Early August Materials
Hello Students,
Hopefully you’ve all been enjoying summer. My wife, our two cats & I successfully moved from Edinburgh, Scotland in the UK back to Detroit, Michigan in the USA where we are from.
It was a crazy trip. Our flight was delayed 12 hours, then the flight was cancelled altogether due to a “maintenance issue” and mechanical failures. We were supposed to arrive back in America on Friday at 2 pm, but we didn’t end up getting back until the following day, Saturday at 10 pm.
It took a long time, it was a hassle, but it was fine. It wouldn’t have been that bad if it was justmy wife & I — we were just worried about cats. Some drinks on the long flight from Edinburgh to Toronto helped ease our nerves, then we felt dead by the time we got from Toronto to Detroit.
Our cats were not happy, but we survived. Now we are just waiting on reimbursement for our hotel room and flights from Air Canada “Rouge”
But — we made it home, alive. We’re back in Michigan — now ex — expats.
We are happy to be reuniting with family & friends after a long year in near isolation in cold, rainy, dark Edinburgh. It’s amazing to return to America during the peak of Michigan summer — it’s truly beautiful weather with warm sunshine & cool breezes. The Great Lake State of Michigan is truly a wonder to behold in the summer, so we are happy to be home — for now.
Next we are either moving to Traverse City, Michigan
Or (more likely) Charleston in South Carolina
Here are some new materials — feel free to select whatever interests you the most or email me at adam.fitzgerald@glt-talent.com anytime.
I’ve always loved Bruce Lee and his “be water” concept — this article details the Hong Kong protesters adopting the advice from the famous martial artist
An article about the state of our world —
“The WRI (World Resources Institute) estimates that if people in the U.S. and other heavy meat-eating countries reduced their consumption of beef (and other meat from ruminants) to about 1.5 burgers per person, per week, it would ‘nearly eliminate the need for additional agricultural expansion (and associated deforestation), even in a world with 10 billion people.’ “
^this is why I’m vegan :)
Here is a fascinating article about a recent breakthrough in science that they say is going to change how we understand space & existence
An article about the wild information age we live in —
An article about fast food in America (if you’re wondering about health or why so many Americans are so fat / overweight / obese)
This is a Scientific article about the history of fairy tales & myths
Legendary African-American author Toni Morrison recently passed away — she was an amazing writer and brave voice
Here’s an article one of my students shared with me that is very relevant
This is an article about the PTSD settling over America in the wake of all the mass shootings that seem to never end because no law makers will make any positive changes to help the masses — America has a lot of problems but guns, drugs and education seem to be worse than immigration or trade in my mind.
In relation to these recent shootings — this is a very dark piece that is strangely illumnating and confusing all at once
Here’s another slightly depressing yet fascinating article about our current “end times” style world. Are we entering dystopia?
Here is a TED Talk on my favorite topic — education
If her accent is difficult for you to understand, there are English captions / subtitles
Here is a funny TED Talk by a native English speaker (if you prefer)
A crazy, sad, interesting story
I wanted to share this resource again so everyone can book mark this page for the Education First resources — that way if you ever have a question about grammar, vocabulary, idioms, quotes, etc. you can refer to this link -
I also wanted to share some useful English slang words
This might be my favorite “simple” list of English slang words I found-
Here’s another list-
For music this week I am sharing my friend Ben Collins’ band “Minihorse” — I’ve known Ben for a long time & we’ve played lots of different shows together in various bands around Detroit, Ann Arbor & elsewhere in Michigan. His latest project Minihorse recalls sounds of the early 90s with distorted guitars yet soft vulnerable vocals and intense dynamics — similar to artists like Elliott Smith, My Bloody Valentine, Grandaddy or even Nirvana.
They just released their new album “Living Room Art” recently, so my wife & I were able to go see them play live in Detroit at a club called “UFO Factory” near where my friend now lives right downtown in the city.
They have many good songs in my opinion
This is one of their first songs that really impressed me, very catchy
Ben was actually on the cover of a widespread Detroit publication known as “Metro Times” (distributed around the entire Metro Detroit area of 4 million + people)
Here is the article — he’s a very interesting guy — he works in robotics, is developing a meditation and breathing app and also travels the world with a very popular robot in addition to recording his own music and other things — this is a pretty well-written article and I’m happy for the success of my friend.
This is probably their most popular song
For quotes this week I selected a few by Seneca, the famous Roman philosopher and scholar who tutored Emperor Nero —
“If you live in harmony with nature you will never be poor; if you live according what others think, you will never be rich.”
― Seneca
“Nothing is burdensome if taken lightly, and nothing need arouse one’s irritation so long as one doesn’t make it bigger than it is by getting irritated.”
― Lucius Annaeus Seneca
“Withdraw into yourself, as far as you can. Associate with those who will make a better man of you. Welcome those whom you yourself can improve. The process is mutual; for men learn while they teach.”
― Seneca
If you are interested in more quotes from Seneca —
Here’s some more wisdom I found in meme form that I feel compelled to share —
If you’re wondering more about George Washington Carver here’s a link —
I look forward to catching up with you soon.
Have a great week & a great weekend. Email me if you have any questions comments or concerns, or if you need to cancel or reschedule a lesson.
Take care,
Adam Fitzgerald
