At the Repair Café: Work Alone, Get Help or Help Each Other

At a fictional repair café, adults work on paper and fabric projects. Read who works independently and who helps someone else, then write a clear team update. This B1 lesson takes about 35 minutes, with 12 short checks and two writing tasks.

Meet the safe repair tasks

The café activities are checking a folded paper model, sorting buttons and adding a fabric patch. This is a language task, not a repair tutorial. The story gives the facts you need; you do not need tools or practical repair knowledge.

Read the café recap

Trace the actions

Choose and repair

Write the team update

Your turn · self-review

Use it yourself

Make your own answer before opening the model. Other accurate answers are possible. Use the checklist to review meaning and form.

Practice only. Your writing stays on this page; it is not submitted or saved.

1. 1Write 70–90 words summarising the work. Include one reciprocal action, one independent action, one action involving a different person and one emphatic reflexive.
   Model answer and explanation

   Leo made his paper model by himself, although Ava and Ben were nearby. Ava and Ben checked each other’s models and found a mistake in each. Mina checked her own model and corrected a fold herself. Noor helped Sam sort buttons, and Sam thanked Noor afterwards. Inez sat by herself while she planned a fabric patch, but she asked Mina for advice. The organiser herself checked the attendance list before the café closed. Checklist: 73 words; all four required meanings; no claim that Leo was alone; accurate actors and receivers.

2. 2Correct these three captions using the account: “Leo worked alone in an empty room.” “Ava checked only her own model.” “Sam helped Noor sort buttons.”
   Model answer and explanation

   Leo made his model without help while others were nearby. Ava checked Ben’s model, and Ben checked Ava’s. Noor helped Sam sort buttons. Equivalent sentences are acceptable if they keep these facts and use the right direction of action.

Explain the referents

By himself refers to Leo’s lack of help, not an empty room. Each other’s connects Ava’s checking to Ben’s model and Ben’s checking to Ava’s. Herself in Mina’s sentence points to Mina. The organiser herself emphasizes the organiser. In Noor helped Sam, the names identify two different participants; a reflexive would change the fact.

Transfer to a study group

Possible recap: “Tara checks her own writing. Jules and Mei check each other’s paragraphs. Omar finishes his notes by himself.” You can also say “without help” for Omar and “one another’s” for Jules and Mei. Clear reference matters more than forcing a reflexive into every sentence.