SpeakUp

Grammar fix

valuable experience

important lesson

an event or situation that teaches you something useful or helps you grow as a person

collocationB1common

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • Working part-time during university was a valuable experience for me.daily life
  • I believe studying abroad is a valuable experience because it helps students become more independent and open-minded.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: a valuable experience (for someone); gain/have/provide valuable experience

WrongIt was a valuable experiences.

RightIt was a valuable experience.

Singular here — 'a valuable experience'.

Patterna valuable experience (for someone); gain/have/provide valuable experience

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff The internship constituted a highly beneficial formative experience.

Natural The internship was a really valuable experience.

'Valuable experience' is the natural collocation; the formal version is overwritten.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

  • valuable experience + gain
    gain valuable experiencea valuable experiencereally valuableprove

Don't confuse it

Not about the cost or price, but about the benefit or lesson learned.

Try it in Daily Speak →