Lesson #177
It seems like the how-to books have been written on every possible topic: how to sleep, how to plan, how to spend our mornings, how to spend our evenings, or even how to breathe. So, do we really need another one on how to be a good friend?
This lesson is based on a thought-provoking discussion between Simon Sinek and Trevor Noah. Enjoy 🙂
Our Word #1 is to obsess about/over something
verb [ I or T ]
UK US /əbˈses/
If something or someone obsesses you, or if you obsess about something or someone, you think about it, him, or her all the time:
She used to obsess about her weight.
[Source]
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.)
– Ten things happen in a relationship in a day, nine are good, one is irritating. What’s the one you obsess about?
– The irritating one, of course.
– Ten things happen in a relationship in a day, nine are good, one is irritating. What’s the one you …
– The irritating one, of course.
Our World #2 is longevity
noun [ U ] formal
UK /lɒnˈdʒev.ə.ti/
US /lɑːnˈdʒev.ə.t̬i/
: a long life:
The members of that family are famous for their longevity.
[Source]
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.)
We will be …
Our World #3 is biohack
noun [C]
UK US /ˈbaɪ.oʊ.hæk/
A practice or technique used to improve the body’s physical or mental abilities, often through unconventional methods:
Meditation is one of the oldest biohacks for mental clarity.
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.)
Meditation is …
Our World #4 is literally
adverb
UK US /ˈlɪt̮ərəli/
: in a literal way; exactly:
The word “planet” literally means “wandering body.”
[Source]
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.)
Origami, which …
is a Japanese practice dating back to …
Please fill in the blanks out loud with our word/phrase #1, 2, 3, or 4:
Better medical treatment has led to greater …………. .
Better medical treatment has led to greater longevity.
Better medical treatment …
He’s always ………… over money.
He’s always obsessing over money.
[Source]
He’s always …
Idioms usually cannot be translated ……….. into another language.
Idioms usually cannot be translated literally into another language.
[Source]
Idioms usually cannot be …
Exposing yourself to sunlight in the morning is a natural ……….. to regulate sleep patterns.
Exposing yourself to sunlight in the morning is a natural biohack to regulate sleep patterns.
Exposing yourself to sunlight in the morning is …
Time for our final clip. Watch the clips 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: “Simon Sinek & Trevor Noah on Friendship, Loneliness, Vulnerability, and More | Full Conversation.” Simon Sinek. YouTube, Sep 9, 2024
Simon Sinek: The thing that I’m sort of …………. about right now is friendship.
There’s an entire …………. to help us be better leaders.
There’s an entire …………. to help us be better parents.
There’s an entire …………. to help us eat better, exercise better, sleep better.
And yet, there’s …………. anything on how to be a friend.
You think about all the mental health challenges that so many of us are …………. today,
whether it’s …………… with stress, depression, anxiety, addiction,
even obsession with ………..,
Friendship is the ultimate …………. that ………….. fixes all those things.
Simon Sinek: The thing that I’m sort of obsessing about right now is friendship.
There’s an entire industry to help us be better leaders.
There’s an entire industry to help us be better parents.
There’s an entire industry to help us eat better, exercise better, sleep better.
And yet, there’s barely anything on how to be a friend.
You think about all the mental health challenges that so many of us are facing today,
whether it’s coping with stress, depression, anxiety, addiction,
even obsession with longevity,
Friendship is the ultimate biohack that literally fixes all those things.
Simon Sinek: The thing that …
There’s an entire industry to help us be better leaders.
There’s an entire industry to help us be better …
There’s an entire industry to help us eat better, exercise better, …
And yet, there’s barely anything on …
You think about all the mental health challenges that so many of us …
whether it’s coping with …
even obsession with …
Friendship is the ultimate biohack that …
Questions for a Coffee Session:
These questions can be helpful if you want to organize your own Coffee Session. Paste them in the Zoom chat, so you and your partner can see them. I strongly encourage you to organize your own Coffee Sessions. Contact other Club Members and schedule your own meetings on Zoom. The more you practice your English, the better 🙂
1. Ask your partner questions with the following words:
- to obsess about/over
- longevity (noun, U)
- biohack (noun, C)
- literally (adverb)
2. Discuss in pairs the following questions:
- Is there a hobby or passion or subject that you obsess about?
- Have you ever tried any biohacks? If so, which ones, and how did they work for you?
- Is there a place you’ve visited that was literally breathtaking?
- If science could grant everyone extreme longevity, how would it affect society, the economy, and the planet?
- What does Simon Sinek mean by saying, “Friendship is the ultimate biohack”?
- Can you think of a time when a close friendship significantly improved your well-being?
- Do you think there should be more self-help books on how to build and maintain friendships?