How to describe an event or an experience

This lesson plan is designed to equip learners with the essential vocabulary and phrases needed to confidently describe events and personal experiences in English. By focusing on simple, high-frequency words like “event,” “fun,” and “memorable,” alongside versatile sentence structures, learners will build practical communication skills.

The lesson uses engaging visuals, interactive dialogues, and personalized activities to make learning relatable and dynamic. Suitable for beginner to intermediate learners, this plan fosters speaking, listening, and writing skills while encouraging cultural sensitivity and real-world application.

Through role-plays, games, and creative tasks, students will gain the confidence to share their own stories and connect with others in English.

Basic vocabulary

Start with essential words related to describing events or experiences. These should be simple, commonly used terms that learners can easily apply.

Vocabulary list

• Event: Something that happens (e.g., a concert, a party).
• Experience: A personal moment or activity (e.g., a trip, a festival).
• Fun/exciting: Positive feelings (e.g., a fun party).
• Boring/tiring: Negative feelings (e.g., a boring meeting).
• Place/location: Where the event happened (e.g., park, theater).
• Date/time: When the event occurred (e.g., yesterday, at 7 p.m.).
• People: Who was involved (e.g., friends, family).
• Activity: What happened (e.g., dancing, eating, watching).
• Food/drink: Items consumed at the event (e.g., pizza, juice).
• Weather: Conditions during the event (e.g., sunny, rainy).
• Crowded/quiet: Describing the atmosphere (e.g., a crowded festival).
• Memorable: Something worth remembering (e.g., a memorable day).
• Ticket: Entry pass for an event (e.g., concert ticket).
• Photo: A picture taken at the event.
• Feeling: Emotions during the experience (e.g., happy, nervous).

Vocabulary for extension

• Venue: The specific place where an event occurs (e.g., a concert hall).
• Festival: A large celebration with activities (e.g., a music festival).
• Atmosphere: The overall mood or vibe (e.g., a lively atmosphere).
• Decoration: Items used to make a place festive (e.g., balloons, lights).
• Performance: An act like singing or dancing at an event.
• Crowd: A large group of people at an event.
• Schedule: The plan or timing of an event (e.g., the show starts at 8 p.m.).
• Souvenir: An item kept as a memory (e.g., a T-shirt from a concert).
• Organize: To plan or arrange an event.
• Tradition: A repeated or cultural event (e.g., a holiday tradition).

Teaching tips

• Use visuals like photos of events (e.g., a festival, a wedding) to connect vocabulary to real contexts.
• Practice pronunciation of terms like “memorable” (MEM-or-uh-buhl) or “exciting” (ek-SY-ting).
• Create flashcards with words on one side and definitions or images on the other for quick recall.

Useful phrases

Teach simple sentence structures for describing events or experiences. These phrases should be versatile and easy to adapt.

Key phrases

1. Introducing the event/experience
   • “I went to [event] at [place].”
   • “Last [day/week], I had a [great/terrible] experience.”
   • “It was a [fun/exciting/boring] [event].”
   • “I attended [event] with [people].”
2. Describing details
   • “It happened on [date/time].”
   • “The place was [crowded/quiet/beautiful].”
   • “We [activity, e.g., danced, ate, watched a show].”
   • “The weather was [sunny/rainy].”
3. Expressing opinions/feelings
   • “I liked it because [reason].”
   • “It was [adjective] because [reason].”
   • “My favorite part was [detail].”
   • “I felt [happy/excited/tired] during the event.”
4. Asking questions
   • “Have you been to a [event]?”
   • “What was your favorite event?”
   • “How did you feel at [event]?”
   • “What did you do there?”

Teaching tips

• Write phrases on a board or handout and model their use (e.g., “I went to a concert last weekend. It was exciting!”).
• Have learners substitute their own events or experiences into the phrases.
• Practice question forms to encourage interactive conversations.

Example conversations

Provide short, realistic dialogues to model how to describe an event or experience. These examples progress from basic to more detailed.

Conversation 1: Basic exchange

Anna: Hi, Tom! Did you do anything fun last weekend?
Tom: Yes, I went to a soccer game.
Anna: Cool! Where was it?
Tom: At the city stadium. It was exciting!
Anna: Who did you go with?
Tom: I went with my friends.

