Experienced

Lead-in

  • List the best 5 experiences of your life and tell why.
  • What is something you want to experience? Why?

Presentation

Pre

  • What are some qualities to look for when hiring an employee?

Top Down

  • What does the text talk about?
  • Capitalism
  • Money
  • Work experience
  • Capitalism
  • Money
  • Work experience

What’s in your job search toolbox?
Any job search is a competition. The question comes up as to what does it take to win that competition? Too many young job seekers today believe that the job search competition can be won solely with good education and high marks. There’s no doubt that a quality education can make a positive impact; however, the reality is that your education is only one part of the equation. And, yes, in scientific and highly technical fields, high achievement in academics can be a major edge; however, for the purposes of this article, we will focus on more general employment targets requiring less “technically defined” skills. And, that’s a very significant portion of the job market.

Landing that right job today is a competition that requires a pretty full toolbox to win. That toolbox should not rely strictly on one tool. Your toolbox needs to have a collection of skills and strengths that are of interest to the Recruiter / Employer. Included in your toolbox should be a marketable collection of education, knowledge (not acquired through academics), skills, interpersonal skills, and experience. And, when I say experience here, I mean “work” experience. List the places where you have worked, and if possible, ask people who you’ve worked with to write you recommendation letters.

Is experience really that important?
Yes, “proven work experience” is important. VERY important. An individual’s proven work experience can provide the employer with a wealth of information as to whether the new hire will be an asset to the workplace, the team, and the continued growth and success of the company.

Too many people today are embracing the idea that one should “focus” on their studies so that they can ensure high marks on their final transcripts. An admirable goal; however, the reality in the business world is that employers look first to experience and proven work skills than to education.

Modified from Source

Bottom Up

  • True or False
  1. Job searches are almost always competition.
  2. Some people believe that the job search competition can be won solely by having access to good education.
  3. A quality education makes no difference when looking for a job.
  4. It’s important to have skills and strengths that are of interest to the Recruiter.
  5. An person’s proven work experience can provide the employer with information like: Is the person selfish? Is the person good-humored?
  1. Job searches are almost always competition. False
  2. Some people believe that the job search competition can be won solely by having access to good education. True
  3. A quality education makes no difference when looking for a job. False
  4. It’s important to have skills and strengths that are of interest to the Recruiter. True
  5. An person’s proven work experience can provide the employer with information like: Is the person selfish? Is the person good-humored? False

Post

  • In your opinion, what is more important: Education or work experience and why?

Target Language

Talking about experiences

Affirmative

Subject + have/has + Past Participle

  • I have studied in Harvard.
  • They have talked to Giulia.
  • She has called me.
  • We have worked as divers.

Negative

Subject + have not / has not + Past Participle

  • I haven’t drawn anything my whole life.
  • She has not eaten in that famous restaurant.
  • You have not worked for that law firm.

Remember:

  • I/you/we/they + have/have not
  • He/she/it + has/hasn’t

LIFE EXPERIENCES

Controlled Practice

  • Match the verbs to their past participle form. There is one example.

  1. Swim

  2. Go

  3. Fall

  4. Work

  5. Own

  6. Travel

  7. Build

  8. Ride

  9. Drive

(   ) Swum

(   ) Traveled

(   ) Built

(3) Fallen

(   ) Worked

(   ) Ridden

(   ) Gone

(   ) Driven

(   ) Owned

  1. Swim

  2. Go

  3. Fall

  4. Work

  5. Own

  6. Travel

  7. Build

  8. Ride

  9. Drive

(1) Swum

(6) Traveled

(7) Built

(3) Fallen

(4) Worked

(8) Ridden

(2) Gone

(9) Driven

(5) Owned

Freer Practice

  • Use the target language, the previous exercise, and the following expressions to create affirmative or negative sentences.

Example: I haven’t gone rock climbing.

    • Swim with dolphins
    • Own a pet
    • Rock climbing
    • Fall in love
    • Build a fire
    • Travel by myself
    • Ride in a gondola
    • Drive a convertible 
    • Work as a volunteer

Production

  • Talk about some people you know and their experiences.

