1 5.8 Listen to a radio phonein where four people describe how they motivate themselves. Answer the questions.
1 - What are they trying to motivate themselves to do?
2 - What method do they use to motivate themselves?
2 5.9 Study Active Listening. Then listen to six word clusters and write down what you hear.
ACTIVE LISTENING | Recognising word clusters in fast speech
In more careful speech, we can identify specific rules for the way words run together e.g., elision, assimilation or intrusion. However, in faster speech, these rules may not apply, and the sounds in words are changed. This can make them difficult to recognise and understand.
3 5.10 Listen to the word clusters in more context. Can you understand them better now? Say why.
4 5.8 Listen to the radio phone-in from Exercise 1 again.
Match each speaker with the aspect of their personality which prevents them from making progress.
Speaker: 1 □ 2 □ 3 □ 4 □
a. being easily distracted
b. being disorganised
c. having little self-belief
d. being unable to maintain motivation
e. being overambitious
f. being overly self-critical
5 Now match each speaker with the disadvantage of the method they use. There are two extra options.
Speaker: 1 □ 2 □ 3 □ 4 □
a. It requires a constant fresh supply.
b. It wastes valuable time.
c. It can be very expensive.
d. The method is rather complicated.
e. It can undo what you’re trying to achieve.
f. Choosing a suitable partner is vital.
6 Complete the sentences from the recording with prepositions.
1 - After a few weeks, I run …………………. steam and stop.
2 - Someone who would check …………………. me from time to time.
3 - Someone to pat you …………………. the back …………………. your achievements.
4 - I’m really …………………. going, it sounds great.
5 - I’d love to go abroad …………………. a change.
6 - I know that there’s a lot …………………. stake.
7 - …………………. personal experience, I know that …
8 - I can sometimes lose faith …………………. myself.
9 - One of my favourite motivational quotes …………………. far is …
10 - We have to be willing to step …………………. our comfort zone.
7 Replace the underlined parts of the sentences with the prepositional phrases from Exercise 6. Make any necessary changes. Then ask and answer the questions.
1 - Why do you think people are often reluctant to do something different?
2 - If you were trying to learn a new skill, but losing motivation, what could you do to get the motivation back?
3 - Who is the first person you would tell about an achievement, so they could congratulate you on it?
4 - What would you be interested in doing: learning to drive or learning to ski? Say why.
8 SPEAKING Do you agree with the final speaker? Why/Why not?
Now go to Workbook page 40 for the next lesson.
□ I can recognise word clusters in fast speech and talk about motivation.
