Session One
Topic Area
Discussion Angles
Discussion Angles
- The “Seen” Dilemma: Is it acceptable to leave someone on “read” or take days to reply to non-urgent messages, or has instant messaging killed healthy personal boundaries?
- Bill-Splitting Culture: When dining out with friends or acquaintances, what is the fairest way to split the bill—an exact item-by-item split or an even split down the middle?
- Public Phone Etiquette: Where do you draw the line with loudspeaker calls, voice notes in elevators, or watching reels without earphones in public spaces?
- The French Exit (Ghosting a Party): Is leaving a gathering without saying goodbye to everyone rude, or is it a practical, drama-free way to leave?
Vocabulary
etiquette /ˈetɪket/ (n.)
The formal rules of polite and correct behavior in a society or specific group.
آداب معاشرت / نزاکت
Texting someone late at night about a minor issue is considered poor digital etiquette.
tactful /ˈtæktfl/ (adj.)
Careful not to say or do anything that could upset or offend other people.
با نزاکت / با درایت و ملاحظه
She gave a tactful excuse instead of bluntly admitting she didn’t want to attend the party.
blunt /blʌnt/ (adj.)
Direct and saying what you think without trying to be polite or spare someone’s feelings.
صریح و بیپرده (گاهی تند)
His blunt refusal to chip in for the cake caught everyone off guard.
faux pas /ˌfoʊ ˈpɑː/ (n.)
An embarrassing or tactless remark or action in a social situation.
سوتی / گاف اجتماعی
Asking someone how much they earn is still a major social faux pas in many cultures.
pet peeve /ˈpet piːv/ (n.)
Something that a particular person finds especially annoying.
نقطه ضعف / چیز روی اعصاب
People who talk loudly on speakerphone on public transit are my ultimate pet peeve.
obligation /ˌɑːblɪˈɡeɪʃn/ (n.)
A duty or something that you feel you must do because of social rules or promises.
الزام / تعهد اخلاقی
Do you accept dinner invites out of genuine interest or just a sense of obligation?
awkward /ˈɔːkwərd/ (adj.)
Causing or feeling embarrassment or a lack of ease.
معذبکننده / خجالتآور
There was an awkward silence when nobody offered to pick up the remaining balance.
inconsiderate /ˌɪnkənˈsɪdərət/ (adj.)
Not caring about or thinking about other people’s feelings or convenience.
بیملاحظه
Playing music on your phone without headphones is inconsiderate to others on the train.
confrontation /ˌkɑːnfrənˈteɪʃn/ (n.)
A hostile or argumentative situation or meeting between opposing parties.
رویارویی / برخورد مستقیم و چالشبرانگیز
Many people prefer ghosting a date simply to avoid an uncomfortable confrontation.
compromise /ˈkɑːmprəmaɪz/ (n.)
An agreement between two sides where each side gives up part of what they wanted.
سازش / مصالحه
Splitting the shared appetizers equally and paying separately for main dishes is a fair compromise.
split the bill /splɪt ðə bɪl/
To divide the total cost of a meal equally or proportionally among everyone.
دُنگی حساب کردن
Instead of calculating every item, let’s just split the bill evenly.
set boundaries /set ˈbaʊndriz/
To establish limits on what behavior you will accept from others.
مرزبندی مشخص کردن
It’s essential to set clear boundaries around after-hours work messages.
break the ice /breɪk ði aɪs/
To do or say something that relieves tension or gets conversation started among strangers.
یخ جمع را شکستن / سر صحبت را باز کردن
A lighthearted question about everyone’s commute helped break the ice at the table.
clear the air /klɪr ði er/
To resolve misunderstandings or bad feelings by talking openly.
رفع سوءتفاهم کردن / کدورتها را برطرف کردن
A quick five-minute phone call is usually enough to clear the air after a confusing text.
read the room /riːd ðə ruːm/
To understand the mood, emotions, and unspoken dynamics of people in a given setting.
موقعیتشناس بودن / جو جمع را سنجیدن
Before cracking a sarcastic joke, make sure you read the room first.
put someone on the spot /pʊt ˈsʌmwʌn ɑːn ðə spɑːt/
To force someone to answer a difficult question or make a decision immediately in public.
کسی را در معذوریت یا تنگنا قرار دادن
Asking him in front of the whole table whether he could lend her money really put him on the spot.
elephant in the room /ˈelɪfəنت ɪn ðə ruːm/
An obvious major problem or controversial issue that people avoid discussing because it is uncomfortable.
مسئله بارز و معذبکنندهای که همه از صحبت دربارهاش طفره میروند
Nobody wanted to mention the unpaid tab from last week, even though it was the elephant in the room.
