TABLE OF CONTENTS

UNIT 1: A successful career

Strengths and weaknesses 05

Carreer plan 06
Working from: Home vs Office 07
UNIT 2: Sharing stories

The Hero’s Journey 10

Childhood stories 12
UNIT 3: Entertainment world Types of family structures 12

Recommendations 15
Your favorites 16
Famous awards 17
UNIT 4: Around the globe

Surprising customs 19
Traditions 20
UNIT 5: Evolution of technology Brazilian culture 21
The greatest inventions 23
Technology then and now 25
Technology and us 26
UNIT 6: The environment

NGOs 28
Developing a pitch 30
UNIT 7: Healthy lifestyle Global goals 31
Healthy habits 33
Physical and mental health 34
Your lifestyle 36
UNIT 8: Language is key

Communicative skills 38
Idioms 40
Learning English is a journey! 41
 A successful career
1
FIRST THINGS FIRST

Read statements A-C. Which do you agree with? Why?

A: "It's not what you achieve, it's what you overcome. That's what defines
your career." - Carlton Fisk

B: "To be successful, the first thing to do is fall in love with your work." -
Mary Lauretta

C: "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls

and looks like work." - Thomas Edison

LISTEN UP

Listen to Sara’s story of how she landed her dream job with an unusual
encounter. Then, choose the correct answers.

1. Sara Denton… 4. After four years…

a) bought a sweater when she was in college. a) Sara studies fashion in school and has a
b) went shopping in a store called Kinnucan’s. corporate job.
c) received a sweater from a store called Kinnucan’s. b) Sara works as a fashion consultant at
d) wore a sweater in a school called Kinnucan’s. Kinnucan’s.
c) Sara is a clothing designer and analyst.
2. Sara Denton’s friend… d) Sara works as a fashion analyst at
a) worked part-time as an associate at the store. Kinnucan’s.
b) worked part-time as an assistant at the store.
c) worked full-time at the store.
d) worked full-time as an associate at the store.

3. She started at Kinnucan's…

a) as a full-time sales associate
b) in January of 2011 as a part-time sales associate.
c) in June of 2011 as a part-time sales associate.
d) as a general manager in January of 2011.

Adapted from Buzzfeed’s “15 stories from people who found their unexpected dream jobs”. Available on:
<https://www.buzzfeed.com/katieheaney/15-stories-from-people-who-found-their-unexpected-dream-jobs>

4
 A successful career • UNIT 1

LET’S GET STARTED

Have you ever struggled with

getting ready for an interview? The
best way to prepare for it is
practice your answers for possible
questions the recruiter might ask
you. Having that in mind, here are
some of the most common queries
you might face during your
interview for a new job.

Now take a look at these adjectives

on the board bellow. They are some
personality traits often used to talk
about your strengths and
weaknesses.

Organized Distracted Indifferent Analytical Anxious Honest

Communicative Self-critical Competitive Proactive Empathetic Persuasive

Overbearing Slow-paced Team worker Assertive Introverted Poor delegator

Stubborn Punctual Attentive Control freak Sensitive Patient

Ethical Detail-oriented Passive Motivated Sensible Outspoken

What do you consider to be strengths and weaknesses? Write down on the board:

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

5
 A successful career • UNIT 1

WRAP YOUR MIND AROUND

How about your future, have you thought about it? If not, here are some tips you
can follow to start building a career plan:
HOW TO BUILD AN EFFECTIVE CAREER PLAN

1 Assess your goals

HOW TO BUILD AN EFFECTIVE CAREER PLAN
HOW TO BUILD AN EFFECTIVE CAREER PLAN

Take a moment and think about each step you need to take in
order to achieve your goals:
“If I want to study abroad, I need to ______________________”
“In order to become a manager, I need to ________________”

2 Consider your strengths and weaknesses

Which skills are needed to achieve your goals?
What do you need to improve?

3 Identify your career options

Which skills are needed to achieve your goals?
What do you need to improve?

4 Set a timeline and milestones

Setting milestones you intend to achieve along the way will help
you stay motivated.
To visualize it better, create your own career map.

5 Monitor your progress

It’s not written in stone!
You can always revisit your plan and make the changes you’d
like.

Now it’s time for you to think it through and create your career plan. There’s no time
limit, you can either create a 2-years or a 20-years career plan, as long as it is
reasonable. Do as you like and share your vision of the future with your classmates.

