Detailed Notes on Opinions, Wisdom, and Urban Life

Opinion

  • Words of Wisdom - Everyone needs words of wisdom to find our feet. Mentors can help.

2. 1 Words of Wisdom

  • Jane Goodall (Primatologist and Conservationist):
    • As a child, she dreamed of going to Africa, living with animals, and writing books, but faced laughter and discouragement.
    • Her mother encouraged her: "If you really want something and you work hard and you take advantage of opportunities - and you never, ever give up-you will find a way."
    • Opportunity: A letter from a friend inviting her to Kenya.
    • Hard work: Waitressing to earn money for the trip and reading books about Africa and animals.
    • Dr. Louis Leakey offered her the opportunity to study chimpanzees because she was prepared.
  • Sir Richard Branson (Entrepreneur):
    • Taught by his mother, Eve, to never look back in regret but move on.
    • A setback is just another of life's lessons.
  • Robin Page (Columnist):
    • His geography master's advice: "When people tell you that there are two sides to every argument, it is nonsense. There are three: your side, their side and the truth."
  • Hong Bo Chin (Financier):
    • First year in corporate finance, he worked eighteen hours a day to impress everyone.
    • An older employee advised him: "You're not impressing anyone by working ridiculous hours. Just get the job done."
    • He regretted not speaking to the employee earlier, as he would have worked himself into the ground.
  • Peter Barron (Head of External Relations for Google):
    • His father's advice: "The man who never made a mistake never made anything."
  • Stefan Orogovitz (Brain Surgeon):
    • A journalist asked about brain surgeons' large egos.
    • He responded that they need them because they lose 95% of their patients.
    • If he'd known that statistic when learning the ropes, he would be selling insurance.
    • He said to do all you can, never apologise, and believe in yourself to cope with such figures.
  • Paola Gavazzi (Screenwriter):
    • A film director told her, "You're not paid to write. You're paid to rewrite."
    • This had a profound effect on her.
  • Santa Sebag-Montefiore (Author):
    • Her father would say, "It's sunny at the top" when skiing in thick fog, meaning to be positive and grateful.
  • Nobantu Seseke (Publisher):
    • Early in her career, she rejected promising manuscripts because her colleagues were unsure.
    • She now regrets rejecting those authors who had successful careers.
    • Learned to trust her instincts and go with her gut feeling.
    • If only I'd known then what I know now.
  • Matthew Williamson (Designer):
    • His co-founder and CEO, Joseph Velosa, said: "If you don't have passion, then you have nothing. If you don't believe in what you are doing, why would anyone else?"
Vocabulary
  • become familiar with a new situation or experience: find your feet
  • use the chances you get: take advantage of opportunities
  • a problem that prevents or delays progress: setback
  • in a position in which you quickly have to learn something difficult: on a steep learning curve
  • finding out how something is done in a particular place or situation: learning the ropes
  • changed a person deeply, e.g. the way they understand the world: had a profound effect on me
  • believe that your feelings are correct: trust your instincts
  • act according to your personal feelings about something: go with your gut feeling
Grammar - Hypothetical Conditional: Past
  • Use if + past perfect and would + present continuous/present simple to form a mixed conditional.
  • Use a mixed conditional to say that if something in the past had been different, the present would be different.
Vocabulary Plus - Metaphors
  • I'm over the hill: I can't do something well enough because I'm too old.
  • Metaphors often come in patterns: career is a journey, time is money, ideas are food, good is up and bad is down.
  • Examples of metaphors related to journeys:
    • "You'll go far" - have a great future.
    • "reached the peak - become number one
    • "career started to go downhill" - go badly
    • "at a crossroads" - having to choose one thing or another
  • Examples of metaphors related to ideas:
    • "hard to swallow" - difficult to believe/accept
    • "regurgitate the book" reproduce without thinking
    • "half-baked idea" - badly thought-out
    • "food for thought" - something to think about

