B2 – Upper Intermediate
The habits or rituals that lead to rich and famous people to their success are secrets everyone is dying to know, thinking it could hopefully bring them the same fortune.
Read the article about superstitious learning and how the eccentric habits of high-flying individuals bring them success.
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220708-superstitious-learning-can-lucky-rituals-bring-success
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does the phrase “gospel truth” mean, “Some of their behaviours will have been acquired through superstitious learning – and we may then follow their advice as if it were the gospel truth.”? Use it in your own sentence.
- What does “rife” mean, “Creative tasks are especially rife with uncertainty – which may explain why thinkers like Gates, Beethoven and Dickens adopted such specific behaviours to get their thoughts flowing.“? Use this word in your own sentence.
- What does “spurious” mean, “It is notoriously difficult to get a new paper accepted by a prestigious journal, she says, and researchers will often find spurious reasons for their successes and failures.”? Use this word in your own sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- What are your thoughts on superstitious learning?
- Give a benefit and a downside of over-imitation.
- People sometimes attribute success to something so random rather than their own talent or hard work. Share your thoughts on this.
- What are some rituals that you think bring you luck and success? Where did you learn this from?
- Have you ever taken a famous and successful person’s idiosyncratic rites and rituals in the hope that you can somehow achieve the same success? Share about it.
- Why do successful people follow eccentric habits?