Session Two
Topic Area
Discussion Angles
- Morning Person vs. Night Owl: Are 5 AM routines genuinely effective, or does productivity depend entirely on your natural biological clock?
- The Power of Small Steps: Can tiny 2-minute daily micro-habits truly transform health and career in the long run?
- Overrated Life Hacks: What popular productivity hack or organizational trick turned out to be completely useless or exhausting for you?
- Breaking Bad Habits: Why is it so much harder to quit a minor negative habit (e.g., nail-biting, checking phone in bed) than to start a good one?
Vocabulary
consistency /kənˈsɪstənsi/ (n.)
The quality of always behaving, performing, or happening in a similar, positive way.
استمرار / ثبات قدم
Building a reading habit requires daily consistency rather than reading for hours once a month.
streamline /ˈstriːmlaɪn/ (v.)
To make an organization, process, or routine simpler, more effective, and more productive.
سادهسازی و کارآمد کردن
Preparing your clothes the night before helps streamline your morning departure.
counterproductive /ˌkaʊntərprəˈdʌktɪv/ (adj.)
Having the opposite of the desired effect; hindering progress.
نتیجه معکوس / ضدبهرهوری
Setting five different alarms is counterproductive because it disrupts your sleep cycles.
procrastinate /prəˈkræstɪneɪt/ (v.)
To delay doing something that you should do, usually because you do not want to do it.
به تعویق انداختن / پشت گوش انداختن
He always procrastinates on tedious chores until the weekend.
detrimental /ˌdetrɪˈmentl/ (adj.)
Causing harm, damage, or disadvantage.
مضر / آسیبرسان
Skipping breakfast regularly can have a detrimental effect on your focus during morning meetings.
mindfulness /ˈmaɪndflnəs/ (n.)
The practice of being aware of your body, mind, and feelings in the present moment.
حضور در لحظه / خودآگاهی
A few minutes of quiet mindfulness before starting work can reduce daily anxiety.
discipline /ˈdɪsəplɪn/ (n.)
The ability to control your behavior or make yourself do things you should do without external pressure.
نظم فردی / خودکنترلی
Motivation gets you started, but discipline keeps you going when enthusiasm fades.
sustainable /səˈsteɪnəbl/ (adj.)
Able to continue or be maintained at a steady level over a long period.
پایدار / قابل تداوم
A 30-minute daily walk is far more sustainable than an intense two-hour daily gym workout.
inertia /ɪˈnɜːrʃə/ (n.)
A lack of energy or desire to move or change; resistance to starting action.
سکون / رخوت و بیتحرکی
Overcoming the morning inertia is the hardest part of going for a run.
optimize /ˈɑːptɪmaɪz/ (v.)
To make something as good, effective, or functional as possible.
بهینهسازی کردن
You don’t need to optimize every single minute of your day to be successful.
game changer /ˈɡeɪm tʃeɪndʒər/
An event, idea, or procedure that effects a significant and positive shift.
عامل تحولآفرین / نقطه عطف
Investing in a comfortable ergonomic chair was a game changer for my back pain.
stick to a routine /stɪk tu ə ruːˈtiːn/
To follow a regular pattern of activities without giving up.
پایبند ماندن به برنامه روزانه
It takes at least three weeks to stick to a routine before it becomes automatic.
kick a habit /kɪk ə ˈhæbɪt/
To stop doing something harmful or repetitive that you have done for a long time.
ترک کردن یک عادت
She managed to kick the habit of late-night snacking by drinking herbal tea instead.
hit the ground running /hɪt ðə ɡraʊnd ˈrʌnɪŋ/
To start a new activity with great energy, enthusiasm, and immediate success.
پرانرژی و بدون معطلی شروع کردن
A hearty breakfast and a brisk walk help me hit the ground running at 8 AM.
nip in the bud /nɪp ɪn ðə bʌd/
To stop a problem or bad behavior at an early stage before it becomes serious.
در نطفه خفه کردن / از ابتدا جلویش را گرفتن
It is best to nip procrastination in the bud before deadlines start piling up.
turn over a new leaf /tɜːrn ˈoʊvər ə nuː liːf/
To start behaving in a better, more responsible, or healthier way.
ورق را برگرداندن / شیوه زندگی جدیدی در پیش گرفتن
Every New Year, millions of people promise to turn over a new leaf regarding fitness.
burn the candle at both ends /bɜːrn ðə ˈkændl æt boʊθ endz/
To work excessively hard from early morning until late at night without adequate rest.
از جان مایه گذاشتن و خود را فرسوده کردن
If you keep burning the candle at both ends, no morning routine will save you from burnout.
Session Three
Topic Area
Discussion Angles
- Doomscrolling & Infinite Feeds: Why do we find it so difficult to put our phones down before sleeping, even when we feel tired?
