Things I’ve Tried and What I’ve Learnt is a reflective present perfect ESL lesson for intermediate learners.

This grammar refresher helps students use the present perfect naturally to talk about life experiences, personal growth, recent changes, and unfinished time periods.

Set around the theme of trying new things, the lesson guides learners through:

• sharing meaningful life experiences

• discussing recent decisions and changes

• exploring lessons learnt over time

• distinguishing between present perfect and past simple

• understanding the difference between been and gone

  
  

Through structured discussion, short reading, reaction tasks, and storytelling, students build confidence using the present perfect in authentic, personal contexts.

What students practise

By the end of the lesson, students can:

• use the present perfect to describe life experiences

• talk about recent events with present relevance

• use since and for to describe unfinished time

• use already and yet accurately

• distinguish clearly between been and gone

• switch naturally between present perfect and past simple when telling stories

Who is it for?

Ideal for adult learners at B1–B2 who need a present perfect ESL lesson to refresh and strengthen their grammar through meaningful, discussion-led activities.