“Conversation Starter Lesson Series: Upper-Intermediate” is designed for intermediate-level ESL learners who want to improve their fluency and confidence in speaking English.
Each lesson includes an engaging reading material with audio, vocabulary and expressions, comprehension questions, and discussion questions to be used for one to one class, group class, or self-study for both online and offline classes.
Unit 2: Travel and Adventure
Story 04: The Thrill of Adventure Activities and Extreme Sports
Key Lesson Vocabulary & Expressions: Look over and review before proceeding.
- Adventure activities
- Extreme sports
- Adrenaline rush
- Parachute
- Rock face
- Harnesses
- Fixed object
- Free-falling
- Big wave surfing
- Safety precautions
Read or Listen to the following passage:
Adventure activities and extreme sports have become increasingly popular in recent years as more people seek out new and exciting ways to challenge themselves physically and mentally. These activities range from skydiving, bungee jumping, and rock climbing to surfing, snowboarding, and mountain biking. While these activities may involve some level of risk, they offer a unique sense of accomplishment and adrenaline rush that cannot be found in more traditional forms of recreation.
One example of an adventure activity is skydiving, which involves jumping from an airplane at high altitude and free-falling through the air before deploying a parachute to land safely on the ground. This activity requires skill, training, and proper equipment to ensure safety. Another example is rock climbing, which involves scaling a steep rock face using only one’s body and specialized equipment such as ropes and harnesses. Rock climbing requires both physical and mental strength and often involves teamwork and trust with a climbing partner.
Extreme sports, on the other hand, are typically characterized by their high risk and extreme levels of difficulty. One example of an extreme sport is BASE jumping, which involves jumping from a fixed object such as a bridge or cliff and free-falling before deploying a parachute to land safely. BASE jumping is considered one of the most dangerous activities in the world and requires extensive training and experience. Another extreme sport is big wave surfing, which involves riding massive waves in the ocean that can reach heights of over 50 feet. Big wave surfing requires expert skill and experience, as well as specialized equipment to ensure safety.
While adventure activities and extreme sports can be thrilling and rewarding experiences, they also require proper safety precautions and equipment to minimize the risk of injury or death. Participants should always seek proper training and guidance before attempting these activities, as well as follow safety guidelines and regulations.
Comprehension Questions:
- What are some examples of adventure activities?
- What is skydiving?
- What is rock climbing and what equipment is required?
- What are some examples of extreme sports?
- What precautions should participants take before attempting adventure activities and extreme sports?
Conversations Starters:
- Have you ever participated in any adventure activities or extreme sports? If so, which ones and what was your experience like?
- What are some safety precautions that should be taken before attempting an extreme sport or adventure activity?
- What is the difference between an adventure activity and an extreme sport?
- Have you ever experienced an adrenaline rush? If so, what caused it?
- How important is proper equipment such as ropes and harnesses when engaging in adventure activities or extreme sports?
- Have you ever attempted big wave surfing? What was your experience like?
- How does the thrill of an adrenaline rush compare to other types of experiences such as watching a movie or listening to music?
- What extreme sports or activities would you like to try? What would you never try?
- What is the most important thing to consider when engaging in adventure activities or extreme sports?
- Have you ever been injured while participating in an adventure activity or extreme sport? If so, what happened and how did you handle it?
