Oxford’s 2024 Word of the Year is brain rot—a term once used humorously, now backed by real science.
Mindless scrolling, doomscrolling, and digital addiction are rewiring our brains for distraction, instant gratification, and cognitive decline.
Studies show excessive screen time can shrink gray matter, weaken memory, and impair decision-making.
Luckily, the brain is adaptable. 🧠
By setting boundaries, curating what you consume, and prioritizing real-world experiences, you can rewire your brain for focus, resilience, and deep thinking.
Are storytelling traditions a thing of the past or should they be preserved for future generations?
Watch Daveed Diggs acceptance speech in Tony Awards. What do you notice about his use of a story?
FOCUS ON
When telling stories, jokes, and anecdotes, Present tenses might often be used instead of past tnses. This can help the listener experience the story as it was happening right now and to them, thus making it more engaging.
Read the following Aboriginal fable. Change the verbs to an appropriate present tense.
Rainbow Serpent: Aboriginal Story from Australia
One day, it started to rain. And it rained like it had never rained before. Rain fell for days and days and the world was becoming flooded with water. Two young men, Bil-bil, or the Rainbow Lorikeet brothers, had no shelter, so they came to Goorialla, the Rainbow Serpent. They asked for help sheltering from the rain. The rainbow serpent was hungry and tricked the young men, '1 have no shelter, but you can hide in my mouth. You'll be safe from the rain in there.' The young men climbed into Goorialla's mouth and he closed it shut, swallowing both men.
He soon realized that people would notice the young men missing and come looking for them. He knew they would find their tracks leading right into his mouth. He didn't want to be caught and so decided to hide in the only place he knew he would be safe: the sky. He saw people's sadness at losing these two young men, so he decided to try and make them happy again by turning his body into big arc of beautiful colours.
Now, just after it rains, you can see the Rainbow Serpent sharing his beautiful colours with the people on the ground as his way of saying sorry for taking those Rainbow Lorikeet brothers.
VOCABULARY
OWN IT! Now, using the tips we explored today, turn your childhood story into an inspirational one to promote your company's message.
What do you do to save space at home or at the office?
People can become very creative when they are pressed to find space.
For example, in this famous Bangkok market, Medlong, stall owners are required to move out of the way to let trains get through! Shoppers must stand to the one side to let train the pass.
Read these other ingenious solutions:
What are the advantages and disadvantages of each space-saving solution?
brain surgery, concrete, eye make-up, water sanitation systems
Read the text and check your predictions
Which information did you find the most surprising?
How certain is it that the sentences are true?
Write certainly true (CT), possibly true (PT) or certainly not true (NT).
1 Egyptians invented make-up.
2 Both men and women in ancient Egypt wore make-up.
3. Our ancestors knew about bacteria.
4. It was a bad idea to perform brain surgery.
5. Roman concrete was good as modern concrete.
6. Roman concrete was very strong.
7 The people in the Indus valley were safe from dangerous diseases.
Find the sentences in the text that told you the answers to Exercise 3. Match the modal structures with their meaning (1-4). Then read the Grammar box to check.
1 It's very probable or certain that something happened
2 It's quite possible that something happened.
3 It's impossible that something happened.
4 It was wrong to do something.
GRAMMAR Speculating about the past
You can talk about possibility and certainty in the X past using the structure: modal verb have X past participle.
Use must have if it's very probable or certain that something happened.
Some of these operations must have been successful.
Use may have or might have if it's possible that something happened.
Egyptians may/might have been the first to use make-up.
Use can't/couldn't have if it's impossible that something happened.
Roman concrete can't have been as strong as modern concrete.
Use should/shouldn'"t have to talk about mistakes or express criticism.
1. Think of a time when you were trying to convince someone of your point of view. Work in pairs to discuss the questions. How did you try to convince them? Did you
appeal to their emotions
appeal to their logical reasoning
tell personal anecdotes
quote scientific evidence
2. Did you manage to convince them? What happened?
B. Do you know the story of the atheist and the priest? Let's watch a video to find out why persuading people of something against their convictions is so hard.
