Imagine taking a risky walk through bombed-out buildings, the entire time hiding from snipers. Now imagine that you’re dodging bullets and risking your life to…read. For many of us, this seems crazy, but for some people in Damascus, Syria, risking their lives to read is the only thing that keeps them sane.
Felix the Fearless
Base jumpers are daredevils who jump from high buildings, bridges and mountains with parachutes. Felix Baumgartner wasn’t just a base jumper, he was a space jumper. He jumped from a balloon that reached 36 km up in the sky at the edge of space. Felix is your prototypical daredevil, a person who takes risks without any regard for their own safety. He is known as Felix the fearless, but he was so overcome with fear before his space jump that he fled the country.
Is Speaking English Risky?
You might not realize it, but many see speaking in English as risky. They fear the risk of making mistakes or looking foolish. Just like the Extreme Kidnapping though, there’s no real danger involved in making mistakes. What about you? Do you think making mistakes in English is risky or embarrassing? This is important, because fear of failure will stop you from becoming a more fluent English speaker. How can you reframe the way you think and feel when speaking English?
Adapted from an image by Peter Jackson (CC BY 4.0)