Theme 1: Narrating past experiences

At the end of this theme you will be able to narrate situations or events that you or other person lived in the past.

Grammar topics:

Simple Past

Used to

Time Expressions

Vocabulary topics:

Childhood experiences

Biographies

Let's talk about

Practice speaking with a partner. It wil help you with your communication skills.

Here are some sample phrases to help you get started: Narrating

Try some of these topics:

Narration

Tell about a recent interview.

Tell about a time when you lost something.

Tell about one of your fondest childhood memories.

Tell about a time when you lied to your parents, boss, or teacher.

Tell about a time when you were treated unfairly.

Briefly tell about a movie you saw recently.

Tell about something you made "from scratch."

Tell about a "close call" you had recently.

Tell about something you wish had never happened.

Experiences in the Past
Childhood

Grammar Practice:

1. Video: What did you do yesterday?

2. Reading comprehension: who is J.k. Rowling

3. Regular and irregular verbs

Pronunciation of regular verbs -ED
Listen and repeat the verbs in past
 
 

Learn irregular verbs chant
Mr Morton

Songs to practice

Biographies

Listen and read about Bob Marley's Life. Take notes of the most important information as you listen to the segment. Then, ask as many questions as you can about his life.

Used to

Used to do

We use 'used to' for something that happened regularly in the past but no longer happens.

• I used to smoke a packet a day but I stopped two years ago.
• Ben used to travel a lot in his job but now, since his promotion, he doesn't.
• I used to drive to work but now I take the bus.

We also use it for something that was true but  no longer is.

• There used to be a cinema in the town but now there isn't.
• She used to have really long hair but she's had it all cut off.
• I didn't use to like him but now I do.

'Used to do' is different from 'to be used to doing' and 'to get used to doing'

to be used to doing

We use 'to be used to doing' to say that something is normal, not unusual.

• I'm used to living on my own. I've done it for quite a long time.
• Hans has lived in England for over a year so he is used to driving on the left now.
• They've always lived in hot countries so they aren't used to the cold weather here.

to get used to doing

We use 'to get used to doing' to talk about the process of something becoming normal for us.

• I didn't understand the accent when I first moved here but I quickly got used to it.
• She has started working nights and is still getting used to sleeping during the day.
• I have always lived in the country but now I'm beginning to get used to living in the city.

Practice Used to Childhood memories

What activities did you use to do when you were a child?

1. Recognize vocabulary about childhood. Vocabulary activity 

2. Watch the video and answer the questions: Video: childhood memories 

3. Listen and answer

4. Organize the sentence according to its meaning 

5. Short Film: Apricot

6. Prepare a presentation about one of your unforgettable childhood memories.

Game: Practice verb tenses 

Narrating events of a movie: Titanic