FIRE: How to quit work and retire in your 30s

FIRE: How to quit work and retire in your 30s

by | Jan 2, 2022 | Business English

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THE BLUE TREE

Business English

CEF B1

CEFR B1

Intermediate

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warm up

Answer the questions below. Then listen to the model answers and think about how you could improve yours.

Have you ever thought about when you would be able to retire?
TRANSCRIPT

I have thought about it, but retirement still feels far away. I’d love to retire early, though, and focus on traveling or pursuing hobbies I never seem to have time for now. It’s interesting to imagine how much financial planning it takes to retire earlier than expected, especially in today’s economy.

What do you think your life will look like when you retire?
TRANSCRIPT

When I retire, I imagine spending more time outdoors, maybe gardening or hiking, and traveling to places I’ve always dreamed of visiting. I also hope to dedicate time to volunteering or mentoring, as I think staying active and engaged in the community will be essential for a fulfilling retirement.

If you had enough money to live on in the bank, would you continue working anyway?
TRANSCRIPT

If I had enough money to live on comfortably, I think I’d still work, but on my terms. I’d focus on projects I’m passionate about, like creative pursuits or causes I care about. Work can provide a sense of purpose, so I wouldn’t want to stop entirely—just shift my focus to things that truly inspire me.

FIRE means you will have to reduce eating out.

part one

KEY LANGUAGE

Go through the flashcards below. Make sure you understand all the words and expressions.

VIDEO

Watch the first part of the video.

COMPREHENSION

Answer these questions. Refer to the information from the video.

  • ⌚ 00:30 What do all the people introduced at the beginning have in common?
  • ⌚ 00:35 What does retirement mean in the new definition?
  • ⌚ 00:51 What does F.I.R.E. stand for?
  • ⌚ 01:13 What is F.I.R.E. about?
  • ⌚ 01:44 How does F.I.R.E. help us feel more happy?
  • ⌚ 02:25 How did Peter start with F.I.R.E.?
  • ⌚ 02:33 What is another aim behind F.I.R.E. movement?

part two

KEY LANGUAGE

Go through the flashcards below. Make sure you understand all the words and expressions.

VIDEO

Watch the second part of the video.

COMPREHENSION

Answer these questions. Refer to the information from the video.

  • ⌚ 02:43 What did the pandemic force us to think about?
  • ⌚ 02:57 What do people spend a lot of money on?
  • ⌚ 03:19 What is the benefit of being location independent?
  • ⌚ 03:51 What is the math behind this movement?
  • ⌚ 04:10 What has F.I.R.E. been accused of and how does her story contradict it?
  • ⌚ 04:35 How flexible is F.I.R.E?
  • ⌚ 05:30 What was Kristy’s wake up call?

part three

COMPREHENSION

Answer these questions. Refer to the information from the video.

KEY LANGUAGE

Go through the flashcards below. Make sure you understand all the words and expressions.

COMPREHENSION

Answer these questions. Refer to the information from the video.

  • ⌚ 05:59 How does FIRE compare with traditional employment during crisis?
  • ⌚ 06:21 Why is it easy to look rich in the US, even though you are not?
  • ⌚ 06:43 What helps Peter lead a life of F.I.R.E?
  • ⌚ 07:05 What was the biggest benefit of FIRE for Julien?
  • ⌚ 07:14 What is the best thing money can buy?
  • ⌚ 07:39 Why it may be difficult for employers to keep their staff in the future?

POLL

Cast your vote in the poll below.

1. What do you think of the F.I.R.E. movement?
2. What’s your biggest concern about the F.I.R.E. movement?
3. What appeals to you the most about F.I.R.E.?
4. Would you consider adopting some F.I.R.E. principles in your life?
5. Do you think the F.I.R.E. movement is realistic for most people?

CAST YOUR VOTE
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DISCUSSION

WHEN WILL I RETIRE

Pete adn Sven are talking about the idea behind the FIRE movement. 

Role play their dialogue. Whose views do you lean towards?

Pete: You’ve been talking a lot about this FIRE thing lately. Are you really planning to retire early?

