Small steps

 

The Value of Small Steps

Preface

Many people dream of achieving great things in life. They want to learn a language, build a successful career, improve their health, or master a new skill. However, large goals often seem difficult and distant. Successful people understand an important secret: great achievements usually begin with small daily actions. The following text illustrates how persistence and patience can lead to remarkable results.

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Main Text

The Value of Small Steps

When people look at a tall tree, they rarely think about its beginning. Yet every giant tree once started as a tiny seed hidden beneath the soil.

A young man named Adrian learned this lesson when he decided to improve his English. At first, he was enthusiastic and spent several hours studying every day. However, after a few weeks, he became tired and discouraged. He felt that his progress was too slow.

One evening, while walking through a nearby park, Adrian noticed an elderly gardener watering young plants. Curious, he stopped and asked the man how long it would take for the small trees to become large and strong.

The gardener smiled and replied, "Many years. Growth is slow, but every day matters."

The answer stayed in Adrian's mind. He realized that he had been focusing too much on immediate results instead of consistent effort. From that day forward, he changed his approach. Rather than studying for several hours occasionally, he studied for thirty minutes every day.

Months passed. His vocabulary expanded, his pronunciation improved, and he became more confident when speaking English. Although the daily improvement was often difficult to notice, the overall progress was remarkable.

Several years later, Adrian looked back and understood what the gardener had meant. Success is rarely the result of one extraordinary effort. More often, it is the result of many small steps repeated consistently over time.

Today, whenever Adrian faces a difficult challenge, he remembers the young trees in the park and the lesson they taught him: small steps, taken every day, can eventually lead to extraordinary destinations.

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Comprehension Questions

A. Answer the Questions

1. What comparison is made in the first paragraph?

2. What did Adrian want to improve?

3. Why did he become discouraged?

4. Whom did Adrian meet in the park?

5. What was the gardener doing?

6. What advice did the gardener give?

7. How did Adrian change his study habits?

8. What improvements did Adrian notice?

9. What lesson did he learn about success?

10. What does he remember when facing challenges today?

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B. True or False

1. Adrian wanted to improve his mathematics.

2. He was satisfied with his progress at the beginning.

3. The gardener was planting flowers.

4. Adrian later studied a little every day.

5. The story suggests that success often comes from consistency.

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Vocabulary Practice

Match the words with their meanings.

Word	Meaning
1. discouraged	a. unusual and impressive
2. consistent	b. losing confidence or hope
3. remarkable	c. regular and dependable
4. approach	d. a method or way of doing something
5. eventually	e. after a period of time

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Grammar Practice

Present Perfect vs. Simple Past

Choose the correct answer.

1. Adrian ______ English for several years.
   (studied / has studied)

2. He ______ the gardener in the park one evening.
   (met / has met)

3. His vocabulary ______ greatly since then.
   (improved / has improved)

4. The gardener ______ him valuable advice.
   (gave / has given)

5. Adrian ______ more confident recently.
   (became / has become)

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Relative Clauses

Combine the sentences using who, which, or that.

1. Adrian met a gardener. The gardener gave him advice.

2. The trees were small. The trees would become strong.

3. He followed a method. The method improved his English.

4. The lesson was valuable. The lesson changed his attitude.

5. He met a man. The man worked in the park.

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Discussion

Discuss the following questions with a partner:

1. Do you agree that small daily actions are important?

2. What skill would you like to improve?

3. Have you ever achieved something through patience and persistence?

4. Why do people sometimes give up too quickly?

5. What is one small step you can take today toward a future goal?

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Writing Task

A Goal I Achieved Through Persistence

Write 150–180 words about a goal that you achieved or hope to achieve.

Include:

• What the goal was or is.

• Why it is important to you.

• The difficulties you faced.

• The small steps you took or plan to take.

• What you learned from the experience.

Use clear paragraphs and appropriate linking words such as:
first, however, therefore, because, although, finally, and as a result.

93/100 idioms to learn during this semester

 93. Just what the doctor ordered

1. Meaning: exactly what someone needs.
   Example: A quiet weekend was just what the doctor ordered.
   Albanian: pikërisht ajo që duhej. 

