Getting Started
A complete two-session B1 opener on detailed self-introductions, built around the present perfect — so students can talk about their background, experience, and goals, with audio scripts, games, and answer keys.
Can-Do Statements
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Introduce themselves in detail — background, current situation, interests, and goals.
- Use the present perfect for life experience and unfinished time (I've lived here for… / I've never…).
- Choose between the present perfect and the past simple correctly.
- Use for and since accurately with the present perfect.
- Ask and answer follow-up questions to extend a conversation (Have you ever…? How long have you…?).
- Write a structured three-paragraph self-introduction.
Vocabulary & Phrases
Talking About Yourself
- I'm originally from… / I was born in…
- I've been living in… for…
- I'm currently… (studying / working as)
- I'm passionate about… / I'm really into…
- background · experience · goal · aspiration
- One day, I hope to… / My dream is to…
Extending a Conversation
- It's great to meet you! / Likewise.
- Have you ever…? — Yes, I have. / No, I haven't.
- How long have you…?
- What inspired you to…?
- What do you enjoy most about…?
- That sounds interesting — tell me more.
The Engine of the Lesson
The present perfect — the grammar that lets B1 students connect their past to their present.
1. Present Perfect — Form & Uses
Form: have / has + past participle. We use it for experiences, unfinished time, and recent events with a present result.
| experience (ever / never) | I have visited Spain. She has never been to Asia. |
| unfinished time (for / since) | I have lived here for five years. |
| recent (just / already / yet) | I've just started a new job. Have you finished yet? |
2. for vs since
| for + a period | for five years, for two months, for a long time |
| since + a point in time | since 2021, since Monday, since I was a child |
3. Present Perfect vs Past Simple
| present perfect | no specific time / still true: I have lived in Dublin for five years. |
| past simple | finished time: I lived in Dublin in 2018. / I moved here last year. |
Trap: a finished time word (yesterday, last year, in 2019, ago) forces the past simple — never the present perfect.
Materials Needed
Timed Lesson Stages
Each stage lists timing, teacher instructions, and the interaction pattern.
1. Warm-Up — Three Questions
Write three questions on the board ("Where are you from?", "What do you do?", "What are you passionate about?"). Students mingle, ask three classmates, and report back one interesting fact.
Interaction: Whole-class mingle.
2. Vocabulary — Introductions & Follow-Ups
Present advanced introduction phrases and follow-up questions. Model an extended introduction yourself. Students build two sentences each with the new language.
Interaction: Teacher → pairs.
3. Grammar — Present Perfect
Guided discovery: write "I've lived here for five years" and "I lived here in 2018." Ask which one is still true now. Build the present perfect (have/has + past participle), then for/since, then the contrast with the past simple using a board timeline.
- Concept check: "Is it finished or still true? Do we use for or since with a date?"
- Controlled drill: students answer "Have you ever…?" prompts honestly.
Interaction: Guided discovery → class.
4. Speaking — Speed Networking
Centerpiece activity. Students rotate every two minutes, introducing themselves and asking follow-up questions. Use the Find Someone Who grid (in the Mingle & Games section) to give the mingle a goal.
- Push for present perfect: "Have you ever…?", "How long have you…?"
- Report back in the third person: "Petra has worked in three countries."
Interaction: Rotating pairs.
5. Wrap-Up
Volunteers report the most interesting person they met, using the present perfect. Note any for/since or participle errors for Session 2.
1. Review Game — Participle Tennis
One team says a base verb ("go"), the other returns the past participle ("gone"). Extend to a full present-perfect sentence for a bonus point. Fast consolidation of irregular participles.
Interaction: Teams.
2. Reading — "Meet Daniel"
Students open the Student Workbook and read the self-introduction. They answer the comprehension and multiple-choice questions, which grade instantly.
- First read for gist: "What are Daniel's main interests?" Then read for detail.
- Pairs find every present perfect and discuss why it is used.
Interaction: Individual → pairs.
3. Listening — Speed Networking
Play Audio 2 (script below). Students complete the fill-in-the-blank and multiple-choice listening task in the workbook. Play twice.
Interaction: Individual → class check.
4. Writing — A Self-Introduction
Students complete the workbook's grammar, word-order, and the new error-correction task, then write a three-paragraph self-introduction.
Structure: Paragraph 1 — name, origin, current city/situation. Paragraph 2 — work/studies and interests (with present perfect). Paragraph 3 — goals ("One day, I hope to…").
- Target: at least three present-perfect sentences, one for/since, and a clear goal.
- Students self-check against the writing checklist in the workbook.
Interaction: Individual.
5. Share, Score & Reflect
Students read their introduction to a partner, who asks two follow-up questions. Then they tap Show My Score in the workbook and show you the result on their phone.
Mingle & Game Bank
Ready-to-run speaking activities to keep all 90 minutes active and student-centered. The same mingle is built into the student workbook with a shuffle button.
"Find Someone Who…" Mingle Grid
Students mingle and ask present-perfect questions to find one classmate for each square.
