Welcome to level 4 of the step-by-step core course! This level is aimed at upper beginners (CEFR level A2-), with more of a focus on reading, writing and grammar – particularly the past simple tense, comparatives and modal verbs. Each lesson is designed for 15-30 minute classes, and comes with lesson previews, workbooks and flashcards.
IMPORTANT: We are currently in the process of making some major updates to this level, in order to provide more practice and consolidation opportunities. The later units (focusing on past continuous tense and present perfect) will be moved to level five, and earlier units will have their content spread out over additional lessons and units with extra material added. If you are currently actively teaching these lessons with students, please contact us for guidance if you are concerned that your lessons may be affected.
Unit 1: Daily life
This unit introduces the past simple tense (with regular verbs) while talking about past events.
Unit 2: Reminiscing
This unit consolidates the past simple tense and introduces key irregular verbs.
- 4:2:1 It was sunny
- 4:2:2 Were you at the library?
- 4:2:3 When I was young
- 4:2:4 Reading: Tom’s American life
- 4:2:5 Writing: A day out
- 4:2:6 Review
- Unit 2 Workbook [coming soon]
Unit 3: Travel
This unit consolidates the past simple tense and introduces more irregular verbs.
Unit 4: Competitions
This unit focuses on comparatives and superlatives.
NEW Unit 5: Famous athletes
This unit focuses on comparatives and superlatives.
- 4:5:1 A flower joke
- 4:5:2 The most determined wins
- 4:5:3 I am the best
- 4:5:4 Reading: Determined athletes
- 4:5:5 Writing: Biography
- 4:5:6 Review: Famous athletes
- Unit 5 Workbook [coming soon]
Unit 6: Shopping
This unit focuses on shopping dialogues and discussions.
OLD: My yesterday [moving to level 5]
This unit focuses on the past continuous tense.
- 4:5:1 Amy’s yesterday
- 4:5:2 Tom’s naughty weekend
- 4:5:3 Interruptions in the past
- 4:5:4 Writing: My story
- 4:5:5 Walking into a fairytale
- 4:5:6 Review: My yesterday
OLD: Famous people [coming soon to level 5]
This unit introduces the present perfect tense.
- 4:6:1 Celebrity careers
- 4:6:2 Celebrity interviews
- 4:6:3 Celebrity volunteering
- 4:6:4 Reading: From rags to riches
- 4:6:5 Writing: Celebrity biography
- 4:6:6 Review: Famous people
I am just clarifying, After Level 4, Unit 6, we switch to the Old Curriculum and pick up Level 5?
Hi Janice! There will be more units added to level 4, with 10 units planned in total – so after level 4 unit 6, you should move to level 4 unit 7 🙂
Regarding level 5, yes we will be adding a new level 5. The old level 5 does not line up well with the new curriculum structure, so I wouldn’t recommend using those lessons any more (they will be deleted soon, they’ve just been left up for teachers who already had students following the old structure).
I hope this clarifies things! ~Katie