6
 A successful career • UNIT 1

DIVE INTO IT

Working from: Home x Office

What is the best type of work environment?

Divide the classroom into two groups and organize a debate with your peers
discussing the pros and cons of working from home or the office.

Read the excerpts from The New York Times story to raise discussion topics.

What if You Don’t Want to Go Back to the Office?

Millions of Americans are taking commutes by car. And while many parents
part in an unprecedented experiment in are desperate for schools and day care
working from home. Many are happier, centers to reopen, some working parents
more efficient and want to hang onto the are appreciating more time with their
benefits when the pandemic ends. children.
These fans of online work worry Before the pandemic, Christine
that they — and the country itself — will Reilley had to wake up at 4:30 in the
lose important benefits discovered during morning to catch an early bus to
this unprecedented experiment in mass Manhattan, where she works as senior
remote work. People who have never director of strategy and innovation for the
liked schmoozing with colleagues have American Society of Mechanical
found new heights of productivity away Engineers: “I’m better rested. I can
from meetings and office chitchat. People devote more time to my work,” she said.
worried about climate change are eager to “Just saving the time and money of
reduce their carbon footprints by avoiding commuting, I really like this personally.”

7
 A successful career • UNIT 1

Impossible for some and ‘overrated’ for others

It did not take long for naysayers to background is hardly good for productivity.
declare that working from home was Women say that video calls make it harder
“overrated.” And yes, it is an option mostly for them to get in a word during meetings
for white-collar office workers. dominated by men. This crisis has also
Telecommuting is rarely possible for increased the burdens on working
people in manufacturing or service jobs, mothers.
and for the health workers, emergency Telecommuting was already a
responders, grocery store clerks and growing trend that left out many low-wage
delivery people who have been deemed workers and was viewed warily by
essential personnel. And the more than 30 employers who worried people were
million Americans who have lost their jobs slacking off at home. Researchers warned
since March may be impatient about that problem solving and creativity suffer
complaints from people still drawing when workers are isolated from one
paychecks. another. Isolated work can lead to
Nor can the other downsides be loneliness and boredom. Remote workers
denied. Trying to meet on Zoom from a have also reported they have had to work
kitchen table with bored children and even longer hours.
annoyed spouses complaining in the

Texts adapted from ‘What if You Don’t Want to Go Back to the Office?’ By Maria Cramer and Mihir
Zaveri. Published May 5, 2020 in The New York Times.

8
 Sharing stories
2
FIRST THINGS FIRST

Read statements A-C. Which of the statements below do you agree

with the most?

A: “The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect
and joy in each other’s life.” - Richard Bach

B: "Give the ones you love the wings to fly, roots to come back and reasons
to stay.“ - Dalai Lama

C: "Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light"
- Helen Keller

Would you add any other regarding friends and family relationships?

LISTEN UP A- B-

Listen to the audio “Newly Wedded Failures”. You are going to hear two different
stories about weddings that didn’t go as planned. Then check the boxes: in which
story did you hear the following sentences, A or B?

Suddenly, we all heard a big scream.

The room got dead silent.

It was really romantic, all candlelit

They turned up and fixed her knee

It came the time to toast to the newly

wedded couple.

STORY - A Even though they were all in heels. STORY - B

Adapted from Buzzfeed’s “17 Actual Weddings That Got Ruined For Truly Horrifying Reasons”. Available on:
<https://www.buzzfeed.com/stephenlaconte/worst-wedding-stories-reddit>

9
 Sharing stories • UNIT 2

LET’S GET STARTED

What does it take to be a good storyteller? The art of building a story from
scratch and engaging the audience through a rollercoaster of emotions is an
underrated skill we should all cultivate. Whether it's presenting seminars, lectures
and workshops, whether it's at Christmas parties, on birthdays and holidays...
Everyone needs to step into the role of a storyteller at some point.

Follow the path below to build a good story.

In order to be able to connect all parts of your story, use linking words as much
as you want. Here's a similar path to the previous one, but with a focus on which
linking words best fit into which parts of the story.