C. Which of these things do you naturally do when you have conversations with people who don't share your point of view? Which of these things do you need to work on?
Can you think of examples of confirmation bias that you've seen? What role do you think media plays in encouraging confirmation bias?
2 What are some common beliefs that you share with your friends or family? Have you met people with different beliefs from you? What happened? What are the benefits of having to convert people who have different beliefs from you?
COMMUNICATION SKILL
Convincing someone who questions the evidence In order to make someone more likely to want to listen to - and believe - your evidence, try to do the following
1 Listen carefully and with respect.
2 Show that you understand their opinions.
3 Help them feel secure about their identity.
4 Have a collaborative discussion.
5 Encourage scientific curiosity.
6 Keep the tone of the interaction positive
D. Look at the boxes. What are the people's beliefs? Why do you think they are resistant to anyone trying to convince them otherwise?
Useful language Trying to convince someone
Showing you understand their opinions
I can see why you might think that.
I get that this is really important to you
Keeping the discussion collaborative
Like you, I just want to find out more.
Do you get where l'm coming from?
Encouraging a scientific curiosity
Let's see if we can find some scientific evidence to back this up.
I always think it's worthwhile finding out what the research says about it.
E. OWN IT! Work in pairs.
Roleplay the from Exercise D, using the Communication and Useful language to help you. Try to persuade each other of your point of view. Take turns to be the one who doesn't believe the evidence .
Circle all the /dj/, /tj/ and /sh/ sounds in the tongue twisters (1-8).
Practise saying the tongue twisters in pairs.
1. I'm sure 1 saw Sheila selling seashells on the seashore, but I can't be sure she sold seashore shells.
2. Julia, George, Jean and Joan joyfully jumped down the jagged hill.
3. Chester the Cheetah chewed a chunk of cheap cheddar cheese.
4. Fresh fried fish,
Fish fresh fried,
Fried fish fresh,
Fish fried fresh.
5. If a dog chooses to chew shoes, whose shoes does he choose to chew?
6. Jenny just got jeans and a jacket for graduation in June or July.
7. Jump then touch your chin, jaw and cheek.
Jump then touch your jaw, cheek and chin.
Jump then touch your cheek, chin and jaw.
8. She saw Shirley's shoes on the sofa, but was she so sure she saw Shirley's shoes on the sofa?
B Discuss the questions in pairs.
1. Which of these sounds exist in your language?
2. Which of these tongue twisters did you find the most challenging? Why?
3. Did you find any of these tongue twisters easy? Which, and why?
YOUR TURN
Find a person you know for being a master in his domain (business, sports, etc). Prepare to talk about them using the words from the exercise above and the vocabulary of the lesson.
Do you usually talk about problems with the people that are upsetting you?
What can happen if you don't? How far do you consider "embracing Discomfort for Growth" is applicable in life?
Read an article by social scientist, author, and famous speaker, Simon Sinek. What does he suggest?
READING STRATEGY
1. Start with the WIIFY (what's in it for you). This engages the reward system of the brain, improving concentration and memory.
2. Skim read for general ideas. This is not the time for detail. Titles, topic sentences and key words hold the major points that interest you.
3. Read the questions one by one. (Refrain from reading the options as this will confuse you.) Go back to the text, find and underline the answer, then match with the optimal option.
Key: pay special attention to the question key words!
Answer the following questions
What is the first step that Simon Sinek suggests before starting an uncomfortable conversation?
A) Presenting solutions immediately
B) Seeking permission to begin the conversation
C) Raising the issue suddenly
D) Avoiding the topic
What does Sinek recommend using to structure an uncomfortable conversation?
A) A list of problems
B) The FBI method: Feelings, Behavior, Impact
C) A clear set of rules
D) A timeline of events
What is one benefit of expressing vulnerability during an uncomfortable conversation?
A) It makes the other person feel weak
B) It builds trust and reduces defensiveness
C) It encourages anger and frustration
D) It helps you win the argument
What is the goal of having uncomfortable but important conversations, according to Simon Sinek?