Sven: Yeah, I’ve already started making some changes. I’ve cut down on unnecessary expenses, invested more, and I’m aiming to be financially independent in the next 15 years.

Pete: Wow, that’s ambitious. I mean, it sounds great, but isn’t it risky? What if something unexpected happens, like a financial crisis?

Sven: That’s exactly why I’m doing it. The whole idea is to have enough savings and investments to cover anything life throws at me. It’s not about never working again—it’s about having the choice.

Pete: I do like the idea of not being tied to a 9-to-5 forever. But don’t you have to be extremely frugal? I don’t want to live like a hermit just to retire a few years earlier.

Sven: That’s a common misunderstanding. It’s not about extreme frugality, just being smarter with money. Like, do I really need the latest phone every year? Probably not. But cutting unnecessary expenses doesn’t mean giving up everything fun.

Pete: Hmm. I guess there’s a balance. Still, it feels like something only high earners can do. Not everyone can save half their income.

Sven: True, but it’s flexible. Even saving 20-30% instead of 5-10% can make a huge difference over time. And it’s not just for the privileged—some people even move to cheaper countries after retiring to make their money last longer.

Pete: That’s interesting. So, it’s not just about money, but also about freedom?

Sven: Exactly! It’s about having control over your time. Imagine waking up and deciding how to spend your day, instead of working just to pay off bills and a mortgage.

Pete: That actually sounds pretty appealing. I guess I should start looking into this.

Sven: You should! The sooner you start, the better. Let’s grab a coffee, and I’ll show you some simple ways to get started.

OVER TO YOU

Discuss these questions.

BulletHas this BBC video convinced you of the benefits of the F.I.R.E. movement?
BulletDo you think F.I.R.E. has the potential to change the way people approach work in general?
BulletIs overconsumption really as big of a problem as the video suggests?
BulletWhat are the potential downsides of the F.I.R.E. movement?
BulletAre you mindful of your expenses? Did the examples in the video inspire you to manage your finances more carefully?

LESSON GLOSSARY

COMMENTS

What do you think of the idea of gaining financial independence and retiring early? Is this something you would like to do? How would your life be different from the way it is today?

Share your views and opinions here.

Secrets of learning a foreign language

Secrets of learning a foreign language

by | Dec 31, 2021 | blog

The four secrets of learning languages

The key to becoming a confident and fluent speaker in a foreign language lies in mastering four simple keys.

The Blue Tree - Blog - Four secrets of language learning

You are standing near the Trevi fountain in Rome. There’s a dense crowd of people. You can hardly catch a breath. You are trying to peek at the famous historical sight when your phone falls to the ground. Gosh! Now what? You are shouting: “Help, please help me find my phone!” but people do not seem to understand. They are just annoyed by you and keep ignoring you altogether.

Trevi fountain in Rome. Crowds of people taking pictures. Imagine losing your phone in a place like this.

Horrible vision, isn’t it? It would be so much simpler if you knew how to say the same thing in Italian. I’m sure that more people would sympathize with you and help you find your phone.

Yes, we live in a global village, but it seems that each villager has their own language. Clearly, using English helps in many situations. After all, it is the most widely used second language in the world.

A young woman is watching a presentation on Zoom. Is this how you could learn a foreign language?

But how to learn languages? Is there a magic secret or method? Lydia Machova has some really interesting ideas on the topic. Her TED talk has been seen more than 6 million times. She believes that there are four factors contributing to success in learning a foreign language:

  • Enjoyment
  • Method
  • System
  • Patience

It makes perfect sense. I have to admit, it is one of the best takes at figuring out what it really takes to learn another language.

It all starts with finding pleasure in the process of learning. Are there things you enjoy doing? Perhaps it is taking photos, doing yoga, or riding a bike. Think back to a moment when you felt quite happy doing it. Now copy this emotion and keep it in your emotional clipboard. When you sit down to learning a foreign language, just paste this emotion from the clipboard.

Do you know how to make a sandwich? Do you think there is just one way of accomplishing this culinary task? Clearly, there are more ways than one. Nevertheless, you still stick to your method. You know it works. Perhaps you even tried others, but eventually, you decided that there is one that renders the best, most delicious results for you.

