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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

Professional sports really do wonders for our national identity and pride. Like, when our national teams play, especially during big deals like the World Cup, it's as if everything stops. During one game, the moment our team scored a crucial goal, you could hear cheers from every house, street, and bar. It’s crazy how, no matter where you're from or what you believe, we all come together to support our team. It's this amazing feeling of being part of something bigger.

And then there are the sports heroes, right? They're not just athletes; they become symbols of what we're all about. Their stories, like an athlete from a small town clinching an Olympic gold, aren't just personal triumphs; they symbolize our collective resilience and determination. It’s more than just their win; it’s like a win for all of us, showing what grit and perseverance can do.

Also, when our country shines in a sport we don’t usually watch, suddenly, everyone's talking about it. It’s cool how a big win can make a whole country get into a new sport, expanding what sports mean to us. This can introduce us to new heroes and narratives, further expanding what sports mean to our national identity.

So, yeah, professional sports are a huge deal for bringing us together, giving us heroes that embody our values, and making us fall in love with new sports. It's all about that pride and sense of belonging to something greater, you know?

60 Second Task

Mixing traditional medicine with modern treatments can be super beneficial, but you've gotta be careful too.

Traditional remedies have been around for ages, and they're part of cultural traditions. They offer a holistic touch, like how ginger tea, a trick from my grandma, can knock out a cold. These natural solutions can be great alongside modern medicine for minor issues or as part of a broader health strategy.

But, there's a catch. Not all traditional cures are backed by science, which can make them a bit of a gamble. I've heard stories where relying on herbs instead of seeking medical advice made things worse. Plus, mixing herbs with prescription meds without a doctor's okay can lead to trouble. A buddy of mine had a bad reaction doing just that.

In short, while traditional and modern medicine together can offer the best of both worlds, always double-check with a healthcare pro to stay safe and get the most out of both.

In the next decade, travel technology will notably evolve in augmented reality (AR) and sustainability. AR will transform sightseeing, allowing travelers to overlay historical facts or real-time translations directly onto their surroundings. My experience with an AR museum app was a game-changer, offering a personalized, immersive tour.

Sustainability will also take center stage, with innovations like electric planes and solar-powered accommodations emerging in response to climate change concerns. These developments aim to minimize the environmental impact of travel, a critical step towards preserving destinations for future generations.

Overall, with AR enriching our explorations and green technology ensuring eco-friendly travel, these advancements reflect a shift towards more engaging and sustainable journeys.

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. Traditional remedies have been around for ages.

2. In the next decade, travel technology will evolve.

3. Professional sports make us fall in love with new sports.

4. When our national teams play, it's as if everything stops.

5. Is it safe to use herbal treatments without asking a doctor?

6. This can further expand what sports mean to our national identity.

7. Relying on herbs instead of seeking medical advice made things worse.

8. It’s cool how a big win can make a whole country get into a new sport.

9. No matter where you're from, we all come together to support our team.

10. When our country shines in a sport, suddenly everyone's talking about it.

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.

Mixing traditional medicine with modern treatments can be super beneficial, but you've gotta be careful too.

Traditional remedies have been around for ages, and they're part of cultural traditions. They offer a holistic touch, like ho_ ginger tea, a trick from my gr______, can knock out a cold. These na_____ solutions can be great alongside modern me______ for minor issues or as part o_ a broader health strategy.

But, there's a catch. Not all tr_________ cures are backed by science, which ca_ make them a bit of a ga____. I've heard stories where relying on he___ instead of seeking medical advice made th____ worse. Plus, mixing herbs with prescription me__ without a doctor's okay can lead t_ trouble. A buddy of mine had a_ bad reaction doing just that.

In short, while traditional and modern me______ together can offer the best of bo__ worlds, always double-check with a healthcare pr_ to stay safe and get the mo__ out of both.

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