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 Sharing stories • UNIT 2

PICK YOUR BRAINS

1. Are you familiar with following the hero’s journey?

2. Can you give an example of current narratives that follow the same pattern?

3. What is the most famous hero story of all time? Why do you think so?

4. What makes one story become a great story?

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 Sharing stories • UNIT 2

WRAP YOUR MIND AROUND

You are the main character of your own story. Take into consideration the
previous boards and build your own Hero’s journey.

YOUR JOURNEY

Choose one single

story of your
childhood to tell.

Follow the path of

storytelling steps.

Express feelings,
thoughts and sensory
descriptions.

Use linking words

.
to connect the paths
of your story.
Source: Lerning for Justice. Available on:
<https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/spring-2020/lets-talk-about-it>

When you are ready, share your story with your classmates!

DIVE INTO IT

According to The Minds Journal, “A family is a space where different individuals

depend on each other for physical, emotional, and economic support, thus,
making each member the key source of relationship security or stress”. Take a
look at how they classify the Types of Family Structures on the next page.

12
 Sharing stories • UNIT 2

Source: The Minds Journal. Available on: <https://mind.help/topic/family-dynamics/types/>

Now, discuss the following topics with a partner:

• Do you think they contemplate all the possible family configurations?

• Which one of these definitions is closest to your family?

• How do you think family structures have an impact in our lives?

13
 Entertainment world
3
FIRST THINGS FIRST

Read statements A-C. Can you recognize the famous quotes below
and which entertainment title do they belong to? Which quote do you
most agree with?

A: “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only

remembers to turn on the light.”

B: "To be or not to be, that is the question.”

C: "It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person

then”.

Are there any famous quotes within the entertainment world that you
are particularly a fan of?

LISTEN UP

Listen to the stories of 5 Children’s Movies Drastically Changed By Dark Plot

Summaries and identify the titles of the movies.

Story 1: _______________________________

Story 2: _______________________________

Story 3: _______________________________

Story 4: _______________________________

Story 5: _______________________________

Source: Goliath. Available on: <https://www.goliath.com/movies/10-childrens-

movies-drastically-changed-by-dark-plot-summaries>

14
 Entertainment world • UNIT 3

LET’S GET STARTED

When it comes to the entertainment world, it’s almost impossible to pass by

people’s suggestions on the internet. People are always sharing their opinions on
their latest movie sessions, book readings, and etc. Have you ever had a friend
ask for your recommendations? Here are some examples that you can use as a
basic foundation to build your own entertainment suggestions.

Source: The New York Post.

Source: Amazon.

Source: IMDB.

15
 Entertainment world • UNIT 3

WRAP YOUR MIND AROUND

Do you consume a lot of entertainment in your daily life? Share with the class a
short summary of your favorite movie, book, play or video game. Don't forget to
include interesting facts about it!

Source: Public domain.

16
 Entertainment world • UNIT 3

DIVE INTO IT

Every now and then, we come to

hear news about awards’
nominees, shows or events.
According to the Cristaux Blog,
on their article named Top 10
Most Famous Awards:

“ Great achievements are

accompanied by great results.
Sometimes they’re honored with
rewards too. Prizes are given to
the top achievers in fields ranging
from sports to politics to science to
writing. Though they take different
forms, all of these prizes are
meant to highlight and celebrate
those individuals who’ve ascended
to the top of their game.”

However, through the past years

the fairness of these awards
have been put under doubt.
Thus, it has been the center of
discussion around the subject.

How about taking a moment to discuss it with further investigation?

Take a look on the rank, choose one of the awards and do a research about it's
origin, history, how they evolved and current controversies.

Prepare a presentation to illustrate your research to your classmates.

17
 Around the globe
4
FIRST THINGS FIRST

Read statements A-C. Can you try to explain their meanings?

A: Don't count your chickens before they're hatched. - Australian proverb

B: Do a good deed and throw it into the sea. - Egyptian proverb

C: When the going gets tough, the tough get going. - English proverb

Which of the above do you find wiser? Have you ever heard any other
proverbs or sayings?

LISTEN UP

Listen to 3 people talking about different Holidays and celebrations around the world.
Try to match the characteristics above to the right holiday (1-3) according to what you
hear.

___ Celebrated on February 14th.

___ Celebrated on March 17th
___ Celebrated in March.
___ People exchange gifts.
___ It’s the anniversary of someone's death.
___ It represents the triumph of good over evil.
___ Bonfires are lit the day before.
___ People shoot water at each other.
___ People dress in green.
___ Celebrates love and affection.