A man is making a toast. As there is more than one way of making a sandwich, so there are more ways of learning a language.

The same applies to methods of learning a foreign language. We should try different methods, but eventually, we should arrive at a selection of methods that work for us.

The system component is quite tricky. It has to do with our lives. Learning a foreign language is hardly our top priority. We have our families, jobs, other pursuits. They all take precedence. This leaves little time for learning. We need to learn to weave learning into the fabric of our lives. Make the best use of the moments when our attention is not 100% occupied perhaps. Like listening to podcasts while driving a car.

Finally, there is patience. Let’s bring another culinary example. Do you know how to make roast chicken? Do you know how long it should stay in the oven? What should the temperature be? Most answers I got from my students range from 60-90 minutes at around 180-200 C. So, I have a question for you, can we expect a good result if we set the timer to six hours and the temperature to 30 C? Alternatively, can we get a crispy roast chicken when we set the oven to 30 minutes and 250C? Both answers are a clear and decisive “no”. You get the point, don’t you?

So, in the end, it is down to these four keys: enjoyment, method, system and patience. Once you learn how to incorporate them into your learning system, your success is guaranteed.

I have been helping learners of all ages and walks of life to learn English. Trust me to help you get on with this project and I assure you, we will not only have a great time learning English together, but you will also see yourself making rapid progress.

Mind-map. Secrets of learning a foreign language.
Who are you, really? The puzzle of personality by Brian Little

Who are you, really? The puzzle of personality by Brian Little

by | Dec 24, 2021 | Man and Society

Sorry, but lessons on The Blue Tree work only on a computer or a tablet.

Bardzo mi przykro, ale lekcje na platformie The Blue Tree działają jedynie na komputerze lub tablecie.

Do zobaczenia na większym ekranie 🙂

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Who are you, really? The puzzle of personality by Brian Little
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THE BLUE TREE

Man & Society

CEF B1

CEFR C2

Proficiency

Practise speaking by describing this image

warm up

Answer the questions below. Listen to the sample answers.

How much do you know about yourself?
TRANSCRIPT

I think I know a fair amount about myself, but there’s always more to discover. Over the years, I’ve learned about my strengths and weaknesses, what motivates me, and what stresses me out. But self-awareness is a constant process. Life experiences continue to shape who we are, so I believe there’s always something new to learn about how I react in different situations.

Does our personality adffect the way we communicate?
TRANSCRIPT

Yes, our personality definitely affects how we communicate. For example, an extroverted person may be more comfortable speaking up in meetings or social situations, while someone who’s more introverted might prefer to listen and process information before sharing their thoughts. Understanding these differences can help us adapt our communication style depending on who we’re talking to.

To what extend can we change our personality?
TRANSCRIPT

I think we can change aspects of our personality, but only to a certain extent. Some traits, like being naturally introverted or extroverted, are harder to change because they’re part of our core makeup. But we can work on improving how we react to situations, manage emotions, and adapt to different environments. It’s about finding a balance between staying true to yourself and evolving over time.

part one

KEY LANGUAGE

Go through the flashcards below. Make sure you understand all the words and expressions.

VIDEO

Watch the first part of the video.

COMPREHENSION

Answer these questions. Refer to the information from the video.

  • ⌚ 1:01 What will Brian Little’s talk help the audience with?
  • ⌚ 1:31 What branch of psychology is he involved in?
  • ⌚ 2:08 What fascinates him the most about people?
  • ⌚ 2:30 What is trait psychology?
  • ⌚ 3:03 What does OCEAN stand for?

part two

KEY LANGUAGE

Go through the flashcards below. Make sure you understand all the words and expressions.

VIDEO

Watch the second part of the video.

COMPREHENSION

Answer these questions. Refer to the information from the video.

