Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. backward
    • ex. He took two steps backward to avoid the ball.
  2. relief
    • ex. She felt great relief after hearing that her test results were good.
  3. reverse
    • ex. The reverse side of the coin has a different design.
  4. switch
    • ex. Let’s switch seats so you can see the screen better.
  5. overuse
    • ex. The overuse of phones can affect your sleep.

Article

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

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Health experts say that walking backward can be an easy way to make your walking routine more interesting and effective. Regular walking already helps strengthen your bones and muscles, improves heart health, and provides stress relief. However, doing the same routine every day can become boring. Walking backward, also known as reverse or retro walking, adds variety and engages different muscles in your body.

Janet Dufek, a movement expert from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, has studied how people move and land during exercise. She explains that walking backward can stretch your hamstrings, strengthen rarely used muscles, and improve mental focus. Dufek recommends starting slowly. Try walking backward for one minute during a 10-minute walk and gradually increase the time as you become more comfortable.

To stay safe, try walking with a partner. One person walks backward while the other walks forward to watch the path, then switch roles. Walking backward isn’t unusual. Many athletes use it in sports such as basketball, soccer, and American football. Experts say it’s also an effective way to cross-train and reduce the risk of overuse injuries.

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

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Walking Routine

  • The article says walking backward improves mental focus. Do you think physical activity can help clear your mind? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • After reading this article, would you be interested in trying walking backward as a way to exercise? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • What do you think of walking as a way to improve physical health? Discuss.

Injuries During Exercise

  • What do you think are the most common reasons people get injured while exercising (ex. exercising too hard)? Discuss.
  • How do you ensure your safety when exercising? Discuss.
  • Do you think fear of injury stops some people from exercising regularly? Why or why not? Discuss.