More Activities
Find the Connection
Pairs ask each other present-perfect questions to find three things they have both done ("We've both visited Italy"). They report the most surprising shared experience. Builds fluency and the question form.
Two Truths & a Lie (Experience)
Each student says three present-perfect experiences — two true, one false ("I've climbed a mountain. I've met a celebrity. I've broken my arm."). The group asks follow-ups to find the lie.
Guess Who
Each student writes two unusual things they've done on a slip. Collect, read aloud, and the class guesses who. A great way to learn names and practice "Have you ever…?"
The Job Interview
One student is an interviewer who must ask "How long have you…?" and "Have you ever…?" questions; the other answers about their real experience. Swap roles. Strong for/since practice.
Audio & Transcripts
Tap a transcript to open it. Add your recording in the player, and use the same file in the student workbook's Listening task.
Audio 1Meet Daniel (model)+
Daniel: Hi, I'm Daniel. I'm originally from Poland, but I've lived in Dublin for five years. I work as a software developer, and I've worked for the same company since 2021. In my free time, I'm passionate about photography — I've taken thousands of photos, and I've even won a small competition. I've never travelled outside Europe, but one day I hope to visit Japan. Last summer, I started learning the guitar, and I practice every evening. It's great to meet you!
How to use: Play once for gist (his interests), then again to separate present perfect (unfinished/experience) from past simple ("Last summer, I started"). A clear, natural pace works best at B1.
Audio 2Speed Networking (listening task)+
Maya: Hi, I'm Maya. Nice to meet you!
Leo: Hi Maya, I'm Leo. So, where are you from?
Maya: I'm from Spain, but I've lived in London for two years. What about you?
Leo: I'm from the United States. I've been here for six months. What do you do?
Maya: I'm a nurse. I've worked in three different hospitals! Have you ever worked abroad?
Leo: No, I haven't, but I'd love to. I'm a chef, and I've just started a new job.
Maya: That's exciting! Good luck!
How to use: This is the source audio for the workbook's Listening task. The dialogue naturally recycles present perfect with for/since, "Have you ever…?", and "just". Play for gist first, then for detail.
Audio 3Pronunciation — contractions & weak "have" (optional)+
Listen-and-repeat drill. In natural speech we contract and weaken the auxiliary.
I have → I've. She has → She's. They have → They've.
I've lived here for years. — She's never been there. — Have you ever tried it? (/həv/ weak)
How to use: B1 students often over-pronounce "have". Drill the contractions (I've, she's, we've) and the weak "have you" in questions. This makes their present perfect sound natural and helps listening comprehension.
Workbook Answers
These match the self-grading student workbook. The workbook grades automatically; keys are here for your reference and board correction.
Reading — Comprehension ("Meet Daniel")
- Where is Daniel originally from? — Poland
- How long has he lived in Dublin? — five years
- What is he passionate about? — photography
Reading — Multiple Choice
- Daniel has worked for the same company… — b) since 2021
- Which is TRUE? — c) He has never travelled outside Europe
Listening — Fill in the Blank (Audio 2)
- Maya is from Spain.
- Maya has lived in London for two years.
- Leo has just started a new job.
Listening — Multiple Choice (Audio 2)
- How many hospitals has Maya worked in? — c) three
- Has Leo ever worked abroad? — b) No, he hasn't
Grammar — Present Perfect / Past Simple
- I have lived / 've lived in Dublin since 2020. (live)
- She has never visited Japan. (visit)
- We watched that film last night. (watch — finished time)
- He has worked / 's worked here for ten years. (work)
Word Order
- I have lived here for five years.
- Have you ever been to London?
Error Correction
- "I have went to Paris." → I have gone to Paris. (or: I went to Paris.)
- "She lives here since 2019." → She has lived here since 2019.
- "Have you ever ate sushi?" → Have you ever eaten sushi?
Common Student Errors
Watch for these at B1 and correct gently in the moment.
| Typical Error | Correct Form | Why & How to Fix |
|---|---|---|
| "I have went there." | "I have gone / been there." | Wrong participle. Drill irregular past participles (go → gone). |
| "I live here since 2019." | "I have lived here since 2019." | Unfinished time needs the present perfect, not the present simple. |
| "I've lived here since five years." | "I've lived here for five years." | for + a period; since + a point in time. |
| "I have seen him yesterday." | "I saw him yesterday." | A finished time word (yesterday) forces the past simple. |
| "Did you ever been to Rome?" | "Have you ever been to Rome?" | Experience questions use the present perfect, not did. |
| "How long do you live here?" | "How long have you lived here?" | Duration up to now = present perfect. |
Extension & Homework
In-Class Options
- Write five "Have you ever…?" questions, then survey three classmates.
- Create a "life timeline" and present it using present perfect and past simple.
- Role-play a first meeting at a conference, extending the conversation as long as possible.
At-Home Practice
- Write a short paragraph beginning "One day, I hope to…" about your goals.
- Write five true sentences about your experience using the present perfect.
- Finish any workbook tasks and bring your score to the next class.
How to Measure Success
Ready to run the lesson?
Open the student workbook on any phone or laptop — no login, fully self-grading.
Open the Student Workbook