B2 – Upper Intermediate
The place where a person grows up can have a strong influence on their personality. Their home environment, the people around them, their culture, and the experiences they have while growing up can all shape the way they think, feel, and interact with others. For example, someone raised in a quiet rural area may develop different habits and values than someone who grows up in a busy city. These differences can affect communication style, confidence, interests, and even the way a person handles problems and relationships.
Read this article to learn about it.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260206-is-our-identity-affected-by-where-we-live/
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “to take with a grain of salt” mean? “These results are always to be taken with a grain of salt, though, says Vignoles, as it is extremely difficult to disentangle behaviour, personality, culture and many other influences that come into play in this realm – and there is still so much more research to be done in the field.” Use this in a sentence. Give a synonym.
- What does “how someone sees themselves” mean? “While the basic idea that culture shapes how people see themselves is now well supported in psychology, it did come as a surprise to some psychologists in the mid-20th Century, Vignoles says.” Use this in a sentence. Give a synonym.
- Define “encapsulate“. “Similarly, about 14% supported theories suggesting the self isn’t biological but rather encapsulated in something like a soul, and that that is what makes us who we are, no matter where we’ve grown up. “ Use this in a sentence. Give a synonym.
Discussion Questions:
- Do you think the place where you grew up strongly affects your personality? Why or why not?
- If you had grown up in a different country or city, how do you think you would be different today?
- Which shapes a person more: genes, family, culture, or the environment? Explain.
- Do people from big cities and small towns usually have different personalities? In what ways?
- Have you ever noticed changes in your own personality after moving, traveling, or meeting people from different backgrounds?
- Which part of your personality do you think comes most from where you grew up?