The Art of Doing Nothing
Grammar: None
A Level 4 English lesson exploring culture.
What's in this lesson
A Level 4 (upper intermediate) ESL lesson on culture. The worksheet has a reading, target vocabulary and discussion questions.
From the reading: The Art of Doing Nothing
Every August, large parts of southern Europe quietly shut down. Offices close, phones go unanswered, and entire city centres empty out as families head to the coast. In Italy, this mass departure is called Ferragosto — a holiday rooted in a Roman festival that the emperor Augustus created more than 2,000 years ago to give workers a rest after the harvest. What began as a single day has become, in modern Italy, the entire month of August. For many Italians, taking this time is not a luxury. It is simply what a person does.
Vocabulary
- a necessary reset
- at the heart of
- linked to
- rooted in
- consistently
- extended
- generous
- striking
- unused
Discussion questions
- How long is a typical summer holiday in your country?
- Do you think it is possible to truly switch off from work?
- Is rest a reward — or a right?
The Art of Doing Nothing
Grammar: None
What's in this lesson:
Full lesson plan with reading, grammar, vocabulary, and discussion.
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