​All good things come to an end, as the saying goes, and we've arrived at the final week of our academic year.

1. Feedback Sessions & Tests

• If you completed your test this week, your feedback session will take place next week.
• If you decided to postpone your test, your testing session will take place during our final week.
• If time allows, feedback will be given during the session.
• If not, feedback for the recorded part will be sent to you separately.

2. Your Learning Space
I will be clearing your learning spaces soon.
Before that happens, I recommend:

• Opening your notes and downloading anything you'd like to keep as a PDF.
• Using your materials to create Quizlet sets or AI-powered study resources.

If you'd like ideas on how to use AI for revision, feel free to ask during your feedback session.
3. Important Dates

• 26 June   Final day of the academic year.
• 29–30 June Catch-up sessions for those with whom I have made prior arrangements.

• 4th June is a bank holiday.
→ Please reserve a different day for a catch-up if you normally have classes on this day.
• If you already know you will be absent on 5th June, the same rule applies.
→ Please arrange a catch-up as well.
• Regular classes finish on 26th June.
• 29th and 30th June will be available for additional catch-ups.
→ I will also open a few other possible slots.
• Revision week is planned for the week starting 8th June.
• Quizlet revision / final vocabulary check is planned for the week starting 15th June.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. I would like to organise everything smoothly before the summer break. Thank you.

UPDATE: NO CLASSES 27 April-1 May
We might not have classes next week, meaning the week of 27 April to 1 May. I’m waiting for treatment confirmation, so there’s a chance I’ll need to cancel. I’ll confirm as soon as I know. Apologies if this comes late.

Catch-ups: additional catch-up sessions will not be offered in May and June. We’ll need to work out an alternative, either extending your current plan or switching to another available option. This will be discussed, but for now I need to temporarily step away from offering catch-ups.

Please put all your Quizlets from September into one place and check if everything is there. When I see you in May, we’ll do a full revision and a test covering everything.

My website hosting agreement runs until sometime in May. I’m currently reconsidering whether to continue or switch providers. This may cause temporary issues with access to your learning space. Most resources are safe in our shared Google files, but please keep this in mind.

​1. Cancellations & catch-ups
I’ve had quite a few cancellations recently. With that volume, catch-ups may simply be impossible. Please keep that in mind.

2. Absence notifications
Please use the form and let me know in advance if you’re not attending.
A minimum 24-hour notice is absolutely required to qualify for a catch-up.

3. No-shows
Not showing up without any message is unacceptable. I expect more than that.

4. April schedule & bank holidays
April includes bank holidays, including April 6 (no classes).
March 30–31 will serve as catch-up days for that period. More details on April 7 soon.

5. Invoices (important)
Please double-check your invoice details, especially for business invoices. I’m moving into KSeF, so everything needs to be correct.

6. Quizlet access
Make sure you have access to Quizlet and that you share your sets with me.
If you don’t see the “Phrase of the Week,” we’re probably not connected, please sort that out.

7. Open slot
I’ve got a Monday 9:00 slot free (INKA Flow / INKA Focus). Feel free to pass it on.
​
8. Quick note from me
I’m going to toot my own horn for a second, I’ve just completed two new courses at Peterson Academy: How to Plan Your Life and Personality and Its Transformations. I’ll bring some of that into our work together.

1. Missed classes
If you’ve missed a class, here’s the updated booking form with available slots.
Just a quick reminder: even if your missed slot was 45 minutes, you’ll only see 30-minute options on the form — but you’ll still get your full 45 minutes. The form is just structured this way for easier scheduling.

2. Quizlet test
After our first round of Quizlet test, and I have to say — well done to everyone who’s been so systematic with their sets. A few tips to keep it tidy:
– When definitions are too similar, add the first letter as a hint.
– If it’s an idiom or phrase, mark it clearly or mention 2/3 words
– If some words feel irrelevant or overwhelming right now, you may remove up to 10% from your revision set only. (100 words → 10 deletions max.)

