GAINING EXPERIENCE

Read and remember how to use the words:

experience, to experience: to have a pleasant (rarer, unusual) experience; to gain experience; a rich life experience; to experience joy (happiness, satisfaction, excitement, disappointment, fear, great hardships). Did you have a lot of interesting experiences during your holidays? The author wrote a book about his own experiences during his travels. We all learn by experience. Have you ever experienced great excitement?

to consider: to consider somebody's feelings (opinions, point of view); to be considered. Doctors consider smoking a very bad habit. Do you consider him a talented painter? Hockey is considered to be one of the most exciting spectator sports. Always consider the feelings of other people.

consideration: consideration for other people; to take into consideration. Consideration for other people is important in life. When marking Tom's examination papers, the teacher took Tom's long illness into consideration.

to suppose: What do you suppose happened next? You'll be here, I suppose. Supposing it rains, what shall we do? "Will he come?" - "Yes, I suppose so." ("No, I suppose not.")

to communicate, communication: We more often communicate by telephone than see each other. All communication with the North has been stopped by the snowstorm.

awfully: awfully funny; awfully tired. We were awfully tired after the work in the garden. It has been awfully cold this week. I'm awfully sorry I'm late.

probably: You will probably find the exhibition interesting. It will probably rain this evening.

level: How high are we above sea-level? The water rose until it was on a level with the banks of the river. The pupils of our group are at the same level; they all have much the same knowledge.

fault: to find fault with somebody or something. It happened through no fault of mine. He's always finding fault with everybody and everything. Whose fault is it that we are late? It's your own fault. She has many faults in her pronunciation. She finds faults with everything I do or say.

PRACTICE
Exercise 1.
a) Say which of these experiences you consider thrilling (boring, useless, important):

exploring one's neighbourhood;
showing guests round your school;
speaking in public;
making a report in class;
arranging a class meeting;
interviewing famous people;
taking care of old sick people;
preparing and showing a performance (a play) for younger children;
taking responsibility for part of the class work;
repairing some furniture in the classroom.

b) Explain why you think so.

Exercise 2.
Say what experience you gain by communicating with schoolmates and teachers; by participating in sports and in different clubs; by doing some work independently.

Exercise 3. Work in pairs. Act out a conversation with your classmate. Ask each other questions to find out what each of you experiences in different situations. Describe your feelings, thoughts and ideas.
You may speak about the following situations:

you are speaking to a large audience;
you are acting in a play;
you are listening to music;
you are receiving guests at your birthday party;
you are unable to cope with some work;
you are waiting for somebody who is late;
you are given back your test after it has been examined by your teacher;
you visit a dentist.

You may use the following:
satisfaction, disappointment, anger, happiness, delight, stage fright, joy, fear, nervousness, shyness ...