Expression Chunks
I've gradually become + adjective
Meaning: Describes a slow personal change over time.
Sample sentence: I've gradually become more comfortable saying no to things I don't have time for.
Use it in your answer:
- How have you changed as you've gotten older?Answer using: I've gradually become...
- What do you value now that you didn't appreciate when you were younger?Answer using: I've gradually become...
- What important lesson about life took you time to understand?Answer using: I've gradually become...
- How has your attitude toward money or work changed?Answer using: I've gradually become...
- What part of ordinary life do you appreciate more now?Answer using: I've gradually become...
I've grown to appreciate + noun / -ing
Meaning: Describes learning to value something more as time passes.
Sample sentence: I've grown to appreciate quiet routines more as I've gotten older.
Use it in your answer:
- How have you changed as you've gotten older?Answer using: I've grown to appreciate...
- What do you value now that you didn't appreciate when you were younger?Answer using: I've grown to appreciate...
- What important lesson about life took you time to understand?Answer using: I've grown to appreciate...
- How has your attitude toward money or work changed?Answer using: I've grown to appreciate...
- What part of ordinary life do you appreciate more now?Answer using: I've grown to appreciate...
I've come to realize that + clause
Meaning: Describes reaching an understanding after experience or reflection.
Sample sentence: I've come to realize that having more choices doesn't always make life easier.
Use it in your answer:
- How have you changed as you've gotten older?Answer using: I've come to realize that...
- What do you value now that you didn't appreciate when you were younger?Answer using: I've come to realize that...
- What important lesson about life took you time to understand?Answer using: I've come to realize that...
- How has your attitude toward money or work changed?Answer using: I've come to realize that...
- What part of ordinary life do you appreciate more now?Answer using: I've come to realize that...
Topic Phrasal Verbs
Themed Conversation: Age & Growing Older
grow up
Definition: mature or become an adult
Sample sentence: I grew up in a place where everyone knew each other.
Practice questions:
- Where did you grow up?
- What was your neighborhood like when you were growing up?
- What did you want to be when you grew up?
- Who influenced you most while you were growing up?
- Do you think children grow up too quickly these days?
slow down
Definition: become less active
Sample sentence: Some people want to slow down as they get older.
Practice questions:
- Do you think you’ll want to slow down as you get older?
- What makes you realize you need to slow down?
- Do people today find it difficult to slow down?
- What do you do when you want your life to slow down a little?
- Is slowing down always a bad thing for a career?
look back on
Definition: remember and reflect on the past
Sample sentence: I like to look back on old photos from time to time.
Practice questions:
- What period of your life do you enjoy looking back on?
- What childhood memory do you look back on fondly?
- Is there a difficult experience you now look back on differently?
- What do you think you’ll look back on most fondly when you’re older?
- Do you like looking back on old photos and messages?
Relaxed Conversation — 10 Questions
- What do you enjoy more now than you did when you were younger?
- What do you miss most about being younger?
- At what age have you felt happiest so far?
- Have your priorities changed as you’ve gotten older?
- What is something you’ve grown to appreciate with age?
- Do you think people become more confident as they get older?
- What do you like to look back on from an earlier period of your life?
- At what point, if ever, should people start slowing down?
- What is one stereotype about getting older that you disagree with?
- What would you tell your younger self if you could have a ten-minute conversation?