B1 Lesson: Learning to Surf the Hard Way

Level: B1 (Intermediate)

Content Objective: Students read a first-person account of a beginner surfer’s early wipeouts and slow improvement over one summer, and reflect on what it takes to learn a difficult new skill.

Language Objective: Students learn to use used to and would to describe repeated actions and habits in the past, and to recognize when each form is appropriate.

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1. Reading Section

Three summers ago, I decided to learn how to surf. I grew up nowhere near the ocean, so I had no idea what I was getting myself into. My first lesson was, honestly, a disaster.

In those early weeks, I used to fall off the board almost every time I tried to stand up. I would paddle out, wait for a wave, jump up too early, and land face-first in the water. My instructor used to laugh and say, “The ocean always wins the first few rounds.”

Every morning that summer, I would wake up before sunrise and walk down to the beach with my board under my arm. I used to feel embarrassed watching other surfers glide past me so easily while I struggled just to stay balanced.

For the first two weeks, I didn’t use to trust the water at all. Every time a wave got close, I would panic and jump off the board instead of riding it. My instructor used to remind me, “You can’t fight the wave. You have to work with it.”

Slowly, something started to change. I would still fall, but not as often. I used to count my wipeouts every session, and by the third week, the number was finally going down instead of up.

One morning, everything came together. I paddled out, caught a wave, and stood up without even thinking about it. For a few incredible seconds, I was actually surfing. When I finally fell, I didn’t mind at all — I was smiling the whole way down.

After that day, surfing stopped feeling like a fight and started feeling like a conversation. I still wiped out plenty of times, but I understood the ocean a little better each time.

Now, three summers later, I don’t wipe out nearly as often as I used to. I still remember my first terrible weeks, though, and I’m grateful for every single fall. Without them, I never would have learned to stand.

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2. Vocabulary Section

Word / Phrase	Meaning	Example
disaster	a complete failure, or something that goes very badly	My first lesson was, honestly, a disaster.
paddle	to move through water using your arms, especially on a surfboard	I would paddle out, wait for a wave, jump up too early.
glide	to move smoothly and easily, without effort	Other surfers glide past me so easily.
balanced	steady, not falling to one side	I struggled just to stay balanced.
panic	to feel sudden, strong fear that stops you from thinking clearly	I would panic and jump off the board instead of riding it.
wipeout	a fall off a surfboard, usually into the water	I used to count my wipeouts every session.
come together	to finally work or succeed after a period of difficulty	One morning, everything came together.
grateful	feeling thankful for something	I’m grateful for every single fall.

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3. Example Sentences (Target Grammar in Use)

• In those early weeks, I used to fall off the board almost every time I tried to stand up.
• I would paddle out, wait for a wave, jump up too early, and land face-first in the water.
• Every morning that summer, I would wake up before sunrise and walk down to the beach with my board under my arm.
• For the first two weeks, I didn’t use to trust the water at all.
• I used to count my wipeouts every session, and by the third week, the number was finally going down instead of up.
• Now, three summers later, I don’t wipe out nearly as often as I used to.

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4. Grammar Section

Used To / Would for Past Habits

We use both used to and would to talk about repeated actions or habits in the past that are not true anymore. Used to can describe both repeated actions and past states, but would can only describe repeated actions, not states.

Form	Use	Example
used to + base verb	a repeated action or a past state that is no longer true	I used to fall off the board almost every time I tried to stand up.
would + base verb	a repeated action in the past (not a state)	I would paddle out, wait for a wave, jump up too early, and land face-first in the water.
didn’t use to + base verb	the negative form, for something that wasn’t a habit or wasn’t true in the past	I didn’t use to trust the water at all.
used to (for states, not would)	would cannot describe a past state, feeling, or fact — only used to can	I used to feel embarrassed watching other surfers glide past me.

Quick Tip: Would works well for actions you can picture happening again and again, like waking up early or paddling out. But for feelings, opinions, or situations that were simply true in the past, like feeling embarrassed or not trusting the water, only used to is correct: say “I used to feel embarrassed,” never “I would feel embarrassed.”

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5. Comprehension Questions

A. True or False

1. The narrator grew up near the ocean.
2. In the first two weeks, the narrator trusted the water completely.
3. By the third week, the narrator’s number of wipeouts was going down.
4. The narrator never wipes out anymore, three summers later.

B. Short Answer

5. What did the narrator’s instructor used to say about the ocean?
6. What would the narrator do every time a wave got close in the first two weeks?
7. What happened on the morning when “everything came together”?
8. How did surfing change for the narrator after that morning, according to the text?

C. Fill in the Blank / Transform — Complete each sentence with used to, would, or didn’t use to.

9. In the early weeks, I ___ fall off the board almost every time.
10. Every morning, I ___ wake up before sunrise and walk to the beach.
11. For the first two weeks, I ___ trust the water at all.
12. I ___ feel embarrassed watching other surfers glide past me. (Note: this describes a feeling, not a repeated action.)

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More B1 lessons are coming soon!