Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. deal with (something)
    • ex. He is dealing with a bad back injury and needs to rest.
  2. chronic
    • ex. My grandfather suffers from chronic knee pain when he walks up the stairs.
  3. elite
    • ex. Training as an elite athlete requires hours of practice every single day.
  4. inspirational
    • ex. Reading an inspirational book can motivate you when you feel down.
  5. an expectation
    • ex. It is important to set clear expectations before starting a group project.

Article

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

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Serious injuries can disrupt a person’s life and confidence. Athletes know how difficult it is to get injured. It requires them to do physical therapy, but it’s uncertain whether they can compete again. Experts say learning from athletes’ experiences can help anyone dealing with chronic pain or recovering from surgery.

First, people must listen to their bodies and know their limits. An injury can happen suddenly. A small problem can slowly turn into a major condition that stops you completely. Former runner Liv Paxton learned this after having surgery for her leg injuries. She accepted that her body is telling her to slow down. Experts say you cannot ignore pain forever because your body will eventually make you stop and rest.

Some sports psychologists also say healing often means accepting a new future. A skier had to stop elite sports after a head injury, but is now a successful inspirational speaker. Although this is different from being an athlete, she said she still feels as excited as when she did sports. Experts say that having patience and changing expectations are the most important steps toward moving forward after an injury.

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

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Dealing with Chronic Pain and Injury

  • What do you think about the idea that you cannot ignore physical pain forever because your body will eventually make you stop and rest? Discuss.
  • When you experience physical pain or a minor injury, how do you usually handle it? Discuss.
  • What kind of injury have you had in the past (ex. a small cut on the hand, a knee injury)? Discuss.

Athletes

  • What do you think about athletes who continue competing even when they are hurt or injured? Discuss.
  • If you had the talent, would you want to become a professional athlete knowing one bad injury could end your career? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Do you admire former athletes who build successful new careers outside of sports, or do you feel sorry for them because they had to stop playing? Why? Discuss.