Functional English

Describing Experiences
Let’s Learn
How was your holiday? What did you do? What was the
best part? In this lesson, you will practice describing
past experiences, including good ones, bad ones, and
everything in between.

Warm-Up
BR AINSTORMING

Work with your classmates.

Think of some experiences that people often describe.

• vacations •

• sporting events •

• job interviews •

• •

• •

• •

• •

• •

Common Questions
Listen to your teacher ask these common questions.
Practice saying them out loud.

• How was your weekend/holiday/trip? • How did it go?

• Where did you go? • Why? What happened?

• What did you do? • Did you do anything fun/exciting/interesting?

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 Describing Experiences
Functional English

Dialogues
Listen and follow along with the recording. Then work with a partner.
Practice the dialogues. Then switch roles and practice again.

Dialogue 1 Dialogue 2

Practice describing a great experience. Now practice describing a disappointing experience.

A: Welcome back! How was your winter break? A: Hey! How was that new restaurant?

B: It was great, thanks. B: It was terrible.

A: Did you do anything fun? A: Oh really? What was wrong with it?

B: Yeah. We went to New York City! B: ell, rst the service as horrible. hen the ood
was cold. It was really expensive too.
A: Nice! How was it?
A: That’s too bad.
B: It was awesome. We ate great food and
saw amazing shows. We also went skating B: Yeah. We were really disappointed.
at Rockefeller Center.
A: No doubt!
A: Sounds exciting!

Dialogue 3
Till
Now practice describing an interesting experience. The word “till” means cash register or money drawer.
In spoken English, the word “till” is often used
A: Did you get that job? informally to mean “until.”

B: Yes! I started on Monday. • There are no tens in the till.

• Are you working till noon?

A: o as your rst day

B: Well, it was [pauses] interesting.

A: Why? What happened?

B: ell, rst they sho ed me ho to or the till.

Then they left me all alone in the store!

A: Really? How did that go?

B: It went well, actually. I worked till 10:00 pm

and didn’t make any major mistakes.

A: Good for you!

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 Describing Experiences
Functional English

Adjectives
A. Sorting

Here are some common adjectives for describing experiences.

Work with a partner. Sort the adjectives into positive and negative
experiences. Look up any words you don’t know.

• fun • stressful
• awesome • terrible
• horrible • exciting
• disappointing • unforgettable
• surprising • nice
• great • educational
• boring • memorable
• interesting • relaxing

Positive Experiences Negative Experiences

• •

• •

• •

• •

• •

• •

• •

• •

B. Describing Experiences

Use the list to share real-life examples of experiences for each adjective.

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 Describing Experiences
Functional English

Practice cont.
B. Writing & Speaking Practice

Think of a recent day trip or vacation. Answer the following questions

about it. Write complete sentences. Then describe this experience
to a partner.

1. Where did you go?

2. How was it?

3. What did you do/see?

4. Describe one positive thing about it.

5. Describe one negative thing about it.

Listening
Listen to each question. Choose the correct response.

1. a  It as rela ing, than s. 4. a  I lost my allet

b   o, it asn t great. b   es, it as great.
c   oronto. c   ice

2. a  It as e citing 5. a   e ent rom Friday to Sunday.

b   e ent to the cottage. b) That was memorable.
c   ust or a ee . c   eah. e hi ed up a mountain.

3. a  It as disappointing. 6. a  It as horrible.

b   e ent shing. b   e ent by bus.
c  It as a lot o un. c   hat a great e perience. Luc y you

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