Lesson 19 | Mar. 14
Good Life
“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”
Vocabulary
mindset: A person's way of thinking and their opinions; the collection of attitudes, beliefs, and thoughts that significantly influence how an individual perceives and reacts to the world.
achieve: To successfully bring about or reach (a desired objective, level, or result) by effort, skill, or courage.
strong-willed: Very determined to do what you want, even if it's hard.
persistent: Continuously striving or working towards a goal, refusing to stop despite challenges or delays.
persuade: To convince someone to do or believe something through reasoning or argument.
flaky: Not dependable in loyalty or commitment; likely to forget promises or fail to follow through on plans.
negotiate: To engage in discussions with the goal of reaching a mutual agreement through compromise and understanding.
estimate: A rough calculation or judgment of the value, number, quantity, or extent of something, especially in the context of a quote or offer.
contentment: A state of happiness and satisfaction.
Noun Phrase:
Weak personality: Someone who finds it hard to stand firm in their decisions or beliefs, often influenced easily by others.
Strong personality: Someone with confidence and determination, who stands firm in their beliefs and decisions, often influencing others.
like-minded people: Individuals who share similar beliefs, interests, or attitudes.
Idioms
Something up my sleeve: A secret plan or advantage kept hidden until needed.
Reading Comprehension
In a small town, a man named Tom had a dream to create a business. His mindset was clear; he wanted to achieve something great. Tom was strong-willed, refusing to give up even when times were hard. He knew success wouldn't come easy, and his path was full of challenges that tested his persistent nature.
Tom's first obstacle was to persuade his friend Joe to join him. Joe was talented but flaky, often changing his mind and hard to rely on. Tom needed Joe's skills, so he learned to negotiate with him, offering what Joe valued most to ensure his commitment.
As they worked on their business plan, Tom realized they needed to estimate their costs carefully. Money was tight, and every penny counted. This task taught Tom the importance of planning and foresight in achieving their goals.
Despite the struggles, Tom remained driven. He knew that staying stagnant was not an option if he wanted his business to grow and thrive. His determination paid off. Slowly, the business started to pick up, gaining customers and making a profit.
In time, Tom found contentment in his achievements. He built a successful business from the ground up, learning valuable lessons about perseverance and the power of a positive mindset along the way. Tom's story is a testament to what one can accomplish with a clear vision, a persistent spirit, and the willingness to adapt and negotiate in the face of challenges.
Comprehension Questions:
What traits of Tom's personality helped him succeed in building his business?
How did Tom manage to persuade his flaky friend Joe to join him in the business venture?
What does the story suggest is necessary for achieving contentment and avoiding stagnation in life?
Suggestions for Improvement
Pronoun “they”:
The word "they" is used to talk about more than one person or someone whose gender we don't know or is not just male or female. It's a way to include everyone and can be used in different parts of a sentence. Experts agree this use is good because it helps us speak more kindly and fairly about others.
Examples:
They are going to the movie tonight.
My friends said they would help me move next weekend.
Article “the”:
The word "the" is a small but powerful part of English, called a definite article. We use it to point out specific things or people that everyone knows about in the conversation. For example, when we say "the cat," we mean a particular cat, not just any cat. It helps us be clear about which thing we're talking about, making our sentences more precise. "The" is used all the time and is one of the most common words in English.
Examples:
The resilience Tom displayed became a beacon of hope for other aspiring entrepreneurs in the town.
Despite the financial hurdles, Tom's clever budgeting strategies paved the way for a stable foundation.
Contraction choice - You’re vs. You’ll:
Contractions are shorter ways of saying words or phrases by leaving out some letters. For example, "you'll" is short for "you will," and "you're" means "you are." They help us speak and write more easily and are common in everyday language.
You're going to: A contraction of "you are going to," used to indicate a future action or occurrence that is planned, intended, or expected.
You'll go: A contraction of "you will go," expressing a simple future action or occurrence, often with an implication of certainty or intent.
Subject-verb agreement is vs. are:
To correctly use "is" and "are" based on the number of subjects, especially when talking about work habits, follow this rule:
Use "is" for a single subject:
"My coworker is always on time."
Use "are" for multiple subjects:
"My coworkers are very cooperative."
Choosing "Make" or "Get" in Negotiations:
"I want to make a deal" is the more traditionally correct phrase, especially in contexts involving negotiation or agreement. "Make a deal" is an idiomatic expression widely recognized for entering into an agreement or negotiation.
"I want to make a deal" is a common way to say you want to agree on something with someone, like trading or making an agreement.
"I want to get a deal" might sound like you're talking about finding a good price or special offer, more like shopping, not making an agreement.
Its - Possessive Pronoun or Contraction:
Possessive pronoun: "Its" is a possessive pronoun used to show that something belongs to or is part of something else, like in "The cat licked its paw," where "its" tells us the paw belongs to the cat.
Contraction: "It's" is a contraction of "it is" or "it has," used in sentences like "It's raining" or "It's been great," where "it's" stands for "it is" or "it has."
"When you say "its depends on," it's incorrect because "its" is used for ownership, like "its color." The correct phrase is "it depends on," where "it" is the right choice for subjects or situations. Remember:
Incorrect: "Its depends on" – "Its" is for when something owns something.
Correct: "It depends on" – Use "it" when talking about conditions or reasons.
Lesson Notes
In our lesson about living a good life, we explored the meaning of having a good life and whether it's achievable without meeting all our expectations for a good life. We questioned the idea that having everything we desire is essential for happiness, suggesting instead that fulfillment might come from simpler, unexpected sources. A significant part of our discussion highlighted the value of surrounding ourselves with people who share our outlook and aspirations. These like-minded individuals can motivate us, push us towards our goals, and help us see the joy in our journey, even when it diverges from our original plans. This conversation led us to appreciate that a good life might not be about having everything we want but finding contentment and purpose with what we have, especially when we're in the company of inspiring friends and mentors.
Feedback
I'm very happy with how you're doing in our lessons, especially when we talked about what makes a good life. You did a great job talking and sharing your thoughts, and I really like how open you are to getting help with your English. You're learning a lot, and it's great to see!
However, there are a few areas where I believe we can work together to refine your skills further. Specifically, I've noticed some grammatical challenges that we can focus on improving. These include omitting essential pronouns like "they" and articles such as "the," which are crucial for clear and correct sentences. Also, there's a bit of a mix-up with contractions—confusing "you're" with "you'll" and issues with subject-verb agreement, particularly mixing up "is" and "are" for singular and plural subjects. Additionally, phrases like "make a deal" instead of the more accurate "get a deal," and the misuse of "Its" as a possessive pronoun instead of the contraction "It's," can affect the clarity of your message. By concentrating on these specific areas, we can enhance both the accuracy and the clarity of your spoken English, making your communication even more effective.
I'm incredibly optimistic about your potential and your future in English language mastery. With a bit more focus on these grammatical nuances, I'm confident you'll see substantial improvement. Remember, perfection comes with practice, and I'm here to support you through every step of your learning journey. Your progress so far has been remarkable, and I'm excited to see you continue to grow and excel. Keep up the fantastic work, and never hesitate to reach out if you need guidance or support. Your dedication is truly inspiring!
