© Photo by ph.news.yahoo.com
Pre-Reading Questions:
- Do you want to play sports even when you are old? Why or why not?
- Do you know an old person who still plays sports? Elaborate your answer.
Vocabulary:
- passion /PASH-uhn/
[noun] something that you are strongly interested in and enjoy
My cousin has always had a passion for singing.
- former /FAWRr-mer/
[adjective] used to describe someone who had a particular position or job in the past
The former president went back to his hometown.
- expect /ik-SPEKT/
[verb] to think or believe something will happen
I didn’t expect to see my old friend in my new neighborhood.
- senior /SEEN-yer/
[adjective] a person who is older and more experienced
The government will give the senior citizens more benefits.
- skilled /skild/
[adjective] having the abilities needed to do an activity or job well
My mother is very skilled at cooking.
Have you ever thought 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 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 motivated to try it herself. The former school principal was health conscious but had never tried skating on ice. She didn’t even expect that she would become the captain of a senior women’s hockey team in her village in northwestern Russia. Fyodorova, who learned how to skate at 79, admitted that she was scared at first, but forgot everything when they started playing.
She is the captain and the oldest member of their team named “Ustyanochka” that consists 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 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:
- Who is Valentina Fyodorova?
- What motivated Fyodorova to start skating?
- At what age did she learn skating?
- How often do they practice?
- Who is the oldest member of their team “Ustyanochka”?
Discussion Questions:
- Is it important for elderly people to play sports? Why or why not?
- What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of playing sports at an old age?
- What is the best sport for people in their sixties and seventies?
- Do you think that your government encourages old people in your country to exercise? Please explain your answer.
- How will you encourage old people to exercise?
[noun] something that you are strongly interested in and enjoy
My cousin has always had a passion for singing.
[adjective] used to describe someone who had a particular position or job in the past
The former president went back to his hometown.
[verb] to think or believe something will happen
I didn’t expect to see my old friend in my new neighborhood.
[adjective] a person who is older and more experienced
The government will give the senior citizens more benefits.
[adjective] having the abilities needed to do an activity or job well
My mother is very skilled at cooking.
When Valentina Fyodorova, an 80-year old woman from Russia, saw a group of children skating across the ice, she was motivated to try it herself. The former school principal was health conscious but had never tried skating on ice. She didn’t even expect that she would become the captain of a senior women’s hockey team in her village in northwestern Russia. Fyodorova, who learned how to skate at 79, admitted that she was scared at first, but forgot everything when they started playing.
She is the captain and the oldest member of their team named “Ustyanochka” that consists 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 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.