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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

Old books are like treasures from the past that still have so much to say to us today. For one, they're packed with lessons that never get old. Take "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee. It's all about understanding other people and standing up against what's wrong. I remember reading it and feeling inspired to be braver and kinder. It's amazing how a story from way back can push us to be our best selves now.

Then, there's how these books connect us to history. Reading something like "Pride and Prejudice" isn't just entertaining; it's like a time machine. It shows us how people used to live, what they worried about, and how they found happiness. Chatting with my grandma about it, I found out she had the same laughs and thoughts when she read it as a young girl. It's pretty cool how stories can link different generations.

And don't forget, the big questions these books ask are the same ones we're all trying to answer. Like in "The Odyssey," where the main character is trying to figure out who he is and where he belongs. We're all on that kind of journey, right? That's why these old stories stick around. They've got a lot to teach us about life, no matter how much time passes.

60 Second Task

Schools are key in promoting cultural understanding and diversity. Implementing inclusive curricula, hosting cultural events, and providing language support are crucial steps.

Updating curricula to include a broader spectrum of cultural perspectives enriches students' learning. For instance, integrating global histories and literature allows students to explore diverse narratives, similar to a project in my school where each student presented on a different country's culture, significantly broadening our worldviews.

Cultural events, like international days, offer hands-on experience with different traditions through food, music, and dance. I recall an international fair at school where tasting Ethiopian injera and watching a Korean dance were not just educational but also a celebration of diversity.

Additionally, offering language support for non-native speakers and language classes for all students encourages communication and understanding among diverse student populations, facilitating a more inclusive school environment.

These initiatives help cultivate empathy and global awareness, preparing students for a multicultural world. Schools embracing these changes can foster an environment that truly values and celebrates cultural diversity.

Geographical size really shapes how countries play on the global stage. Big countries, think the USA or Russia, have lots of resources, making them key players in trade and giving them a strong voice in international talks. For example, the USA's vast lands allow it to be a major force in the oil market.

Smaller countries, like Singapore, might not have those natural resources, but they get creative, focusing on things like finance or tech to make their mark. Singapore turns its small size into a plus by being a global finance hub.

Also, bigger countries have more borders to watch over, making their security game more complex. So, whether big or small, a country's size influences its global role, from economy to security.

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. Old books are like treasures from the past.

2. They're packed with lessons that never get old.

3. Literature allows students to explore diverse narratives.

4. She had the same thoughts when she read it as a young girl.

5. Smaller countries might not have as many natural resources.

6. It shows us how people used to live and how they found happiness.

7. Cultural events offer hands-on experience with different traditions.

8. A broad spectrum of cultural perspectives enriches students' learning.

9. It's amazing how a story from way back can push us to be our best selves now.

10. The international fair was not just educational but also a celebration of diversity.

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.

Schools are key in promoting cultural understanding and diversity. Implementing inclusive curricula, hosting cultural events, an_ providing language support are crucial steps.

Updating curricula to include a broader sp______ of cultural perspectives enriches students' learning. Fo_ instance, integrating global histories and literature al____ students to explore diverse narratives, similar t_ a project in my school where ea__ student presented on a different country's cu______, significantly broadening our worldviews.

Cultural events, like international days, offer ha______ experience with different traditions through food, mu____, and dance. I recall an international fa__ at school where tasting Ethiopian injera an_ watching a Korean dance were not ju__ educational but also a celebration of di________.

Additionally, offering language support for non-native sp______ and language classes for all students en________ communication and understanding among diverse student po__________, facilitating a more inclusive school environment. These initiatives help cultivate empathy and gl____ awareness, preparing students for a multicultural wo___.

Schools embracing these changes can foster a_ environment that truly values and celebrates cu______ diversity.

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