Example: One friend of mine is really adventurous and he has gone rock climbing.

Homework

Choose the correct past participle form of the verb to complete each sentence about life experiences.

Example: We had never __________ such a beautiful sunset before.

a) see b) saw c) seen 

  1. I have always wanted to __________ a hot air balloon.

a) fly b) flew c) flown 

  1. She had never __________ sushi before visiting Japan.

a) eat b) ate c) eaten

  1. They have __________ their dreams of starting a business.

a) pursue b) pursued c) pursuing

  1. After the long hike, I felt completely __________.

a) exhaust b) exhausted c) exhausting 

  1. He has __________ many challenges in his career.

a) face b) faced c) facing

  1. I have always wanted to __________ a hot air balloon.

a) fly b) flew c) flown 

  1. She had never __________ sushi before visiting Japan.

a) eat b) ate c) eaten

  1. They have __________ their dreams of starting a business.

a) pursue b) pursued c) pursuing

  1. After the long hike, I felt completely __________.

a) exhaust b) exhausted c) exhausting 

  1. He has __________ many challenges in his career.

a) face b) faced c) facing

Choose the correct verb to complete each sentence using its past participle tense.

prepare – set – experience – repair – save – return

Example: The lost dog was finally found and _______ to its grateful owner. > The lost dog was finally found and returned to its grateful owner.

  1. The chef had _______ a delicious three-course meal for the special occasion.
  2. The sun had already _______ behind the mountains when we reached the campsite.
  3. She had never _______ such an exciting adventure before in her life.
  4. The broken vase was carefully _______ by the skilled artisan.
  5. The movie tickets were bought online and then _______ on her smartphone.
  1. The chef had prepared a delicious three-course meal for the special occasion.
  2. The sun had already set behind the mountains when we reached the campsite.
  3. She had never experienced such an exciting adventure before in her life.
  4. The broken vase was carefully repaired by the skilled artisan.
  5. The movie tickets were bought online and then saved on her smartphone.

Rewrite the following sentences in the negative form using the appropriate past participle.

Example: She has visited Paris before. > She has not visited Paris before.

  1. He has experienced skydiving in the past.
  2. They have explored ancient ruins.
  3. I have tasted authentic Italian pizza.
  4. She has seen the Grand Canyon.
  5. We have attended a live concert.
  6. You have tried bungee jumping.
  1. He has not experienced skydiving in the past.
  2. They haven’t explored ancient ruins.
  3. I have not tasted authentic Italian pizza.
  4. She hasn’t seen the Grand Canyon.
  5. We have not attended a live concert.
  6. You have not tried bungee jumping.

Put the words in the correct order.

Example: to / like / talk / again. / me / this / Never > Never talk to me like this again.

  1. experiences / I / had / many / have / interesting
  2. traveled / has / never / to / she / Europe
  3. bungee / they / jumping / have / tried
  4. painting / he / a / has / beautiful / picture / just / finished 
  5. climbed / highest / they / mountain / the / have
  6. new / she / just / started / has / job / her
  1. I have had many interesting experiences.
  2. She has never traveled to Europe.
  3. They have tried bungee jumping.
  4. He has just finished painting a beautiful picture.
  5. They have climbed the highest mountain.
  6. She has just started her new job.

Find and correct the mistakes.

Example: I have went to Paris last summer. > I have gone to Paris last summer.

  1. She had went to the concert last night. 
  2. We seen that movie three times already. 
  3. He have ate lunch at the new cafe downtown. 
  4. They have went hiking in the mountains yesterday. 
  5. My grandparents have took care of me when I was sick. 
  6. I’ve never been so excited, I have went scuba diving. 
  1. She had gone to the concert last night.
  2. We have seen that movie three times already.
  3. He has eaten lunch at the new cafe downtown.
  4. They went hiking in the mountains yesterday.
  5. My grandparents have taken care of me when I was sick.
  6. I’ve never been so excited; I have gone scuba diving.

Writing

Write a short text about the most memorable experiences you’ve had in your life.

Example: I have traveled to Disney quite a few times and…