ESL / EFL

Grammar

Teens (13-17)

45 min

🔤Life Experiences: Then and Now

This lesson clarifies the distinction between the Past Simple for finished actions at specific times and the Present Perfect for life experiences or unfinished time. Students will engage with a reading passage about a teenage traveler and practice through structured grammar tasks and interactive speaking scenarios.

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Lesson plan

Objectives

I can distinguish between finished past actions and life experiences with no specific time.
I can use time markers like 'for', 'since', 'already', and 'yet' correctly in context.
I can ask and answer 'Have you ever...?' questions to discuss personal history.
I can identify and correct common errors in tense choice during spoken and written production.

Materials

Interactive whiteboard or digital presentation slides
Printed or PDF copies of the 'Global Citizen' reading passage
Grammar focus worksheet with gap-fill and transformation exercises
Role-play cards for the 'Interview the Explorer' activity
Timer for the 'Three-Minute Life Summary' speaking task
Digital recording device (optional for homework task)

Warm-up

Start by showing 5 icons representing life milestones (a plane, a trophy, a musical instrument, a broken arm, and a graduation cap). Ask students to shout out 'Yes!' if they have ever done these things. Choose two students to provide one specific detail each—for example, if they have won a trophy, ask which year they won it. Transition by explaining that the 'general' fact uses the Present Perfect, but the 'specific' detail requires the Past Simple.

Presentation

Explain that the Present Perfect (have + past participle) connects the past to the present. Use a timeline on the board: a large 'X' with no date for Present Perfect ('I have visited Rome') and an 'X' with a specific date for Past Simple ('I visited Rome in 2021'). Focus on signal words: 'yesterday' and 'in 2015' (Past Simple) vs. 'so far', 'ever', 'never', 'just' (Present Perfect). Highlight that we use Past Simple for the next sentence when giving more detail about an event introduced in the Present Perfect.

Guided practice

Provide a list of 10 sentences where students must choose between the two tenses based on time markers. Follow this with a 'Sentence Auction' where students work in pairs to identify which sentences are grammatically correct and 'bid' on them. For example: 'I have seen that movie last week' (Incorrect) vs. 'I saw that movie last week' (Correct). Correct the errors as a group and discuss why the specific time markers change the verb form.

Freer practice

Students participate in 'Find Someone Who'. They move around (or use breakout rooms) asking 'Have you ever...?' questions from a bingo-style grid. When a classmate answers 'Yes, I have', the searcher must ask a follow-up question in the Past Simple (e.g., 'When did you do it?' or 'What was it like?'). They must record the name and the specific detail to report back to the class later.

Wrap-up

As an exit ticket, each student must write one thing they have done this year and one thing they did specifically last weekend. Review these briefly to ensure the tenses match the timeframes mentioned.

The Youngest Explorer

Leo Miller is not your average seventeen-year-old. While many of his classmates have spent their summers working in local cafes or relaxing at the beach, Leo has traveled to over fifteen countries across three continents. His obsession with exploration began when he was only eight years old. In 2015, his parents took him on a trip to the Peruvian Andes. That journey changed everything. He saw the ancient city of Machu Picchu, trekked through dense jungles, and tasted exotic fruits he had never heard of before. Since that first adventure, Leo hasn't stopped moving. Over the last decade, Leo has experienced things that most adults only dream of. He has climbed active volcanoes in Indonesia, swum with sharks in the Galapagos Islands, and volunteered at an elephant sanctuary in Thailand. However, it hasn't always been easy. Last year, while he was hiking in the Alps, he got lost during a sudden snowstorm. He spent a cold night in a mountain hut, but he survived the ordeal. 'I have learned a lot about survival,' Leo says. 'But I have also learned that I need to be better prepared. Since that incident in the Alps, I have taken three professional navigation courses.' Recently, Leo has started a blog to document his journeys. He launched it six months ago, and since then, it has grown significantly. Thousands of followers now read his weekly updates. Interestingly, he doesn't just write about the famous landmarks; he focuses on the people he meets. 'I have met some incredible individuals,' he explains. 'In 2022, I met a monk in Nepal who taught me the importance of patience. I have never forgotten his advice.' Critics often ask how a teenager can afford such lifestyle. Leo is quick to explain that he has worked hard for his passion. He has held several part-time jobs since he turned fourteen. He worked as a delivery rider for two years, and he also saved all the money he received for his birthdays. Last month, he even won a youth travel scholarship which will fund his next trip to Japan. Leo has already started learning basic Japanese phrases. He is excited about the future, but he remains grounded. He knows that his travels have shaped the person he is today, and he is grateful for every single mile he has covered so far.

Comprehension

How many countries has Leo visited so far?
Answer: Leo has visited over fifteen countries.
Where did his parents take him in 2015?
Answer: They took him to the Peruvian Andes.
What happened to Leo in the Alps last year?
Answer: He got lost during a sudden snowstorm and spent the night in a mountain hut.
What has Leo done to improve his safety since getting lost?
Answer: He has taken three professional navigation courses.
When did Leo launch his blog?
Answer: He launched it six months ago.
Who did Leo meet in Nepal in 2022?
Answer: He met a monk who taught him about patience.
How has Leo funded his many travels?
Answer: He has worked part-time jobs, saved birthday money, and won a travel scholarship.
What is Leo currently doing to prepare for his trip to Japan?
Answer: He has already started learning basic Japanese phrases.