Keep your word

 

The Strength of Keeping Your Word

Preface

People are remembered not only for what they know but also for what they do. One of the qualities that earns lasting respect is reliability—the habit of keeping one's promises. Whether we are students, teachers, friends, or family members, our words have value only when our actions support them. The following story shows how one simple promise changed a young person's life.

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Main Text

The Strength of Keeping Your Word

Daniel was one of the brightest students in his class. He answered questions confidently, completed difficult exercises, and enjoyed helping his classmates. However, he had one habit that often disappointed people. He frequently promised to do things but forgot about them a few days later.

One Monday, his grandfather asked him to water a young apple tree while he was away visiting relatives.

"It only needs a few minutes each evening," his grandfather said.

Daniel smiled and replied, "Don't worry. I'll take care of it."

The first evening, Daniel remembered immediately. On the second evening, he almost forgot but watered the tree just before sunset. By the third day, he was busy playing football with his friends and completely forgot his promise.

Several days later, his grandfather returned home. The tree had not died, but its leaves looked dry and weak.

His grandfather said nothing for a moment. Then he quietly asked,

"Daniel, which is easier: making a promise or keeping one?"

Daniel lowered his head.

"Making one," he answered softly.

His grandfather nodded.

"Most people can make promises. The people others truly trust are those who keep them."

Those words stayed with Daniel for many years. From that day onward, whenever he agreed to do something, he wrote it in a small notebook and completed it before doing anything else.

Months later, his teachers noticed that he always finished his work on time. His friends knew they could depend on him, and his family trusted him with greater responsibilities.

Looking back, Daniel often smiled when he thought about the little apple tree. It had grown into a strong tree, just as his sense of responsibility had grown inside him.

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Comprehension Questions

A. Answer the Questions

1. What was Daniel good at?

2. What weakness did he have?

3. What did his grandfather ask him to do?

4. Why did Daniel forget his promise?

5. What happened to the apple tree?

6. What question did the grandfather ask?

7. How did Daniel change his habits?

8. What changes did other people notice?

9. Why did Daniel remember the apple tree years later?

10. What is the main lesson of the story?

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B. True or False

1. Daniel disliked studying English.

2. His grandfather asked him to water a tree.

3. Daniel remembered every evening.

4. The grandfather became very angry.

5. Daniel became more responsible after the experience.

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Vocabulary Practice

Match the words with their meanings.

1. reliability

2. responsibility

3. depend on

4. weak

5. promise

a. something you say you will do

b. not strong

c. to trust someone to do what is expected

d. the quality of being dependable

e. the duty to take care of something

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Grammar Practice

A. Present Perfect or Simple Past

Choose the correct answer.

1. Daniel ______ his grandfather many times before.
   (has helped / helped)

2. Last Monday, he ______ to water the tree.
   (promised / has promised)

3. His teachers ______ a great change in him.
   (noticed / have noticed)

4. He ______ much more responsible since then.
   (became / has become)

5. His grandfather ______ home a few days later.
   (returned / has returned)

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B. Conditional Sentences (First Conditional)

Complete the sentences.

1. If you keep your promises, people ______ (trust) you.

2. If Daniel forgets his duties again, he ______ (learn) another lesson.

3. If we are responsible, others ______ (respect) us.

4. If you water a tree regularly, it ______ (grow).

5. If students study consistently, they ______ (improve).

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Discussion

Discuss these questions with a partner.

1. Why is it important to keep promises?

2. Have you ever forgotten an important promise?

3. How do people earn trust?

4. Is it difficult to become more responsible? Why or why not?

5. What small promise can you make to yourself this week?

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Writing Task

A Promise I Will Keep

Write 150–180 words.

Include:

• A promise you have made or want to make.

• Why it is important.

• What difficulties you may face.

• How you plan to keep your promise.

• What you hope to achieve.

Try to use:

• at least three linking words (however, therefore, although, finally, because);

• two examples;

• at least two first conditional sentences.

 

The Power of a Good Question

Preface

People often believe that knowledge comes from having all the answers. However, many discoveries have begun with a simple question. Scientists, inventors, teachers, and students all improve by asking thoughtful questions. Curiosity encourages us to explore new ideas, solve problems, and understand the world more deeply. The following story reminds us that asking the right question can sometimes be more valuable than giving the right answer.

