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Lesson 1: Memory

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5/1/2026

WARM UP

Think about your memory and past experiences.

• What is something you can remember very clearly?
• Have you ever blocked out a memory?
• What helps you jog your memory?
• Are you good at remembering people's names?
• What is something you have memorised?

Answer in full sentences.

VOCABULARY – MEMORY

• block out a memory – stop yourself from remembering something
Example: He tried to block out the memory of the accident.

• commit something to memory – learn something so that you can remember it
Example: She committed the information to memory.

• have a selective memory – remember only certain things, especially convenient ones
Example: He has a selective memory when it comes to arguments.

• jog someone's memory – help someone remember something
Example: This photo jogged my memory.

• memorise – learn something so you can remember it
Example: I memorised the new vocabulary before the exam.

• realise – suddenly understand or become aware of something
Example: I suddenly realised that I had met him before.

• recall – remember something
Example: I can't recall exactly what happened.

Say each word or expression out loud.

GRAMMAR – PAST TENSE

Past simple

Use it for completed actions in the past.

• I memorised the poem yesterday.
• She realised her mistake.
• He recalled the conversation.

Past continuous

Use it for an action that was happening at a particular time in the past.

• I was trying to remember his name.
• She was talking when I suddenly recalled his name.

Past perfect

Use it for something that happened before another past event.

• I had memorised the information before the test started.
• She had forgotten the address before she realised she needed it.

DIALOGUE – A FORGOTTEN MEMORY

Anna: Do you remember what happened that night?

Mark: Not really. I've tried to block out the memory.

Anna: This photo might jog your memory.

Mark: Wait... I suddenly recall being there.

Anna: What were you doing?

Mark: I was talking to Sarah when I realised that I'd forgotten my phone.

Anna: So you remember now?

Mark: Yes. I have a selective memory, apparently!

Read again and practise.

SHORT ARTICLE

When I was younger, I memorised things very easily. Before exams, I committed large amounts of information to memory and rarely forgot anything. As I got older, however, I noticed that my memory changed.

One day, I was looking through some old photographs when one particular picture jogged my memory. I suddenly recalled an event that I had completely forgotten about. At first, I couldn't remember where I had been, but then I realised that I had been on holiday with my family.

My brother says I have a selective memory because I remember all the fun parts but forget the embarrassing ones. Perhaps he's right!

Read the article twice.

LANGUAGE SUPPORT

Memory expressions

• block out a memory
• commit something to memory
• have a selective memory
• jog someone's memory
• memorise something
• realise something
• recall something

Past tenses

• Past simple → completed past actions
• Past continuous → actions in progress
• Past perfect → earlier past actions

Full sentence model

• I was looking at an old photograph when it jogged my memory, and I recalled something I had completely forgotten.

ACTIVATION

Rewrite the sentences using the tense

Use the past continuous.

  1. I tried to remember her name when she called me.

  2. He looked through some photographs when he found an old picture.

  3. We talked about our childhood when the conversation suddenly changed.

Use the past perfect.

  1. She memorised the information before the exam started.

  2. He forgot the address before he realised he needed it.

  3. I saw the film before I read the book.

PRACTICE

Choose the correct tense.

  1. I recalled / was recalling the conversation yesterday.

  2. She was looking / had looked through old photos when she realised / had realised something.

  3. He had memorised / memorised the speech before the presentation began.

  4. We were talking / had talked about school when she suddenly recalled / had recalled an old story.

Correct the mistake.

  1. I was recalled his name when I saw his photo.

  2. She had memorised the poem before the teacher started the test.

  3. They were left the house when they realised they had forgotten their keys.

Complete the sentences with your own ideas.

  1. I was talking to a friend when I suddenly recalled...

  2. I had already memorised... before...

  3. A photograph once jogged my memory about...

PERSONAL QUESTIONS

Answer in full sentences.

• What is something you can recall from your childhood?
• Have you ever tried to block out a memory?
• What usually helps jog your memory?
• What is something you have had to memorise?
• When was the last time you realised that you had forgotten something important?
• Do you think you have a selective memory?
• What information is important enough to commit to memory?
• Tell a short story about something you were doing when you suddenly recalled something.
• What is something you had memorised in the past but have now forgotten?

HOMEWORK (WRITE & RECORD)

Writing

Write 10 sentences:

• 4 using the vocabulary
• 6 using different past tenses

Use at least 6 vocabulary items.

Recording

Record yourself reading your sentences aloud. Then listen to your recording and check your pronunciation of the vocabulary.

CORRECTIONS

ACTIVATION – Past continuous

  1. I was trying to remember her name when she called me.

  2. He was looking through some photographs when he found an old picture.

  3. We were talking about our childhood when the conversation suddenly changed.

ACTIVATION – Past perfect

  1. She had memorised the information before the exam started.

  2. He had forgotten the address before he realised he needed it.

  3. I had seen the film before I read the book.

PRACTICE – Choose the correct tense

  1. I recalled the conversation yesterday.

  2. She was looking through old photos when she realised something.

  3. He had memorised the speech before the presentation began.

  4. We were talking about school when she suddenly recalled an old story.

PRACTICE – Correct the mistake

  1. I recalled his name when I saw his photo.

  2. ✓ She had memorised the poem before the teacher started the test.

  3. They were leaving the house when they realised they had forgotten their keys.

PRACTICE – Complete the sentences

8–10. Answers will vary. Use the correct past tenses and make sure the sentences are logical.