1. Experience: I’m a record-breaking wing walker (800 w.)
“I’ve obviously got to teach the younger generations how to live.” - Betty Bromage | Oldest female wing walker
This article from The Guardian’s Experience section recognises a very different type of challenge, but one that also forces you out of your comfort zone. At 88, Betty Bromage is the world’s oldest woman to wing walk. This involves being strapped to the top of an aircraft moving at speeds of 200kph. Betty is an inspiration, not only in her fearless approach to wing walking, but also in her refreshing outlook on what it is to grow old.
STRATEGY: It’s helpful to read texts in smaller sections, checking your understanding as you go along. Before reading each section, read the questions first and try and find the answers as you read. Look up vocabulary as you go along if you need to, but if you mostly understand the section, move onto the next one. You can always check vocabulary later.
Paragraphs 1 - 3:
How long has Betty been interested in adrenalin sports?
What triggered her specific interest in wing walking?
Paragraphs 4 - 6:
How did Betty’s first flight compare to the second?
What was Betty’s attitude to the idea that the flight could go wrong?
Paragraphs 7 - 9:
What is Betty’s attitude to aging, aches and pains?
What worried Betty’s doctor after he gave her a certificate to fly?
Paragraphs 10 - 12:
How does Betty’s outlook compare to other people her age and her grandsons?
Which world record is Betty aiming for next?
2. 6 Reasons To Step Outside Your Comfort Zone (2000 w.)
“As children, we're natural risk-takers. But as we get older and learn to fear failure, we start holding ourselves back and attempting fewer new things.” - Carolyn Gregorie | The Huffington Post
This edition of Speak For Yourself brings you personal stories from people who refuse to stay in their comfort zones. The three stories showcased in our Read and Watch & Listen sections show how people can embrace stress and risk in very different ways.
This next article, featured in The Huffington Post, explores the science behind the concept of the comfort zone – why we like to stay in it and more importantly, what happens when we step out of it.
The article brings together the scientific studies and opinions of psychologists who have taken an interest in this area of human behaviour. The article lists several benefits to taking small risks including improving our professional lives and becoming more creative.
STRATEGY:
5 Reasons To Quit The Gym
8 Reasons To Escape The City This Weekend
X reasons to Y is a familiar format in articles and blogs these days. This is good news for English language learners because it offers a helpful format for improving reading skills.
As the text is already divided into smaller segments, one way to improve your reading comprehension is to read each reason and identify the main point of the section. If you need to translate any vocabulary, that’s okay, but if you think you understand the section move on to the next reason.
Refer to our Language in Context section for a useful list of topic-related phrases from this article.
