“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 1: Personal Growth and Development
Story 03: The Power of a Growth Mindset
Key Lesson Vocabulary & Expressions: Look over and review before proceeding.
- Emphasizes
- Perseverance
- Fixed mindset
- Embrace challenges
- Feedback
- Reluctance
- Academic
- Setbacks
- Reflection
- Cultivating
Read or Listen to the following passage:
A growth mindset is a belief system that emphasizes the potential for growth and development in individuals. It is the idea that one’s abilities, talents, and intelligence can be developed through hard work, dedication, and perseverance. The opposite of a growth mindset is a fixed mindset, which assumes that one’s abilities are fixed and cannot be improved upon.
Individuals with a growth mindset tend to embrace challenges, view failures as opportunities for learning, and persist in the face of obstacles. They believe that their abilities can be developed through effort and they seek out feedback to help them improve. They are more likely to take risks and try new things, knowing that failure is a natural part of the learning process.
On the other hand, individuals with a fixed mindset tend to avoid challenges, view failures as evidence of their limitations, and give up easily when faced with obstacles. They believe that their abilities are fixed and cannot be improved, which can lead to a lack of motivation and a reluctance to take risks.
Having a growth mindset can be beneficial in many areas of life, including academics, sports, and personal development. When we embrace a growth mindset, we are more likely to push ourselves out of our comfort zones and take on new challenges. We are more likely to persist in the face of setbacks, knowing that failure is not a reflection of our abilities, but rather an opportunity for growth and learning. We are also more likely to seek out feedback and use it to improve our skills and abilities.
In conclusion, a growth mindset is a belief system that emphasizes the potential for growth and development in individuals. It is a powerful tool for personal development, as it encourages us to embrace challenges, view failure as an opportunity for learning, and persist in the face of obstacles. By cultivating a growth mindset, we can unlock our full potential and achieve greater success in all areas of life.
Comprehension Questions:
- What is a growth mindset?
- How is a growth mindset different from a fixed mindset?
- What are some benefits of having a growth mindset?
- What do individuals with a growth mindset tend to do when faced with challenges and obstacles?
- How can cultivating a growth mindset help individuals achieve greater success in life?
Conversations Starters:
- Do you think you have a growth mindset or a fixed mindset? Why?
- What are some ways that you can develop perseverance, and why is it important?
- How do you respond to setbacks or failures, and what can you do to change your mindset about them?
- Have you ever had a fixed mindset about something, and how did it affect your ability to learn and grow?
- Can you think of a time when you overcame a difficult obstacle, and what did you learn from the experience?
- How can seeking feedback from others help you develop a growth mindset and improve your skills?
- What are some common limiting beliefs that people with a fixed mindset may hold, and how can they be overcome?
- How can a growth mindset be beneficial in the workplace or in your career?
- How can you encourage others to develop a growth mindset, and what are some strategies for doing so?
- How can we encourage children to have a growth mindset?o achieve them?
