How to Talk About First-Time Experiences in English (IELTS Speaking Tips)

 

Image showing Present Perfect Chunk


Many students can form grammatically correct sentences, yet when they speak, something feels missing.

They know the rules—but they don’t sound natural.

As an English teacher in Nepal, I often hear sentences like:

  • I am visiting Mustang for the first time.
  • I am not used to deliver a speech.

These are understandable—but they are not how fluent speakers naturally express experience.

Native speakers rely on experience-based chunks, not isolated grammar rules.

One of the most powerful of these is:

“This is the first time I’ve…”

Why This Chunk Matters

This structure allows you to:

  • describe new life experiences
  • connect past and present
  • express emotion and reflection

Compare:

  • Basic: I visit this place for the first time.
  • Natural: This is the first time I’ve visited this place.

The second version sounds:

  • more fluent
  • more natural
  • more personal

Common Learner Mistakes

Before mastering the chunk, fix these typical errors:

  • This is the first time I’m visiting Mustang. ❌
  • I am not used to deliver a speech. ❌
  • I’ve never visited this place. (missing before)

 Correct:

  • This is the first time I’ve visited Mustang.
  • I am not used to delivering a speech.
  • I’ve never visited this place before.

 These small corrections make a big difference in fluency.

 

 Core Chunk Patterns (Use Them Automatically)

1. The “First Time” Structure

  • This is the first time I’ve spoken in public.
  • This is the first time she has driven a car.

Pattern:

This is the first time + subject + have/has + V3

 

2. Natural Alternatives

Fluent speakers avoid repetition. They also say:

  • I’ve never done this before.
  • I’ve never experienced anything like this before.
  • I’m not used to doing this.

 These are essential spoken English chunks.

Real-Life Story: First Public Experience

This is the first time I’ve spoken in front of a large audience.

At the beginning, I was extremely nervous. My hands were shaking, and I almost forgot my opening lines. I’ve never been under such pressure before, and I wasn’t used to speaking in front of so many people.

But gradually, something changed.

This is the first time I’ve felt fear turn into confidence.

By the end, I realised I was capable of far more than I had imagined.

 

 Natural Conversation Practice

A: Is this your first time speaking here?
B: Yes, this is the first time I’ve spoken in front of such a large audience.
A: Are you nervous?
B: A little. I’ve never done this before.
A: You’re doing well.
B: Thanks, I’m slowly getting used to it.

Notice how the chunks make the conversation:

  • smooth
  • natural
  • expressive

 

Advanced Storytelling (C1 Fluency Upgrade)

At an advanced level, English is not just about one sentence.

It becomes:

chunks + expansion + emotion + reflection

 

Story: A Life-Changing Journey

This is the first time I’ve travelled alone to a completely unfamiliar place.

At first, everything felt overwhelming. I wasn’t used to being on my own, and even small decisions felt difficult. I’ve never had to depend on myself this much before.

Finding transport, asking for directions, and managing everything alone felt like stepping into a different world.

But gradually, I adapted.

This is the first time I’ve experienced real independence.

In the end, I ended up discovering that I was far more capable than I had ever imagined.

 

High-Impact Spoken Chunks (Use in Real Life)

Instead of speaking in simple sentences, combine these:

  • I’ve never had to + verb + before
  • I wasn’t used to + V-ing
  • It felt like + experience
  • That’s when I realised + insight
  • I ended up + V-ing

 Example:

I wasn’t used to travelling alone, but I ended up enjoying the experience. That’s when I realised I could rely on myself.

 

Teaching Insight (From My Classroom)

In my experience teaching in Nepal, students often:

  • know the present perfect tense
  • but fail to use it in real communication

They focus on:

rules and forms

Instead of:

expressing real experiences

When students start using chunks like:

  • This is the first time I’ve…
  • I’ve never… before

Their speaking becomes:

  • more natural
  • more confident
  • more expressive

 

 IELTS & Speaking Upgrade

Compare:

  • Basic: I spoke in public for the first time.
  • Better: This is the first time I’ve spoken in public.
  • Advanced:
    This is the first time I’ve spoken in public, and I’ve never experienced such pressure before.

This shows:

  • better structure
  • emotional depth
  • higher fluency

 

Practice Task

Write a short story using:

  • This is the first time…
  • I’ve never… before
  • I wasn’t used to…
  • I ended up + V-ing

 Focus on experience, not rules.

 

 Final Thought

At an advanced level, English is not about grammar rules—it is about expression.

So instead of thinking:

“This is present perfect tense”

Start thinking:

  • This is the first time I’ve done this
  • I’ve never experienced this before
  • I wasn’t used to it, but I adapted
  • I ended up growing through it

Fluency = chunks + stories + emotion

 

Explore Next: Using "It depends on..."

 

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