Fast-Paced Life
Rory and Abidemi talk about how life is fast-paced these days, and how everyone, even children, are busy.
Abidemi: So Rory, talking about schedules, do you ever think that life is too busy or too much that we’re trying to fit too many things?
Rory: Maybe for some people. Not for me, actually. I take life quite slowly. But I noticed with my daughter that we’re always sort of rushing her to do things. So when she comes home from school, she has to do her homework. And then one night a week, she has to go to swimming then she has piano, then she has like an acrobat lesson.
When I was a kid, we did nothing after school, you know. We went to the park by ourselves and played. But nothing was scheduled, so we just did what we wanted.
Abidemi: I see.
Rory: So do you think like kids today, we try and make them do too much or they try and do too much.
Abidemi: That’s a really good question. And I think, yes, you’re right. It feels like a lot – that we expect a lot more from kids these days. Whereas similar to your background too, when I was growing up, I thought sometimes that I was bored out of my mind because there was just nothing really much to do except for maybe going to the library and borrow some books to read. And I had all the time in the world to read them.
But these days, you see kids running around trying to do it all. Play soccer or some kind of sports or do some club activities or just something. They are always busy, the kids I see around me. So…
Rory: Yeah. Yeah. I think we’re trying to make them maybe grow up too quickly or do too much too soon. When I was kid, you could sort of find your own path. You know, when you became a teenager, when you start to get to university, starting to make these choices.
But now, parents seem to – okay, the kid is going to do piano and they’re going to do soccer and they’re going to study hard for, you know, exams, do extra math tuition. I don’t know if kids can handle it.
Abidemi: I don’t know either. It also seems that it comes with our world today. It’s a lot more competitive. And what I’ve heard is like people are trying to prepare their kids as much as possible. I’ve heard, for some universities, you need to show that you can handle a lot.
Rory: Right.
Abidemi: And because everybody is the same place, they’re all racing for the same positions that if you don’t distinguish yourself in some way, you can’t make it. So in response to that, parents are trying to pile as much on the kids as possible.
Rory: Yeah. I was reading something that said that employers really look now for extra-curricular things that kids do. So not just their grades but what clubs were they members of. Were they acting in the theater, were they a member of a sports team and these things seem to be becoming more important now.
Abidemi: Than just school work.
Rory: Yeah. Yeah.
Abidemi: I think it’s a shame. I like the way I grew up. Yeah. I’ll like if my kids could have a bit more freedom but I can also see that with the way the world is going, I would probably be anxious for them to do as much as possible so that they can have the best in the future.
Rory: Yeah, because it’s a balance between giving them the freedom and then giving them the opportunities to excel at various things.
Abidemi: There you go. That’s it. Yeah.
rush
We’re always rushing her to do things.
When you rush to do things, you do them in a hurry. Notice the following:
- You should not rush work. You will make mistakes.
- He is always rushing off to a meeting or appointment.
bored out of my mind
In school, I was bored out of my mind.
When you are bored out of your mind, you are very bored. Notice the following:
- The movie was awful. I was bored out of my mind.
- On long flights, I get bored out of my mind.
all the time in the world
As a kid, I had all the time in the world to read books.
When you have all the time in the world, you have plenty of time to do what you wish. Notice the following:
- Don't rush. We have all the time in the world to get there.
- On summer holiday, I have all the time in the world to do what I want.
find your own path
When I was kid, you could sort of find your own path.
When you find your own path, you pursue your own interests without worrying about pleasing other people. Notice the following:
- Everyone must find their own path in life.
- Because of his mother, it was hard to find his own path.
(can) make it
You can make it.
When you can make it, you succeed at something. Notice the following:
- If you try hard you can make it.
- If you have a good education, you have a better chance to make it in life.
the way (things) are going
The way the world is going, I am anxious.
Here, 'the way the world is going' is a phrase to describe trends. Notice the following:
- We are worried about the way the world is going.
- The way the world is going, soon everyone will have a social media account.
Vocabulary Quiz
handle • make • the world
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About the Teacher / Creator
Hello, and welcome to elllo. My name is Todd Beuckens. I've been an ESL teacher for 25 years. I created elllo to provide teachers and students free audio lessons and learning materials not usually found in commercial textbooks.
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