Most of us will agree that a pinch of personalisation is an important ingredient in a successful, modern foreign language programme. Using students’ experiences to teach languages helps facilitate social interaction, encourages memorisation, and allows space for empathy and creativity in our classrooms. In this practical and informative session by Dan Brayshaw we look at solutions to common pitfalls and time-saving ideas for activities that draw on our students’ individual experiences as a context for the exploration of new language.