Lesson 4: After the Storm
I think evacuating was a good call.

I can express how I feel about decisions that were made.

INTRODUCE

Sometimes, people have to make decisions quickly and without much thought. Afterward, it’s common to judge these decisions.

PRESENT

STEP A EXPRESSIONS

I. Go over the expressions with your tutor.

    1. Better safe than sorry is an expression that means it’s better to be careful than to regret something later on.

    Man, we could’ve gone surfing yesterday! The rain wasn’t even that strong.

    Well, better safe than sorry, right?

     

     

    2. Hindsight is 20/20 means that something becomes clearer only after it has happened.

    I really wanted to experience authentic local cuisine, but I guess eating street food wasn’t the wisest idea.

    Well, hindsight is 20/20. At least now you know to avoid street food.

     

     

    3. A good call is a good decision.

    Did you quit your job?

    Yeah. My wife was worried, but it was actually a good call because another company immediately offered me a better position.

     

    II. Imagine your friend canceled his vacation to Florida because a hurricane was coming, but the hurricane changed course and never went near Florida. What would you say to him? Use the expressions above.

STEP B PRONUNCIATION

When the t in a word comes after n, the t is often dropped.
Phrase Example

20/20

/ twen-ny twen-ny /

Hindsight is / twen-ny twen-ny /.

UNDERSTAND

SPEAKING

At the evacuation center, Toru and his wife Holly are talking.

Toru:

I can’t believe we’re spending our honeymoon with all these people.

Holly:

Well, if you put it that way… It really is kind of weird…

Toru:

I told you the hurricane would probably change course. It didn’t even come close! All we got was a little rain. You believed the news too much.

Holly:

Well, better safe than sorry. Imagine if the hurricane actually hit and we were still back at the hotel with all those big windows. If they broke, there’d be glass all over the room, and we could’ve gotten really hurt. If you ask me, I think evacuating was a good call.

Toru:

I still think we evacuated too early. We should’ve hung back at the hotel just a bit more to see if the hurricane was really going to hit us or not. We could’ve enjoyed room service and watched TV instead of eating dry crackers on a hard floor all day.

Holly:

Well, I guess hindsight is 20/20.

Toru:

Next time, just let me make the decision.

TRIVIA

Do you know where the numbers in the expression hindsight is 20/20 come from? 20/20 refers to a person’s vision. If you have 20/20 vision, you have perfect eyesight. The number 20 comes from 20 feet (6 meters), the normal distance in vision tests.

PRACTICE

STEP A EXERCISE

The underlined expressions are close but not quite correct. Correct them.

  1. I always bring an umbrella and a raincoat, especially during typhoon season. Better keep safe than apologize, you know?
  2. My son finally sold his card collection. I think that was a good calling since he needs money to pay his own bills now.
  3. I guess eyesight is 20/20. I only realized how important having a security system is after my home was robbed.

STEP B EXERCISE

Are the rephrased sentences correct? If not, correct them.

1. Don’t blame me for not realizing that my girlfriend was cheating on me. Hindsight is 20/20.

→ Don’t blame me for not realizing that my girlfriend was cheating on me. I noticed the signs early on.

 

 

2. You’ve had that cough for three days already! I think you should go in for a checkup. Better safe than sorry.

→ You’ve had that cough for three days already! It’s better if you have that checked now before it becomes worse and you regret not getting a checkup.

 

 

3. I’m sorry for pulling that trick on you. I didn’t think you’d get angry, but I guess hindsight is 20/20.

→ I’m sorry for pulling that trick on you. I didn’t think that it would make you angry, but now I understand why it did.

 

 

4. His decision to invest in those stocks was a good call.

→ I don’t support his decision to invest in those stocks.

CHALLENGE

Challenge 1

You and your friend are vacationing in Mexico. You had plans to visit a popular waterpark there, but you heard reports that someone got sick after visiting it and decided to cancel your plans. Now, your friend just heard an update about the waterpark. Talk about the update and discuss the decision you made.

Today's Expressions

  • better safe than sorry
  • hindsight is 20/20
  • a good call

Challenge 2

Discuss your ideas.

If Time
Allows
1

DECISIONS
2

GOOD CALLS
3

BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY
1

DECISIONS

  1. How often do you regret your decisions?
  2. What was the best decision you ever made?
  3. Do you ever use something to help you decide (ex. flipping a coin, doing rock-paper-scissors)?
  4. What are the pros and cons of making quick decisions?

2GOOD CALLS

  1. Do you think deciding to study English with RareJob Eikaiwa was a good call?
  2. Do you think it’s a good call to travel to a dangerous place?
  3. Do you think using eco-friendly products is a good call in the long run?
  4. Do you think it's a good call to always bring an umbrella?

3BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY

  1. When shopping online, do you think it's better to be safe and not save your credit card details on your computer?
  2. When ordering food, do you think it's better to be safe and not try something new?
  3. When driving, do you think it's better to be safe and not speed?
  4. When using social media, do you think it's better to be safe and not post a lot of personal information?

FEEDBACK

I can express how I feel about decisions that were made.

LESSON GOAL ACHIEVEMENT

  • 4
    Very Good

    Could complete the task with ease

  • 3
    Good

    Could complete the task with some clarifications

  • 2
    Fair

    Could complete the task with additional instructions

  • 1
    Poor

    Could somehow complete the task with difficulty

PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK