At school reception
- Could you repeat that more slowly, please?Ask politely for a slower repetition.
- I have not understood the last point yet.Say clearly that you still need an explanation.
SIOC Language Labs · A1–B2
English
A practical, structured language workspace for study, travel and everyday life. Use the filters, open one section at a time and practise aloud.
Practice system
Daily practice, arrival and memory system
Add a structured daily routine to the grammar maps, dialogues and situation vocabulary already in this Lab. Use the system before departure and alongside your course.
Daily practice →A0–C1 vocabularyArrival packRepair & classroomAfter classExam tasksPDF checklistPrintable pack
The placement tool is a self-check, not an official CEFR or school placement result.
01
Your learning route
Do not try to memorise the whole page. Work in short, repeated blocks and use the language in complete sentences.
- 1
Learn 8–12 useful items.
- 2
Say every example aloud.
- 3
Write three personal sentences.
- 4
Use the material in a short dialogue.
02
Grammar map
Open one point at a time. Read the rule, say the examples aloud and make one new example of your own.
A1Polite requests
Rule
Use modal verbs and softening phrases when you ask staff, teachers or colleagues for help.
Example
Could I…? / Would you mind…? / I was wondering if…
Watch out
Do not use a bare command when a polite request is expected.
A2Present perfect and past simple
Rule
Use the present perfect for a past event connected to now; use the past simple with a finished time.
Example
I have lost my key. / I lost it yesterday.
Watch out
Do not combine the present perfect with a finished time such as yesterday.
A1Articles
Rule
Use a/an for one non-specific countable noun, the for something specific or known, and no article for general plural ideas.
Example
a course / the course / courses in general
Watch out
Accommodation is normally uncountable: say accommodation, not an accommodation.
B1Conditionals
Rule
Use if + present for real future possibilities and if + past + would for imagined situations.
Example
If I miss the bus, what should I do?
Watch out
Do not normally use will directly after if in the condition clause.
B1Phrasal verbs
Rule
Learn the verb and particle as one unit and note whether the object can go in the middle.
Example
put off, set up, carry out, point out, figure out, come across
Watch out
With pronouns, say put it off, not put off it.
B2Business collocations
Rule
Natural English often depends on fixed verb–noun partnerships. Learn the whole partnership, not only the noun.
Example
meet a deadline, close a deal, allocate a budget, conduct research
Watch out
A grammatically possible combination can still sound unnatural; check the usual verb.
03
Vocabulary by situation
Learn words in groups that match real situations. Every item includes a practical example.
School and study
| English | Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| Could you repeat that more slowly, please? | Ask politely for a slower repetition. | |
| I have not understood the last point yet. | Say clearly that you still need an explanation. | |
| I would like to clarify the deadline. | Useful in class, projects and administration. |
Accommodation
| English | Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| Could we agree on the next step? | Move a discussion toward a concrete action. | |
| I will take responsibility for that. | Accept ownership of a task in a professional way. | |
| We need to allocate the budget carefully. | A common business and project collocation. |
Transport
| English | Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| The team carried out the research. | Carry out means perform or complete planned work. | |
| Could you point out the main risk? | Point out means draw attention to something specific. | |
| We may have to put the meeting off. | Put off means postpone. |
Food and shopping
| English | Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| I came across a useful source. | Come across means find unexpectedly. | |
| I need to check in at the residence. | Use this when arriving at student accommodation. | |
| I have lost my travel card. | A direct sentence for transport staff or reception. |
04
Useful sentence bank
These are flexible sentence frames. Replace the details with your own name, time, course, address or problem.
In accommodation
- I would like to clarify the deadline.Useful in class, projects and administration.
- Could we agree on the next step?Move a discussion toward a concrete action.
In a shop
- I will take responsibility for that.Accept ownership of a task in a professional way.
- We need to allocate the budget carefully.A common business and project collocation.
During a group project
- The team carried out the research.Carry out means perform or complete planned work.
- Could you point out the main risk?Point out means draw attention to something specific.
At school reception
- We may have to put the meeting off.Put off means postpone.
- I came across a useful source.Come across means find unexpectedly.
In accommodation
- I need to check in at the residence.Use this when arriving at student accommodation.
- I have lost my travel card.A direct sentence for transport staff or reception.
05
Dialogue practice
Read both roles, then repeat the dialogue without looking. Change at least two details.
At school reception
A: Good morning. I am a new student. Where do I need to register?
B: Please check in at reception and show your confirmation.
A: Could you clarify what documents you need?
Try this: Change the time, place and problem. Add one clarification question and one polite closing.
In accommodation
A: I have lost my key and I cannot enter my room.
B: I can issue a temporary key after I verify your identity.
A: Thank you. Could you also explain the replacement fee?
Try this: Change the time, place and problem. Add one clarification question and one polite closing.
In a shop
A: Could you point out where I can pay?
B: The checkout is at the end of this aisle.
A: Great. I would like to pay by card.
Try this: Change the time, place and problem. Add one clarification question and one polite closing.
During a group project
A: Could we agree on the next step?
B: I will carry out the research and send the results tomorrow.
A: Good. I will take responsibility for the presentation.
Try this: Change the time, place and problem. Add one clarification question and one polite closing.
06
A simple way to practise
Shadowing
Listen to or read one sentence, pause, repeat it with the same rhythm, then say it again without looking.
Substitution
Keep the grammar pattern but change the person, time, place, object or problem.
60-second speaking challenge
Try explaining one school, housing or transport problem for 60 seconds. If you get stuck, pause, rephrase and keep going.
Come back to it
Review after one day, three days and seven days. Move the easy items aside and spend your time on the ones that still need a little practice.
Original SIOC learning material. The supplied social-media examples were used only to identify useful themes; wording, structure and exercises below are newly written.