Try Something New for 30 Days

00:04
A few years ago, I felt like I was stuck in a rut, so I decided to follow in the footsteps of the great
American philosopher, Morgan Spurlock, and try something new for 30 days. The idea is actually
pretty simple. Think about something you've always wanted to add to your life and try it for the next 30
days. It turns out 30 days is just about the right amount of time to add a new habit or subtract a habit
-- like watching the news -- from your life. 

00:35
There's a few things I learned while doing these 30-day challenges. The first was, instead of the
months flying by, forgotten, the time was much more memorable. This was part of a challenge I did to
take a picture every day for a month. And I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing that
day. I also noticed that as I started to do more and harder 30-day challenges, my self-confidence
grew. I went from desk-dwelling computer nerd to the kind of guy who bikes to work. For fun! 
(Laughter) 

01:09
Even last year, I ended up hiking up Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. I would never
have been that adventurous before I started my 30-day challenges. 

01:19
I also figured out that if you really want something badly enough, you can do anything for 30
days. Have you ever wanted to write a novel? Every November, tens of thousands of people try to
write their own 50,000-word novel, from scratch, in 30 days. It turns out, all you have to do is write
1,667 words a day for a month. So I did. By the way, the secret is not to go to sleep until you've written
your words for the day. You might be sleep-deprived, but you'll finish your novel. Now is my book the
next great American novel? No. I wrote it in a month. It's awful.  (Laughter) 

02:06
But for the rest of my life, if I meet John Hodgman at a TED party, I don't have to say, "I'm a computer
scientist." No, no, if I want to, I can say, "I'm a novelist."  (Laughter) 

02:21
So here's one last thing I'd like to mention. I learned that when I made small, sustainable
changes, things I could keep doing, they were more likely to stick. There's nothing wrong with big,
crazy challenges. In fact, they're a ton of fun. But they're less likely to stick. When I gave up sugar for
30 days, day 31 looked like this. (Laughter) 

02:45
So here's my question to you: What are you waiting for? I guarantee you the next 30 days are going to
pass whether you like it or not, so why not think about something you have always wanted to try and
give it a shot! For the next 30 days. 

03:04 Thanks.  (Applause) 

*Video link:
https://www.ted.com/talks/matt_cutts_try_something_new_for_30_days/transcript#t-81652

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 Steps to follow:

 Step 1: Skim the text and check the meanings of the words given.
 Step 2: Fill in the blanks for the Vocabulary Part.
 Step 3: Read the questions about the text. Watch the TED Talk video (with
English subtitles) and answer the questions according to the video in the Reading
Part.
 Step 4: Watch the video again (with or without subtitles). Answer the questions
in the Writing Part, then write a reaction paragraph.

A. Vocabulary Part:

1. Be stuck in a rut: (idiom) be in a boring, monotonous lifestyle

2. Follow in someone’s footsteps: (idiom) to do the same thing as someone else
3. Subtract: (verb) opposite of add
4. Challenge: (noun) something new and difficult which requires great effort
5. Notice: (verb) to become aware of; realize
6. Hike: (verb) to walk for a long distance
7. Mention: (verb) to state; to tell
8. Stick: to continue doing or using something.
9. Give up: (verb) to stop doing something (e.g. Jack should give up smoking.)
10. Sustainable: (adjective) long-term; long-lasting
11. Give something a shot: (idiom) to try to do something

Vocabulary Exercise:

Fill in the blanks with the suitable words given in the box below.

stick sustainable mention challenge

hike subtract give (something) a shot

1. John wants to ____hike____ up Mt. Everest. This weekend he can try it with an
adventurous group.
2. You like painting a lot, so you should _______give______ painting ______a
shot_______.
3. That new diet program is a 15-day _______challenge____________. I want to try it.
I’m sure I’ll be successful.
4. Jill has diabetes. She must completely _____subtract_____________ sugar from her
life.
5. They ____mention_______________ on TV that, the virus has become a pandemic.
6. He is too busy, and I think he is stuck in a rut. I hope he can make a
____sustainable____________ change for his life.
7. Ron follows in his uncle’s footsteps. He has made many positive changes in his life
and these changes are likely to ____stick_________________.

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 B. Reading Part:

Watch the TED Talk video. Then answer the questions according to the video:

1. Who is the speaker? Speaker ls Matt Cutts.

2. What did Matt Cutts decide to do a few years ago? He declded to follow in the
footsteps of the great Amerlcan philosopher. Morgan Sperlock.