2. 2 Changing Your Mind

  • Living Library: 'Readers' borrow real people to uncover preconceptions and dispel stigmas, stereotypes, and prejudices.
Vocabulary - Collocations: Opinions
  • People tend to have various preconceptions about what a drug addict is.
  • The aim is to challenge the stereotypes that exist about immigrants.
  • I was feeling nervous and beginning to have second thoughts about the whole idea.
  • It's important to keep an open mind before making a judgement.
  • His attitude is very narrow-minded and intolerant of alternative opinions.
  • The experience of talking so directly was eye-opening .
  • I saw the situation from a whole new perspective after our conversation.
  • I don't think he really knew his facts, so his argument wasn't very convincing.
Grammar - Verb Patterns
  • Verb + to + infinitive, e.g., I decided to explain.
  • Verb + object + to + infinitive, e.g., They encouraged me to apply.
  • Noun + to + infinitive (as part of a semi-fixed phrase), e.g., It's time to…
  • Adjective + to + infinitive, e.g., I was happy to talk to them.
  • To + infinitive used to express purpose, e.g., She left early to catch the train.
  • Verb + -ing, e.g., I recall feeling apprehensive.
  • Preposition + -ing, e.g., Are you interested in learning about the issues?
  • -ing used as a noun(gerund), e.g., Smoking is bad for you.
  • Like/love/hate etc.+-ing, e.g., I hate arguing about politics.

2. 2 Homeless

  • Homelessness is a major problem in big cities. Authorities clear the streets of the homeless, esp. during events like the Olympics.
  • Many assume homelessness results from drug/alcohol misuse and that little can be done because of addiction.
  • Charitable organizations already help the homeless, so this is often seen as sufficient.
  • Approach ignores the bigger picture.
  • Drug abuse contributes to homelessness, but there are increasing numbers due to lack of affordable housing.
  • Rising unemployment makes it harder to keep up with home payments.
  • A frightening number of homeless are families with children, who are the fastest-growing segment of the homeless population.
  • According to a recent survey, more than a quarter of homeless people (25−4025-40 percent) actually work but still can't afford accommodation.
  • In today's society, it is unacceptable that working people cannot afford housing.
  • Governments must ensure sufficient wages and provide accommodation for low-income families.
  • Responsibility shouldn't be left to charities; society needs to help people before they become homeless.
Writing
  • Include an introductory paragraph.
  • Divide your essay into for and against sections.
  • Use linking words and phrases.
  • Write a concluding paragraph.

2. 3 Who Do You Trust?

  • In a UK poll, doctors were the most trusted profession (92%), followed by teachers, judges, and clergy.
  • Business leaders and journalists were near the bottom, and politicians were last (13%).
  • Dr. David Bailey (Doctor): You need to ensure that your patients think you are trustworthy.
  • Mary Davis (Teacher): Part of the community so it's important to know the families.
  • Professor Justin Lewis (University Professor): We don't have an axe to grind. The business is doing research
Vocabulary - Idioms of Opinion
  • Play devil's advocate: take a deliberately contrary position in an argument to force people to justify their opinions
  • Speak my mind: say what you really believe
  • Sitting on the fence: being unable to commit yourself to one opinion or one side
  • Beat about the bush: talk a lot, but avoid directly addressing the most important point
Function
  • Introducing Opinions:
    • If you want my honest opinion
    • Quite frankly
    • The reality is
    • According to the facts
    • From what I cannot gather
    • As far as I am concerned
    • To my knowledge,
    • Look at it this way.
    • If you ask me

2. 4 Chess Master

  • Carissa Yip started playing chess at six and became the youngest female U.S. chess master.
  • Fewer than 1 percent of chess players reach level of master.
  • Chess can be a lonely game when you're so good nobody wants to play with you at all.
Key Phrases
  • I'd like to begin by stating that…
  • As I see it/What I think is…
  • I would say it depends on…
  • What you need to consider is…
  • I think it's ridiculous to suggest…
  • I absolutely reject the idea that…
  • So, to conclude I would have to argue that…
  • Does anyone have a question/Are there any other questions?
  • That's a good question because…