Compare two places you spent time in as a child, perhaps two homes, two schools, or a town and the countryside. How did each one shape you?

A natural way to answer

I split my childhood between my parents' flat in town and my grandparents' farm. The town taught me to be independent and self-sufficient, while the farm gave me a love of nature and slower living. Looking back, I think the contrast between the two is what rounded me out as a person.

Key phrases to use

• chalk and cheese — completely different from each other“The two brothers are like chalk and cheese.”
• come out of your shell — to become more confident, open, and sociable“She really came out of her shell at university.”
• round someone out — to make someone more complete or well-balanced as a person“Living abroad really rounded him out.”
• on your toes — alert, ready to react quickly to whatever happens“The job keeps me on my toes.”
• bring out — to cause a particular quality in someone to appear or develop“Travelling brought out her adventurous side.”
• not trade something for the world — to value something so much you would never give it up for anything“I wouldn't trade those years for the world.”