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Main Text

The Power of a Good Question

Every Friday afternoon, Mr. Leka asked his English class one unusual question before the students went home. Sometimes the question was simple, such as, "What made you smile this week?" At other times, it required careful thought: "If you could change one thing in your town, what would it be?"

At first, many students found these questions difficult. They searched for the "correct" answer because they believed that every classroom question had only one solution.

One day, a quiet student named Sara raised her hand and asked, "What if there isn't a correct answer?"

The teacher smiled.

"Then," he replied, "your job is not to guess what I am thinking. Your job is to think for yourself."

From that moment, the atmosphere in the classroom began to change. Students became more willing to express their opinions. They listened carefully to one another, asked follow-up questions, and explained their ideas with confidence.

As the weeks passed, they noticed something surprising. Their English improved, not simply because they had memorized more vocabulary, but because they had learned how to organize their thoughts and communicate them clearly.

At the end of the school year, Mr. Leka asked one final question:

"What is the most important thing you have learned this year?"

Many students mentioned grammar, vocabulary, or pronunciation. Sara answered differently.

"I learned that a good question can open a door that a simple answer never could."

The teacher nodded with satisfaction. He knew that his students had learned much more than English.

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Comprehension Questions

A. Answer the Questions

1. What did Mr. Leka ask his students every Friday?

2. Why did many students find the questions difficult?

3. What question did Sara ask?

4. How did the teacher respond?

5. How did the classroom atmosphere change?

6. Besides vocabulary, what else helped the students improve their English?

7. What was the teacher's final question?

8. What lesson did Sara learn?

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B. True or False

1. Mr. Leka asked the same question every Friday.

2. The students believed there was always only one correct answer.

3. Sara was usually a very talkative student.

4. The students became more confident during the year.

5. The teacher believed English was the only thing his students had learned.

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Vocabulary Practice

Match the words with their meanings.

1. curiosity

2. atmosphere

3. confidence

4. express

5. organize

a. to arrange in a clear order

b. to communicate ideas or feelings

c. the feeling or mood in a place

d. the desire to learn or discover

e. belief in your own ability

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Grammar Practice

A. Present Perfect or Simple Past

Choose the correct form.

1. The students ______ many interesting questions this year.
   (have asked / asked)

2. Sara ______ her hand during the lesson.
   (raised / has raised)

3. The class ______ more confident since September.
   (became / has become)

4. Mr. Leka ______ English for many years.
   (has taught / taught)

5. They ______ their final lesson yesterday.
   (finished / have finished)

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B. Reported Speech

Rewrite the sentences in reported speech.

1. Sara said, "What if there isn't a correct answer?"

2. Mr. Leka said, "Think for yourself."

3. A student said, "I enjoyed today's lesson."

4. The teacher said, "Ask another question."

5. Sara said, "I learned something important."

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Discussion

Discuss these questions with a partner.

1. Why are questions important?

2. Is it better to memorize facts or understand ideas?

3. What is the best question a teacher has ever asked you?

4. What question would you ask the whole class?

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Writing Task

The Best Question I Have Ever Been Asked

Write 150–180 words.

Include:

• Who asked the question.

• What the question was.

• Why it was important.

• How it changed your thinking.

• What you learned from it.

Try to use:

• at least three linking words (however, therefore, although, because, finally);

• two examples;

• one reported speech sentence.

92/100 idioms to learn during June 2026 semester

 92. Jump through hoops

1. Meaning: to do many difficult or annoying things to achieve something.
   Example: We had to jump through hoops to get the documents ready.
   Albanian: të kalosh shumë pengesa / të bësh shumë mundime.

91/100 idioms to know in English

91. Jack of all trades

1. Meaning: a person who can do many different things.
   Example: My uncle fixes cars, paints houses, and repairs phones. He is a jack of all trades.
   Albanian: njeri që di të bëjë nga të gjitha.

90/100 idiom to learn how to use during this semester.

 90. Join the club

1. Meaning: used when someone has the same problem as others.
2. Example: “I’m tired of homework.” “Join the club!”
3. Albanian: edhe unë / edhe ne të tjerët jemi njësoj.