Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. a nap
    • ex. Grandpa always takes a nap after lunch to get some rest.
  2. energized
    • ex. Exercising in the morning makes me feel energized and happy all day.
  3. enhance
    • ex. Listening to your favorite music can enhance your mood and make you feel better.
  4. alertness
    • ex. Drinking water can improve your alertness during work.
  5. adjust
    • ex. I will move to a city in the north. I hope my body can adjust to the cold weather there quickly.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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Sleeping for about 30 minutes in the afternoon has its benefits. James Maas, a sleep expert, says almost everyone feels tired in the afternoon. It’s because of the body’s natural cycle, which makes us sleepy once at night and again between 2 and 4 p.m. So, experts recommend a nap routine that can make you feel energized throughout the day.

Maas says short naps, or “power naps,” are an easy way to enhance alertness, creativity, and productivity. In fact, research has found that naps are better than coffee in helping people think clearly. Power naps only last 30 minutes or less. Maas doesn’t recommend hour-long naps because they can make a person feel very tired. Also, it can take a person about an hour to fully wake up from hour-long naps.

How can a person get a good nap? Find a quiet, dark, cool place to sleep. Set a timer for 15 to 20 minutes to help your body adjust. Don’t worry about taking power naps. Experts say they don’t affect our sleep at night.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Taking a Nap

  • Experts say power naps have many benefits for us. How do you usually feel after a nap? Discuss.
  • The body's natural cycle makes us sleepy at night and again between 2 and 4 p.m. What do you do when you feel sleepy during those hours (ex. I sleep, I drink coffee)? Discuss.
  • Experts suggest a healthy nap routine. What do you think are the ideal conditions for you to take a perfect nap? Discuss.

Power Naps

  • Short naps are also called “power naps.” Why do you think it’s called this way? Discuss.
  • Research has found that naps are better than coffee for helping people think clearly. How do you feel about this (ex. I believe it, I’m surprised)? Discuss.
  • Aside from taking power naps, how important do you think it is for people to have enough sleep at night? Discuss.