ESL: Very Well Protocol | Week 13 - Day 74

7 May 2024

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Today’s Themes and Tasks

Health & Wellness

Literature

Cultural Diversity

How is the way we get our food from around the world changing our health?

Why do the stories from old books still matter to us today?

What changes should schools make to include and celebrate different cultures?

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

How is the way we get our food from around the world changing our health?

The way we're getting food from all over the globe is definitely having a big impact on our health, and not always in a good way.

First up, let's talk about how this makes it super easy to get any kind of food at any time of the year. Like, you can grab strawberries in winter or avocados whenever you feel like. It's pretty cool, but it also means we're eating a lot of stuff that's traveled thousands of miles. This can lead to eating more processed food because it has to last longer on these trips. I remember biting into an apple that looked perfect but tasted like nothing. It made me think about how far it must have come and what was done to it to keep it looking fresh.

Another big thing is how this global food market affects our diet choices. With so many options from different cultures, we're trying foods we never would have before. This can be great for variety, but it also means we might be eating more sugar, salt, and fats without even realizing it. My friend and I once tried out this new snack from another country, and it was super tasty but loaded with sugar.

So, while it's amazing to have all these choices, it's also making us think more about what we're eating and how it affects our health. It's all about finding the right balance.

60 Second Task

Why do the stories from old books still matter to us today?

Old books are gems, offering timeless lessons and a bridge to the past. For instance, "To Kill a Mockingbird" teaches us about empathy and justice. Reading it made me want to stand up for what's right, showing how stories from the past can inspire us today.

Then there's the way these books connect us with history. "Pride and Prejudice" isn't just a story; it's a window into 19th-century life, exploring love, society, and personal growth. Sharing this book with my grandma, I discovered it resonated with her just as much in her youth, highlighting how these narratives can transcend generations.

Moreover, classics like "The Odyssey" tackle universal questions of identity and belonging, themes we're all grappling with. Such stories remain relevant, guiding and inspiring us through life's journey.

In short, old stories are invaluable, teaching us about humanity, linking us to our past, and exploring enduring questions. They remain essential, enriching our lives and perspectives.

What changes should schools make to include and celebrate different cultures?

Schools have a big role in celebrating different cultures. They should spice up their lessons to cover more global stories and achievements. Imagine learning about the world's diverse traditions right from your classroom; it's like a mini adventure every day. Plus, hosting events like international days makes learning fun. I still remember the buzz of trying foods from around the world and seeing traditional dances at our school fair.

And don't forget about languages. Offering classes for non-native speakers and other language courses can really help everyone get along and learn from each other. By doing these things, schools can create a welcoming space that respects and enjoys our differences, preparing us to be world-ready.

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. These narratives can transcend generations.

2. The global food market affects our diet choices.

3. I remember biting into an apple that looked perfect.

4. Then there's the way these books connect us with history.

5. I still remember seeing traditional dances at our school fair.

6. My friend and I once tried out this new snack from another country.

7. With so many options, we're trying foods we never would have before.

8. This makes it super easy to get any kind of food at any time of the year.

9. Food from all over the globe is definitely having a big impact on our health.

10. Imagine learning about the world's diverse traditions right from your classroom.

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.

Why do the stories from old books still matter to us today?

Old books are gems, offering timeless lessons and a bridge to the past. For instance, "To Kill a Mockingbird" te____ us about empathy and justice. Reading it made me want to stand up fo__ what's right, showing how stories from th___ past can inspire us today.

Then there's the way these books co____ us with history. "Pride and Prejudice" isn't just a story; it's a window in__ 19th-century life, exploring love, society, and pe______ growth. Sharing this book with my gr______, I discovered it resonated with her ju___ as much in her youth, highlighting ho___ these narratives can transcend generations.

Moreover, classics like "The Odyssey" tackle un_______ questions of identity and belonging, themes we're all grappling with. Such stories remain re_______, guiding and inspiring us through life's jo______.

In short, old stories are invaluable, te______ us about humanity, linking us to ou__ past, and exploring enduring questions. They re____ essential, enriching our lives and perspectives.

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