18
 Around the globe • UNIT 4

LET’S GET STARTED

According to Oxford Languages, the definition of Culture is: the customs, arts,
social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other
social group. Let’s see 3 examples of surprising customs around the world:

Tipping in the USA

One of the most known American practices is the tipping
culture, especially at restaurants. It is expected that citizens
and tourists leave between 10-15% of the bills in tips for
waiters since their wage is low. It is a strong belief that the
tipping culture provides better service.
Source: The culture trip. Available on: <https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/articles/12-
surprising-customs-from-around-the-world/>

Hanging out in cemeteries in Denmark

To enjoy a hot day laid down in the sun is quite an
experience in Denmark. Rather than parks, Danes cultivate
beautiful graveyards that over the centuries became
touristic sites and a common place for outdoors activities
such as jogging, having picnics, and etc.
Source: The culture trip. Available on: <https://theculturetrip.com/europe/denmark/articles/why-
assistens-cemetery-is-a-popular-relaxing-location-in-denmark/>

Slurping in Japan
Slurping noodles can be considered part of table manners
once noodles are a staple of Japanese cuisine. Culturally,
noodles are supposed to be eaten as fast as one can so
slurping is a natural practice that enhances the flavor and
even compliments the cook!
Source: Tokyo treat. Available on: <https://tokyotreat.com/blog/slurping-noodles-in-japan>

• Between these examples, which one has surprised you the most? Why?
• If you had the power to start a new custom in your country, what would it be?

19
 Around the globe • UNIT 4

WRAP YOUR MIND AROUND

Since we are talking about cultural differences, how about taking a look at the
most celebrated day in the world? Watch the video “Unique New Year's traditions
around the world” from CBC News. In the video, the host is introducing her fellow
co-host to the most unusual traditions people follow at New Year’s.

Talk with a partner and try to identify what tradition belongs to each country.
Then, discuss them with your classmates.

___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________

20
 Around the globe • UNIT 4

DIVE INTO IT

What about our culture?

• What holidays do you and your family like to celebrate the most?

• What’s the most unusual tradition you can think of in Brazilian culture?

• Do you think Brazilian culture is the same as Latin Culture? Why or why
not?

Discuss with your classmates your favorite topics of your own culture, your custom
and social agreements that make your people unique.

21
 Evolution of technology
5
FIRST THINGS FIRST

What is technology? Read the quotes and then discuss the questions:

A: “It's not a faith in technology. It's faith in people.” - Steve Jobs

B: “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our
humanity.” - Albert Einstein

C: “Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master.” - Christian

Lous Lange

What does technology mean to today’s society? When you were a kid,
what did you think the year 2022 would be like? Where do you think
the world will be in 20 years technology wise?

LISTEN UP

Since the end of the 20th century,

technology has taken a giant leap that
caught the unprepared off guard. Let's
hear the nostalgic story of those who
lived before the age of smartphones.

Now, choose the correct option to

complete the sentences below:

22
 Evolution of technology • UNIT 5

1. Before smartphones, you relied on… 4. One of the cooler things to happen before
a) your landline phone more than anything. technology took over the world is that…
b) your public phone more than anything. a) one time, a group of people had to plan meeting
c) your landline phone more than everything
places to hang out
else.
b) once upon a time, a group of people had to
2. It was like playing phone call roulette, scam meeting places to hang out
which was super awkward when… c) once upon a time, a group of people had to plan
a) you were trying to hold the hand of your meeting places to hang out
middle school girlfriend.
b) you were trying to get the hand of your middle 5. By the power of the universe, they would
school girlfriend. just…
c) you were trying to get a hold of your middle a) come up to these meeting places at the
school girlfriend. appropriate time.
b) show up to these meeting places at the
3. It was jam-packed full of friend and family appropriate time.
contact information, and… c) show up to the meetings places at the right time.
a) if you misplaced it you would be completely
lost.
b) if you replaced it you would be completely lost.
c) if you unplaced it you would be completely
lost.

LET’S GET STARTED

Through the course of humanity, there have been many inventions that made
possible for us to be here today. Have you ever thought about which one must be
considered the greatest inventions of all time? Or even, the last 1000 years? Many
would say it is the Internet. According to Robert J. Gordon, the Internet
represents a far smaller improvement of standard of living than other great
inventions. Ergo, if we use it as the prime criteria, we would notice that the
Internet doesn’t even make into the following top 10 list:

23
 Evolution of technology • UNIT 5

If you were to make your own list, how would that list be set if you had to arrange
it as a timeline of the greatest inventions in History?

