[Speaking] Talking About Past Experiences

[Thiên Bình]

Speaking Tips




Talking About Past Experiences


A. MAKING PEOPLE TALK ABOUT PAST EXPERIENCES

In our daily conversations, we talk too much about the past. This is actually an interesting way to help us remember things or memories that happened to us. However, it is not always easy to make people, especially Asian ones, talk about his or her experiences which they have almost forgotten. The following questions can be helpful for you to stimulate your partner to open his heart.


- Could you please tell me about…?
- Do you remember the time you…?
- Do you remember when…?
- Have you ever…?
- I heard that you once…
- Didn’t you…?
- You’ve…, haven’t you?

Ex:
Have you ever argued with your best friends?
I heard that you once learnt Judo. Is that right?
You’ve already been abroad, haven’t you?

B. STARTING TO TALK ABOUT PAST EXPERIENCES

When we have become interested in sharing our past experiences, we often start with the followings:


- Oh, that day…
- Yes, I’ll never forget the day when I…
- How can I forget it? I was…
- Nothing can make me forget the day when…
- I’m not sure I can remember all the details, but…
- That reminds me of the time when I…
- It was my best/worst memory when I was…
- That makes me back…

Ex:
Yes, I’ll never forget the day when I met her.
That reminds me of the time when I first came to England.

[Thiên Bình]

Exercises


I. Match a line in column A with a line in column B to make a complete conversation.



http://i393.photobucket.com/albums/pp17/sakewinter/table5.jpg



II. Fill in the gaps with the following expressions to make complete conversations.

That takes me back to the time when I was 10.
Oh, that day…
Tell me about it.
I want to have it back
I don’t think I can remember all the details
Didn’t you remember the book I lent you?

a)
A: Didn’t you once visit Thailand?
B: Yes.
A: (1)_______________________.
B: (2)___________ but it was a wonderful trip.

b)
C: Do you remember once you promised to lend me your book?
D: (3)________________________.
C: Do you really forget that?
D: I’m afraid so. Sorry!

c)
E: Have you ever fought against your brother or sister?
F: (4)_________________________.

d)
G: (5)___________________?
H: I never forget it. Why?
G: (6)__________________. I’m working on my research and I need it.
H: OK. I’ll give it back to you tomorrow morning.
G: Thanks a lot!