Grammar — Present Perfect vs. Past Simple

Use the **Present Perfect** for actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past or that continue into the present. Common markers include *ever, never, already, yet, so far, since,* and *for*. Use the **Past Simple** for actions that were completed at a specific, finished time in the past. Common markers include *yesterday, last week, in 2010, two hours ago,* and *when I was a child*. Always switch to Past Simple when you give specific details about an event.

I (visit) _______ Paris three times so far.
Answer: have visited
We (go) _______ to the cinema last Friday.
Answer: went
She (not / finish) _______ her homework yet.
Answer: has not finished / hasn't finished
They (arrive) _______ in London at 4 PM yesterday.
Answer: arrived
How long (you / know) _______ your best friend?
Answer: have you known
I (lose) _______ my keys. I can't find them anywhere!
Answer: have lost
When (he / start) _______ his new job?
Answer: did he start
My parents (live) _______ in this house since 1995.
Answer: have lived
I (see) _______ that documentary two weeks ago.
Answer: saw
He (never / eat) _______ sushi in his life.
Answer: has never eaten

Pronunciation

Focus: Past Participle Endings /-ed/ and /-n/

Minimal pairs

Saw / Seen
Did / Done
Ate / Eaten
Went / Gone
Wrote / Written
Broke / Broken

Drill

Listen and repeat the change from Past Simple to Past Participle. Focus on the 'n' sound at the end of irregular participles. 'I saw it' (Short) vs. 'I have seen it' (Nasal 'n'). Group practice: Teacher says 'I wrote a book in 2020' and students must transform it into 'I have written a book' with the correct ending sound.

Conversation — A job interview for a 'Global Volunteer' position where the applicant must describe their relevant life experiences and specific past achievements.

Role A

Interviewer: You are looking for someone brave and experienced. Ask about places they have visited, skills they have learned (Present Perfect), and specific times they faced challenges (Past Simple). Ask: 'Have you ever led a team?' followed by 'When did that happen?'

Role B

Applicant: You want this job. Use the Present Perfect to highlight your general experience ('I have traveled a lot', 'I've worked with kids'). Then use the Past Simple to give impressive details ('In 2022, I organized a charity event').

Useful phrases

I have already gained experience in...
I have never been afraid of challenges.
In my previous role, I handled...
Since I graduated, I have...
That happened two years ago when...
I haven't had the chance to... yet.
So far, I have completed...
I once spent a month in...

My Life Timeline Project

Create a visual timeline of your life with at least 5 major events.
Write five sentences using the Present Perfect to describe things you have achieved so far.
Write five sentences in the Past Simple describing specific details of those achievements (e.g., specific dates or locations).
Record a 1-minute audio clip talking about one 'first time' experience (e.g., your first flight or first day at school).
Find an article about a famous person's career and underline 3 examples of Present Perfect and 3 of Past Simple.

Vocabulary

Obsession: An idea or activity that someone thinks about all the time.; "His obsession with football means he never misses a match."
Exotic: Unusual and exciting because of coming from a far-away country.; "The market was full of exotic fruits like durian and dragon fruit."
Trek: To walk a long distance, usually over hills or mountains.; "We trekked through the forest for six hours yesterday."
Active: Directly involved in something or currently functioning (e.g., a volcano).; "Mount Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in Europe."
Sanctuary: A forest or place where animals are protected from hunters.; "The birds live safely in the wildlife sanctuary."
Ordeal: A very difficult or painful experience.; "Being lost in the desert was a terrible ordeal for the hikers."
Incident: An event or occurrence, often one that is unpleasant.; "The police are investigating the incident that happened last night."
Navigation: Finding the way from one place to another using maps or GPS.; "With modern navigation, it is much harder to get lost."
Document: To record information in written, photographic, or cinematic form.; "She decided to document her trip by taking hundreds of photos."
Significantly: In a way that is easy to see or very important.; "Prices have risen significantly over the last three months."
Scholarship: An amount of money given by an organization to pay for someone's education or travel.; "She won a scholarship to study at a prestigious university."
Grounded: Mentally and emotionally stable; sensible and realistic.; "Despite his fame, the actor remains very grounded and humble."

Activities

The Experience Bingo · 12 minutes
Each student gets a grid with 9 experiences (e.g., 'Broken a bone', 'Been to a concert'). Students must mingle and ask 'Have you ever...?' for each square. If someone says yes, the asker must follow up with 'When did you do it?' or 'What happened?'. Write the name and one past simple detail in the box. The goal is to get three in a row.
Two Truths and a Lie: Experience Edition · 12 minutes
Students write down three short statements about their lives using the Present Perfect. Two must be true and one must be a lie. Classmates must ask three follow-up questions in the Past Simple (e.g., 'Where did you buy it?') to try and catch the lie based on inconsistent details.
The Travel Agent Challenge · 12 minutes
In pairs, one student is a Travel Agent and the other is a Customer. The Customer says where they have already been and what they haven't done yet. The Agent must suggest a new destination based on past trips, using questions like 'Did you enjoy that?' and 'How long did you stay there?'.

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