24
 Evolution of technology • UNIT 5

WRAP YOUR MIND AROUND

Technological evolution has brought many benefits to society, minimizing human

effort when performing certain activities. Watch the Astrolabe channel's video
called "Technology Then and Now" and comment on technologies you've handled
before or how you think they worked and the contrast with their more up-to-date
versions.

FURTHER THOUGHTS

• If you could create a technological device that would optimize

something that you struggle to do today, what would you create?
• If you could prevent the creation of any technology, what would it be
and why?
• If you could go back to the past and advance the creation of a
technology that exists today, when would you go, what would that
technology be and why?

25
 Evolution of technology • UNIT 5

DIVE INTO IT

Technology and Us

Take a look at the infographic below:

Source: Forbes. Available on: <https://www.forbes.com/sites/sap/2012/01/10/infographic-the-evolution-

of-technology-its-impact-on-the-development-of-social-businesses>

• How has technology impacted our daily lives?

• What are your thought on how technology has impacted the way we
relate to people?

• How is it related to the way you connect with socially online and offline?

Discuss with your classmates the topics above. Then, prepare a presentation
explaining how you think people will be relating to the world around them and to
each other in the future.

26
 The environment
6
FIRST THINGS FIRST

Read the quotes and then discuss the questions:

A: “Our planet’s alarm is going off, and it is time to wake up and take
action!” - Leonardo DiCaprio

B: “What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of
what we are doing to ourselves and to one another.” - Chris Maser

C: “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every
man’s greed.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

Which of the statements do you agree with the most when talking
about the environment? To what extent does human actions impact
the Earth?

LISTEN UP

Listen to the audio by Breaking News English

entitled “Jeff Bezos promises $2 billion to help
nature”. Then check if the statements are true
or false:

27
 The environment • UNIT 6

At COP26, billionaires made a promise do help the Earth.

Many representatives of countries and global companies attended the COP26 climate
change conference.

Jeff Bezos wants to transform the food system to make the production more profitable.

Amazon’s founder says he’ll give $2 billion dollars to help nature.

Bezos created a project to help fight climate change because he wanted to travel to
space.

Bezos said that looking at Earth from space made him understand the importance of
helping our planet.

LET’S GET STARTED

There are plenty of Non-Governmental Organizations that have been working to

preserve and protect the environment. Take a look at the Top 3 Non-profit
organizations creating solutions to avert the climate change crisis and create
opportunities for a better life.

TOP 3 NGOs AROUND THE GLOBE

28
 The environment • UNIT 6

Source: Donorbox. Available on: <https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/20-global-nonprofits-environment#1>.

These are a few examples of the biggest organizations working towards the
environment, but there are millions of other institutions that have been
addressing different issues. Look at the table below with a few other examples:

Institution/Action Get involved

A Growing Culture is a nonprofit focused on advancing

Follow and amplify its educational content on
a culture of farmer autonomy and agroecological
Instagram:
innovation. More info:
(@agrowingculture) and donate what you can.
https://grndrmr.co/agrowingculture

Fashion Revolution is a global movement uniting Participate in the #WhoMadeMyClothes

people and brands to work together towards creating a campaign all year round, write a letter to a
safer, cleaner, and fairer fashion industry. More info: brand or policymaker. Donations are also
https://www.fashionrevolution.org/donate/ welcome.

Blue Sphere Foundation is a nonprofit working to

Make a donation or sign up for their
safeguard the world’s oceans through action, activism,
newsletter for a chance to participate in an
and art. Currently, it focuses on protecting diversity in
expedition. More info:
West Papua, exposing overfishing of tuna around the
https://www.bluespherefoundation.org/donate/
world, and investing in scaling eco-tourism.
Source: Green Dreamer. Available on: <https://greendreamer.com/journal/environmental-organizations-nonprofits-for-a-sustainable-future>.

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 The environment • UNIT 6

WRAP YOUR MIND AROUND

After encountering so many issues regarding the environment and discussing

who is working to find smart solutions, it's time to get creative and light up your
entrepreneur spirit!

