gambling:
putting money in slot machines, playing games like roulette or poker, betting on sports etc. in the hope of winning more money
verb: “gamble”
addicted:
unable to stop doing something even though you know it’s harmful because you enjoy it so much
noun: “addiction”
cured:
someone is “cured” of an addiction or a disease if they recover from it because of treatment (counselling, medicine, etc.)
suffer:
have bad experiences (pain, poverty, imprisonment etc)
noun: “suffering”
relatives:
members of a person’s family
• writing activities for ‘Gabriela Byrne’
1. writing
• instructions
- Write a one-paragraph story about one of the topics listed below.
- It is best if the story is true.
- It is best if the story is about you or someone you know well.
- It should concentrate on one particularly important or interesting event.
- Maximum length: 150 words. Maximum time: 20 minutes.
• topics
- How [someone] Became Addicted to Gambling
- What Happened to [someone] Because of an Addiction to Gambling
- How [someone] Was Cured of an Addiction to Gambling
- How [someone] Suffered Because of a Relative’s Addiction to Gambling
2. correction
• form groups of three (or four)
• exchange paragraphs with your partner(s)
• silently check your partners' papers for errors
3. discussion
• choose one paragraph from your group for reading to another group
• send the author of the chosen paragraph to another group and invite that group to send someone to your group
• listen while your guest reads his or her paragraph aloud
• if your guest’s pronunciation or grammar causes confusion, interrupt and ask for clarification
• when your guest has finished reading, summarize his or her paragraph to make sure it has been fully understood
• discuss with your guest the content of his or her paragraph