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Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. in a row
    • ex. We ate pizza for dinner four days in a row, so now I want to eat something else.
  2. a ranking
    • ex. In the ranking of the safest places to live, my city is number one.
  3. unhappiness
    • ex. Lisa felt deep unhappiness when her best friend moved to another city.
  4. isolated
    • ex. She felt isolated when she moved to a new school and had no friends.
  5. prioritize
    • ex. I prioritize my homework before playing games.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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Finland is the happiest country in the world for the eighth year in a row, according to the World Happiness Report 2025. Other Nordic countries, including Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden, are also among the top four. The ranking comes from answers people give when asked how they feel about their own lives.

Experts say happiness is not only about wealth but also about trust and social connections. People feel happier when they share meals and have someone to support them. In some places, larger families experience the most happiness. Believing in kindness is also related to people’s happiness. Nordic countries have the highest number of returned lost wallets, which shows honesty and kindness. Trust and helping others are an important part of Finnish culture.

Meanwhile, unhappiness is rising in some countries. The U.S. fell to its lowest happiness ranking ever at 24th place. Studies show fewer Americans eat meals together, and more young people feel socially isolated. Globally, almost one-fifth of young adults say they have no social support. Experts believe that to build stronger communities and economies, we need to care for each other and prioritize happiness.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Happiness

  • What things/experiences make you feel happy (ex. shopping, spending time with family)? Discuss.
  • Imagine people in your country were asked about their lives. Do you think many of them would say they are happy? Why do you say so? Discuss.
  • People feel happier when they share meals. Why do you think that is? Discuss.

Trust and Social Connections

  • Happiness is not only about wealth but also about trust and social connections. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • More young people feel socially isolated. Why do you think this is happening? Discuss.
  • Imagine you lost your wallet in your city. Do you believe someone will return it to you? Why do you say so? Discuss.