I Can Speak Fluently Tuesday

8 September 

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Adventures
What’s the most interesting thing that has happened to you in your life?
What interesting things would you like to do in the future?
What’s the most adventurous trip you’ve ever been on?
Is there a specific country or place you dream of visiting for an adventure?
What kind of adventure would you like to experience that you haven’t yet?
Have you ever gone on an adventure that turned out to be unexpected or completely different from what you imagined?
What’s the most daring thing you’ve ever done?
What’s one thing you’ve learned from your past adventures?
Would you ever consider moving to a new city or country for an adventure?
What’s the most memorable experience you’ve had during an adventure?
Do you think adventures help people grow and learn about themselves? Why or why not?

Related Words: adventure, exploration, journey, excitement, thrill, discovery, experience, risk-taking, challenges, daring, courage, curiosity, travel, expeditions, outdoor activities, hiking, backpacking, extreme sports, unexpected events, memorable moments, personal growth, learning, self-discovery, resilience, spontaneity, freedom, new experiences, cultural exploration, adventure travel, life experiences

Watch the videos above and discuss what you learned from them during your Spoken Cafe session

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The Curious Case of Chrysippus: Did Laughter Kill Him?
Chrysippus, a prominent Stoic philosopher, was born in 279 BC in Soli, a city near modern-day Mersin in Turkey. His journey to becoming one of the most influential figures in ancient philosophy took him to Athens, where he studied under Cleanthes, the leader of the Stoic school. Chrysippus eventually became the head of the Stoic School around 230 BC, greatly shaping Stoic philosophy during his tenure.
Despite his philosophical significance, Chrysippus is remembered for a rather peculiar and somewhat comical death. According to historical accounts, during a feast, Chrysippus saw a donkey eating figs and becoming drunk from the overconsumption of the fruit. Amused by the sight, he supposedly quipped, “Now give the donkey wine to wash the figs!” He laughed so uncontrollably that he fell to the ground, shaking with laughter. His laughter became so intense that he eventually died from it. Many people believed that he had passed away from laughing too hard, though some speculated that excessive wine consumption might have been the real cause of his death, suggesting that it was due to alcohol poisoning.
Interestingly, Chrysippus is not the only person reported to have died from laughter. A famous Greek painter named Zeuxis allegedly died after laughing at his own depiction of the goddess Aphrodite as an old woman. This unusual death was often interpreted as a punishment from the gods for mocking their divine image. More recently, in 1989, a 62-year-old man nearly died after fainting multiple times from watching a humorous episode of the popular TV show Seinfeld. Even more personally, I (the founder of Spoken Cafe) once found myself breathless and nearly unable to breathe for a full minute while watching a humorous episode of Gibi, specifically “Şadan.”
This raises an interesting question: Could laughter, often considered “the best medicine,” actually be dangerous? While it’s commonly said that laughter is good for health, it seems that in certain extreme situations, it might do more harm than good!

Watch the video above and discuss what you learned from it during your Spoken Cafe session

READ/SPEAK 
Can you tell us something funny? Memory, joke, experience, story, etc. Why do you think people need to laugh, and why do people need humour?
Have you ever had an experience where you laughed so hard you couldn’t stop?
Do you believe laughter is really the best medicine? Why or why not?
What’s your favourite way to relax and have fun after a stressful day?
Do you have any favourite comedians or shows that always make you laugh?

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