Lesson #91
The prime minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern is considered to be a popular and effective leader. And yet she has just announced her resignation. Was she involved in some scandal? No, she wasn’t. So why is she stepping down? And what do you think of her decision?
Our word #1 is fulfilling
adjective
UK, US /fʊlˈfɪl.ɪŋ/
: making you feel happy and satisfied:
Nursing is hard work, but it can be very fulfilling.
Please take a look at this example and repeat it out loud:
(You have to reload the page if you want to watch the clip more than once.)
“Think about what could you be doing today to make your current work more fulfilling?”
Think about what could you be doing today to …
Our word #2 is tank
UK, US /tæŋk/
: a container that holds liquid or gas:
The car blew up when flames reached its fuel tank.
Please take a look at this example and repeat it out loud:
(You have to reload the page if you want to watch the clip more than once.)
“I’ve decided to listen to the voice in my head that’s been telling me for a while that it’s time to take a break and refill the creative tank.”
I’ve decided to listen to …
that’s been telling me for a while that it’s time to …
Our word #3 is to do justice to someone/something
: to treat someone or something in a way that is fair and shows their or its true qualities:
Just calling the movie “fun” doesn’t do it justice. (= it is better than just “fun”)
Please take a look at this example and repeat it out loud:
(You have to reload the page if you want to watch the clip more than once.)
“I’m not an opera singer so I trained myself to be able to do this opera because I wanted to do it justice and I wanted to do it well.”
I’m not an opera singer so I trained myself to be able to …
because I wanted to …
and I wanted to …
Please fill in the blanks out loud with our word/phrase #1, 2, or 3:
This postcard doesn’t …………… ………….. to the wonderful scenery.
This postcard doesn’t do justice to the wonderful scenery.
Reference: Definition of do justice to someone/something from the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press
This postcard …
I’m finding the work much more …………. now.
I’m finding the work much more fulfilling now.
Reference: Definition of fulfilling adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary
I’m finding the work …
There was a ………….. of live lobsters in the restaurant.
There was a tank of live lobsters in the restaurant.
Reference: Definition of tank from the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press
There was …
Now it’s time for our final clip. Watch the clip first, and then fill in the blanks out loud.
(You have to reload the page if you want to watch the clip more than once.)
Source: “Jacinda Ardern resigns as prime minister of New Zealand in shock announcement.” Guardian News. YouTube
“This has been the most …………. five and a half years of my life. I am leaving because with such a …………. role comes …………. . The ………….. to know when you are the right person to …………… and also when you are not. I know what this job …………. and I know that I no ……….. have enough in the …………. to do it …………… . It’s that simple.”
“This has been the most fulfilling five and a half years of my life. I am leaving because with such a privileged role comes responsibility. The responsibility to know when you are the right person to lead and also when you are not. I know what this job takes and I know that I no longer have enough in the tank to do it justice. It’s that simple.”
This has been the most …
I am leaving because with such a privileged role …
The responsibility to know when you are …
and also when …
I know what this job …
and I know that I no longer have …
to do …
It’s that …
Questions to get you speaking:
- What do you find fulfilling in your life?
- Do you sometimes feel that your tank is empty? What do you do then?
- “I know what this job takes and I know that I no longer have enough in the tank to do it justice.” What do you think Jacinda Ardern meant? What do these words say about her?
- What is your opinion on Jacinda Ardern’s choice? Is it an indication of strength and responsibility or perhaps a sign of weakness?