Developing a 60 second pitch

Brainstorm a product or service that works as a solution to one environmental issue. Develop a
slogan and a 90 second pitch to convince someone it’s a great idea and they need it in their
lives!

STEP 1: Start with the questions.

1. What is the problem?
2. What is your solution?
3. Why is it unic?

STEP 2: Create an identity.

1. Establish the mission of your company
2. Why did you choose this problem to solve?
3. Is there a personal connection?

STEP 3: Set the market.

1. Who are you selling to or asking for investment from?
2. How much are you selling the product or servisse for?
3. Which Non-Governmental Organization is the funds going to?

STEP 4: Build your pitch!

The point of this activity is to be creative and persuade someone to buy or invest
in your product, so focus more on preparing a great pitch, even if the product idea
isn’t that compelling. A quick, focused, creative pitch is powerful and can convince
someone to invest in your product or company.

Adapted from “Free Activity: Picth” by VentureLab. Available on: <https://venturelab.org/free-activity-pitch-entrepreneurship-game/>.

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 The environment • UNIT 6

DIVE INTO IT

Have you ever heard about the SDGs? They are the Global Goals which were
adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty,
protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
These are the SDGs:

Source: United Nations. Available on: <https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/>.

Which of the goals is most likely to be

achieved by 2030? And what would be
the least?

If you were to choose a project to

volunteer towards one of these goals,
which one would you like it to be?

31
 Healthy lifestyle
7
FIRST THINGS FIRST

Read the statements and then discuss:

A: “Healthy is an outfit that looks different on everybody.” - Unknown

B: “Let’s build wellness rather than treat disease.” – Bruce Daggy

C: “Create healthy habits, not restrictions.” - Unknown

What are your thoughts on each statement above?

LISTEN UP

Consider for a second how much everything in the world, including your lifestyle,
has changed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In this activity, Julie from May
2020 has the opportunity to talk to her past self of January 2020 and give her
some hints on how to prepare for the biggest health crisis of the century.

32
 Healthy lifestyle • UNIT 7

Answer the questions below with a short answer.

1. Julie from 4 months in the future cannot tell her past self every detail of what’s about to
happen. Why is that and what can she tell?

2. What kind of news does Julie from January think will be the “defining feature of
2020”?

3. What is the first advice Julie from May gives to her past self regarding the pandemic?

4. Future Julie bursts out laughing about something Past Julie says, what does she say
and why is it so funny?

5. What healthy tips does Future Julie give to her past self?

LET’S GET STARTED

According to the World Health Organization, health is much more than the
absence of disease, it’s a state of physical, mental, and social well-being.

33
 Healthy lifestyle • UNIT 7

When we take a moment to rethink our day-to-day habits, we realize how much
needs to be changed. According to the infographic from the Family Health
Foundation of Illinois, make a list of habits you should embrace and the ones you
should avoid. Be as specific as you can:

EMBRACE AVOID

WRAP YOUR MIND AROUND

People often think about body and mind as two separate things, but the truth is
our mental and physical health are intertwined. According to the Mental Health
Foundation, physical health problems significantly increase our risk of
developing mental health problems, and vice versa. Nearly one in three people
with a long-term physical health condition also has a mental health problem,
most often depression or anxiety. Watch the video below to have a better picture
of physical and mental health connection:

34
 Healthy lifestyle • UNIT 7

Now that you have a better undertanding on the topic, let’s bring it all together in
the next activity:

Teamwork!

- Which tips on how to balance your mental

and physical health would you give to your
pears?

- Find places in Manaus that can help people

improve their lifestyle.

35
 Healthy lifestyle • UNIT 7

DIVE INTO IT

Your lifestyle

What are the ways you maintain a good healthy lifestyle? Create a 1-3 minute
video-tutorial of what you do to keep a physical and/or mental healthy life. This
video can be:

 A recipe to a healthy meal

 A work out tutorial
 A practice for mental health
 Other activities for mental or physical health

After watching your classmates’ work, discuss later in class how you can add their
practices into your routine. What was the most different practice and/or interesting
one? If you have any other ideas on the subject, share them with your class.

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8
FIRST THINGS FIRST

Read statements A-C. Then, discuss the following questions:

A: “Language is not a genetic gift, it is a social gift. Learning a new

language is becoming a member of the club – the community of speakers of
that language.” - Frank Smith.

