Lesson 6- Monday, 3rd November
Discussion:
- How was your week? Have you done anything special or relaxing?
- Did you travel or visit family or friends during the past week? Where did you go? Did you have any visitors?
- Halloween has just passed. Did you notice any Halloween celebrations here in Sweden, or have you ever celebrated it yourself?
- Did you do anything on All Saints’ Day? How is it generally celebrated in Sweden?
- Do you know what is special about the 5th of November in the UK?
- Can you think of any other festivals or holidays that happen around this time of year, either here or in other countries?
- Have you ever experienced a festival from another country, either while travelling or with friends from abroad? What was it like?
- an effigy of Guy Fawkes
- Diwali “The Festival of Lights”
- A fishing rod
- a curtain rod
- a pickpocket – to have your pocket picked
- Petty crime is rife in big cities.
- a scam
- I’ve been scammed
My Life After Retirement
I want to share how my life has changed since I retired last year. To begin with, I was a bit nervous about how it would be to not work anymore. I thought I would miss the routines and my colleagues, but it has actually been much easier than I thought. Now I can focus on everything/all the things I have wanted I have wished to do for a long time, but never had time for before.
One of the first things I did after retiring was to start a painting course. I have always been interested for art, but never took the chance to develop my skills. The course is very fun, and I am learning myself new techniques every week. The teacher is very inspiring and gives a lot of good advice. (no “s”)
I also enjoy spending more time in my garden. It is very relaxing to be outside in the fresh air and work with the flowers and bushes. This year I have planted many new flowers and they are growing very well. My neighbour says I have green fingers, which I think is a funny expression for being good at gardening.
Another great thing about retirement is that I can travel much more than before. Last autumn, I took a trip to Spain with some friends from my book club. We visited many nice places and tried a lot of local food. It was very exciting to see another country and culture, and I took a lot of pictures to remember the trip. Now I am already planning my next trip, maybe to Italy or Greece.
Another thing is that I have much more time to spend with/see my children and grandchildren. Before, I was often stressed when we met because I had always work in the back of my mind. Now, I can really enjoy our time together. Last week, I babysat my smallest granddaughter and we baked cakes and played games the whole day. It was so nice to see how happy she was!
What surprised me is how full my days are now. Many people think that retirement is just doing nothing, but I feel like I have less free time than before. I have joined a book club, started going to the gym, and also volunteer at a local charity shop. It is a lot, but I like having/I like to have a full calendar/schedule.
Because I want to keep my English level up, I also started a high-level English course for seniors at the local adult education centre. It is very interesting, and we talk/speak about many different topics. The teacher says I have a good vocabulary, but I want to become even better. The course is also a nice way to make new friends/acquaintances and meet people with/who share similar/the same/mutual interests.
I have also noticed that I have more energy now when I don’t work every day. I try to take long walks in the forest/in the countryside and sometimes go for a bike ride in the countryside. I feel much healthier and stronger now.
- Go for a walk/go for a (bike) ride/ go for a drive on Sunday afternoons (pleasure)
- I cycle to work, I walk to my friend’s house.
- I take my dog for a walk twice a day
Every day I feel grateful for this part of my life. Retirement is a great opportunity to try new things, spend time with family and friends, and take care of yourself. I know some are afraid of getting older, but I think it is important to have a positive attitude. Life is what you make it, and I want to fill my golden years with joy and new experiences
- Possibility = a choice
- Opportunity = a chance
Vi är dummare på engelska än vi tror
- Have you ever chosen to read a book in its original language instead of a translation? Why or why not?
- What are the pros and cons of reading books in their original language compared to reading translations (and vice versa)?
- How important do you think it is to understand every nuance in a novel, and is that possible in a second language?
- Do you trust that translators capture the essence of a novel, or do you think something is always lost in translation?
- Do you agree with the writer that it might be “pretentious” to read in English instead of Swedish? Why or why not?
- The writer seems surprised that so many Swedes are confident about their English. Do you agree with him, or do you think this confidence is justified?
- Overall, do you agree or disagree with the writer’s opinions in the text? Can you explain your thoughts?
to show someone the ropes = to teach someone how to do a job or task, especially when they are new.
It was my job to show the new recruits the ropes.
Origins = from sailing — sailors used to learn how to use the ropes on a ship — and now it’s used in everyday jobs or training.
Article and questions for next week: https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220207-the-crippling-expectation-of-247-digital-availability
- What are some advantages and disadvantages of being constantly connected?
- Why do people sometimes get upset if someone doesn’t reply to their message right away?
- How have smartphones and working from home made people expect faster replies?
- Do you think being online all the time is stressful? Why or why not? Would you try a break from digital devices?
- Do you feel pressured to reply quickly to messages? Why or why not?
- In your opinion, how long is it “acceptable” to wait before replying to someone?
- “The greatest social upheaval in Sweden’s history”
- “It’s an awesome job, getting a nation to change the habits of a lifetime.”
- “For 24 hours, the streets of Stockholm will be a pedestrians’ paradise”
Video and questions for next week:
Video from BBC Archive (no subtitles) https://www.bbc.com/videos/c2557711v0po
Via Facebook (with subtitles). No need to have an account: https://www.facebook.com/BBCArchive/videos/sweden-drives-on-the-right/1260238305352052/
- a curfew
- a fleet of new buses
Fleet = a number of vehicles (such as buses, cars, or ships) operated by one owner or organisation.
Questions to consider:
- How did you and your family and friends feel about this change?
- What do you remember about the days before and after the switch? Was it confusing or easy for you?
- Did you or your family do anything special to prepare for the change?
- How did people in your town or city react to the new way of driving?
- If you were a child at the time, did your school talk about the change? What did your teachers or classmates say?
- Do you remember seeing any new signs, buses, or cars during that time?
- Looking back, do you think it was a good idea for Sweden to change? Why or why not?
Idioms Quiz (to finish next week from number 8 onwards)
- What kind of party is a stag party? A hen night/party A bachelor party (US)
- If you were at a restaurant and the person with you offered to go Dutch, what would this mean? Let’s split/share the bill. Let’s go 50-50.
- A tiresome, irritating person is described as a pain in what part of the body? My little brother is a pain in the neck
- What sort of relationship would you have with someone if you got on like a house on fire? = we have a wonderful relationship, to hit it off
- Where on the body would you find crow’s feet? Rynkor = wrinkles
- Why might someone have butterflies in their stomach? = nervous
- Why would someone go cold turkey? Just stopped (no help)
- How well do you know a city if you know it inside out?
- If you start something from scratch, where do you start?
- If you say “I’m off!”, what are you about to do?
- My neighbour’s parties were always loud, but when they started playing music at 3 a.m., it was the last straw—I called the police.
- He knew he had made a bad mistake at work, so he decided to bite the bullet and confess to his boss.
- We only get together as a family once in a blue moon.
- Our company might move to a new office, but nothing is certain yet—it’s all still up in the air.
- Failing the entrance exam felt terrible, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise—I ended up studying a subject I love even more