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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

Spending too much time on social media can definitely change how we communicate with others in real life. One big issue is that it might make us less good at understanding emotions and reactions when we're talking face-to-face. When we chat online, we don't see the other person's face or hear their tone of voice, so it's easy to miss out on a lot of what they're really saying. I remember once misunderstanding a friend's text because I couldn't tell they were actually upset, something I would have caught immediately if we were talking in person.

Another problem is that heavy social media use can make our attention spans shorter. We get used to quick, snappy content, and that can make longer, in-depth conversations a bit of a struggle. I've noticed this myself when hanging out with friends; sometimes, we all find it hard to stay focused on one topic for long without checking our phones.

So, yes, spending a lot of time on social media can impact our real-life communication skills, from missing non-verbal cues to struggling with longer conversations. It's important to balance our online interactions with plenty of face-to-face chats to keep our communication skills sharp.

60 Second Task

When you live in a new culture you are able to dive straight into the language. Every day becomes a real-life language lesson. When I was abroad, speaking Spanish wasn't just practice, it was a necessity—for buying groceries, making friends, even asking for directions. It's intense but effective. You learn quickly out of sheer need!

On the flip side, online learning packs its own set of advantages. It's like having a language lab in your pocket. Plus, platforms connecting you with native speakers let you practice anytime. My conversations with a French person through a language exchange app were game-changing. It wasn't just small talk; we discussed everything from culture to current events, enhancing both my vocabulary and understanding of French nuances.

So, immersing yourself in a new culture forces rapid language acquisition through daily immersion, while online learning offers personalized tools and direct access to native speakers for in-depth practice. Each method complements the other, blending real-world experience with customizable learning paths for a well-rounded approach to mastering a new language.

Business transparency is key for trust. When companies are open about their practices, it resonates with customers and employees alike. I've supported brands that are clear about their sourcing, fostering a deeper connection.

Transparency also acts as a safeguard against scandals. By being upfront, companies can address issues before they escalate, maintaining integrity. I recall a case where a company's lack of honesty led to customer loss, underscoring the importance of openness.

Ensuring honesty might require stricter reporting laws and independent audits. Additionally, consumer pressure can motivate businesses to maintain higher standards of transparency. Leadership's commitment to transparency sets a tone, encouraging a culture of openness.

In essence, transparency isn't just beneficial; it's essential for building trust and ensuring accountability, greatly impacting public support for businesses.

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. Every day is a practical language lesson.

2. Ultimately, transparency is vital for trust.

3. Heavy social media use shortens attention spans.

4. Living in a new culture immerses you in the language daily.

5. Online learning offers flexibility not available in immersion.

6. Transparency prevents scandals and maintains company integrity.

7. Online communication reduces our ability to understand emotions.

8. These conversations expanded my vocabulary and cultural understanding.

9. Spending too much time on social media changes real-life communication.

10. My friends and I struggle to focus on one topic without checking our phones.

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.

When you live in a new culture you are able to dive straight into the language. Every day becomes a real-life language le____. When I was abroad, speaking Spanish wa____ just practice, it was a necessity—for bu____ groceries, making friends, even asking for di________. It's intense but effective. You learn qu_____ out of sheer need!

On the flip side, online learning pa___ its own set of advantages. It's li__ having a language lab in your po____. Plus, platforms connecting you with native sp______ let you practice anytime. My conversations wi__ a French person through a language ex______ app were game-changing. It wasn't just sm___ talk; we discussed everything from culture t_ current events, enhancing both my vocabulary an_ understanding of French nuances.

So, immersing yourself in a new cu_____ forces rapid language acquisition through daily im________, while online learning offers personalized tools an_ direct access to native speakers for in______ practice. Each method complements the other, bl______ real-world experience with customizable learning paths fo_ a well-rounded approach to mastering a ne_ language.

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