A JOURNEY AROUND THE WORLD (Tuesday)

Karl Bushby is a British explorer who decided to do something extraordinary. In 1998, he began walking from Punta Arenas, a city in southern Chile, with one big goal: to walk all the way back to his home in Britain without using normal transport.

He planned to travel thousands of kilometres through different countries. His journey took him through South America, North America, Russia, Mongolia and other parts of Asia. He crossed mountains, forests, deserts and other difficult areas.

The journey was extremely hard. Bushby faced dangerous weather, long distances and places where there were very few people. Sometimes he had problems getting permission to enter certain countries. He also had to find food, water and safe places to sleep. These difficult conditions made his journey even more challenging.

One of his biggest challenges was crossing the Darién Gap, a dangerous area of jungle between Colombia and Panama. The thick forest, rivers and difficult conditions made travelling very hard. Every obstacle required him to find a way forward, even when the situation seemed almost impossible.

Bushby also faced long periods of loneliness. He was far from his family and friends, and he had to continue even when he felt tired or discouraged. He needed courage, patience and determination to keep going. His perseverance helped him continue despite the many difficulties he encountered.

His journey lasted for many years. There were delays, unexpected problems and times when he could not continue as planned. However, he refused to give up on his dream.

Bushby’s journey became a story about human strength and the power of having a goal. His experience shows that great achievements often require patience, hard work and the ability to deal with problems. Completing such a difficult journey would be an extraordinary achievement for anyone.

For Bushby, the journey was not only about reaching Britain. It was also about discovering what he could achieve when he continued despite difficulties. His story demonstrates that perseverance and determination can help people overcome challenges that initially seem impossible.

Reading Comprehension

Answer the questions in complete sentences.

What was Karl Bushby’s main goal?
What kinds of places did he travel through?
Name two problems he faced during his journey.
Why was the Darién Gap difficult to cross?
How might Bushby have felt when he was far from his family?
What personal qualities helped him continue?
What can people learn from his experience?
Would you like to attempt a similar journey? Why or why not?

2. VOCABULARY MATCH — 10 CHALLENGING WORDS

Match each word with the correct definition. The definitions are deliberately shuffled, and the correct meanings do not appear beside their matching words. Write the correct letter next to each number.

Word	Definition
1. Extraordinary	A. The feeling of being unhappy because you are alone
2. Discouraged	B. The ability to wait calmly without becoming frustrated
3. Determination	C. Something important that you have succeeded in doing
4. Conditions	D. Not known or planned before it happens
5. Achievement	E. A problem that makes progress difficult
6. Patience	F. The ability to continue trying despite difficulties
7. Unexpected	G. The situation, weather or circumstances in which something happens
8. Perseverance	H. Something very unusual or impressive
9. Obstacle	I. To feel less hopeful about succeeding
10. Loneliness	J. The strong intention to continue doing something or achieve a goal

3. SYNONYM MATCH — 10 CHALLENGING WORDS

Match each word with a synonym or phrase with a similar meaning. The options are deliberately shuffled, so the words and their synonyms do not match on the same line. Write the correct letter next to each number.

Word	Synonym
1. Extraordinary	A. Circumstances
2. Determination	B. Success
3. Obstacle	C. Disheartened
4. Patience	D. Persistence
5. Discouraged	E. Barrier
6. Achievement	F. Tolerance
7. Unexpected	G. Resolve
8. Perseverance	H. Unplanned
9. Loneliness	I. Remarkable
10. Conditions	J. Solitude

4. FILL IN THE GAPS

Complete each sentence with a word from the box. Use each word only once.

Word bank: courage · obstacle · patient · exhausted · goal · support · explore · dangerous · improve · journey · determination · give up

Karl Bushby had one main __________: to walk to Britain.
He needed a lot of __________ to continue when things became frightening.
A large river can be an __________ for someone travelling on foot.
After walking for many hours, he was completely __________.
Some parts of the journey were very __________ because of the weather and the terrain.
When you learn a new skill, you need to practise to __________.
It is important to be __________ when you are learning something difficult.
Bushby’s long __________ took him through many different countries.
Travellers sometimes need help and __________ from other people.
When you __________ a new place, you discover what it is like.
His __________ helped him continue for many years.
When something becomes difficult, it is important not to __________ too quickly.

5. DISCUSSION — PEOPLE WHO INSPIRE US

Work with a partner. Choose two people from the list and discuss their lives.

Malala Yousafzai — fought for girls’ right to education despite serious danger.
Nelson Mandela — spent 27 years in prison and continued working for equality.
Frida Kahlo — became a famous artist while living with serious health problems.
Stephen Hawking — became a world-famous scientist while living with a serious physical condition.
Bethany Hamilton — returned to surfing after losing an arm in a shark attack.
Karl Bushby — spent many years trying to walk around the world.

