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Vocabulary:
- envisage /en-VIZ-ij/
[verb] to imagine or expect something in the future
He envisages the possibility of building a new house with his family.
- resolved /ri-ZOLVD/
[adjective] firm in purpose or intent; determined
She is resolved to join the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
- anticipate /an-TIS-uh-peyt/
[verb] to imagine or expect that something will happen
They did not anticipate the issues that occurred in the event.
- comprise /kuhm-PRAYZ/
[verb] to have things or people as parts or members; to consist of
The United States of America comprises 50 states.
- camaraderie /kah-muh-RAH-duh-ree/
[noun] a feeling of friendliness toward people that you work or share an experience with
He enjoys the camaraderie of learning alongside other students.
- Olympian /uh-LIM-pee-uhn/
[noun] a competitor in the Olympic Games
The Olympians for this year’s Olympic Games are known to be quite competitive.
Have you ever envisaged about what you might be doing at the age of 80? How will you spend and enjoy your old age? Well, this great grandma’s new passion might give you an idea on how to have fun in your retirement.
When Valentina Fyodorova, an 80-year old woman from Russia, saw a group of children skating across the ice, she was resolved to try it herself. The former school principal was health conscious but had never tried skating on ice. She didn’t even anticipate that she would become the captain of a senior women’s hockey team in her village in northwestern Russia.
Fyodorova admitted that she was scared at first, but forgot everything when they started playing. She learned how to skate at 79. She is the captain and the oldest member of their team named “Ustyanochka” that is comprised of mostly women in their fifties and sixties. They usually train three times a week in the gym and on the ice.
Fyodorova, who has three great grandchildren, said that even though she is much slower and less skilled than many younger players, she likes the camaraderie with her teammates. “She leads by example. By skating and playing hockey, she shows that even at that age, you can do anything,” said Maria Onolbayev, a former national athlete and Olympian who coaches Ustyanochka team.
She proudly wears number 80 on her red jersey. In fact, all her teammates wear their age on their jersey. Fyodorova said, “We are old people. We aren’t embarrassed to show our age.”
At first, she was scared to fall and get injured but became stronger and more confident on the ice. Now, she hopes to keep playing ice hockey as long as she can.
What hobby would you try after retiring? May you find a sense of purpose and a new passion in old age like Valentina Fyodorova.
Comprehension Questions:
- Where is Valentina Fyodorova from?
- How old is Fyodorova now?
- What is her new passion?
- When did she learn how to skate?
- How did she overcome her fear of falling and getting injured?
Discussion Questions:
- What do you want to do after you retire?
- Do you think people should learn new skills in old age? Why or why not?
- What hobby would you suggest to elderly people?
- What do old people do in your country?
- Do you think that the old people in your country are being taken care of? Please explain.
[verb] to imagine or expect something in the future
He envisages the possibility of building a new house with his family.
[adjective] firm in purpose or intent; determined
She is resolved to join the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
[verb] to imagine or expect that something will happen
They did not anticipate the issues that occurred in the event.
[verb] to have things or people as parts or members; to consist of
The United States of America comprises 50 states.
[noun] a feeling of friendliness toward people that you work or share an experience with
He enjoys the camaraderie of learning alongside other students.
[noun] a competitor in the Olympic Games
The Olympians for this year’s Olympic Games are known to be quite competitive.
When Valentina Fyodorova, an 80-year old woman from Russia, saw a group of children skating across the ice, she was resolved to try it herself. The former school principal was health conscious but had never tried skating on ice. She didn’t even anticipate that she would become the captain of a senior women’s hockey team in her village in northwestern Russia.
Fyodorova admitted that she was scared at first, but forgot everything when they started playing. She learned how to skate at 79. She is the captain and the oldest member of their team named “Ustyanochka” that is comprised of mostly women in their fifties and sixties. They usually train three times a week in the gym and on the ice.
Fyodorova, who has three great grandchildren, said that even though she is much slower and less skilled than many younger players, she likes the camaraderie with her teammates. “She leads by example. By skating and playing hockey, she shows that even at that age, you can do anything,” said Maria Onolbayev, a former national athlete and Olympian who coaches Ustyanochka team.
She proudly wears number 80 on her red jersey. In fact, all her teammates wear their age on their jersey. Fyodorova said, “We are old people. We aren’t embarrassed to show our age.”
At first, she was scared to fall and get injured but became stronger and more confident on the ice. Now, she hopes to keep playing ice hockey as long as she can.
What hobby would you try after retiring? May you find a sense of purpose and a new passion in old age like Valentina Fyodorova.