ESL: Very Well Protocol | Week 8 - Day 46

4 April 2024

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Today’s Themes and Tasks

Medicine

Music

Sports

How can doctors help patients learn more about their health so they can make better choices?

How is the experience of listening to music live different from a recording? Which do you prefer and why?

How do professional sports impact national identity and pride?

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 can doctors help patients learn more about their health so they can make better choices?

Doctors have a big part in helping us get smarter about our health, guiding us to make informed decisions. First up, simplifying medical speak into everyday language is a game-changer. Medical terms can be confusing, making us feel lost. I had an eye-opener when my doctor took the time to explain my blood test results without all the complex terms. Instead of "hyperlipidemia," she said "high cholesterol levels," and suddenly, I understood what I needed to work on.

Visual aids are another powerful tool. A lot of us are visual learners, and seeing information can make it stick. I had an issue with my knee, and the doctor's quick sketch of the knee structure showed me exactly where the problem was. This visual explanation helped me grasp what was wrong and how the exercises she recommended could help, way more than a bunch of medical terms ever could.

Encouraging questions is equally important. Sometimes, doctor visits feel like a race against the clock, but a doctor who asks, "What questions do you have for me?" changes the game. It makes you feel valued and opens the door to deeper understanding. I once had a doctor who did just that, making it clear it was okay to ask even what I thought were silly questions. This not only made me more comfortable but also more knowledgeable about my health concerns.

So, by making things simple to understand, using visuals, and encouraging open dialogue, doctors can empower us with the knowledge to make better health choices. It's all about making complex health info accessible, ensuring we're not just passive receivers of care but active participants in our health journey.

60 Second Task

How is the experience of listening to music live different from a recording? Which do you prefer and why?

Listening to live music feels entirely different from just pressing play on a recording. It’s like comparing a photo of a place to actually standing there yourself. Live music has this incredible energy you just can't get from headphones. When you're at a concert, surrounded by fans who adore the music as much as you, there’s a collective excitement that’s palpable. I’ll never forget my first live concert; the way everyone sang along and moved in unison was almost magical. It was like we were all part of the band for a night.

Live performances also offer something unique every single time. Musicians might change how they play a song, add an impromptu solo, or even chat with the crowd, making each concert a one-off event. I once attended a show where the band decided to play an unreleased track on the spot. The crowd’s reaction was electric—everyone knew they were part of something special. You just don’t get those moments with recorded music.

I definitely prefer live music. It’s not just the sound; it’s the experience—the shared moments with the crowd, the chance to see the artists’ creativity in action. Recordings are great for convenience, sure. But live music, with its unpredictability and communal vibe, has a way of resonating with me more deeply. It's about being in the moment, where every note feels like it's played just for you and the people around you.

How do professional sports impact national identity and pride?

Professional sports massively boost national pride. When our teams play, especially during huge events like the World Cup, the whole country comes alive with support. That shared excitement when we score? It unites us all, regardless of our differences.

Our sports heroes embody the nation's spirit. Their victories aren't just personal; they represent our collective resilience. It's inspiring, making their wins feel like everyone's victory. Big wins in new sports can quickly become national obsessions, expanding our sports interests. These moments introduce us to new passions and heroes which enriches our national identity.

So, professional sports aren't just games; they're powerful moments of unity, celebrating our heroes and bringing us together.

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. Encouraging questions is equally important.

2. It's not just the tunes, but the whole vibe.

3. Suddenly, I understood what I needed to work on.

4. There's an energy at concerts you just can't match.

5. Artists might switch up a song or throw in a surprise solo.

6. Sometimes, doctor visits feel like a race against the clock.

7. Doctors have a big part in helping us get smarter about our health.

8. It makes you feel valued and opens the door to deeper understanding.

9. Doctors can empower us with the knowledge to make better health choices.

10. A lot of us are visual learners, and seeing information can make it stick.

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.

How is the experience of listening to music live different from a recording? Which do you prefer and why?


Here's the cloze exercise created from your text about the unique experience of live music, with every seventh word modified following our established rules:

Listening to live music feels entirely different from just pressing play on a recording. It’s like comparing a photo of a_ place to actually standing there yourself. Li__ music has this incredible energy you ju__ can't get from headphones. When you're a_ a concert, surrounded by fans who ad___ the music as much as you, th_____ a collective excitement that’s palpable. I’ll ne___ forget my first live concert; the wa_ everyone sang along and moved in un____ was almost magical. It was like w_ were all part of the band fo_ a night.

Live performances also offer something unique ev___ single time. Musicians might change how th__ play a song, add an impromptu so___ or even chat with the crowd, ma____ each concert a one-off event. I on__ attended a show where the band de_____ to play an unreleased track on th_ spot. The crowd’s reaction was electric—everyone kn__ they were part of something special. Yo_ just don’t get those moments with re______ music.

I definitely prefer live music. It’s no_ just the sound; it’s the experience—the sh____ moments with the crowd, the chance t_ see the artists’ creativity in action. Re________ are great for convenience, sure. But li__ music, with its unpredictability and communal vi___ has a way of resonating with m_ more deeply. It's about being in th_ moment, where every note feels like it__ played just for you and the pe____ around you.

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