17-18 October
Character
What are your good and bad sides?
Which sides of your character do you want to change and why?
What do people like and dislike about your character?
Do you think people can truly change their character?
How does your character affect your daily life?
What kind of character traits do you admire in others?
What traits do you dislike in others?
Do you believe personality is shaped by genetics or environment?
How does your character influence the way you handle problems?
Do you think your character changes when you are around different people?
What character traits are necessary for success?
What are some habits that help improve character?
Can someone’s past experiences define their character?
If you could develop one new positive character trait overnight, what would it be?
Related Words: character, personality, traits, qualities, strengths, weaknesses, behaviour, attitude, mindset, values, beliefs, integrity, honesty, responsibility, discipline, confidence, empathy, patience, resilience, adaptability, self-awareness, self-control, motivation, habits, personal growth, development, influence, temperament, social behaviour, emotional intelligence
Watch the videos above and discuss what you learned from them during your Spoken Cafe session.
Days of the week are originally from planets and Nordic gods
Roman gods are Nordic weekday names
The Romans named the days of the week after the Sun, the Moon and five planets, which were also the names of their gods.
The gods and planets were Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn.
In the Nordic countries, the Sun (Sunday) and the Moon (Monday) also became the first two days of the week, and the Roman gods became four of the Nordic gods with similarities:
Sunnudagr – Sunday, the day of the Sun
Sól is a goddess in Norse mythology. ‘Sol’ means Sun. Over time, the day of the sun became Sunday.
Mánadagr – Monday
The name Monday is related to the moon. It means Moon Day.
Tysdagr – Tuesday
Mars is a god of war, and so is the Nordic god ‘Tyr’ or ‘Tír’.
It is Týr who has given his name to Tuesday. In Norse mythology, Týr is known as the god of war.
Óðinsdagr – Wednesday
Odin can be compared to the Roman god Mercury, so in the Nordic tradition, Odin (also known as ‘Woden’) gave his name to Wednesday. Odin is particularly associated with war luck, royal power, rune power and wisdom.
Þórsdagr – Thursday
Thor is Jupiter, as they both deal with lightning and thunder. So this day of the week became Thursday. The name Þórr (Thor) is related to the word ‘thunder’. In the past, courts were on Thursdays. In the court, judges used a wooden hammer like Thor’s.
Frjádagr – Friday
Venus is the goddess of love, and so is Frigg (and maybe also Freya, as they may have originally been the same goddess). Frigg is Odin’s wife in Norse mythology. She was perceived as the goddess of marriage.
Laugardagr (sunnunótt) – Saturday
In Latin, the day was named after Saturn (Saturni), and we can recognise it in the English language: Saturday.
Watch the video above and discuss what you learned from it during your Spoken Cafe session.
READ/SPEAK
Do you like mythology? What are the most interesting things about mythology? Tell us about your favourite gods and stories in mythology. What are the meanings of days in your language?
Which day’s name do you find the most interesting, and why?
Which day of the week is your favourite, and does its meaning relate to why you like it?
Do you think mythology still has an impact on modern storytelling, movies, and culture?
If you could have a superpower from one of these gods (e.g., Thor’s strength, Odin’s wisdom, or Tyr’s bravery), which one would you choose and why?
Do the days of the week influence your mood? For example, do Mondays always feel more tiring, or Fridays more exciting?
LEARN THE IDIOM AND SPEAK
Do you agree with the statement above? Do you think people are like where they live, or do people shape their personality with learning and education?