Discuss these questions:

What problem or obstacle did this person face?
What did the person do to overcome it?
What personal qualities helped them?
What sacrifices did they make?
Why do you find this person inspirational?
Which person’s story is the most impressive to you? Why?

Try to use these expressions:

I admire this person because…
One of the biggest challenges was…
Despite the difficulties, this person…
What inspires me most is…
If I were in this situation, I would…

6. ROLE-PLAY — BECOME AN INSPIRATIONAL PERSON

Choose one scenario. Imagine you are the person in the story. Speak in the first person using I, me and my.

Scenario A — The Explorer

You want to walk across several countries. You have very little money, you feel lonely, and the weather is dangerous. Some people tell you to stop.

Scenario B — The Newcomer

You have moved to a new country because your home was unsafe. You do not speak the language well, you have little money, and you must build a new life.

Scenario C — The Athlete

You have a serious injury and may never play your favourite sport again. You feel disappointed, but you decide to work hard and try again.

Scenario D — The Business Owner

You start a small business, but it fails and you lose most of your money. You feel embarrassed, but you want to start again.

Scenario E — The Person Who Challenges Injustice

You see people being treated unfairly. You decide to speak up, even though you may lose friends or your job.

Scenario F — The Student

You fail an important exam. You feel ashamed because your family expected you to pass. You decide to change your study habits and try again.

Your Task

Prepare a one-minute speech. Explain:

Who you are and what you want to achieve.
What your biggest problem is.
How the problem makes you feel.
What you do to overcome the problem.
What you have to sacrifice.
Why your story is inspirational.

Remember: Speak as if you are this person.

For example: “I am a young athlete. After my injury, I thought my dream was over. However, I decided not to give up…”

After everyone speaks, vote for the story you find the most inspirational. Explain why you chose it.

7. GROUP ROLE-PLAY — FIND A SPONSOR

Karl Bushby needs money to continue his journey safely. Your group represents different people who must decide whether to support him.

Roles

Student A — The Explorer

You want financial support. Explain why the journey is important and why you should receive money.

Student B — The Company Director

Your company may provide €10,000. You want the project to receive positive publicity, but you are worried about the cost.

Student C — The Safety Adviser

You believe the journey is too dangerous. You want to know how the explorer will stay safe.

Student D — The Marketing Manager

You think the journey could create an interesting story for the public. You want photos, interviews and regular updates.

Student E — The Charity Representative

You want the journey to raise money for children who need help. You believe the project should have a clear social purpose.

Your Task

Discuss the following points and try to reach an agreement:

How much money should the company provide?
What should the money pay for?
How can the explorer stay safe?
What should the company receive in return?
Should the explorer raise money for charity?
What should happen if the journey becomes too dangerous?

At the end, decide whether the company will support the journey. Explain your decision.

Useful language:

I think we should…
I agree because…
I understand your point, but…
What if we…?
I am concerned about…
We could reach an agreement by…
Our final decision is…

8. WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Choose two situations. Explain what you would do and why.

Situation 1 — The Dangerous Route

You are on a long journey. The shortest route is dangerous, but the safer route will take several extra days.

Would you take the risk or choose the longer route?

Situation 2 — Family and Ambition

You have an important personal goal, but your family says you spend too much time working towards it.

Would you continue, change your plans or look for a compromise?

Situation 3 — Starting Again

You move to a new country where you do not know anyone. You struggle to find work and feel lonely.

What would you do to build a new life?

Situation 4 — A Difficult Goal

You have worked for three years towards something important, but you have not succeeded yet.

How would you decide whether to continue or stop?

Situation 5 — Helping a Friend

Your friend wants to give up on a dream because it has become difficult. You think the dream is still possible.

What would you say to your friend?

9. FINAL DEBATE — WAS THE JOURNEY WORTH IT?

Divide the class into two teams. Each team must defend its position.

Team A — Yes, It Was Worth It

You believe Bushby’s journey was worth the time and effort.

Consider these arguments:

He followed an extraordinary dream.
He learned about different countries and people.
He showed that determination can help people overcome difficulties.
His story can inspire others.
Achieving a personal goal can make life meaningful.

Team B — No, It Cost Too Much

You believe the journey may not have been worth the sacrifices.

Consider these arguments:

He spent many years away from family and friends.
The journey involved danger and loneliness.
He could have used his time to achieve other goals.
Long-term ambitions can affect relationships and finances.
Some dreams may require too many sacrifices.

Debate Questions

Is following a dream always a good idea?
When does determination become stubbornness?
Is success worth sacrificing time with family?
Can someone be inspirational even if they do not achieve their goal?
What is more important: reaching a goal or enjoying the journey?
Would you spend many years working towards one dream? Why or why not?

Each team must give at least three arguments and respond to the other team’s ideas.

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