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City Stories Shanghai No.02: William talks with to a traditional Chinese doctor who practices Tai Chi to live a long and happy life.

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City Stories: “The Slow and The Fast”

LIANG: I’m 71 years old. My name is Liang Qichang. I’ve been doing this Tai Chi for over 50 years.

WILLIAM: Every morning, all across China, millions of people head to their local park to play Tai Chi.

This ancient system of slow moving exercise and self defense is famous for its many health benefits.

It was an interesting contrast, to see these slow moving people doing traditional exercise, in the middle of a fast moving modern city. But creating harmony between life’s opposite forces is what Tai Chi is all about.

LIANG: I have a son and a grandson; a very happy family. The first time I started to do Tai Chi was because I wasn’t very healthy when I was young. I always got sick. That’s why my aunt introduced me to do this Tai Chi, and I did it for 3 months at first. And my body is getting better, and I put on weight, and I can eat more food, which means I’m getting healthy and Tai Chi is really beneficial for me. That’s why I want to keep this exercise, and year after year, I’ve done this for 50 years.

WILLIAM: There is no doubt that we live in a fast moving world. But Tai Chi teaches us the importance of balancing the fast and the slow, the soft and the hard, the push and the pull. Good lessons for life I think, because slowing down might help some of us live healthier lives, in a world that’s getting faster and faster every day. In the end, faster is not always better, but we’ll never know unless we try to slow down. Just ask Mr. Liang.

END!

William’s Audio Lesson: WEDNESDAY!

(“Right Click and Save Link As” to download)

USEFUL PHRASES
have been doing something = (present perfect continuous) to do something from the past up to the present and continuing into the future.
all across somewhere = in many different areas in some place.
head to somewhere = to go to, or go in the direction of somewhere.
ancient system = a very old system
be an interesting contrast = be an interesting different between two things.
creating harmony between st. and st. = to allow two things to exist together without conflict.
opposite forces = two things that work in opposition to each other.
Introduce so. to st. = to show someone something new.
to put on weight = to gain weight, to get heavier.
to be beneficial = to give benefit or bring benefit.
be no doubt / have no doubt = something is certain or sure.
teach the importance of st. = show why something is important.
we will never know unless we try = only if you try something can you know about it.

Brad’s Audio Lesson: THURSDAY!

(“Right Click and Save Link As” to download)

MASTER PHRASES
1. have been doing st. = to do something from the past up to the present and continuing into the future.
2. be an interesting st. = means that something is interesting
3. to be beneficial = to give some benefit or bring benefit
4. be no doubt / have no doubt about st. = to know something for certain, or to feel certain about something.

PHRASAL VERBS with “Put”
1. put down = to insult, say bad things about
2. put off = to postpone doing something
3. put so. on. = to deceive or lie to someone
4. put up with st. = to tolerate something unpleasant

NEW IDOM
1. put a damper on something = to cause a situation to lose its excitement or joy; to stop something from being enjoyable

Discussion Questions + Vocabulary Building

TOPIC QUESTIONS
1. Q: What kinds of healthy exercises are popular in your country?
2. Q: Tell us about the oldest person in your family.
3: Q: Tell us about something you were introduced to and who introduced you to it?
4. Q: Do you feel like your life is moving too slow or too fast? Why?

Main Lesson Question

What do you do (healthy habits) to stay strong and healthy?

 
 

*All Posted Comments CORRECTED by the Teachers.*