13 May
Superstitions and Traditions
Do you have any superstitions?
What are some superstitions in your culture?
What are some interesting traditions in your culture?
What are some interesting traditions of Turkey and your hometown?
Do you think superstitions are something to believe in or just old beliefs?
Are there any superstitions that you follow, even if you don’t fully believe in them?
Are there any special celebrations or festivals in your culture that you enjoy?
How important are traditional foods in your culture during celebrations or holidays?
Are there any traditions that you don’t like or think should be changed?
How does your culture celebrate major life events (such as weddings or birthdays)?
Related Words: superstitions, traditions, beliefs, customs, rituals, folklore, heritage, culture, practices, ceremonies, celebrations, festivals, symbols, myths, legends, customs, values, spirituality, superstition, tradition, cultural identity, heritage, observance, community, norms, history, practices, influence, meaning, continuity
Watch the video above and discuss what you learned from it during your Spoken Cafe session
A Surprising Fact About Coronavirus
The global pandemic of COVID-19 has undoubtedly changed our lives in many ways, affecting our health, our finances, and our social interactions. Many people faced financial struggles, psychological challenges, and a loss of their social lives as they navigated lockdowns and restrictions. The isolation and uncertainty caused by the pandemic left lasting impacts on millions of individuals worldwide. But here’s an interesting and surprising fact about the virus that changed everything: the total amount of viruses in the world could fit inside a Coke can.
Kit Yates, a maths expert from the University of Bath in the U.K., calculated that there are around two quintillions (that’s two billion billion) SARS-CoV-2 virus particles in the world at any given time. He did this by taking the average diameter of the virus, about 100 nanometers (100 billionths of a meter), and calculating the volume of the entire global collection of virus particles. While there are gaps between the virus particles because of their irregular shape, Yates found that the total volume of all the coronavirus particles worldwide would still fit inside a 330-millilitre Coca-Cola can.
While this fact might seem surprising given the immense global impact of the virus, it highlights just how small and numerous viruses can be. It also underscores the power that something so tiny can have on the world. The pandemic has shown us the importance of health, science, and the interconnectedness of our global community.
READ/SPEAK
What realities and conspiracies do you know about the coronavirus? Which conspiracies sound realistic to you? Which realities sound ridiculous to you? How did the COVID-19 pandemic change your daily life?
What was the most challenging part of living through the pandemic for you?
What is one positive thing you experienced because of the pandemic?
How did your job or school routine change during the pandemic?
Have you changed any habits permanently because of COVID-19?
What was the first thing you did when restrictions were lifted?
How did you feel when you heard the first news about COVID-19?
A troubling or seemingly insoluble problem, issue, etc., that no one wants to handle
LEARN THE IDIOM AND SPEAK
What are the biggest problems in the world and yours? How do you think these problems will be solved?