Remote work from a café and coworking space abroad
Read/Listen first
I usually start my workday in a small café near my rented flat by the sea. I order a coffee, tap my card to pay, and open my laptop at a quiet table. The Wi‑Fi is reliable, but after an hour the café gets noisy and crowded with tourists. When it becomes hard to focus, I put on my noise‑cancelling headphones, but the music and talking still distract me. So I pack my things and walk ten minutes to a coworking space. There I have a desk, strong internet, and plenty of plug sockets for my devices. I pay a monthly membership, which is expensive, but I can stay all day and drink free tea. I meet designers from Romania and developers from India, and we speak English together. In the afternoon I prepare slides for a short presentation about AI tools at work. I prefer the café for creative ideas, but I would rather finish important tasks at the coworking space.⚡ Learning goals
- Can describe a typical remote workday in a café and a coworking space abroad.
- Can compare different places to work and explain preferences with reasons.
- Can ask about Wi‑Fi, power sockets, and noise levels in English when working abroad.
✨ Key language
- I usually work from… “I usually work from a small café near my flat.”
- When it gets noisy, I… “When it gets noisy, I move to a coworking space.”
- Do you have reliable Wi‑Fi and plug sockets? “Do you have reliable Wi‑Fi and enough plug sockets?”
⚙️ Rules & Grammar — 4 Structures
1️⃣ Present Simple vs Present Continuous
Rule: Use the Present Simple to talk about routines and habits, and the Present Continuous to describe actions happening now or around this moment.
Examples: I usually start my workday in a small café. / I am working from a coworking space today. / The tourists are talking very loudly in the café.
Common pitfall + fix: Learners often say “I am usually working in a café” for a routine. For regular habits, say “I usually work in a café.”
Choose the correct sentence for a routine:
Tip: For routines and habits, use the Present Simple form of the verb.
Fill with the best answer: At the moment I __________ from a noisy café.
Tip: Use “am / is / are + -ing” for actions happening now.
2️⃣ Using “have to” and “need to”
Rule: Use “have to” and “need to” to express obligations or strong practical necessities, especially when you work remotely.
Examples: I have to find a place with reliable Wi-Fi. / I need to charge my laptop near a plug socket. / Remote workers have to plan their day carefully.
Common pitfall + fix: A common error is “I must to pay by card.” Remove “to” after “must”, or use “have to”: “I must pay by card” or “I have to pay by card.”
Choose the best sentence about obligation:
Tip: Use “have to” + base verb to talk about practical obligations.
Fill with the best answer: I __________ check the Wi-Fi speed before my online meeting.
Tip: Use “need to” when something is important for success, not just a rule.
3️⃣ “Would rather” / “prefer” for choices
Rule: Use “prefer” with nouns or -ing forms, and “would rather” with the base form when you choose between two options.
Examples: I prefer working in a quiet coworking space. / I prefer the café for creative ideas. / I would rather finish this report at the coworking space.
Common pitfall + fix: Avoid “I am prefer work in a café.” Say “I prefer working in a café” or “I would rather work in a café.”
Choose the sentence that correctly expresses a preference:
Tip: “Would rather” is followed by the base form of the verb.
Fill with the best answer: I __________ working in a café to working in my flat.
Tip: Use “prefer” + -ing form when you talk about general likes.
4️⃣ When / If clauses for conditions
Rule: Use “when” or “if” + Present Simple to describe conditions, and use the main clause in the present or future to show the result.
Examples: When it becomes hard to focus, I move to the coworking space. / If the Wi-Fi is slow, I change tables. / If the café gets too crowded, I leave.
Common pitfall + fix: Do not use “will” in the “if/when” clause. Say “If the café gets noisy, I move” not “If the café will get noisy, I will move.”
Choose the correct conditional sentence:
Tip: After “if” and “when”, use the Present Simple for real situations.
Fill with the best answer: __________ gets noisy, I move to the coworking space.
Tip: Start with “When” and include the full sentence from the mini text.
✍️ Vocabulary
coworking space
Meaning: a shared office where different people work independently.
Synonyms: shared office, collaborative workspace, flexible office.
Chunk/Idiom: work from a coworking space.
Example: I often work from a coworking space when cafés are full.
Morphology: noun; compound of “co-” + “working” + “space”.