B: “That is what learning is. You suddenly understand something you’ve

understood all your life, but in a new way.” – Doris Lessing

C: “To have another language is to possess a second soul.” - Charlemagne

Which of the statements above are most relatable to you? What role
does a second language play in your life?

LISTEN UP

Listen to the audio extracted from the

video The Benefits of a Bilingual
Brain by Participate Learning.

Source: Participate English Youtube Channel. Available on:

<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yOI6-rqT8k>.

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 Language is key • UNIT 8

Now, answer the following questions:

1. What was the experiment conducted by Ellen Bialystok and Michelle

Martin-Rhee?

2. What was shown about adult bilingual speakers?

3. What is the difference in attitude between bilingual and monolingual

speakers?

LET’S GET STARTED

The English language is known as "lÍngua franca", which means a bridge

between languages. According to the National University, English is spoken by
about 2 billion people today.

As a native language, English ranks third, but it is the number one language learned by
speakers of other languages. In fact, more people use English communication as a
second language than they do their own native language. So, to be able to master
communication in this and any other language, a 4-pack of communicative skills must be
refined over time.

READING
Reading comprehension increases when you read often, especially if you read a
variety of material. Pick up a magazine, read a novel a few pages at a time — no
pressure to finish it quickly — or take a few minutes to actually read one of the articles
a friend has linked on social media.

WRITING
The same goes for Writing. Do a little every day. It doesn’t have to be anything anyone
ever reads, though occasionally it’s helpful to have someone read your writing and offer
feedback. Observe with a sharp eye how influent people you admire build their thoughts
and express their ideas through words.

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LISTENING
Learning to focus your Listening also takes practice. If you are the kind of person who
is always planning what you’ll have for dinner while someone else is talking to you, it
helps to simply catch your own mind in the act of wandering and gently bring it back to
the present situation. Many experts recommend establishing a meditation practice,
even if only a few minutes a day, to hone the skill of noticing when your thoughts stray
and bringing them back to the point of focus.

SPEAKING
If you have trouble Speaking, whether in social groups or before audiences, try to
assess exactly why; if you’re too anxious to get your point across, sometimes
acknowledging your anxiety can help dispel it. If you can put aside some of your self-
judgment, your mind is freed up to compile coherent thoughts on the fly, which is what
public speaking is all about.

Source: National University. Available on: <https://www.nu.edu/resources/how-to-improve-communication-skills-in-english/>.

English, as many other languages, is alive. Which means that it is constantly evolving,
transforming, adapting and changing. The best way to keep up with multiple “Englishes”
is to be online. You can always learn more by reading articles or watching new series,
but nothing compares to surfing on social media. New slangs are made up everyday and
here are some examples of social media chaos:

Low-key To express a feeling or desire without coming on too strong

Hits different It is significantly better than usual

Yassify To glam them up until they're almost unrecognizable

Rent free You can’t get something out of your brain

Main character The core person in a situation. Someone that really stands out.

Refers to someone doing a great job. It can be accompanied by

Ate that
“left no crumbs”

Sending me To find something extremely funny.

Source 1: Education First. Available on: <https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/language/english-slang-terms-2022/>.

Source 2: FamilyEducation. Available on: <https://www.familyeducation.com/teens/the-newest-teen-slang-trends-of-2022>.

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WRAP YOUR MIND AROUND

Another common way to escape traditional English is understanding and adding

Idioms to your vocabulary. An idiom is a group of words in a fixed order that has
a particular meaning that is different from the meanings of each word on its own.

GROUP WORK!

Search for 3 idioms in the

English language. Understand
what do they mean, in what
contexts they should be used
and collect audio or video
evidence of them being used
(e.g.: tv show clips, interviews,
vlogs, tiktoks, etc.).

Later, explain your findings to

your classmates and teach
them how to use them.

TAK E Y O U R N O T E S

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DIVE INTO IT

Learning English is a journey!

As you take your final steps in this course, it is a valid reflection to reevaluate your
journey so far. Let’s have a moment to look back at our younger selves and point
out how did our story with the English language began:

1. What was the starting point? Why were you attracted by the language?
2. What were the obstacles you had to overcome during your learning
process?
3. What would you tell yourself on your very first day trying to learn the
language?
4. Can you measure how much you’ve improved during this course?
5. What are the next steps you intend to take?

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