  • ⌚ 3:25 What is opennes and conscientiousness a predictor of as regards success in life?
  • ⌚ 3:36 What are extroversion and agreeableness conducive to?
  • ⌚ 4:52 What do the three natures – biogenic nature, sociogenic, idiogenic – describe?
  • ⌚ 5:17 What kind of stimulation do extrovert people need?
  • ⌚ 5:33 Are introverted people antisocial?
  • ⌚ 5:51 Who does caffeine work better on?

part three

KEY LANGUAGE

Go through the flashcards below. Make sure you understand all the words and expressions.

VIDEO

Watch the third part of the video.

COMPREHENSION

Answer these questions. Refer to the information from the video.

  • ⌚ 7:41 What are the results of the study on the frequency with which individuals engage in the conjugal act?
  • ⌚ 8:21 How do extroverted people communicate?
  • ⌚ 9:11 How do introverted people like to talk?
  • ⌚ 10:40 How was Tom and Brain talking past each other when they were describing Micheal?

part four

KEY LANGUAGE

Go through the flashcards below. Make sure you understand all the words and expressions.

VIDEO

Watch the fourth part of the video.

COMPREHENSION

Answer these questions. Refer to the information from the video.

  • ⌚ 11:38 Are we just a collection of personality traits?
  • ⌚ 12:09 What makes us different from each other?
  • ⌚ 12:48 What are some of the situations when we act out of charachter?
  • ⌚ 12:54 What are free traits?
  • ⌚ 13:01 What is a better question to ask about people’s character?
  • ⌚ 13:40 Why does Brain act more extrovertly for his students?

POLL

Cast your vote in the poll.

Do you agree with Brian Little that personality may be more malleable than we think?
Which statement best reflects how you see your own personality?
What do you think matters more when understanding a person?

CAST YOUR VOTE
×
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DISCUSSION

DIALOGUE

Alita and Pete are on a train. To pass the time, they watched this TED Talk. Here’s their conversation. 

Read or role-play it. 

Alita:
I’m glad we watched this on the train. It somehow fits — moving forward while thinking about who we really are.

Pete:
Yeah, it was surprisingly engaging. I expected another “personality types” lecture, but he went much deeper than that.

Alita:
Exactly. I liked how he challenged the idea that we’re just a bundle of traits. The concept of free traits really stuck with me.

Pete:
Same here. The idea that you can act out of character on purpose, because something matters to you — that felt very real.

Alita:
It made me think about work. I’m quite introverted by nature, but when I care about a project, I become much more outspoken than people expect.

Pete:
That’s a good example. I used to think that changing behaviour meant being fake. Now I see it more as adapting, not pretending.

Alita:
Yes — staying true to your values, not necessarily your default settings.

Pete:
Still, I wonder where the limit is. You can stretch yourself, sure, but you can’t rewrite your personality completely.

Alita:
True. And I think Brian Little isn’t denying that. He’s just saying we’re not prisoners of our traits.

Pete:
That’s reassuring, actually. It means growth doesn’t require becoming someone else — just choosing what matters enough to step outside your comfort zone.

Alita:
Well put. Makes this train ride feel a bit more… meaningful.

OVER TO YOU

Discuss these questions. Refer to the topic of the lesson and your own experience.

1️⃣Brian Little says we are more than just a set of personality traits.
Do you agree with this idea? In what situations do you feel that your values or goals matter more than your natural personality?
2️⃣Alita mentions acting more extroverted at work when she cares about a project.
Can you think of a time when you acted out of character because something was important to you?
3️⃣ Pete wonders whether changing behaviour means being “fake.”
What do you think — where is the line between adapting and pretending to be someone else?
4️⃣The talk introduces the idea of “free traits.”
Which free trait do you think you use most often in your life (for example, being more confident, more patient, or more organised than usual)?
5️⃣ Brian Little suggests that growth does not require becoming a different person.
Do you find this idea encouraging or unrealistic? Why?

DIVE DEEPER

Study this mind-map to remember this topic better or a spring board to learn more about the ideas from this lesson.

Brian Little - The Puzzle Of Personality

lesson glossary

COMMENTS

What do you think of Brian Little’s approach to personality? Do you sometimes act out of character? Do you think people are just a bunch of traits or is there more to us?

Share your views and experience here.