Idioms & Expressions:
hope for the best and prepare for the worst (this expression means you should hope for good things to happen but also be ready for the bad things as well)
do without (a phrase that means to find a way to achieve a task without something)
I forgot my computer, so I had to do without it at work today.
don’t leave home without it (ways to describe an item that is important that you take with you everywhere)
My bag has everything I need and I don’t leave home without it.
binge/binge watch (verb, this means to watch many episodes of a certain TV show in a single day)
I’ve been binge watching The Simpsons all week.
glued to the TV (a phrase that means you’re unable to stop watching TV)
The new reality shows are so good that I’ve been glued to the TV all weekend.
experience is the best teacher (a common expression that means doing something is the best way to learn it)
take a walk down memory lane (an expression that refers to reminiscing about happy events in the past)
My best friend and I had some coffee and took a walk down memory lane.
the school of hard knocks (noun, used to explain that knowledge was acquired through real-life experience, rather than at a school)
I didn’t go to college – I learned everything I know in the school of hard knocks.
Part I: Group Discussion
Bringing Things With You
- What do you bring with you when you go out?
I always have a messenger bag with me. Inside it are my laptop, my papers for work, a spare battery for my cell phone and a charger for my computer. I also carry some extra socks for me in case I get wet while driving to work in the rain.
- Do you ever forget to bring things?
I think everyone forgets something at home every once in a while. What you have to do is just turn around and go back home and get whatever it is, or just do without it during the day if you can.
- Will you bring different things in the daytime or at night?
During the day I have my bag with me, but at night I’m usually out socializing, so I don’t carry a bag or anything with me. At night I usually just carry my phone and some cash with me.
Television
- Did you often watch television when you were a child?
I didn’t, because my parents were very conservative and wouldn’t let us watch TV, so I had to watch TV at my grandparent’s house (which was not very often).
- Do you often watch TV these days?
No, I don’t think I’ve watched TV for a few months now. I don’t have a TV and I don’t know how to stream or download shows onto my laptop.
- What kinds of TV programmes do you like the most?
I don’t have a particular genre that I particularly enjoy, but a few shows I’ve liked in recent years have been Breaking Bad, Dexter, and The Office. One of those shows is a comedy and the other two are really dark thrillers.
Part II: Individual Presentations
Describe a time you had good experience in the countryside. You should say
where it was
when it was
what you did
and explain why you liked the experience
When I was growing up, I would go canoeing often with my grandparents. We would go to a place called the Lamprey River, which is near my grandparent’s home in New Hampshire. We’d paddle the canoes up the river and stop at a dock, and go swimming there while we had a picnic. We did this three or four times a summer. I loved doing it because I loved spending time with my grandfather and learning from him. It was good exercise, too. Then we would head back into town and have some pizza at a local restaurant. I think those days are over, because I’ve been out of the country for so long and my grandparents are getting old – but I’ll always miss them.
Part III: Class Discussion
- Is experience important?
It depends on what you want to do. Obviously some activities require special skills, but others simply require enthusiasm and the willingness to dive in and learn new things.
- What can you learn from experienced people?
You can learn from their mistakes and hopefully avoid making the same ones yourself. Experienced people have a lot of interesting stories as well, so they can be entertaining to hang out with.
- How do you gain experience in life?
You simply have to begin trying new things and be willing to make mistakes – and not be afraid to fail. I think one of the most important things in life is to try new things.
- Do you like to talk to inexperienced or experienced people?
I don’t think it matters, really. Some people are amusing to hang out with, no matter what kind of experiences they’ve had. But I think experience generally makes people less boring, since they have more to talk about.
