ESL Lesson: A Story of Business, Self-Discovery & Finance Part 3

Objective:

Students will continue to improve their reading comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking skills through the story “Business, Self-Discovery and Finance.”

Duration:

45 minutes

ESL課程計畫：商海浮沉、自我探索與金融人生(第三部分)

學習目標：

透過本故事〈商海浮沉、自我探索與金融人生〉，學生能夠繼續提升閱讀理解能力、詞彙量以及批判思考能力。

花費時間：

45分鐘

Image by Taiki Ishikawa on Unsplash

Pre-Reading Vocabulary (10 minutes)

Vocabulary Preview

trepidation (noun): a feeling of fear or anxiety about something that may happen. * “He felt a sense of trepidation as he prepared to give his first public speech.”
uncharted (adjective): not mapped or surveyed; unknown. * “The explorer set off into uncharted territory, eager to discover new lands.”
infectious (adjective): likely to spread or influence others in a rapid manner. * “Her laughter was infectious, and soon everyone in the room was smiling.”
bustling (adjective): full of activity and noise. * “The market was bustling with people buying and selling goods.
soulful (adjective): expressing deep feeling or emotion. * “The musician's soulful performance brought tears to the audience's eyes.”
dimly (adverb): with a faint or insufficient light. * “The room was dimly lit by a single candle.”
serene (adjective): calm, peaceful, and untroubled. * “The lake was serene in the early morning light.”
relentless (adjective): unceasingly intense. * “The athlete's relentless training paid off when he won the championship.”

閱讀前的準備 (10分鐘)

重要單字：

Trepidation (noun)：一種害怕或焦慮可能發生什麼的感覺。* "當他準備他的第一場公眾演說時，他感到非常焦慮。"
Uncharted (adjective)：沒有被標示在地圖上、或未曾勘測到的；未知的。* "探險家啟程踏入未知的領域，渴望發現新大陸。"
Infectious (adjective)：容易非常迅速地散布或影響其他人。* "她的笑聲很有感染力，很快地房間裡的大家都笑了。"
Bustling (adjective)：充滿各種活動和噪音的。* "市場熙來攘往，人們忙著買賣貨物。"
Soulful (adjective)：表達很深刻的情感或情緒的。* "這位音樂家的深情演奏讓觀眾熱淚盈眶。"
Dimly (adverb)：光線不足或非常微弱的。* "這間房間的照明只靠一根蠟燭的微光。"
Serene (adjective)：平靜、祥和、無憂無慮的。* "這個湖泊在晨光下散發著寧靜的氛圍。"
Relentless (adjective)：持續不斷且高強度的。* "運動選手高強度的訓練最終讓他贏得了冠軍。"

Reading Activity (20 minutes)

Chapter 3: The Journey Begins

Jonathan Blake stood at the departure gate, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and trepidation. The decision to take a break and travel had been easy in theory, but now, as he prepared to board a flight to Tokyo, the reality of it all was sinking in. He had always been a man of action, driven by deadlines and deals. This was uncharted territory.

The flight was long, giving Jonathan plenty of time to reflect. He thought about his conversation with Michael and the advice to find what truly made him happy. It was a daunting task, but one he was determined to undertake. As the plane descended into Narita International Airport, he felt a surge of anticipation. Japan was the first stop on his journey of self-discovery.

Tokyo greeted him with a whirlwind of sights and sounds. The city’s energy was infectious, and Jonathan found himself swept up in the vibrant culture. He spent his days exploring ancient temples and bustling markets, and his nights sampling the local cuisine. Each experience was a reminder of the world beyond the confines of high finance.

One evening, as he wandered through the neon-lit streets of Shibuya, he stumbled upon a small jazz club. Drawn by the soulful music drifting from within, he decided to step inside. The dimly lit room was filled with the smooth sounds of a saxophone, and Jonathan felt an immediate sense of calm. He found a seat at the bar and ordered a drink, letting the music wash over him.

As the night wore on, he struck up a conversation with the bartender, a friendly man named Kenji. They talked about music, travel, and life in Tokyo. Jonathan found himself opening up in a way he hadn’t in years, sharing his journey and the reasons behind his departure from Citigroup.

Kenji listened intently, nodding thoughtfully. “It sounds like you’re searching for something more than just a new job,” he said. “Sometimes, we need to step away from what we know to find what truly matters.”

Jonathan nodded, appreciating the wisdom in Kenji’s words. “You’re right. This trip is about more than just taking a break. It’s about finding myself again.”

Over the next few weeks, Jonathan continued his travels across Japan, visiting Kyoto’s serene gardens, hiking in the Japanese Alps, and soaking in the hot springs of Hakone. Each new experience brought him closer to understanding what he truly wanted from life.

One afternoon, while meditating on a mountain trail, he had a moment of clarity. With his lungs full of clean and clear air, he realized that his passion for finance hadn’t faded; it had simply been overshadowed by the relentless pursuit of success. What he needed was to find a way to balance his career with the other aspects of his life that brought him joy.