Conversation 2: Adding details

Sara: Hey, Juan, have you been to a concert recently?
Juan: Yes, last Saturday, I went to a music concert in the park.
Sara: Nice! What was it like?
Juan: It was crowded but fun. The weather was sunny, and we danced a lot.
Sara: Who did you go with?
Juan: My sister and some friends.

Conversation 3: More advanced

Mark: Hi, Lisa! What’s a memorable event you’ve been to?
Lisa: Last month, I went to a friend’s wedding at a beach resort.
Mark: That sounds amazing! How was it?
Lisa: It was beautiful! The weather was warm, and there was great food. My favorite part was the dancing.
Mark: How did you feel there?
Lisa: I felt so happy! I took lots of photos.

Teaching tips

• Role-play these dialogues with the learner, switching roles to practice asking and answering.
• Encourage learners to adapt the dialogues using their own events or experiences.
• In group settings, pair students to practice, prompting them to ask at least one follow-up question.

Teaching strategy

Here’s a step-by-step lesson plan to teach this topic effectively (approximately 45 minutes).

Step 1: Warm-up (5 minutes)

• Ask: “What’s a fun event you’ve been to?” to spark interest.
• Show a picture or video clip of an event (e.g., a festival or concert) and describe it briefly (e.g., “This is a music festival. It’s crowded and exciting.”).

Step 2: Vocabulary introduction (10 minutes)

• Present the vocabulary list using visuals or a slideshow of events.
• Practice pronunciation, especially for terms like “memorable” or “crowded.”
• Play a quick game: Say a word (e.g., “ticket”), and learners explain what it means or use it in a sentence.

Step 3: Phrase practice (10 minutes)

• Display key phrases and model them with your own example (e.g., “I went to a party last week. It was fun because we danced.”).
• Have learners practice by filling in the blanks (e.g., “I went to ____. It was ____.”).
• Correct pronunciation and grammar gently, emphasizing natural expression.

Step 4: Conversation practice (15 minutes)

• Read one example conversation aloud, emphasizing natural tone and flow.
• Pair learners (or role-play with them) to practice the dialogues, encouraging personalization.
• Ask learners to create their own short dialogue about a recent event or experience.

Step 5: Wrap-up and personalization (5 minutes)

• Have each learner share one or two sentences about an event they attended (e.g., “I went to a movie. It was exciting.”).
• Provide feedback on their use of vocabulary and phrases.
• Assign homework: Write 3-5 sentences about a favorite event or practice a dialogue with a friend.

Additional tips

• Cultural sensitivity: Be aware that some learners may have limited access to certain events (e.g., concerts or festivals). Allow flexibility to describe personal experiences like family gatherings or school events.
• Visual aids: Use photos or videos of events (e.g., from YouTube or stock images) to make the lesson engaging.
• Listening practice: Play a short audio or video clip of someone describing an event (e.g., from ESL resources) to expose learners to different accents.
• Adapt for level: For beginners, focus on simple phrases (e.g., “It was fun.”). For intermediate learners, encourage details (e.g., “My favorite part was the food because it was delicious.”).
• Incorporate technology: If teaching online, share a screen with event images or use a virtual whiteboard to highlight vocabulary.

Common mistakes to address

• Grammar: Learners may say “I go to a party yesterday” instead of “I went to a party yesterday.” Emphasize the past tense for past events.
• Pronunciation: Terms like “experience” or “memorable” may be mispronounced. Practice these explicitly.
• Word choice: Clarify differences like “event” (a specific occasion) vs. “experience” (a personal moment).

Example activity: “Event share”

For group classes, try this interactive activity:

• Give each learner a card with a prompt (e.g., “Describe a fun event,” “Talk about a boring experience”).
• Learners take turns describing their event while others ask questions (e.g., “Where was it?” or “Why was it fun?”).
• Alternatively, create a “Find Someone Who” game (e.g., “Find someone who went to a concert”).

Homework or follow-up

• Writing: Write a short paragraph (5 sentences) about a memorable event or experience.
• Speaking: Record a 30-second audio or video describing an event you attended and how you felt.
• Research: Find a picture of an event online and describe it in 2-3 sentences in English.