Lessons · Lesson 7 of 11
Tell a story
Mission: You want to tell a real experience so people stay interested until the end.
Stories are how people remember you. A five-part shape keeps your tenses in order and gives you something to say next.
Hear a little
Read or listen. Don't study it. Just follow the conversation.
Tell me about a memorable order.
It all started when a customer in London asked for 1,000 brochures.
At the time, we were already busy with another big order. To make matters worse, the paper arrived late.
As it turned out, the supplier had another stock in Lahore, so we finished one day early.
Looking back, I learned to always ask the supplier about backup stock.
I loved that. Beginning, problem, turning point, lesson — I didn't want to interrupt once.
Speak first
Tell a story about a time something went wrong and you fixed it. Two minutes. Keep going.
If you forget a word, describe it (lesson 1!). Say it out loud, or type it if you can't speak right now.
Notice the gap
What did you want to say but couldn't? These are the phrases and patterns that fill that gap.
- It all started when… / There was a time when…Beginning.
- At the time, I was… / While I was…Background (past continuous).
- What happened next was… / To make matters worse…The problem grows.
- As it turned out… / Fortunately…The turning point.
- Looking back… / What I learned was…The lesson — connects the past to now.
Fix one thing
Try each one. If you miss, you'll get a hint first, so you can fix it yourself.
Speak again, faster
Tell the same story again with all five parts — and in less time.
Coach yourself, the way Zayaan does after you finish:
Recall tomorrow
Save these phrases. They'll come back in Recall practice tomorrow, in 3 days and in a week.
- It all started when…
- As it turned out…
- Looking back, I learned…
Muddassir and Zayaan are real; this dialogue is a practice scenario inspired by their lessons. Read their story.