aɪd seɪ/ — 'I'd say I'm a fairly private person.'
- I tend to /aɪ ˈtend tə/ — 'I tend to keep myself to myself.'
- Sentence rhythm — say it like one phrase: 'I'd-say-I'm-the-kind-of-person-who-listens.'
Reading · §5
8–10 minThe 'About Me' Section Nobody Reads (And Why You Should Rewrite Yours)
Listen to the passage
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Most people write an 'about me' once — usually when they're applying for a first job or setting up a new social profile — and then leave it untouched for years. The problem is that by the time anyone reads it, that version of you is already out of date. Who you are isn't fixed. It moves. The person you were at twenty made certain choices because of what they valued then; the person you are now probably values different things. Some of that is dramatic — a move abroad, a new career, becoming a parent — but most of it isn't. It's quieter: you've stopped being interested in things you used to defend; you've grown more patient, or less; you've discovered you're better at saying 'no' than you thought. Updating how you describe yourself isn't vanity. It's a tool. When your self-description is honest and current, you attract the right people, accept the right invitations, and turn down the wrong ones with less guilt. When it's outdated, you keep finding yourself in conversations and rooms that were meant for an older version of you. A useful exercise is to write three sentences in the present tense — only the present tense — that describe who you are right now. No job titles. No achievements. Just: I tend to … I'm becoming … I've been … . If you can't do it, that's interesting. It usually means you're between stages of life — and that, in itself, is something worth saying out loud.
Question 1.What is the writer's main argument?
Question 2.According to the text, MOST identity change is…
Question 3.What is the practical 'tool' the writer suggests at the end?
Question 4.If you can't complete the three-sentence exercise, the writer says it probably means…
Q1.The writer says identity is fixed once you reach adulthood.
Q2.Outdated self-descriptions can put you in rooms meant for an older version of you.
Q3.The writer recommends listing your achievements first.
Q4.Saying 'I'm between stages' is treated as a valid self-description.
Listening · §6
8–10 minTwo old friends meet at a café (about 1:40)
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Maya:Honestly, Tom, it's been — what — three years? You look exactly the same.
Tom:Ha. I'd love that to be true. I feel completely different, to be honest.
Maya:Different how? Good different?
Tom:Mostly, yeah. I've been trying to slow down a lot. I used to say yes to everything — every project, every weekend plan — and now I'm a bit more protective of my time.
Maya:That sounds healthy. So you're still at the same company?
Tom:I am, but I'm not sure for how much longer. I've been thinking about moving into teaching, actually.
Maya:Wow. That's a real shift.
Tom:It is. But I'd say I'm the kind of person who needs to feel useful, and lately I haven't really felt that at work. What about you, though — how's life treating you?
Maya:Honestly? I'm in a weird in-between stage. I left the agency, I'm freelancing, and I'm slowly finding my feet. Some days are great, some days I miss the routine.
Tom:I can completely imagine that. You've always been quite independent though.
Maya:I have. But I'm also realising I'm more of a people person than I thought. I tend to get a bit restless on my own.
Tom:That's a good thing to know about yourself.
Maya:It is. It's the kind of thing that takes a while to admit.
Question 1.What has changed for Tom?
Question 2.Why is Tom thinking about teaching?
Question 3.How would you describe Maya's current stage of life?
Question 4.What has Maya realised about herself?
Exam skills · §7
5 minStrategy focus — Extending short answers in everyday conversation
Task
In real conversations (introductions at work, meeting new people, small talk with neighbours), a one-line reply can sound abrupt at B2. People expect you to give a bit more — a reason, an example, or how you feel about it.
Strategy
Use the 'B2 sandwich': (1) a clear present-simple statement, (2) a present-perfect or present-continuous detail that shows change, (3) a personal opinion or feeling. It works in any speaking situation — interviews, social chat, video calls.
Example
'I work in marketing at a small startup (1). I've been there for just under a year, and I've been picking up more responsibility recently (2). It's been challenging, but I really enjoy the variety (3).'
Practice · §8
8–10 minFill in the blank
Question 1.I'd ___ I'm a fairly private person, but I open up once I get to know people.
Question 2.I ___ been thinking about going back to studying for a while now.
Question 3.She ___ to be quite quiet at first, but she's actually really funny.
Question 4.I'm the kind of person ___ needs a bit of time alone to recharge.
Question 5.He sometimes ___ across as arrogant, but he's just nervous around new people.
Question 6.I've ___ living in three different cities, and each one has changed me a bit.
Q1.Soften this: 'I'm a private person.' → 'I'd ___ I'm a fairly private person.'
Q2.Make this B2: 'I think about it a lot.' → 'I've ___ thinking about it a lot lately.'
Q3.Complete: 'I ___ to be more of a listener than a talker.'
Writing · §9
5 minPut it in writing
Your task
Write a 90–120 word 'About me' paragraph in the present tense for a new study group, a language exchange or a co-working space. Use AT LEAST one present simple, one present continuous and one present perfect (continuous) form. Include a real value or change you're going through.
Your answer
Show model answer
Hi everyone — I'm Léa, and I'm originally from Lyon, although I've been based in Berlin for the last two years. I work as a junior UX researcher at a small product team, and I'd say I'm the kind of person who likes asking a lot of 'why' questions. Outside work, I've been getting into hiking and slow weekends — I used to fill my calendar completely, and I'm trying to be more protective of my time. I'm joining this group because my speaking is fine, but I tend to play it safe, and I'd like to push myself a bit. Looking forward to meeting you all.
Speaking · §10
10–15 minMake it a real conversation
ROLE-PLAY — 'The honest introduction' (works 1:1 with your teacher, or in pairs). You've just been paired up at an Escape Campus international study café. Spend 3 minutes each introducing yourselves in a real, B2 way — NOT just name + job + country. Use at least three of the target structures. Then your partner reflects back: 'So what I'm hearing is that you're someone who…'.
Useful phrases
- • I'd say I'm the kind of person who…
- • I tend to…
- • I've been trying to… lately.
- • I'm at a bit of an in-between stage right now.
- • I sometimes come across as…, but actually…
- • What about you — how would you describe yourself right now?
- • So what I'm hearing is that you're someone who…
- • That really resonates with me.
- KarimSo, how would you describe yourself — in your own words, not your CV?
- You_______________
- KarimI get that. Has that always been you, or has it changed?
- You_______________
- KarimNice. Why now?
- You_______________
Optional · Teacher-led
Teacher Activities
Two optional fluency extensions for in-person or live online classes. ~27 min total
Homework · §11
Take-homeTake it home
Rewrite your social media bio (or invent a new one) in 4 sentences using at least one present simple, one present perfect and one 'I tend to' structure.
Record a 60-second voice memo introducing yourself as if you were joining a new team. Use 3 phrases from today's lesson. Listen back and notice your weak forms.
Choose 5 vocabulary items from the lesson and write one true sentence about yourself for each.
Write 3 sentences describing how you've changed in the last two years (present perfect / present perfect continuous).
Recap · §12
2–3 minWhat you've learned
- You can blend present simple, continuous and perfect forms to describe identity at B2.
- You can soften self-descriptions using 'I'd say…', 'I tend to…' and 'the kind of person who…'.
- You can describe change in yourself (present perfect continuous) and current life stages.
- You can extend your speaking with reason + change + feeling — the B2 sandwich.
- You can recognise and produce weak forms in 'I've been', 'I'd say' and 'tend to' for natural rhythm.