A) To avoid future conflicts
B) To change someone’s opinion
C) To foster personal growth and stronger connections
D) To prove you are right
How can using empathy in uncomfortable conversations help, according to Sinek?
A) It makes the conversation easier to control
B) It transforms discomfort into meaningful dialogue
C) It ensures the other person agrees with you
D) It leads to the other person apologizing
What should you focus on when using the FBI method in a conversation?
A) Feelings, Behavior, Impact
B) Feelings, Beliefs, Importance
C) Facts, Behavior, Ideas
D) Feelings, Bias, Information
According to Sinek, how should you approach initiating uncomfortable conversations?
A) Without preparation and just speaking freely
B) With empathy and permission to create a safe space
C) By using forceful language
D) By preparing an argument to convince the other person
Now watch a relevant video for a more in-depth understanding
.
Create a summary aiming to reinforce key concepts from Simon Sinek's approach to handling uncomfortable conversations, promoting effective communication and personal development.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
If you are trying to encourage someone to change their behaviour, try this:
1. accept your part of the responsibility. eg. I know I didn't listen/ I shouted. ...and I'm sorry
2. describe the problem from your point of view as an observation, not an emotion. e.g. I notice that...
3. Avoid exaggeration and generalization. eg. You never...
4. explain why the issue is important to you. eg. It means that I can't...
5. describe your feelings without acting them out. eg. I feel upset when...
6. request a change. eg. Would you be willing to...
What's the problem with these statements?
You never ever do the dishes!
Just turn the music down, ok?
I know you like playing video games but the noise is too much.
USEFUL LANGUAGE
I hope you don't mind me saying this, but...
I appreciate that you want to...and I ...
It would be really helpful for me if you could...
It's just that you could...which would allow me to...
Can I suggest something? How about...?
OWN IT!
1. In pairs, decide on two annoying behaviours each one of you has that makes living together or next to one another difficult.
2. Individually, prepare to explain the problems to your partner without offending them. (Use the tips in communication skills and useful language).
3. Discuss aiming to find a solution
ACT IT OUT! Act out the conversation. How well did the other pair give feedback? How could they have done better?
Now, imagine you are Dell's Training officer and you are planning a seminar. Look at this example of an email to the participants and find ways to improve it.
Is there a controversial food that you like -one or more acquaintances of yours detest?
Guess! The first countries where pizza appeared were___________________
Although pizza has long winding roots from ancient Greece through Italy to the rest of the world, it is genuinely most people’s delight. With every slice comes a rich history of different parts of the world. Social, economic, and cultural markings are baked into pizza’s goodness.
Over time, the toppings have changed to accommodate the different cultures of the world. Despite/ Although bakers from all over the globe now custom-making the pizza, the bottom line remains the same. Every good pizza has a crust that holds it all together.
To top it all up, the world got sight of the largest pizza in 2012, measuring more than 1,260 square meters.
Today, over 70,000 pizzerias offer this U.S. delicacy, not to mention its popularity across the world.
People thousands of years ago made flat bread and added _______________of different ingredients.
In ancient times the bread served as the ______________
_______________, pizza has changed to _______________ the cultures of every nation in the world
The common ingredient of all pizzas is ______________
Tomatoes from America in the 18th century are the reason for ______________pizza
Later pizza became a ______________ food for the upper class.
Nowadays, pizza is __________food in Italy and the USA.
prominent, toppings, crust, plate, over time, modern-day, accommodate, staple
Let's play KAHOOT!
C. Make a list of popular foods that came from other countries. Where did they come from? Discuss.
D. Invent a new kind of pizza for Lombardi's, the oldest pizza restaurant in the USA. You should agree on toppings, sause and the type of crust.
Durian fruit is______________
E. Make a short video guide for tourists visiting your country. Describe the foods that are popular in your culture but people from other cultures might find unusual or even disgusting. Give reasons why tourist should try these foods.
