AV Academy · Thales · Lesson 6

Plans Change

Hear the important detail, react to what the other person actually said, and keep the plan alive when something changes.

Real exchange EnglishListening → speakingFollow-up questionsReal exchange situations
Today you can

Stay in the conversation when the plan is not perfect.

Main mission

Make one real plan with a new classmate. Then survive two unexpected changes without switching to Portuguese or starting again.

Quick retrieval · 5–6 min

Before we start: what do you still remember?

No studying needed. Try from memory first. Reveal only if you get stuck.

1 · Ask

Meet someone new

Your new classmate says: “I’m staying with a host family.”

What could you ask next?

Possible: Where are you staying? / Is this your first time in Canada? / How long are you here for?
2 · React

Make a connection

Your classmate says: “I’m really into gaming.”

React first. Then keep it going.

Possible: Really? / Same here! / That’s cool. + What games do you like? / What about you?
3 · Rescue

You missed one detail

You understand the situation, but not the time.

What can you say?

Possible: Can you repeat that, please? / Sorry, I didn’t catch the time.
4 · Make a plan

Your classmate is free after class

You want to do something together.

Invite them or suggest a plan.

Possible: Do you want to hang out after class? / Would you like to get a coffee? / Sounds good.
30-second mini round: Teacher says one new fact about a student. React + ask one connected question. No notes.
0
Transfer · 4 min

Sofia is back

You did not meet her last class. Today she starts the conversation.

Rule: listen once. Do not report the information. Answer Sofia directly. Use anything you just retrieved if it helps.

Sofia · first message
Listen → react → ask a connected question.
ready
Teacher becomes Sofia. Continue naturally for 2–3 turns. Do not feed Thales a question unless he has genuinely frozen.
⚡ Sofia changes the plan
Only play this after Thales and Sofia make a simple plan.

Your job: adapt the plan. Do not restart the conversation.

1
Bottom-up listening · 8 min

Listening microscope

Three tiny voice notes. First catch the message; then catch the exact phrase.

A · Emma
What is his plan? What is the limit?
He needs to…
be back by six
B · Mia
What does she want to do? Where?
She was thinking of…
grabbing something to eat near the station
C · Nora
What time is impossible? What new time does he suggest?
The key phrase is…
I can’t make it at five. Could we make it five fifteen instead?

Which one did you actually hear?

A
be back by six
be there at six
B
grab something to eat
bring something to eat
C
I can’t make it at five
I can’t meet you at five

Listen again after choosing. Then reveal only if needed.

2
Conversation management · 6 min

Follow the information

Listen to the detail. Ask the next question because of what the person just said.

60-second chain

Teacher says one real fact. You ask a connected question. Teacher answers. Follow that new information again.

1:00

Goal: 3 connected turns without using a memorized question list.

3
Circumlocution · 5–6 min

No word? Keep going.

You forgot one useful word in English. Keep the conversation moving without translating.

It’s something you use to…It’s a place where…It’s similar to…You use it when…I don’t know the exact word, but…
🔌
Situation A

Your phone is at 5%. You forgot the English word. Ask another student if they have the thing you need.

charger
🧺
Situation B

You need to wash your clothes at the residence. You forgot the name of the room. Ask where it is.

laundry room
🔐
Challenge · if fast

At school, you want a small place where you can leave your backpack and books. You forgot the word.

locker

Success = understood. Grammar can be imperfect. Do two situations first; use the third only if time allows.

4
Main listening · 8 min

Plan A → problem → Plan B

Listen for the story first. Then notice how the speakers repair the plan.

Ava & Sophie · after class
First listen: build the story. Second listen: catch the details.
Plan
First time
Problem
New plan
Limit

Phrase hunt · reveal one by one

Sophie says she is unavailable at the first time.
I can’t make it at four thirty.
Ava suggests the new meeting time.
Could we meet at the front entrance at five fifteen?
Sophie gives her final time limit.
I need to be back at my homestay by seven, though.
Steal only two chunks. Say them once with your own time/place, then keep them for the mission.
5
Main mission · 16–18 min

Make a plan that survives changes

Your teacher is a new classmate. You have a real information gap. The plan will change twice.

Situation

You have just finished class. A new classmate wants to do something in the city. You do not know their schedule yet.

Your job: keep the conversation alive and finish with one clear plan.
Activity
Time
Meeting point
Final limit
6:00

Conversation rules:

  • Ask questions because you need information — not because the teacher tells you to.
  • If you miss a detail, clarify only that detail.
  • If the plan changes, adapt it. Do not restart.
  • At the end, confirm the final plan aloud.

Rescue language — look only if you genuinely need it

Sounds good.What time works for you?I can’t make it at…Could we make it… instead?Where should we meet?I didn’t catch the time.So, we’re meeting at…, right?

Teacher will add 2 curveballs

You will not know them before the conversation. Listen, react and repair the plan.

The goal is not perfect grammar. The goal is a conversation that keeps moving.

6
Memory + repair · 4–5 min

Confirm it without notes

Close your notes. Tell your teacher the final plan in four details.

Your final confirmation

Say:

activitytimemeeting pointdeadline / limit

Start naturally: “So, we’re…”

Teacher misunderstands one detail

Your teacher will deliberately repeat one detail incorrectly.

Correct the misunderstanding naturally without repeating the entire plan.

No, actually…Not five — five fifteen.I mean the front entrance.Right, exactly.
One last thing: Which phrase from today do you think you could actually use in Canada?
Reserve · genuine new challenge · 8–10 min

Last-minute voice note

A friend sends one final message. Listen and answer as if this were WhatsApp.

Voice note
No transcript. Confirm time + place, then ask one useful question.

Reply aloud in 20–30 seconds.

Do not summarize the whole message. Talk to the person.

Confirm: “Okay, five twenty by the coffee shop inside the station.” Then ask one question you genuinely need answered.
H
Optional homework · 3–5 min

One voice note, no script

Short enough to be realistic.

Send one 30–45 second audio

Imagine a classmate says: “I can’t meet at four anymore. Can we meet at five?”
Reply naturally. Include: reaction + confirm/change the time + meeting point + one follow-up question.
Use keywords only. Do not write a complete script.