11 May
Advice
What three pieces of advice would you give your children?
Whose advice do you follow more, your parents’ or your friends’ advice?
If you could go back in time and give yourself some advice, what would you tell your younger self?
Who was the wisest person in your country’s history? What kind of advice did they give?
Where do you go to get good advice?
What should someone do to be happy?
If you could advise someone starting their career, what would it be?
What advice would you give someone about to move to a new country?
What advice would you give to someone feeling lost or uncertain about their future?
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Watch the video above and discuss what you learned from it during your Spoken Cafe session
Living on a Tiny Island: The Dream of Peace and Quiet
Have you ever dreamed of living on a small, peaceful island? A place so quiet that the only sounds you hear are the rustling of leaves and the soft lapping of water against the shore? Well, the tiny island called “Just Enough Room” might just be the perfect place for you. This charming little island, located in the Saint Lawrence River along the Canada-US border, is part of the stunning Thousand Islands region.
The island’s name says it all—it offers just enough space for a small house, a tree, and a little yard. The Sizeland family built their home on this island in the 1950s, hoping to escape the noise and chaos of everyday life. They envisioned a peaceful retreat where they could enjoy solitude, free from traffic, loud neighbours, and the distractions of modern life.
However, once word spread about this idyllic home, the island quickly became a popular tourist attraction. Boats regularly visit the island, bringing crowds of curious onlookers and media attention. So much for peace and quiet!
The story of the “Just Enough Room” island is a reminder that sometimes, no matter how much we seek tranquillity, the world can find a way to interrupt it. Despite that, it remains a beautiful, unique place where one can imagine the ideal of living in harmony with nature.
READ/SPEAK
What things are you fed up with people about?
Would you like to leave society and live in a place isolated from people? What advantages and disadvantages do you think there would be?
How do you usually escape from noise and distractions in your daily life?
Do you think you could handle living without modern conveniences for a long time?
Have you ever visited a place that was so peaceful you didn’t want to leave?
If you lived on a tiny island, what would be the three things you’d need?
To be extremely expensive:
“I’d love to buy a Porsche, but they cost an arm and a leg”
LEARN THE IDIOM AND SPEAK
Do you agree that if something is expensive, it is of better quality? What makes something expensive? Give us some examples of something or things that are unnecessarily expensive.