Lesson 15: Describing Experiences & Feelings
describe experiences with precise feeling-vocabulary and the right present-perfect/past-simple contrast.
Why this matters
"Describe an experience / a time when…" cards reward emotional precision. Saying "happy/sad/good" repeatedly caps you at band 5; a range of feeling collocations lifts Lexical Resource.
The Tip/Trick
Name the feeling, then show it. Replace "I was happy" with a precise word plus evidence: "I was thrilled — I couldn't stop grinning."
- Before: "I was very happy and it was good."
- After: "I was absolutely thrilled — it was one of those moments that gives you goosebumps."
Grammar Focus — Present perfect vs past simple
Rule: present perfect (have/has + p.p.) for experiences/unfinished time ("I've never…", "It's been…"); past simple for finished, specific time ("Last year I…"). Reference: the "Present perfect vs past simple" section.
- "I've had a few amazing experiences, but this one stands out." (experience)
- "It happened two years ago, when I was travelling." (finished time)
- "I've never felt so nervous as I did that day." (perfect + simple contrast)
Vocabulary Cluster — Experiences & feelings
Add to under "Experiences & feelings".
- to be thrilled / over the moon — very happy — "I was thrilled to be picked."
- to give me goosebumps — emotionally moving — "The moment gave me goosebumps."
- nerve-racking — very stressful — "The wait was nerve-racking."
- a real eye-opener — surprising/educational — "The trip was a real eye-opener."
- to take my breath away — amaze me — "The view took my breath away."
- mixed feelings — both positive and negative — "I had mixed feelings about leaving."
- a sense of achievement — pride in accomplishing — "I felt a huge sense of achievement."
- to be on edge — anxious — "I was on edge the whole time."
Drill these as flashcards — flip, then grade yourself.
Answer Outline
- Frame (present perfect): "I've had a few ____, but the one that stands out…"
- What happened (past simple): "It happened when ____."
- The feeling + evidence: "I felt ____ — ____."
- Reflection: "Even now, ____."
Model Answers: 5.0 vs 7.0
Cue card: Describe an experience that made you feel proud.
Band 5.0: "One time I win a competition. I am very happy. My family is happy too. It is good experience."
Band 7.0: "I've had a handful of proud moments, but the one that really stands out happened two years ago, when I won a regional design competition. I'd worked on the project for months, so when they called my name, I felt an overwhelming sense of achievement — honestly, it gave me goosebumps. The whole thing had been nerve-racking, and I'd had mixed feelings about even entering, so to actually win took my breath away. Even now, it reminds me that hard work pays off."
What changed:
- Perfect/simple contrast: "I've had…", "happened two years ago", "I'd worked…".
- Precise feelings: "a sense of achievement", "goosebumps", "nerve-racking", "mixed feelings".
- Evidence after the feeling, not just "I was happy".
- Present tense for past stories → use past simple / present perfect correctly.
- Repeating "happy/good" → use precise feeling collocations.
- "a competition" / "the competition" — watch articles (Lesson 07).
Your Turn (Record)
Task: Cue card "Describe a time you felt really proud or excited." 1-min notes, 2-min talk. Use at least 3 different feeling phrases and the present-perfect frame at the start. ⏱ 1 + 2 min.
Your turn — record & get scored
Part 2- Describe a time you felt really proud or excited.
Self-Check + Spaced Review
Done when:
- I used the present perfect to frame, and past simple for the event.
- I used ≥3 feeling collocations (no bare "happy/good").
- I gave evidence for each feeling.
Spaced review:
- From Lesson 13: layer past perfect for what happened before.
- From Lesson 14: combine ideas with a relative clause.