The Present Perfect tense: my life's

achievements so far
What I've done in my life up until now .....!

1. Read the texts aloud to your friend.

2. Ask your friend who each person is.
3. The texts are in the Present Perfect.
Ask for particular information using the Past Simple.
4. What do you think these people are going to do in the future?

KEY: WHICH OF THESE CELEBRITIES IS THE TEXT

DESCRIBING?

Mohamed Ali USA 194 / Mijail Gorbachov Russia 1931 / Mandela

Nelson S. Afr 1918 / Elizabeth II UK 1926 / Madonna USA 1958 /
Michael Jackson U.S.A. 1958 / John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla) Poland
1920 / Andrew Lloyd Webber UK 1948 / Carl Lewis USA 1961 /
Maradona Arg. 1960

Student A]
1. I've been leader of my country. I've made friends with Western
leaders, but haven't made friends with everybody in my country.
I've
helped to end the cold war. I've permitted Germany to become one
country.
I've now lost my job as leader, but I've visited many countries and
given
many talks.

2. I've been vocalist in a group of five musicians and I've had a very
successful solo career. I've performed Motown music in front of
large
audiences and I've also created some very popular dance steps. I've
also
recorded "Soul music" and some of my records have sold over forty
million
copies. I've made many advertisements for Pepsi and have also
made friends
with famous people like Elizabeth Taylor.

3. I've been an actor, a poet, a philosopher and have learnt many

foreign
languages. Since October 1978, I've had a very important job. I am
the
first person from outside Italy who has done this job. During these
years,
I've travelled all over the world. I've prayed for peace, I've kissed
the
ground in more than ninety countries and have also talked to their
leaders.

4. I've learnt a lot about music from Rodgers and Hammerstein and
I've
also worked with a young lyricist called Tim Rice. Since the 1960's,
we've
written many famous musicals. We've written about Joseph, Jesus
Christ,
Evita, cats, trains, ghosts and especially about love. I've written
most
of the music. I've also composed classical music.

5. I've trained very hard in my sport and have developed a perfect

physique. I've learned to jump long distances and to run very fast.
I've
taken part in the Olympic Games and have won a lot of gold medals.
I've
been successful both as a solo runner and in relay races. I've broken
many
world records at short distances.

Student B

6. I've had four children and have learnt to ride horses and to speak
very
good English. My oldest son has also learnt how to speak Welsh.
Since
1952, I've held my country's most important job. I've given many
speeches,
have taken part in many ceremonies and have met many leaders.
I've seen
many changes in my country. I now have several grandchildren.

7. I've been called Marilyn's successor! Since the 1970s, I've been a
dancer in a night-club and have recorded many hit records. Most of
my
records are about sex, but some also talk about religion. Many
people have
danced to my records. They've been number 1 both in America and
Britain.
I've now made many videos and a few films. I haven't been very
modest in
my videos and films. Some of them have been very shocking.

8. I've learnt to play my sport with a lot of imagination. People say

that there is a direct line between my head and my left foot. I've
played
my sport at the highest level. I've played both for my country in
South
America and for my Italian club. I've helped my country reach the
finals
in two World Cups. I've scored most of my goals with my left foot,
but
I've sometimes used my hand.

9. I've spent a lot of my adult life in prison. Since my release in

1990,
I've become the leader of my party again. I've separated from my
wife, but
life has got a little better. I've had many talks with my country's
leaders and they've promised a new constitution where black people
and
white people can share power. I've tried to stay in good health. My
life
has been very busy recently.

10. I've been a top sportsman. I've been World Champion in my

sport three
times. I've also been on many TV shows and have made many
people happy
with my jokes. My opponents haven't been so happy. I've beaten
Sony
Liston twice, have defeated Jo Frazier and have knocked out George
Foreman.
But outside of the ring, I've worked for peace. I've taken a Muslim
name,
have had meetings with Muslim leaders in the Arab world and have
visited
many other countries.

The Balloon Game

What have you done in your life? Imagine four of you are in an air
balloon, but it is losing height and one person has to jump to their
death. Each person has to say what they have achieved in their life
so far [using the Present Perfect]!
At the end of the discussion, you each write on a piece of paper who
of your group should stay in the balloon basket and which one
should jump. Discuss your reasons afterwards.