Why is boredom good for us?

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

1. What do you do when you are bored?
2. When did you last feel really bored?
3. Do you check your phone every time you wait?
4. Do you think children today are bored less often?
5. Do your best ideas come when you are doing nothing?
6. How long can you sit without a screen?

Read each word and the example. Then say a sentence about attention.

Choose the word that fits.

1. The feeling of having nothing interesting to do is called .
2. The brain needs some , such as new sights and sounds.
3. Something that takes your attention away from a task is a .
4. Students often in long lessons, imagining other things.
5. A feeling of being unable to relax or stay still is called .
6. He was all summer, with no work and nothing planned.
7. People who delay important tasks until the last moment.
8. Time spent alone in quiet is called .

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

1. boredom is the feeling of having nothing
   interesting to doto payto eat
2. a distraction takes your
   money awayattention awayshoes away
3. to daydream = to think about
   the datethe lawpleasant things
4. idle = not
   sleepingworkinglaughing
5. to procrastinate = to
   delay a taskfinish a taskforget a name
6. solitude = being
   alonelatetogether

Use these phrases to make requests and opinions more polite and careful.

• I was wondering if you could...Я цікавився, чи не могли б ви...I was wondering if you could switch off your phone.
• Would you mind...?Чи не могли б ви...?Would you mind turning it off?
• I'd have thought...Я б подумав, що...I'd have thought boredom was harmful.
• It might be worth...Можливо, варто...It might be worth putting your phone away.
• I tend to think...Я схильний думати, що...I tend to think boredom is underrated.
• It seems to me that...Мені здається, що...It seems to me that we avoid boredom too much.
• Could I possibly...?Чи міг би я, можливо,...?Could I possibly ask a question?
• Perhaps we could...Можливо, ми могли б...Perhaps we could try an hour without screens.

Read the text. Hover over the dotted words for help.

1. Researchers have defined boredom as an unpleasant experience.
   TrueFalse
2. The text says that all studies agree that boredom increases creativity.
   TrueFalse
3. The Harvard study found that minds wandered for close to half of the time.
   TrueFalse
4. The text says attention spans have certainly collapsed.
   TrueFalse
5. The text suggests that a balance may be best.
   TrueFalse

1. Is boredom a problem or a resource?
2. Should schools allow children to be bored?
3. How do phones change the way we wait?
4. What would you do with an hour of nothing?

Common mistakes: use I was wondering if / whether (not I wonder if you could when asking politely), Would you mind + -ing, I'd have thought + clause, might be worth + -ing, and adverbs like possibly (not possible). ✗ Would you mind to open → Would you mind opening. ✗ I'd have think → I'd have thought. ✗ It is might worth → It might be worth. ✗ Could I possible ask → Could I possibly ask.

1. I
   was wonderingwonder
   if you could help me.
2. Would you mindWould you mind to
   opening the window?
3. I'd have
   thinkthought
   it was too early.
4. It
   might beis might
   worth trying a break.
5. I
   tendtend to
   think boredom helps.
6. Can I possibleCould I possibly
   ask a question?
7. I'd be grateful
   if you couldif you can
   send it.
8. It seems
   to mefor me
   that rest matters.

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

1. I was wonder if you could help me. →
2. Would you mind to open the window? →
3. I'd have think it was too early. →
4. It is might worth trying a break. →
5. Could I possible ask a question? →
6. I'd be grateful if you can send it. →

Answer in detail. Use tentative language and the grammar of Block 8.

1. I was wondering what you do when you are bored. What do you do?
2. Would you mind switching off your phone for an hour? How would you feel?
3. I'd have thought boredom is rare today. Do you agree?
4. What might be worth trying if you want to concentrate better?
5. It seems to me that waiting has changed. What do you think?
6. Could I possibly ask you about your best idea?

Three people discuss boredom. Compare them. Who values boredom most? Who fears it most? Whose view is closest to yours?

Your teacher will time you.

1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
2. Part 1: describe what you do when you are bored.
3. Part 2: say whether boredom is useful (use at least three tentative expressions, such as I tend to think, It might be worth or I'd have thought).
4. Part 3: make a polite suggestion to a friend who is always on their phone.

1. Do you get bored easily?
2. What do you do when you wait?
3. Do you daydream?
4. How often do you check your phone?
5. Would you try a screen-free day?
6. Do you like silence?
7. What do you do to switch off?
8. When do you feel most restless?

1. Who in your family is easily bored?
2. Who taught you to enjoy solitude?
3. Who is the most patient person you know?
4. Who distracts you most?
5. Who in your life never uses a phone at dinner?
6. Who would you invite to try a day without screens?

1. Is boredom necessary for creativity?
2. Should children be left to be bored?
3. Do phones harm our attention?
4. Is solitude healthy?
5. Will boredom disappear?