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课程计划：商海沉浮、自我探索与金融人生(第三部分)

学习目标：

透过本故事〈商海沉浮、自我探索与金融人生〉，学生能够继续提升阅读理解能力、词汇量以及批判思考能力。

花费时间：

45分钟

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.”

阅读前的准备 (10分钟)

重要单词：

Trepidation (noun)：一种害怕或焦虑可能发生什么的感觉。* “当他准备他的第一场公众演讲时，他感到非常焦虑。”
Uncharted (adjective)：没有被标示在地图上、或未曾勘测到的；未知的。* “探险家启程踏入未知的领域，渴望发现新大陆。”
Infectious (adjective)：容易非常迅速地散布或影响其他人。* “她的笑声很有感染力，很快地房间里的人都笑了。”
Bustling (adjective)：充满各种活动和噪音的。* “市场熙熙攘攘，人们忙着买卖货物。”
Soulful (adjective)：表达很深刻的情感或情绪的。* “这位音乐家的深情演奏让观众热泪盈眶。”
Dimly (adverb)：光线不足或非常微弱的。* “这间房间的照明只靠一根蜡烛的微光。”
Serene (adjective)：平静、祥和、无忧无虑的。* “这个湖泊在晨光下散发着宁静的氛围。”
Relentless (adjective)：持续不断且高强度的。* “运动员高强度的训练最终让他赢得了冠军。”

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.

阅读时间 (20 minutes)

阅读：第三篇〈启程〉

Jonathan Blake站在登机门边，他的心脏扑通扑通地跳着，既兴奋又忐忑不安。理论上，决定休息一段时间去旅行是一件不足一提的小事，但当他准备登机前往东京，他渐渐认知到正在发生的一切都是真实且充满挑战的。习惯了被交件期限与金融交易追着跑的他一直是果断且富有行动力的。虽然如此，但这次他面对的是一个未知的领土。

飞行时间很长，给了Jonathan很多时间思考。他思考着与Michael的谈话以及他的建议：去找找什么可以真正让他快乐。这不是一个简单的任务，但他决定接受这个挑战。当飞机降落到成田国际机场，他满心期待。日本是他探索自我的旅程中的第一站。

东京的繁华与喧嚣宛如一场旋风，瞬间将他包围。城市的能量很有感染力，让Jonathan不由自主地沉浸在这个活力充沛的文化中。白天他把时间花在探索古老的寺庙和熙熙攘攘的市场，夜晚则品尝当地美食。每一次的体验都在提醒着他，这就是高阶金融界藩篱外的世界。

某个夜晚，他漫步在霓虹灯闪烁的涩谷街头，偶然发现了一间小小的爵士乐酒吧。被从里面传出的深情乐声所吸引，他决定进去看看。昏暗的灯光下，悠扬的萨克斯风旋律萦绕整个房间，Jonathan立刻感觉到心灵的平静。他在吧台找了个位子坐下，点了一杯酒，让音乐洗涤他的心灵。

随着夜色渐深，他与调酒师攀谈了起来。调酒师名叫健治，是个友善的人。他们聊着音乐、旅行，以及东京的生活。Jonathan自然而然地在这一刻敞开了心扉，他已经很多年没有这么做了。他分享了自己的旅行，以及自己为何离开花旗集团的故事。

健治认真地聆听，若有所思地点了点头：「在我听来你正在寻找的不仅仅是一份新工作。」他说。「有时候，我们需要离开熟悉的环境，才能找到真正重要的东西。」

Jonathan点头，对健治的话深表认同。「你说得对，这趟旅行的意义不只是单纯的休息，而是让我重新找回自己。」

在接下来的几周里，Jonathan继续他在日本的旅行，造访京都宁静的庭园、攀登日本阿尔卑斯山，在箱根泡温泉放松身心。每一次的新体验都让他更加了解他想要在人生中获得什么。

一天下午，当他在山间小径上冥想时，突然感觉到一种前所未有的清明。当清新的空气充满他的肺，他意识到自己对金融的热情从未消失，只是被对成功不懈的追求所掩盖了。他需要的是找到一种方式，能够平衡工作又能带给自己快乐的生活方式。

带着这份全新的体悟，Jonathan感受到内心的平静。他知道他的自我探索旅程还要很久才会结束，但他已经踏上了正确的道路。当他准备离开日本继续下一段旅程时，心中浮现更崭新清晰的人生方向。未来仍然充满未知，但这是他第一次想兴奋地拥抱它。

Image by Mads Schmidt Rasmussen on Unsplash

Post Reading Comprehension (15 minutes)

Comprehension Questions:

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?

阅读后的讨论 (15 minutes)

促进阅读理解的问题：

暖身是非题：

True or False: Jonathan Blake对于可以辞掉工作环游世界感到兴奋。
True or False: Jonathan与Michael的一番谈话让他决定辞掉他的工作。
True or False: Jonathan发现日本之旅令他不知所措而且体验不尽人意。
True or False: 经过这次旅行，Jonathan理解到他对金融领域的专业再也没有热情。

简答题：

Jonathan在他的旅行中寻找什么？
健治给了Jonathan什么建议？
当Jonathan在山间小径冥想时，他领悟到了什么？

讨论问题：

Jonathan的日本经验如何影响他的自我探索？
在此篇故事中，Jonathan如何改变看待自己的职涯和人生的角度？

Answer Key