TED talk: How to live passionately no matter your age- Isabel Allende

A TED talk (about 8 min) recommended by Susana (group B):

TED talks about happiness

Homework for next week : 7-8 February
Click to choose a talk about happiness from the TED website.

Recommendations:

Less stuff more happiness

What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness 

All it takes is 10 mindful minutes

Want to be happier? Stay in the moment

How to buy happiness

The hidden power of smiling

The paradox of choice

 

1. Watch the video and take notes on the main ideas (disable the  subtitles to train your ear!!). You can listen again and again or hit stop and replay as many times as you want. 

2. When you have finished listening you can read the script or watch again with subtitles for any words or ideas that you have missed. 

3. Prepare a short presentation ( 3-5 min.) for your classmates where you explain ( as clearly as possible, you might need to simplify some ideas) what the video is about. ( you can use your notes while speaking).

4. Optional: include your own opinion about the topic. (under the video you have people´s comments, which can help you with critical thinking).

TED talk: How books can open your mind

 TED talk with interactive exercises, about how books can open your mind:

http://www.eslvideo.com/esl_video_quiz_high_intermediate.php?id=17682

TED talk: The story inside the painting - Tracy Chevalier

 For those reading the book, in case you are interested. TED talk by Tracy Chevalier: 

TED talk: Try something new for 30 days (3 min.)

Comprehension questions: 
1. What example does Matt give of a habit to subtract?
2. How did his perception of time change?
3. What is the  first challenge he mentions that he did?
4. What 2 examples does he give of increasing self-confidence?
5. What´s the secret to writing a novel in a month?
6. Why is he glad he wrote a novel even though it was awful?
7. Why does he think small changes are better than big changes?

VOCABULARY:
Look at some examples of idiomatic language from the video. Can you guess the meaning?
1 A few years ago, I felt like I was stuck in a rut....
2 So I decided to follow in the footsteps of the great American philosopher, Morgan Spurlock* and try something new for 30 days.
3 ...instead of the months flying by, forgotten, the time was much more memorable.
4 Every November tens of thousands of people try to write their own 50,000 word novel, from scratch, in 30 days.
5 So why not think about something you have always wanted to try, and give it a shot for the next thirty days?
*Morgan Spurlock- American film maker, well known for documentaries in which he tries something new for 30 days.He´s best known for ´Super Size Me´.

TED talk: Global English

Why are so many people trying to learn English? Is it mania or is it a necessity?  Is the world obsessed with learning to speak English?

This interesting TED talk (4.30 min) by Jay Walker explores this issue :

 

 

Comprehension questions:

1. What are the three types of mania that Jay Walker talks about at the beginning of the video?
2. What are the three adjectives Jay Walker uses to describe Mania?
3. What method is often used in China to learn English?
4. According to Jay Walker, how many people are trying to learn English in the world?
5. According to Jay Walker, what are some of the reasons that so many people are trying to learn English?
6. What does Jay say that you can do with English?
7. Give two examples of global problems.
8. According to Jay Walker, what is the language of science?
9. According to Jay Walker, what is the language of emotions?
10. According to Jay Walker, what is the language of problem solving?
11. In conclusion, what does Jay Walker believe that English represents?

Do you agree with Jay Walker? 
What are the advantages of English as a  global language? And the disadvantages?

Answers here: