Fast-Paced Life
Lesson 3
Warm up Activity
1. Do you always rush? Why or Why not?
2. When in your life did you have all the time in the world?
3. Do you think your schedule is too busy?
2
Listening Activity
Rory and Abidemi talk about how life is fast-paced these
days end everyone, even children, are very busy.
Complete the sentences
Abidemi: So Rory, talking about schedules, do you ever think that life is too busy or too
much that e’re 1. …............. to fit too many things?
Rory: Maybe for some people. Not for me, actually. I take life quite slowly. But I noticed
with my 2. …............ that e’re al a s sort of rushing her to do things. So when she
comes home from school, she has to do her homework. And then one night a week, she
has to go to swimming then she has piano, then she has like an acrobat lesson.
When I was a kid, we did nothing after school, you know. We went to the park by
3. …............. And played. But nothing was scheduled, so we just did what we wanted.
3
Listening Activity
Complete the sentences
Abidemi: That’s a reall good question. And I think, yes, ou’re right. It feels like a lot – that
we expect a lot more from kids these days. Whereas similar to your 4. …............. too, when I
was growing up, I thought sometimes that I was bored out of my mind because there was
just nothing really much to do except for maybe going to the library and borrow some
books to read. And I had all the time in the world to read them.
But these days, you see kids running around trying to do it all. Play soccer or some kind of
sports or do some club 5. …............. or . They are always busy, the kids I see around me.
“o…
Rory: Yeah. Yeah. I think e’re tr i g to make them maybe grow up too quickly or do too
much too soon. When I was kid, you could sort of find your own path. You know, when you
became a teenager, when you start to get to 6. …............., starting to make these choices.
Abidemi: I do ’t k o either. It also see s that it o es ith our world toda . It’s a lot
ore o petiti e. A d hat I’ e heard is like people are trying to prepare their kids as
much 7. ….............. I’ e heard, for so e u i ersities, ou eed to show that you can handle
a lot.
4
Listening Activity
Complete the sentences
Abidemi: A d e ause e er od is the sa e pla e, the ’re all racing for the same
8. …............. that if ou do ’t distinguish yourself in some way, you a ’t ake it. “o i
response to that, parents are trying to pile as much on the kids as possible.
Rory: Yeah. I was reading something that said that 9. …...........
really look now for extra-curricular things that kids do. So not just their grades but what
clubs were they members of. Were they acting in the theater, were they a member of a
sports team and these things seem to be becoming more important now.
Abidemi: I thi k it’s a sha e. I like the a I gre up. Yeah. I’ll like if my kids could have a
bit more freedom but I can also see that with the way the world is going, I would
10. ….............. be anxious for them to do as much as possible so that they can have the best
in the future.
Rory: Yeah, e ause it’s a ala e et ee gi i g the
them the 11. …......... to excel at various things.
the freedom and then giving
5
Listening Activity
Comprehension Quiz
1) His life is _____ .
a) fast-paced
b) quite slow
c) always changing
2) He is always rushing to _____ .
a) take his daughter places b) finish his work c) get home on time
3) As a kid he used to _____ a lot.
a) play soccer
b) read books
c) watch TV
4) He is not sure if kids _____ extra activities.
a) benefit from
b) enjoy
c) can handle
5) Think kids need more _____ .
a) freedom
b) activities
c) guidance
1. Why is Rory’s daughter always rushing?
2. Des ri e Rory’s s hool days in the past?
3. Why does Rory mean when she said that we maybe are trying to make children
grow up too quickly or do too much too soon.
4. Who said that the world is becoming more competitive? Do you agree or Disagree?
6
Vocabulary Building
Rush
Bored out of my mind
All the time in the world
Find your own path
(can) make it
The way (things) are going
1. To be very bored
2. To succeed at something.
3. To pursue your own interests without worrying about
pleasing other people
4. To have plenty of time to do what you wish
5. To do things in a hurry
6. a phrase to describe trends
Vocabulary Quiz
bored • own path • all the time • handle • make • the world
1. As a kid, you have
in the world.
2. He
was out of his mind.
3. You need to find your
in life.
4. I am scared the way
is going.
5. He can
stress very well.
6. If you cannot
it, fake it.
7
Role Playing
You’ve Got a Tight S hedule
Cynthia: Hi Wesley, I wanted to have a word with you.
Wesley: I'd love to Cynthia. But, for now I really need to rush. Can we talk later?
Cynthia: But it’s ki d of i porta t a d it ould ’t take u h of our ti e.
Wesley: I understand. But, you know I'm too tied up at work. Today I have several
appoi t e ts ith e lie ts. I reall a ’t sta right o .
