ESL: Very Well’s

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Today’s Themes and Tasks

Workout of the Day

Complete the Workout of the day. Click on the images to be linked to the videos hosted on YouTube.

1. Fluency Waterfall

2. Waterfall Model

3. Vocabulary Connections

4. EI. 10

Waterfall Model Transcripts

Review these transcripts to see other ways of responding to the Waterfall tasks and to look for grammar patterns and vocabulary that may be useful for you in your response. The example responses are C1+ in their level. How do your responses compare? What can you do to improve your responses during the next Fluency Waterfall?

90 Second Task

Pets have this amazing way of helping us grow, both emotionally and socially. For starters, they teach us about responsibility. When I got my dog, Max, suddenly I had to plan my day around his needs—feeding him, taking him for walks, and making sure he's healthy. While this may sound like work, it soon became more like hanging out with a friend. It's like practicing to care for someone else, which really makes you think about others more.

Another big thing is the emotional support they offer. Pets just get you. Had a bad day? Your pet's there, wagging their tail or purring, making everything feel a bit better. Max has this way of just knowing when I'm down and will come and nuzzle up, reminding me I'm not alone. Having this emotional support makes me a better person.  It's that unconditional love that helps build our empathy towards others too.

Pets also help us connect with people. Ever walked a dog and ended up chatting with strangers about their pets? That's how I met one of my closest friends. We both had dogs, started talking once at a dog park, and realized we had a lot in common. We’ve hung out a lot since, sometimes even without the dogs. Pets create these social opportunities by breaking down barriers and giving us a common interest to bond over.

So yeah, pets really help us grow by teaching responsibility, providing emotional support, and helping us connect with others. They're more than just animals; they're like guides for becoming better humans.

60 Second Task

Buildings, especially indoor spots like community centers and libraries, are great at bringing people together and sparking joy. These places are community hubs, hosting everything from art classes to movie nights.

The way these buildings are designed plays a huge role in making everyone feel welcome. Modern libraries, for example, aren't just for books anymore. They've got comfy seating, cafes, and even kids' areas, making them a hit with everyone in the neighborhood. My local library has this cozy reading nook that's become a favorite hangout for all ages, showing how thoughtful design can draw the community in.

And let’s not forget how these spaces celebrate our community's diversity. Schools and halls hosting cultural events like multicultural fairs turn ordinary gyms into colorful, inclusive spaces that showcase and unite our diverse backgrounds.

So, indoor community spaces do more than just fill a building; they create a sense of belonging, celebrate our differences, and foster connections, making our community happier and more united.

To engage young people in traditions amidst rapid global changes, blending old customs with new interests is key.

For instance, incorporating contemporary music into traditional dance classes has proven to attract more youth, demonstrating relevance. Additionally, leveraging technology, especially social media, to showcase and modernize traditions can captivate their attention. Platforms like YouTube offer a space for traditional crafts with a modern twist, appealing to younger audiences. Furthermore, involving youth in organizing cultural events can deepen their connection to heritage.

These strategies can effectively maintain the vibrancy of our heritage among the younger generation, ensuring traditions remain a dynamic part of our evolving story.

EI - 10

Compare your recording to the transcript below. What did you miss? What did you mess up? Don’t be afraid to do the task again. 

1. Sending the right messages is super important.

2. Modern libraries aren't just for books anymore.

3. The trainers talked about how smart dolphins are.

4. Indoor community spaces create a sense of belonging.

5. The dolphin show made me see dolphins in a whole new light.

6. These places host everything from art classes to movie nights.

7. We need to make sure these places help us see animals with respect.

8. Let’s not forget how these spaces celebrate our community's diversity.

9. The lions have a massive space that looks just like their natural habitat.

10. Platforms like YouTube offer a space for traditional crafts with a modern twist.

Vocabulary Connections

Here’s the vocabulary for today. This vocabulary is connected to the new topic and task introduced in the Waterfall today (90 second task). What words would help you better express your thoughts tomorrow? Which words could you substitute for more precise expression.

Cloze Exercise

Read the response out loud trying to remain fluent while filling in the gaps.

Buildings, especially indoor spots like community centers and libraries, are great at bringing people together and sparking joy.

These places are community hubs, hosting ev________ from art classes to movie nights. The way these buildings are designed pl___ a huge role in making everyone fe__ welcome.

Modern libraries, for example, aren't ju__ for books anymore. They've got comfy se______, cafes, and even kids' areas, making th__ a hit with everyone in the ne__________. My local library has this cozy re_____ nook that's become a favorite hangout fo_ all ages, showing how thoughtful design ca_ draw the community in.

And let’s not forget how these sp____ celebrate our community's diversity. Schools and ha___ hosting cultural events like multicultural fairs tu__ ordinary gyms into colorful, inclusive spaces th__ showcase and unite our diverse backgrounds.

So, indoor community spaces do more th__ just fill a building; they create a_ sense of belonging, celebrate our differences, an_ foster connections, making our community happier an_ more united.

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