Looking back

What's in the lesson

1. 1Warm-up
2. 2In this lesson
3. 3Guess the words (1)Vocabulary exercise
4. 4Guess the words (2)Vocabulary exercise
5. 5Check the wordsVocabulary
6. 6Check your understandingReading comprehension
7. 7Listen: Walter's regretsListening comprehension
8. 8Use the new wordsVocabulary exercise
9. 9What does he mean?Grammar exercise
10. 10Wishes and regretsGrammar rule
11. 11From the regret surveyGrammar exercise
12. 12Say it naturallySpeaking practice
13. 13Regrets and lessonsSpeaking practice
14. 14Let's discussDiscussion
15. 15Wrap-up

Homework

1. 1Homework: closest meaningVocabulary exercise
2. 2Homework: your sentencesVocabulary exercise
3. 3Homework: wishesGrammar exercise
4. 4Homework: a letter to your younger selfDiscussion

Words

• look back on/ˌlʊk ˈbæk ɑːn/

  to think about something that happened in the past

• hindsight/ˈhaɪndsaɪt/

  understanding a situation only after it has happened (with hindsight, in hindsight)

• miss out on/ˌmɪs ˈaʊt ɑːn/

  to lose the chance to do or have something good

• dwell on/ˈdwel ɑːn/

  to keep thinking or talking about something bad

• let go/ˌlet ˈɡoʊ/

  to stop thinking about something that makes you unhappy (let go of something)

• take for granted/ˌteɪk fər ˈɡræntɪd/

  to not value something because you have always had it

• stay in touch/ˌsteɪ ɪn ˈtʌtʃ/

  to keep talking or writing to someone you do not see often

• bold/boʊld/

  brave and ready to take risks

• second-guess/ˌsekənd ˈɡes/

  to doubt a decision after you have made it

• make peace with/ˌmeɪk ˈpiːs wɪð/

  to accept something difficult and stop being upset about it

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

Let's talk about the choices we make.

1. What is something small you bought or did that you later regretted?
2. Are you the kind of person who thinks a lot about the past, or more about the future?
3. Is "No regrets" a good motto for life? Why, or why not?

Grammar rule

Wishes and regrets

wish / if only + past perfect: regrets about the past

I wish I had studied medicine. (I didn't.) · If only we hadn't sold the old house! (We did.)

wish + past simple: things you want to be different now

I wish I knew how to swim. (I don't.) · I wish we lived near the ocean. · I wish I were taller. (In conversation, was is common too.)

wish + would: something you want someone (or something) else to change

I wish the neighbors would turn their music down. (It annoys me.) We don't use it about ourselves: not I wish I would…

if only means the same as I wish, but it is stronger and more emotional. For things that are possible, use hope: I hope you feel better soon. (not I wish you feel better)