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

Choosing the most influential person in history is really hard because there are so many important people. But if I have to choose one, it would definitely be Isaac Newton. His big ideas in math and physics have changed how we see everything around us.

Let's talk about calculus first. I know, it sounds scary, something we all remember struggling with in school. But calculus is actually behind a lot of things we use every day. It helps build tall buildings, makes our phones work, and even helps predict things in the economy. I remember sitting in class, trying to solve those problems and thinking about how Newton came up with all this stuff hundreds of years ago. It's amazing to think that his old ideas are part of so much that we do now.

And then there’s his theory about gravity and how things move. That story about an apple falling on his head might not be exactly true, but it’s a cool way to remember how he started thinking about why things fall. This idea of his helps us understand everything from how the planets move to why we're not floating off into space. It’s the kind of thinking that made space travel possible.

So, when I think about Newton, it's not just about a man from history. It’s seeing how his curiosity and smart thinking still touch our lives today. Every time I drop something and it falls to the ground, I remember Newton and how much he figured out about our world. It's really inspiring.

60 Second Task

Getting to real happiness is kind of like a puzzle, you know? It’s more than just feeling good; it’s about that deep-down fulfillment. There are a couple of ways to crack it, at least from what I’ve seen and felt.

First up, it’s all about the people we vibe with - our family and friends. There's something special about those moments when you're just hanging out, sharing stories, or cracking up over something silly. It’s like those connections feed your soul.

Then, there's the whole personal achievement thing. It’s not just about the big wins, but also those little victories, like when you finally get through a tough task. I remember this one time I finished a project that was a real headache, and the feeling was amazing. It wasn’t just about getting it done but realizing I could push through challenges.

So, yeah, happiness can come from chilling with loved ones or nailing your goals. It's pretty unique for everyone. What’s clear is that being happy is about finding that sweet spot between connecting with others and growing yourself.

Movies really have a way of shaking things up, don't they? They're not just about popcorn and passing time; they're powerful tools that can change how we see the world and even ourselves. Take "To Kill a Mockingbird" – it's not just a story; it's a conversation starter on racial injustice. Watching it was an eye-opener for me, pushing me to think deeper about fairness and empathy in our society.

Then there’s "The Pursuit of Happyness." It's more than just a film; it’s a source of inspiration. It made me realize that no matter the obstacles, there's always hope. This tale of struggle and success really hits home, teaching us about resilience and the power of not giving up.

So, you see, movies do a lot more than entertain. They challenge us, unite us, and inspire change. They have this incredible ability to influence not just our culture but our individual actions and beliefs, proving just how impactful cinema can be in our lives and the world at large.

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. What thoughts crossed your mind?

2. It’s like those connections feed your soul.

3. It's a conversation starter on racial injustice.

4. First up, it’s all about the people we vibe with.

5. It's more than just a film; it’s a source of inspiration.

6. Movies really have a way of shaking things up, don't they?

7. Choosing the most influential person in history is really hard.

8. I know it's something we all remember struggling with in school.

9. Have you ever read a story that resonated with you on a personal level?

10. It wasn’t just about getting it done but realizing I could push through challenges.

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.

Getting to real happiness is kind of like a puzzle, you know? It’s more than just feeling good; it__ about that deep-down fulfillment. There ar_ a couple of ways t_ crack it, at least from what I’__ seen and felt.

First up, it’s all about the pe____ we vibe with - our family an_ friends. There's something special about those mo_____ when you're just hanging out, sharing st______ or cracking up over something silly. It__ like those connections feed your soul.

Then, there's the whole personal achievement th___. It’s not just about the big wi___, but also those little victories, like wh__ you finally get through a tough ta__. I remember this one time I fi______ a project that was a real he_______, and the feeling was amazing. It wa____ just about getting it done but re_______ I could push through challenges.

So, yeah, happiness can come from ch______ with loved ones or nailing your go___. It's pretty unique for everyone. What’s cl___ is that being happy is about fi_____ that sweet spot between connecting with ot____ and growing yourself.

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.