Frank Abagnale's story of impersonating a Pan Am pilot made him famous — until a 2020 investigation challenged most of it. Explore the case and practice modals of deduction.

Follow a beginner surfer through a summer of wipeouts and slow progress. Practice used to and would for past habits.

In 1971 a hijacker jumped from a Boeing 727 with $200,000 and was never seen again. Explore the competing theories about what happened to him and practice modals of speculation.

Follow Alex through the most chaotic morning of his life — his first job interview. Practice the past continuous and past simple with when and while.

A viral dance craze took over the internet in 2013 and vanished within weeks. Explore why trends rise and fall, and practice the present perfect continuous.

Ben, a teacher on vacation in Lisbon, is mistaken for a famous actor. Follow his funny day and learn to use the past continuous and past simple with "when" and "while."

This lesson explores how the brain misinterprets visual information, using optical illusions like the checker shadow illusion to illustrate this. It highlights the brain's reliance on mental shortcuts and suggests that perceptions are actively interpreted rather than passively recorded.

Elena, a coffee shop owner, faced challenges after a chain opened nearby. With advice from Mr. Tanaka, she innovated by offering unique pastries and hosting language nights, revitalizing her business and restoring customer loyalty.

Since 1990, the share of Americans with no close friends has quadrupled — even as we've never had more ways to "connect." A data-driven B2 lesson practicing the present perfect and present perfect continuous.

Pad thai looks ancient, but its story is surprisingly recent and political — from a 1940s rice-shortage campaign to a 21st-century "gastro-diplomacy" push that put it on menus worldwide. Practice the present perfect alongside the past simple.

The Olympic Games originated in ancient Greece in 776 BCE, were banned by Emperor Theodosius I, and revived in 1896 by Pierre de Coubertin, leading to modern competitions held worldwide every four years.

Sofia embarks on a six-week backpacking trip across Europe by train, visiting eight countries and documenting her experiences. Through various challenges and encounters, she learns invaluable lessons and expresses no regrets about her adventure, already planning her next journey.

Explore habit formation in the brain, as we debunk the "21 days" myth and learn about the habit loop. Then practice modals of speculation as a bonus lesson!

Level: B1 (Intermediate)Content Objective: Students learn about the race between Alexander Graham Bell and Elisha Gray to patent the telephone in 1876, and the famous first phone call that followed.Language Objective: Students practice using the past simple and past continuous together to describe finished actions, background actions, and actions happening at the same time. 1. Reading Section A Race Against the Clock On the morning of February 14, 1876, a lawyer walked into the patent office in Washington, D.C. He was carrying a document for a young inventor named Alexander Graham Bell. Bell wasn’t there himself — he was in Boston, still working on his invention. But his lawyer knew…