Self-practice: Describe one reason you would choose a coworking space.
noise-cancelling headphones
Meaning: headphones that reduce background sounds so you can focus.
Synonyms: sound-blocking headphones, isolation headset, quiet headphones.
Chunk/Idiom: put on your noise-cancelling headphones.
Example: I put on my noise-cancelling headphones when the café is loud.
Morphology: noun phrase; “noise” + present participle “cancelling”.
Self-practice: Write a sentence about when you use noise-cancelling headphones.
reliable Wi‑Fi
Meaning: internet connection that is stable and does not disconnect.
Synonyms: stable internet, strong connection, dependable network.
Chunk/Idiom: look for a café with reliable Wi‑Fi.
Example: I always check if the café has reliable Wi‑Fi before I sit.
Morphology: adjective + noun; “rely” + suffix “-able”.
Self-practice: List three places in your city with reliable Wi‑Fi.
plug socket
Meaning: place on the wall where you connect a device to electricity.
Synonyms: power outlet, wall socket, electrical socket.
Chunk/Idiom: sit near a plug socket.
Example: I try to sit near a plug socket to charge my laptop.
Morphology: noun phrase; “plug” + noun “socket”.
Self-practice: Ask a friend in English where the nearest plug socket is.
monthly membership
Meaning: regular payment each month to use a service or place.
Synonyms: subscription fee, monthly plan, membership payment.
Chunk/Idiom: pay a monthly membership.
Example: I pay a monthly membership to use the coworking space.
Morphology: noun phrase; “month” + suffix “-ly” + noun “membership”.
Self-practice: Name one service where you pay a monthly membership.
digital nomad
Meaning: person who works online while travelling from place to place.
Synonyms: remote worker, location-independent professional, travelling freelancer.
Chunk/Idiom: live like a digital nomad.
Example: She lives like a digital nomad and works from different cafés.
Morphology: noun phrase; “digital” adjective + noun “nomad”.
Self-practice: Write one advantage of being a digital nomad.
☁️ Examples (+ audio)
I usually work from a café near my flat. When it gets noisy, I move to a coworking space. I have to find a desk with a plug socket. I would rather finish this report in the coworking space.
✏️ Exercises
Grammar
Choose the correct sentence about now:
Tip: Use “is + -ing” for actions happening right now.
Choose the best sentence to express a preference:
Tip: “Would rather” is followed by the base form of the verb.
Fill with the best answer:
I __________ check the Wi‑Fi speed before my meeting.
Tip: Use “need to” when it is important but not an external rule.
Fill with the best answer:
When the café __________ too noisy, I move to the coworking space.
Tip: After “when”, use the Present Simple form.
Vocabulary & Comprehension
Why does the speaker leave the café?
Tip: Look for the reason the speaker decides to move.
What is one advantage of the coworking space?
Tip: Focus on benefits that are actually mentioned in the text.
Fill with the best answer:
He puts on his __________ to reduce the background sounds.
Tip: Use the full phrase from the Vocabulary section.
Fill with the best answer:
Someone who works online while travelling is a __________.
Tip: Think about the word that describes this lifestyle.
✅ Guided practice
Mini-dialogue:
A: Where do you usually work when you are abroad?
B: I usually start in a café, but I move to a coworking space after lunch.
A: Why do you change places?
B: When the café gets noisy, I would rather work somewhere quiet with reliable Wi‑Fi.
Why this matters:
Choosing the right place to work helps you stay focused and productive. It also prepares you to speak confidently with staff and other coworkers when you travel. Clear language about routines and preferences makes remote work abroad much easier.
Verb & Adjective Pack:
stay focused — I stay focused when I work in a quiet space.
recharge devices — I recharge my devices near a plug socket.
reliable — Reliable Wi‑Fi is essential for video meetings.
crowded — The café is too crowded in the afternoon.
Try & compare:
Fill with the best answer: I __________ working in a coworking space to working at home.
Tip: Use the verb that often comes before “working in a coworking space”.
Self-correction: Fix the sentence: I must to pay a monthly membership for this coworking space.
Tip: Remember that “must” is not followed by “to”, and “have to” is also possible.
Practice aloud: Listen, repeat, then type the sentence.
When the café gets noisy, I move to the coworking space.
Tip: Pay attention to the rhythm of “when the café gets noisy”.