It Was All Going Fine Until… is a communicative past continuous ESL lesson designed for intermediate learners (B1–B2). This grammar refresher helps students confidently describe background actions, interruptions, and parallel events in the past through realistic, modern scenarios.
 
Students practise:
Describing actions in progress in the past
Contrasting past continuous and past simple
Using while for simultaneous actions
Expressing repeated past habits with was always + -ing
Building short, natural stories with clear sequencing
 
Through relatable moments, awkward timing, and everyday mishaps, learners strengthen accuracy while developing confident spoken fluency.
 
What Students Practise
By the end of the lesson, students can:
Use past continuous to set the scene
Contrast longer background actions with shorter interruptions
Describe two simultaneous actions using while
Express repeated past behaviour with emotional tone
Switch naturally between past continuous and past simple when telling stories
 
Who Is It For?
Ideal for:
B1–B2 adult learners
Online or in-person lessons
Gammar revision sessions
Speaking-focused classes
Intermediate fluency development