3. Why did he decide to follow in the footsteps of Morgan Spurlock? He wanted to add to
his life.

4. Who is Morgan Spurlock? He is American philosopher.

5. What is Morgan Spurlock’s idea? Spurlocks’s idea is 30 day challenge.

6. How many days should you try something new? 30 days.

7. Can you add or subtract a habit in 30 days? Yes, I can.

8. What example does Matt Cutts give for a habit? Writing a novel and riding bike.

9. What did he notice about himself after he started the 30-day challenges? The time
was much more memorable.

10. Where did he hike last year? Mt. Klimanjaro

11. What is the secret to write a novel? The secret is not to go to sleep.

12. Is his novel good? No it is not good.His novel is awful.

13. What kind of challenges are more likely to stick, big or small? Small challenges are
more likely to stick.

C. WRITING TASK

TED TALKS – WRITING A REACTION

Think about the following questions while you are watching the video:

1. What is the speaker’s name? Speaker’s name is Matt Cuts

2. What is the title of the speech? Titlle is try something new for 30 days.

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 3. What is the topic of the speech? Try something a habit in 30 days.

4. What is the speaker’s idea?

Think about something you have always wanted to try and give a shot! For the next 30 days.

5. What is your idea about the speaker’s thesis?

Do you agree or disagree with his idea? Why / Why not?

Agree (Points):

*Ambitions feeds our emotions and it makes us more stronger.

*Everybody wants to be succesful, but there are few who struggle for it.
*This can be example to others with our behavior.

Disagree (Points):

*It can cause us to be obsessed with our emotions.

*We shouldn’t live our life as if there was no tomorrow.
* Being succesful in a short time can attract the attention of other people and it can cause
a enemy.

Before writing your reaction paragraph, answer the questions above.

Then write a reaction paragraph. In your paragraph: Use at least 3 words from the
Vocabulary Part (also underlined in the text) (100-120 words).

Your Reaction Paragraph

(Template)

A Reaction Paragraph on’’Different Styles”

 In his speech talking about the be free in our lives and explains that how can we do
this thing. He claims that, we can do it in a 30 day and how.I
 I agree with to be free that, changes are affect use in a good way .On the other
hand it makes us unhappy because we are leaving our lifes behind and starting a
new thing that affect us in a bad way.All in all, everything has it’s good side as well
as it’s bad side.I think we should need to do whatever we do because life is short
we need to have fun it.

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 A Sample Reaction Paragraph (for key points)

A Reaction Paragraph on “How the button changed fashion”

In her / his speech “How the button changed fashion” (2018), Izaac Mizrahi explains the
significance of buttons in the design and use of clothes. He thinks / claims / argues that,
the button is a remarkable invention in terms of its various functions.

D. Writing
I agree Part Mizrahi that, buttons are better than other fasteners to keep our clothes
with Izaac
close because
1. Do youthey are idea”
like “the easy Matt
and Cutts
practical. Theyinare
mentions also Why
his talk? more/ Why
secure.
not? On the other
(Explain in 2 or
3 sentences)
hand, I disagree with Mizrahi that, ……………………………………………..………

All in 2.
all, Think about
I think, as the situation
Mizrahi we are living
mentions, these
buttons aredays.
veryYou don’t go
practical to school
and easy inbecause of
clothing.
the Corona Virus, which has become pandemic. Would you like to try “the idea”?
…………………………(summary+opinion)……………………………………………
What habits would you like to add or subtract (from/at home)?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Write a paragraph. In your paragraph: Use at least 3 words from the Vocabulary
Part (also underlined in the text).

Useful Expressions in Writing

Addition
………….and………….
……………too
Also, …………………
In addition, ……………
Moreover, ……………….
Besides that, ………………
Furthermore, …………………..

Opposition
………………but……………..
However, ……………………
On the other hand, ………………………
Nevertheless, ……………………….
Nonetheless,

Example
For example, ………………….
For instance, ………………….
………………, such as ………………………

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 Draw emphasis
Indeed, ………………
In fact, ……………….
Of course, ………………

To conclude
All in all, …………………
In conclusion, …………………………
On the whole, …………………………
To conclude, …………………….

Expressing your opinion

 “I think, + [your sentence]”
 “I believe that + [your sentence]”
 “In my opinion, + [your sentence]”
 “In my view, + [your sentence]”
 “In my mind, + [your sentence]”
 “It seems to me that, + [your sentence]”
 “I agree / disagree that, + [your sentence]”