Experience 2.First day at school 5.Money as a gift 6.Risk 14.Complaint you made 15.Advertisiment you didn’t like 16.News 20.Sport you only have watched but have not played yourself 23.Difficult thing you did 33.Free time activity you enjoyed when you were young 34.Unusual meal 38.Something you did that made you feel proud 40.Foreign food you tried
General Experience: Vivid: (clearly remembered) Memorable: (easily remembered) Significant: (important) Thrilling: (exciting) Challenging: (difficult) Rewarding: (satisfying) Unforgettable: (impossible to forget) Frustrating: (annoying) Eye-opening: (giving new insights) Surprising: (unexpected)
Positive Experiences: Exhilarating: (extremely exciting) Delighted: (very pleased) Empowering: (giving a sense of confidence) Sense of accomplishment: (feeling of success) Grateful: (thankful) Thrilled: (very excited)
Negative Experiences: Disappointed: (sad because of something not happening) Apprehensive: (anxious or worried) Overwhelmed: (feeling unable to deal with something) Discouraged: (lost hope or enthusiasm) Frustrated: (annoyed) Confusing: (difficult to understand)
Specific Experiences (can be adapted to different contexts): First time: (e.g., First time trying sushi) Brand new: (e.g., Brand new experience) Unique: (one of a kind) Unexpected: (not planned) Cultural: (related to a particular culture) Sensory: (appealing to the senses) Aromatic: (having a pleasant smell) Exquisite: (extremely beautiful and delicate) Authentic: (genuine)
Verbs: Experienced: (participated in) Witnessed: (saw something happen) Faced: (encountered a challenge) Overcame: (succeeded in dealing with a challenge) Learned: (gained knowledge or skill) Discovered: (found something new) Embraced: (accepted something willingly) Cherish: (hold dear)
Collocations General Experiences: A vivid memory: A clear and detailed recollection. A life-changing experience: An event that significantly alters your life's course. A missed opportunity: A chance you failed to take advantage of. A sense of accomplishment: Feeling of satisfaction from achieving something. A steep learning curve: A period of rapid but challenging learning. A valuable lesson learned: A piece of knowledge gained from experience. Break out of my comfort zone: Step outside my usual routine. Come to terms with: Accept a difficult situation. Embark on a journey: Begin a new experience or adventure. Leave a lasting impression: Make a significant and memorable impact.
Positive Experiences: A close call: A narrow escape from a risky situation. A dream come true: The fulfillment of a long-held desire. A heartwarming moment: An experience that evokes warmth and happiness. A moment of pure joy: A brief period of intense happiness. A rewarding experience: Providing satisfaction or benefit. Bond over a shared experience: Form a close connection with someone. Exhilarating experience: Extremely exciting and thrilling. Step outside my comfort zone: Do something new and challenging. Thrilling adventure: An exciting and risky experience. Witness a breathtaking sight: See something incredibly beautiful.
Negative Experiences: A bitter disappointment: A great let down or source of sadness. A daunting task: A very challenging or intimidating undertaking. A frustrating experience: Causing annoyance or irritation. A heart-wrenching experience: Causing great emotional pain. A major setback: A significant obstacle or difficulty. Face a setback: Encounter a temporary difficulty. Hit a snag: Encounter an unexpected problem or difficulty. Leave a sour taste in my mouth: Leave a negative impression. Overcome a challenge: Successfully deal with a difficult situation. Run into difficulties: Encounter problems.
Other: A cultural exchange: Sharing of customs and traditions between cultures. A sensory overload: An overwhelming amount of stimulation for the senses. A window into the past: A way to understand history or a different time period. Leave me speechless: Make me unable to speak due to surprise or wonder. Make a splash: Have a noticeable or impressive impact. Once-in-a-lifetime experience: An experience unlikely to be repeated. The thrill of victory: The excitement of winning. The agony of defeat: The pain of losing. Take a leap of faith: Do something risky with trust in a positive outcome. 50. Turn a negative into a positive: Find a benefit from a bad situation.
Structured sentences General Experiences: (Looking back), my (first day at school) was a (whirlwind/blur) of (new faces/emotions) . (One experience) that (stands out) in my memory is (when I...) . I (vividly remember) the (sense of achievement) I felt when (I accomplished) [action]. It was a (steep learning curve) , but (I eventually learned) how to [skill]. (That experience) taught me the valuable lesson that (sometimes, stepping outside your comfort zone is rewarding) .
Positive Experiences: (One of the most heartwarming moments) of my life was (when...) . (I felt a surge of excitement) as I (embarked on) my (dream adventure) to [location]. The trip was a (truly bonding experience) for me and my [relationship]. (Witnessing) the (breathtaking beauty) of [sight] left me (speechless) . (It was a thrill) to (finally) try [activity] for the first time.
Negative Experiences: (One of the most frustrating experiences) I've had was (when...) . (It was a major setback) when [event happened]. (I was left feeling disappointed) when [reason for disappointment]. (The situation) was (a daunting task) , (but I managed to overcome it) . (Despite the difficulties) , (I learned a valuable lesson) from the experience.
Learning & Growth: (Through this experience) , (I broadened my horizons) and (gained valuable insights) into [topic]. (I pushed myself to the limit) during [activity], (and it was incredibly rewarding) . (The experience helped me develop) my (skills in) [area]. (It was a chance to) (think outside the box) and (find a creative solution) to the problem. (By stepping outside my comfort zone) , (I discovered a hidden strength) I didn't know I had.
Other: (The advertisement) was so (over-the-top) that it (left a sour taste in my mouth) . (I recently heard some amazing news) about [topic]. (While I haven't played) [sport] (myself) , (I always enjoy watching) professional matches. (As a child) , (I used to love) [activity] (in my free time) . (One of the most unusual meals) I've ever tried was [food] (in) [location].
Connectives & Linking Phrases: (In addition to) the fun, (I also learned a lot) during the experience. (Looking back) , (I realize) how much (I've grown) since then. (As a result of) the experience, (I decided to) [action]. (Although it was challenging) , (I'm glad I didn't give up) . (On the other hand) , (there were some aspects of the experience) that I (didn't enjoy) .
Descriptive Language: (The memory) is (etched in my mind) like a vivid picture. (A wave of nostalgia) washes over me (whenever I think about) that experience. (The atmosphere was electric) with excitement during the event. (The food was a symphony of flavors) unlike anything I'd ever tasted before. (The challenge seemed insurmountable at first) , (but I persevered) .