3. Bits & Bobs
This week’s Bits & Bobs mix language, reflection, and something sweet:
– On my ❤️English blog, you’ll find a new post in the Pragmatic Communication series — this one explores anger: what happens to us linguistically when emotions hijack reason, and how words can help us take back control.
– On my Rosemary & Lavender blog, I’ve shared a tomato cake recipe — with both a longer, storytelling version and a shorter one for quick reading. Perfect for a cozy autumn weekend.
– Abby is back in her Learn English with Abby series, teaching a brand new word — available on both Instagram and YouTube.

​Revisions are now in full swing.
Please combine all your Quizlet sets from September onwards into one master set — name it accordingly.

There will be no classes on 11 November (Tuesday) due to the bank holiday. If your class falls on that date, please book another slot that suits you — this helps keep the schedule ship-shape and fair for everyone.
And just a gentle reminder:
If you’re planning to be absent, please fill in the online absence form, even if you’ve already told me during class. It’s linked to my booking system and makes planning (and giving your slot to someone else) much easier. Don’t wait until the last moment — someone else can often benefit from that free slot. Thank you for being considerate.

Once revisions are done, we’ll return to video recording tasks.
This time, you’ll record via Zoom (using the recording function) or WhatsApp — both are acceptable.
There’s no automatic link on your page this year, so you’ll manage it manually. Recordings should be around one minute — not 42 seconds and not two minutes 😉.

I’ve joined Peterson Academy for a year-long programme packed with high-calibre lectures on humanities, business, and the psychology — a challenge I’m genuinely excited about.
I’m also finalising a collaboration with an academic institution to deliver communication training for their researchers — a project that could link real-world communication training with academic insight.

A tiny professional favour: as you are my living portfolio — the most authentic evidence of what I build here — I’d be grateful for giving me your short recommendation on LinkedIn. Thank you to everyone who’s already done so — it really helps! 

On a more serious note, I’ve recently posted a short piece about the 5 Why Method — a fascinating tool for digging deeper into motives and meanings, partly inspired by one of my latest lectures. I’d love to explore it with some of you in class and show how it can be applied in practice.

A small thing to brighten your day — there’s a new accent video inspired by one of my recent class discussions, and…🐾Abby’s YouTube debut.

​There will be no catch-ups next week — I’m undergoing a dental procedure on Monday and, frankly, I already have a lot on my plate.
So, apart from what’s already booked, I won’t be accepting new catch-ups for the coming week. Thank you for understanding and keeping your slots as planned.

A special round of applause for everyone who’s been doing their vocabulary workouts — with the READER — and who diligently records new words.
You’re doing excellent work.

We’re heading towards the end of the month, which means — time for revision.
This will apply especially to Cappuccino and Americano courses.
For INKA students: revision is optional. 

If your pot of development hasn’t changed recently, it doesn’t mean I’ve fallen asleep — it simply means there’s little visible progress at the moment.
But if you notice movement there — that’s a wonderful sign.
Congratulations to all whose pots are currently sprouting something new 🌱

In our Bits & Bobs section this week, we’ve got two little gems.
First, the utterly charming Benedict Cumberbatch teams up with Jimmy Fallon in one of their delightfully ridiculous sketches. HERE
Second, we have a wry little video translation of what certain English phrases really mean — especially when introverts say them. HERE

Not much to say this week; I'm getting back on track - slowly but surely. Below, there's an updated schedule for catchups. 
PS. And Abby is teaching a new word on Insta. 

CATCH UP

Those who missed their classes on Thursday or Friday are more than welcome to book a CATCHUP slot here. I was unwell on those days, so the cancellations were entirely on my side. It’s completely up to you whether you’d like to make up for the class — I just wanted to give you both options. 

VOCAB BOOSTER

This week in In Vocabulary Booster, we’ve been looking at lukewarm, grow and grow up, and sympathetic. Check the link to see what it’s all about and get a feel for how to use them naturally.

BITS AND BOBS

really short and light videos
- communication in marriage
- sauna

long podcast 
​-There's no such thing as a dragon by Jordan Peterson
This one’s a bit more challenging to listen to, but really worth it. The key takeaway is based on a children’s story used as a symbolic model for denial and willful blindness — the idea that when we ignore small issues (our dragons), they grow into bigger problems. The point is to face your dragons in small doses before they get out of hand.

bonus
And if you really have a lot of time on your hands, you can join my mini-series on Instagram - Learn English with Abby. This week we focused on bad, autumn weather.