Listening
00:00
00:00
00:00
Download

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. unconventional
    • ex. Instead of a cake, they had an unconventional wedding dessert with ice cream and cookies.
  2. cemetery
    • ex. We walked past the cemetery, where many people were buried.
  3. non-communicable
    • ex. Some non-communicable diseases, like heart disease, can be prevented through regular exercise and a healthy diet.
  4. increasingly
    • ex. People are increasingly using smartphones to stay connected with family and friends.
  5. specialist
    • ex. The company hired a computer specialist to fix the issues with their office computers.

Article

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

Font size

In Zimbabwe, many older people are exercising in unconventional places like cemeteries because of limited fitness facilities. They are trying to fight non-communicable diseases such as heart problems, high blood pressure, and diabetes. One example is 65-year-old Nelly Mutandwa. She joined the Commandos Fitness Club and goes to a cemetery in Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital, for daily exercise. She says it helps manage her diabetes.

Around the world, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a big problem, causing 41 million deaths each year, according to the World Health Organization. In Zimbabwe, the Ministry of Health says NCDs make up about 40% of deaths. These diseases affected older people mostly in the past. But now, NCDs are increasingly affecting children and young adults. This is because of bad habits like smoking, drinking too much alcohol, and eating unhealthy food.

Public health specialist Dr. Johannes Marisa thinks that more young people in Zimbabwe have NCDs because they spend too much time on their smartphones and do not move enough. They also have poor diets because of fast food. Meanwhile, older Zimbabweans like Mutandwa are getting more active in their fitness routines, supported by fitness coaches.

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

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Fitness

  • How can you say that a person is physically fit (ex. he/she has an ideal weight, he/she is strong)? Discuss.
  • Which do you prefer, exercising indoors or outdoors? Why? Discuss.
  • In Zimbabwe, a fitness group often exercises in a cemetery, which is unconventional. In your country, are there any unconventional places where people go to exercise? Discuss.

Non-Communicable Diseases

  • Are you concerned about getting non-communicable diseases? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Why do you think non-communicable diseases are becoming more common among young people today? Discuss.
  • Older Zimbabweans are getting more active in their fitness routines to manage non-communicable diseases. In your country, what kind of lifestyle do many older people have? Discuss.