Speaking and listening – Pre-intermediate – Upper-intermediate

Let’s talk about the PAST

Conversation cards

What did you do yesterday? What were you doing at 10 p.m. How is life today different from
Describe your day. yesterday evening? life 100 years ago?
Give examples.

Where were you born? When was the last time you went Think of a major news story of
Where did you grow up? on holiday? the recent past.
Talk about your childhood. Talk about it. (where, who, when, Tell it in your own words.
how long, with whom, what see/do)

Think of three things that didn’t Talk about your last birthday. Think of a relative or a celebrity
exist 20 years ago. What did What did you do? Did you have a who passed away. (=died)
people do without them? party? Who was there? Talk about them.
Could you live without them?

When was the first time you Think about the last time you Think about the first pet you
went to the cinema? had a lot of fun with friends. ever had. What was it?
Talk about this experience. What did you do? Tell the class about it.
Talk about it.

Ask a friend some questions Did you watch the 2008 Beijing Nowadays many families have a
about their last shopping trip. Olympics? What do you car. How did your grandparents
(when, how/get there, where/go, what/buy, remember? get around?
go/with who, how much/spend)
Talk about them.

Older people sometimes talk Christopher Columbus is one of ‘You have to know the past to
about ‘the good old days’. the most famous explorers ever. understand the future.’ (Carl
What do they mean? Discuss. What do you know about him? Sagan) Do you agree? Explain.

Interview a friend Talking about the past

When was the last time you … Ago Other time markers

… (buy) an ice cream? five minutes ago yesterday

… (come) home late? one hour ago the day before yesterday

… (do) housework? three days ago last week

… (drink) orange juice? two weeks ago last month

… (eat) fast food? six months ago last year

… (get) up late? a few years ago

… (go) swimming? a long time ago

… (have) a party?
… (meet) your grandparents? - Whatever your past has been, you have a spotless future.
- No man is rich enough to buy back his past. (Oscar Wilde)
… (play) basketball?
- For the majority of us, the past is a regret, the future an
… (speak) English? experiment. (Mark Twain)
Do you agree? Discuss.
… (visit) a museum?