Phrasal verbs about people and relationships with Lucy
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Don’t chase happiness. Become antifragile.
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 🙂
Zespół The Blue Tree
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Don’t chase happiness. Become antifragile.
THE BLUE TREE
Man & Society
CEFR B2
Upper
Intermediate
warm up
Answer the questions below. Then listen to the model answers and think about how you could improve yours.
| How important is the pursuit of happiness for you? |
TRANSCRIPT
The pursuit of happiness is really important to me, but I’ve learned that it’s not always about being happy all the time. I think it’s about finding balance and meaning in life, even when things are tough. For me, it’s about making choices that lead to long-term satisfaction, not just quick moments of joy. Happiness is something I actively work on, but I know it’s not a constant state.
| What can tough times teach us? Is there any advantage in going through hardships? |
TRANSCRIPT
Tough times can be some of the best teachers. Going through hardships makes you stronger, more understanding, and better equipped to handle future challenges. It’s like when you exercise and your muscles get stronger after being pushed to their limits. In the same way, when life pushes you, you grow, learn, and develop resilience. There’s definitely an advantage in going through tough times because they show you what you’re capable of.
| How can we become more resilient to painful emotions and events? |
TRANSCRIPT
To become more resilient to painful emotions and events, I think it’s important to first acknowledge and accept those feelings, rather than trying to avoid them. Learning to manage emotions through mindfulness, talking with others, or even just giving yourself time can make a big difference. Building strong relationships and focusing on personal growth also helps. It’s about recognizing that challenges are part of life and using them to grow rather than break.
part one
key language
watch the video
COMPREHENSION
- ⌚ 0:09 What two kinds of people do not experience emotions?
- ⌚ 0:19 What false expectation do many people have in relation to happiness?
- ⌚ 0:26 What do we need to learn to do with painful emotions?
- ⌚ 1:12 What is Resilience 1.0 system about?
- ⌚ 1:23 How is Resilience 2.0 different from 1.0?
part two
key language
watch the video
COMPREHENSION
- ⌚ 1:42 What example from our bodies illustrate the antifragile system?
- ⌚ 2:02 What is PTG and how is it different from PTSD?
- ⌚ 2:15 What is the goal of happiness studies?
- ⌚ 3:00 What paradox exists in the context of pursuing happiness?
- ⌚ 3:09 How can we resolve this paradox?
- ⌚ 3:50 How is it similar to looking at the sun?
part three
key language
watch the video
COMPREHENSION
- ⌚ 4:17 What does SPIRE stand for?
- ⌚ 4:32 What is spirituality about?
- ⌚ 4:42 What is one the most important component of the physical element of the rainbow?
- ⌚ 4:58 What is the main problem related to stress?
- ⌚ 5:27 How can we draw happiness from intellectual side of life?
part four
key language
watch the video
COMPREHENSION
- ⌚ 5:41 What is the number one predictor of well-being?
- ⌚ 5:54 How important is the quality of our relationships?
- ⌚ 6:01 What two kinds of emotions do we need to learn to embrace?
- ⌚ 6:13 What did Cicero think about gratitude?
- ⌚ 6:19 What is the benefit of showing more appreciation?
- ⌚ 6:26 In what sense is happiness more than just pleasure?
DISCUSSION
- What do you think of the idea of Antifragility / Resilience 2.0?
- Would you add any more elements to the SPIRE Model? What would they be?
- Why do you think people who pursue happiness directly are often unhappy?
- Which element of the SPIRE Model brings most happiness to you?
- Tal Ben-Shahar says that ‘happiness resides on a continuum’, that it is a journey. Do you agree with it?
- At the end he says: “I do not think that things necessarily happen for the best. However, we can learn to make the best of things that happen”. What does it mean for you?
POLL
lesson glossary
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How to Get Along with Difficult Colleagues
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 🙂
Zespół The Blue Tree
THE BLUE TREE
Better
Communicator
CEFR B2
Upper
Intermediate
warm up
Answer the questions below. Then listen to the sample answers and report on what you’ve heard.
| Who do you like/dislike the most at work? |
TRANSCRIPT
There’s one colleague I really enjoy working with—she’s always supportive and willing to lend a hand when things get busy. As for disliking someone, I wouldn’t say I outright dislike anyone, but there are a couple of people who tend to focus too much on negativity. It can be draining when all the conversations revolve around complaints instead of solutions.
| What traits should a good colleague have? |
TRANSCRIPT
A good colleague, in my opinion, should be reliable and open to collaboration. I appreciate when someone is willing to share ideas and help out when needed but also respects boundaries. Honesty is also key. It’s important to feel like you can trust the people you’re working with. Lastly, someone with a good sense of humor can really lighten the atmosphere when things get stressful.
| What annoys you the most about the behaviour of your workmates? |
TRANSCRIPT
The thing that annoys me the most is when workmates don’t communicate properly. For example, if there’s an issue or something isn’t going as planned, but they don’t bring it up until the last minute. It just makes everything more stressful than it needs to be. I also find it frustrating when people aren’t accountable for their mistakes—it’s easier to work together if we can own up to things and move forward.
LISTENING
Listen to the article first. What is the main idea behind this management tip?
reading
How to Get Along with Difficult Colleagues |
|
It’s easy to 1. get caught up in interpersonal conflict at work. But these negative dynamics can lead to mistakes, reduced creativity, and worse decision-making. Here are four ways to work more effectively with difficult colleagues. Understand that your perspective is limited. It’s not realistic to expect everyone to agree with you all the time. When differences arise, ask yourself questions like: What if I’m wrong? How would I change my behavior? What 2. assumptions have I made? View the conflict as a problem to be solved together. Understand what 3. outcome you’re aiming for. Do you want to get a project over the finish line? Build a healthy working relationship that will last into the future? Feel less angry or frustrated after your interactions? Decide on your goals before interacting with your colleague, and keep your eyes on the prize. Avoid 4. venting and 5. gossip. Choose whom you talk to (and what you share) carefully. Look for people who are constructive, have your best interests at heart, will challenge your perspective when they disagree, and can be 6. discreet. Experiment to find what works. Start by coming up with two or three methods you want to test out. For example, if you want to improve communications with a 7. grumpy colleague, decide that for two weeks you’re going to ignore their tone and focus on the 8. substance of their messages. Often small actions can have a big impact. |
| This tip is adapted from “How to Navigate Conflict with a Coworker,” by Amy Gallo |
dać się złapać, wrobić
założenia
rezultat, wynik
dawać upust (emocjom)
plotki, pogłoski
dyskretny, rozważny
gderliwy, marudzący, zrzędliwy
merytoryczna wartość
COMPREHENSION
Answer the questions below. Try to throw some of the newly learned words into your answers.
- How can arguments at work affect our performance?
- How does it help to understand that our perspective is limited?
- What questions can we ask ourselves at this point?
- How can we view the conflict as a problem to be solved together?
- What should we remember about when we decide to approach a difficult colleague?
- Who can we talk to about this issue? Why?
- What’s the forth tip about? Can you think of any other ‘experiments’?
POLL
Cast your vote in the poll.
COMMENTS
How would you deal with a difficult colleague at work? Do you have any other tips you’d like to share with us?
Say Thank You Today and Every Day
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What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study.
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COMMENTS
What do you think of the idea of antifragility? Does it make sense to you? What would your rainbow colours refer to?
Share your views and experience here.