diff --git a/test/test_lesson.rb b/test/test_lesson.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fcde514
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test_lesson.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+require_relative "../lib/lesson"
+require "minitest/autorun"
+
+class TestLesson < Minitest::Test
+  def setup
+    @lesson = Lesson.new [[0.1 / 60, "test the thing"], [0.1 / 60, "finish testing"]]
+  end
+
+  def test_start
+    @channel = Minitest::Mock.new
+    @channel.expect(:send_message, nil) { |msg| msg.include? "to test the thing" }
+    @channel.expect(:send_message, nil) { |msg| msg.include? "to finish testing" }
+    @channel.expect(:send_message, nil) { |msg| msg == "Lesson over!" }
+    assert_equal false, @lesson.running
+    @lesson.start!(@channel)
+    sleep(0.5)
+    # gonna be impossible to thread this needle
+    # assert_equal true, @lesson.running
+    sleep(0.5)
+    assert_equal false, @lesson.running
+  end
+end