ESL: Very Well’s

New here? Or just checking us out? Here’s a How-to guide for our approach.

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

Living 40 years ago, my daily life would be notably different, particularly in communication and information access. Without smartphones and the internet, I'd rely on writing letters and using a landline for keeping in touch. This slower communication would mean waiting longer for responses and less frequent updates. Sharing news would take days instead of the instant sharing we're used to today.

Information access would also change drastically. I'd turn to newspapers, television, and radio for news and entertainment, replacing quick internet searches. For research, whether for school or work, I'd spend substantial time in the library, browsing through books and periodicals, a far cry from the convenience of online resources. I remember an anecdote about spending hours in the library for college research, noting down information by hand, then typing it out on a typewriter – a process that demanded meticulous planning and effort.

Shopping habits would be entirely different too. I'd visit physical stores for all my needs, making shopping a more time-consuming and planned activity, unlike the ease of online shopping today.

In summary, living 40 years ago would mean adapting to slower methods of communication, traditional ways of accessing information, and in-person shopping. These changes would not only alter the pace of daily life but also possibly foster a deeper appreciation for simpler, more direct experiences.

60 Second Task

In addressing environmental pollution, individual actions play a pivotal role. Opting for public transportation, carpooling, or cycling not only mitigates vehicular emissions but also contributes to reducing traffic-induced pollution.

Energy conservation within households is essential. This can be achieved through the use of energy-efficient appliances, judicious use of lighting, and potential investment in renewable energy sources like solar panels. These measures not only diminish pollution but also foster sustainable living.

Emphasizing the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle is crucial. Selecting products with minimal packaging, repurposing items, and diligent recycling can significantly lower the environmental impact of waste.

Collectively, these individual choices and actions can lead to substantial environmental benefits. They exemplify the importance of environmental stewardship at a personal level, underlining the impact of conscientious living on broader ecological outcomes.

Globalization has reshaped job opportunities for young people, like me, intensifying competition and accelerating technological advancements.

In today's global job market, we're competing internationally. For instance, applying for a job in the UK, I found myself up against candidates from around the world. This universal marketplace necessitates not just expertise in our fields, but also cultural literacy and linguistic versatility.

Technological progress, spurred by globalization, has birthed new careers like social media management and app development, while phasing out some traditional roles. Staying relevant in this dynamic landscape means young job seekers must be agile learners, adapting to evolving skill demands.

In summary, globalization presents a complex yet stimulating scenario for us. It demands excellence, adaptability, and a global perspective, making our career journey more challenging but equally enriching.

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. I'd visit physical stores for all my needs.

2. Shopping habits would be entirely different too.

3. Information access would also change drastically.

4. Energy conservation within households is essential.

5. In today's global job market, we're competing internationally.

6. Living 40 years ago, my daily life would be notably different.

7. Globalization presents a complex yet stimulating scenario for us.

8. I'd rely on writing letters and using a landline for keeping in touch.

9. Living 40 years ago would mean adapting to slower methods of communication.

10. These measures not only diminish pollution but also foster sustainable living.

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.

In addressing environmental pollution, individual actions play a pivotal role.

Opting for public transportation, carpooling, or cy_____ not only mitigates vehicular emissions but al__ contributes to reducing traffic-induced pollution. Energy conservation within households is essential.

Th__ can be achieved through the use o_ energy-efficient appliances, judicious use of lighting, an_ potential investment in renewable energy sources li__ solar panels. These measures not only di______ pollution but also foster sustainable living.

Emphasizing the principles of reduce, reuse, an_ recycle is crucial. Selecting products with mi_____ packaging, repurposing items, and diligent recycling ca_ significantly lower the environmental impact of wa____

Collectively, these individual choices and actions ca_ lead to substantial environmental benefits. They ex_______ the importance of environmental stewardship at a_ personal level, underlining the impact of co___________ living on broader ecological outcomes.

Pronunciation Focus: Sounds

Pronunciation Focus: Rhythm

Harmony in Mix-It-Up

In the town of Mix-It-Up, where the rivers bend and curl,
Lived a team of varied folks, the most diverse in the world.
With colors bright as rainbows and minds sharp as tacks,
They could solve any problem that came across their tracks.

There was Molly from the mountains, and Sam from by the sea,
Tina spoke in tongues, and Fred made fine pottery.
They brought their different stories, from lands both near and far,
And together they shone brighter than the brightest shooting star.

In Mix-It-Up, challenges popped up every day,
But this splendid team tackled them in their own unique way.
“Two heads are better than one,” they’d often cheerfully speak,
But with many heads together, they reached the highest peak!

Their differences were many, but here’s the magic clue:
When they looked at big problems, each saw a different view.
Where Sam saw wild waters needing a sturdy dam,
Molly’s mountaineer eyes saw the perfect place to ram.

Tina’s tales of old gave them wisdom so profound,
Fred’s artful hands could shape solutions all around.
With every unique piece that each person could contribute,
Their solutions were more complete—now, isn’t that astute?

From building bridges over rivers wide and blue,
To solving puzzles of the city, and curing sickness, too.
They stitched together ideas, like a quilt from many lands,
And everything they touched turned golden in their hands.

Back and Forth: Conversation Practice

Mac and Jean are seated at a small table with mugs of coffee. They seem thoughtful, discussing a new approach to celebrating team achievements.

Triforce Speaking

Help ESL: Very Well Grow

This newsletter has all of the resources that you need for the protocol. If you’re on Facebook follow ESL: Very Well to participate in our growing community and access other news and events.

Some people are shocked to hear that we produce ESL: Very Well 100% coffee-free. However, I do eat a lot of broccoli and we use AI tools that are not free. If you’d like to fuel our efforts, we’d very much appreciate that.

If you’d like to donate money to get out the word about ESL: Very Well to a targeted group that is close to your heart. Say people interested in soccer in Sao Paulo Brazil venmo us any amount of money with that description and we’ll see that it happens.