With this newfound insight, Jonathan felt a sense of peace. He knew that his journey was far from over, but he was on the right path. As he prepared to leave Japan and continue his travels, he felt a renewed sense of purpose. The future was still uncertain, but for the first time, he was excited to embrace it.

閱讀時間 (20 minutes)

閱讀：第三篇〈啟程〉

Jonathan Blake站在登機門邊，他的心臟撲通撲通地跳著，既興奮又忐忑不安。理論上，決定休息一段時間去旅行是一件不足一提的小事，但當他準備登機前往東京，他漸漸認知到正在發生的一切都是真實且充滿挑戰的。習慣了被交件期限與金融交易追著跑的他一直是果斷且富有行動力的。雖然如此，但這次他面對的是一個未知的領土。

飛行時間很長，給了Jonathan很多時間思考。他思考著與Michael的談話以及他的建議：去找找什麼可以真正讓他快樂。這不是一個簡單的任務，但他決定接受這個挑戰。當飛機降落到成田國際機場，他滿心期待。日本是他探索自我的旅程中的第一站。

東京的繁華與喧囂宛如一場旋風，瞬間將他包圍。城市的能量很有感染力，讓Jonathan不由自主地沉浸在這個活力充沛的文化中。白天他把時間花在探索古老的寺廟和熙來攘往的市場，夜晚則品嚐當地美食。每一次的體驗都在提醒著他，這就是高階金融界藩籬外的世界。

某個夜晚，他漫步在霓虹燈閃爍的澀谷街頭，偶然發現了一間小小的爵士樂酒吧。被從裡面傳出的深情樂聲所吸引，他決定走進去看看。昏暗的燈光下，悠揚的薩克斯風旋律縈繞整個房間，Jonathan立刻感覺到心靈的平靜。他在吧台找了個位子坐下，點了一杯酒，讓音樂洗滌他的心靈。

隨著夜色漸深，他與調酒師攀談了起來。調酒師名叫健治，是個友善的人。他們聊著音樂、旅行，以及東京的生活。Jonathan自然而然地在這一刻敞開了心扉，他已經很多年沒有這麼做了。他分享了自己的旅行，以及自己為何離開花旗集團的故事。

健治認真地聆聽，若有所思地點了點頭：「在我聽來你正在尋找的不僅僅是一份新工作。」他說。「有時候，我們需要離開熟悉的環境，才能找到真正重要的東西。」

Jonathan點頭，對健治的話深表認同。「你說得對，這趟旅行的意義不只是單純的休息，而是讓我重新找回自己。」

在接下來的幾週裡，Jonathan繼續他在日本的旅行，造訪京都寧靜的庭園、攀登日本阿爾卑斯山，在箱根泡溫泉放鬆身心。每一次的新體驗都讓他更加了解他想要在人生中獲得什麼。

一天下午，當他在山間小徑上冥想時，突然感覺到一種前所未有的清明。當清新的空氣充滿他的肺，他意識到自己對金融的熱情從未消失，只是被對成功不懈的追求所掩蓋了。他需要的是找到一種方式，能夠平衡工作又能帶給自己快樂的生活方式。

帶著這份全新的體悟，Jonathan感受到內心的平靜。他知道他的自我探索旅程還要很久才會結束，但他已經踏上了正確的道路。當他準備離開日本繼續下一段旅程時，心中浮現更嶄新清晰的人生方向。未來仍然充滿未知，但這是他第一次想興奮地擁抱它。

Image by Mads Schmidt Rasmussen on Unsplash

Post Reading Comprehension (15 minutes)

Warm-Up (True/False)

True or False: Jonathan Blake was excited to leave his job and travel the world.
True or False: Jonathan's conversation with Michael inspired him to quit his job.
True or False: Jonathan found Japan to be overwhelming and underwhelming.
True or False: Through his travels, Jonathan realized that he was no longer passionate about finance.

Short Response

What was Jonathan searching for on his trip?
What advice did Kenji give Jonathan?
What did Jonathan realize while meditating on the mountain trail?

Long Form Response

How did Jonathan's experiences in Japan contribute to his self-discovery?
How did Jonathan's perspective on his career and life change throughout the story?

閱讀後的討論 (15 minutes)

促進閱讀理解的問題：

暖身是非題：

True or False: Jonathan Blake對於可以辭掉工作環遊世界感到興奮。
True or False: Jonathan與Michael的一番談話讓他決定辭掉他的工作。
True or False: Jonathan發現日本之旅令他不知所措而且體驗不盡人意。
True or False: 經過這次旅行，Jonathan理解到他對金融領域的專業再也沒有熱情。

簡答題：

Jonathan在他的旅行中尋找什麼？
健治給了Jonathan什麼建議？
當Jonathan在山間小徑冥想時，他領悟到了什麼？

討論問題：

1. Jonathan的日本經驗如何影響他的自我探索？

2. 在此篇故事中，Jonathan如何改變看待自己的職涯和人生的角度？

Answer Key