Cynthia: “o eti es I feel ou do ’t ake ti e for e.
Wesley: I' sorr , ho e . But I a o a tight s hedule toda . We’ll talk later.
You Ca ’t Take a Break
Kathleen: Bru e, ou’ e ee orki g o -stop. Come on, let's take a coffee break.
Bruce: Oh, I really can't afford taking a break today.
Kathleen: What’s keepi g ou so us ?
Bruce: I need to submit this report before the end of the day and I still have a lot of data
to a al ze. I’ a tuall ehi d s hedule.
Kathleen: I understand. But, you need to take some time out, too. You cannot stay on that
computer forever.
Bruce: I do 't a t to e the o e ho does ’t fi ish his ork o ti e.
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Speaking Activity
•
•
•
•
•
•
Have you ever felt that someone has no time for you?
Have you ever felt too tired to do anything?
Do you think you have time for everything?
What do you prioritize in your schedule?
Have you ever fell behind schedule?
Do you feel you need some time out?
Finish the dialogues
Cynthia: Bruce, can you please come downstairs and help me unpack the
boxes?
Bruce: I’m sorry but I can't do it right now.
Cynthia: What?! What’s so important?
Bruce: …...............................
Kathleen: Hey Wesley. Will you be joining us later on, at the library?
Wesley: Oh, I wish I could! Studying in group is always better. But I can’t
join you. I …...............................
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Vocabulary Building
Are You A Busy Person?
Answer "yes" or "no" for each question:
1. Did you have time for a relaxing breakfast this morning?
2. Did you read or listen to music before you went to bed yesterday?
3. Do you often say to people, "I don't have the time to do that!"?
4. Do you have long, relaxing baths?
5. Do you start to worry about the day ahead when you wake up?
6. Do you sleep for more than 8 hours?
7. Do you keep an appointment diary?
8. Do you play a musical instrument for pleasure?
9. Do you look at your watch quite often?
10. Do you do sports at least twice a week?
Now add up your score:
For questions 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9: every "Yes" is 2 points.
For questions 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10: every "No" is 2 points.
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Vocabulary Building
Your results
•16-20 points: You are too busy! Calm down and relax! Do some sport and
sleep more.
•12-15 points: You should relax a little more. Maybe think more of yourself
and less of work!
•8-11 points: Your lifestyle seems perfect. You keep yourself busy without
getting stressed. Well done!
•4-7 points: You like to take things easy, don't you? Are you sure you are
fulfilling your maximum potential? Is your boss/teacher happy with you?
•0-3 points: Get out of bed, lazy!! Everyone does the work for you and you
just relax!!
Do you agree with the results? Why or Why not?
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Useful expressions
Interesting phrases which suggest that you are extremely busy
I'm slammed
I'm so busy
I can't breathe
I'm busy as a bee
I'm inundated
I'm buried
I'm overwhelmed
I’m so far behind
I'll never catch up
I’m swamped
I'm up to my ears
I've got too much on my plate.
I can't remember my own name
I'm just trying to keep my head above water
Complete the sentences
1. ….......................... this week as already have a lot of my plate.
2. ….......................... trip as I am slammed with a lot of work.
3. I as so s o ed u der ith ork toda that I did ’t ............................. .
4. I a ’t reall take this e proje t, I s a ped ith ............................. .
5. I have been so slammed for the past fe
o ths. I just ha e ’t had ti e to
…........................... .
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Idioms and Useful Expressions
Pace of life – I reall a ’t keep up ith the pa e of life i
London, I think I will move to the country and try to get a job
there
Rat race – I thi k I ill tr to lea e this rat ra e a d start up
o
usi ess fro ho e
Progress up the corporate ladder – If I keep orki g hard,
e e tuall I should e a le to progress up the orporate ladder
To take time off – I’ e ee orki g so a lo g hours latel ,
I reall eed to take so e ti e off to rela .
All work and no play – You ust take a holida soo , life is ot
just all ork a d o pla
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Speaking Activity
1. Do you have a good balance between your work and personal life? If
yes, how do you achieve it?
2. What deadlines do you have to meet in your daily life?
3. Are you good at managing your time?
4. What things can people do to achieve good work-life balance?
5. Do you think people need to give up work-life balance in order to
progress up the corporate ladder?
6. Why do you think some people become workaholics?
7. What do you think contributes to stress in the workplace?
8. Do you think quality of work performance is linked to quantity of work
performance?
9. Who do you think is responsible for overwork – the company or the
employee?
10. What are the working conditions at your office/place of employment?
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The End