- Curated Lives vs. Reality: How does constantly seeing highlighted reels of other people’s lifestyles affect self-esteem and contentment?
- Digital Detoxes: Is taking a complete week off social media a realistic and useful solution, or just a temporary band-aid?
- Notification Anxiety: Do constant pings and instant messages make you feel connected or constantly on-call and overwhelmed?
Vocabulary
- algorithm /ˈælɡərɪðəm/ (n.)
A set of
mathematical rules or processes used by social platforms to determine what
content you see.
الگوریتم
The
recommendation algorithm feeds you content designed to keep you scrolling as
long as possible.
- curate /ˈkjʊreɪt/ (v.)
To select,
organize, and present items (such as photos or posts) carefully to create a
specific impression.
گلچین و پیراسته کردن
People often
curate their Instagram profiles to display only luxurious and joyful moments.
- doomscrolling /ˈduːmskrəʊlɪŋ/ (n.)
The tendency to
continually scroll through bad or distressing news on social media.
غرق شدن در خواندن اخبار منفی آنلاین
Spending hours
doomscrolling late at night can severely trigger feelings of anxiety.
- ubiquitous /juːˈbɪkwɪtəs/ (adj.)
Present,
appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
فراگیر / همهجا حاضر
Smartphones
have become so ubiquitous that living without one feels nearly impossible.
- validation /ˌvælɪˈdeɪʃn/ (n.)
Recognition or
affirmation that a person or their feelings are worthwhile and approved of.
تایید طلبی / اعتباربخشی
Relying on
social media likes for external validation can be damaging to your self-worth.
- attention span /əˈtenʃn spæn/ (n.)
The length of
time during which a person is able to concentrate or remain interested.
دامنه تمرکز
Short-form
videos like Reels and TikTok have noticeably shortened the average attention
span.
- superficial /ˌsuːpərˈfɪʃl/ (adj.)
Appearing only on
the surface; lacking depth, serious thought, or genuine emotion.
سطحی / کمعمق
Online
interactions often feel superficial compared to face-to-face heart-to-heart
talks.
- overstimulation /ˌoʊvərˌstɪmjuˈleɪʃn/ (n.)
A state where the
senses are overwhelmed by too much input, noise, or information.
تحریک بیش از حد حسی
After a full
day of screen exposure and notification pings, mental overstimulation leaves
you drained.
- unplug /ʌnˈplʌɡ/ (v.)
To disconnect
from digital devices, the internet, and work obligations to relax.
از فضای مجازی و اینترنت فاصله گرفتن
I make it a
rule to completely unplug on Sunday afternoons and read physical books.
- dopamine hit /ˈdoʊpəmiːn hɪt/ (n.)
A brief surge of
pleasure and satisfaction caused by a chemical release in the brain.
ترشح لذتبخش و اعتیادآور دوپامین
Every like and
comment provides a quick dopamine hit that keeps users hooked.
- fear of missing out /fɪr əv ˈmɪsɪŋ aʊt/
A pervasive
apprehension that others might be having rewarding experiences from which one
is absent.
ترس از جا ماندن و بیخبر ماندن (فومو)
Social media
amplifies the fear of missing out by showcasing everyone’s parties and travels.
- digital footprint /ˈdɪdʒɪtl ˈfʊtprɪnt/
The collected
trace of data and activity left behind by someone using the internet.
ردپای دیجیتال
Always
remember that whatever you post online becomes part of your permanent digital
footprint.
- scroll aimlessly /skroʊl ˈeɪmləsli/
To move through
online feeds without any particular purpose or intent.
بیهدف بالا و پایین کردن شبکههای اجتماعی
Instead of
going to sleep, I found myself scrolling aimlessly for over an hour.
- take a toll on /teɪk ə toʊl ɑːn/
To cause gradual
damage, wear, or suffering over time.
تاثیر مخرب گذاشتن / فرسوده ساختن
Excessive
late-night screen time takes a toll on your eyesight and sleep quality.
- tune out /tuːn aʊt/
To stop paying
attention to someone or something around you.
حواس خود را پرت کردن / بیتوجه شدن به محیط
Putting on
noise-cancelling headphones helps me tune out background office chatter.
- double-edged sword /ˌdʌbl edʒd sɔːrd/
Something that
has both positive benefits and negative consequences at the same time.
شمشیر دولبه / تیغ دو دم
Connectivity
is a double-edged sword: you are always reachable, but you never truly rest.
- out of sight, out of mind /aʊt əv saɪt aʊt əv maɪnd/
If something is
not visible or present, you will soon forget about it.
از دل برود هر آنکه از دیده برفت / دور از چشم، دور از ذهن
Keeping my
phone in another room while studying works on the principle of out of sight,
out of mind.