B1 Intermediate Course · Unit 20 of 20

Looking Back, Looking Forward

Vocabulary for life, change, and reflection. Grammar: mixed conditionals connecting past and present.

Progress

0% complete

Vocabulary

Key words for this unit.

Ambition

A strong desire to achieve something

Without ambition, she would never have achieved what she has today.

Regret

A feeling of sadness about something that happened or did not happen

If I had studied harder, I would not have these regrets now.

Perseverance

Continuing to do something despite difficulties

Her perseverance is the reason she succeeded where others gave up.

Reflect

To think carefully about something, especially from the past

It is important to reflect on what you have learned before moving forward.

Milestone

An important event or achievement that marks progress

Completing this course is a milestone in your English learning journey.

Legacy

Something left behind by a person that continues to have an effect

Great teachers leave a legacy that shapes their students for years.

Aspiration

A hope or ambition for the future

Her main aspiration is to work in international development.

Resilience

The ability to recover quickly from difficulties

If you had not shown such resilience, you would not be where you are today.

Perspective

A particular way of thinking about or viewing something

Travel broadens your perspective — it shows you that your way is not the only way.

Transition

The process of changing from one state or condition to another

The transition from student to professional life can be challenging.

Accomplishment

Something that has been achieved successfully

Learning a new language is a remarkable personal accomplishment.

Optimistic

Hopeful and confident about the future

If we had not made progress on renewable energy, I would not feel so optimistic today.

Vocabulary exercises

Grammar

Mixed conditionals — past condition to present result / present condition to past result

A mixed conditional connects a past condition with a present result, or a present condition with a past result.

Past condition to present result:
If I had studied medicine, I would be a doctor now.

Present condition to past result:
If I were more ambitious, I would have applied for the role.

Type	If-clause	Main clause
Past to present	if + past perfect	would + infinitive (present result)
Present to past	if + past simple	would have + past participle (past result)

Mixed conditionals connect different time frames. Compare: If I had taken that job, I would be living in Tokyo now (mixed — past decision, present result) vs If I had taken that job, I would have earned more (third conditional — both past).

Grammar exercises

Reading

Read carefully, then answer the questions.

What makes a life well lived?

The question of what makes a life well lived has occupied philosophers and ordinary people for centuries. If we had a clear answer, we would all live differently. But the willingness to ask the question itself might be part of the answer.

Research in positive psychology suggests several factors consistently appear in meaningful lives: strong relationships, a sense of purpose, and the feeling that one's efforts have mattered. People who reflect regularly report higher levels of wellbeing than those who move from one experience to the next without pausing.

Studies show that people who look back tend to regret the things they did not do more than the things they did. If we had been braver, we tell ourselves, we would be living more fully now.

Resilience also emerges as a key factor. People who have overcome significant difficulties often describe those experiences as formative — not despite the hardship, but because of it. If they had not struggled, they say, they would not have the strength that defines them today. A life well lived requires attention: to the people around you, to the work you do, and to whether you are living in a way that reflects what you actually value.

Comprehension questions

Questions — Conversation 1

Conversation 2 — A course reflection podcast | <audio controls src="audio/int20-listen2.mp3"></audio>

Script 2

A course reflection podcast

Scene: A language teacher and a student reflect on the B1 course.

Teacher:Welcome to our final episode. How do you feel having completed the B1 course?

Student:Proud, honestly. If I had not committed to studying every week, I would not be at this level now. It took real perseverance.

Teacher:What was the biggest challenge?

Student:Grammar. If I were naturally good at it, learning English would have been much easier. But I had to work hard at every structure.

Teacher:What helped the most?

Student:Reading and listening. If I had only done grammar exercises, I do not think I would have made the same progress. Seeing language in context made everything click.

Teacher:Any advice for students just starting out?

Student:Do not wait until you feel ready. If I had waited until I felt confident, I would never have started. Just begin, make mistakes, and keep going.

Teacher:And what are your aspirations from here?

Student:I want to reach C1. If I keep up the same level of effort, I am confident I will get there.

Questions — Conversation 2