The Benefits of Upcycling Clothing-空中英語教室 - amisay168 的部落格

Contents ...

udn網路城邦

The Benefits of Upcycling Clothing-空中英語教室

2025/06/24 15:39

迴響0

推薦0

引用0

The Benefits of Upcycling Clothing 舊衣升級大改造(上)

空中英語教室 20250623

upcycling 升級再造；升級回收

As opposed to recycling, upcycling is one notch above environmentally.

相對於再生利用而言，升級再造在環保上又高了一截。

Upcycling is different from recycling in that the former does not change the essence of the waste material before it is reused.

升級再造與回收的差別主要在於前者並不改變廢棄物的本質就加以再利用。

(使用CapCut 自動字幕功能)

修正英文文法，句首要大寫，不要斷句，每個句子要換行，每個肯定句要有句點。保留原文，同時將簡體中文修改為繁體中文，不要將原文的英文翻譯成中文

Hello everyone.

My name is Garrett.

And today is a great day to learn something new.

So let’s do that together. My name is Anne Marie.

And this is Studio Classroom.

Friends, what are you wearing today?

How long have you had those clothes?

Sometimes our clothes are sitting around for a long time.

We don’t want to wear them anymore.

So what do we do with them?

That’s our topic for today and here’s our opening question.

What do you usually do with your old clothes?

This is a great thing for us to talk about, especially as we are trying to be more environmentally friendly.

For me, when I have old clothes that I’m not wearing anymore, it really depends what kind of condition they are in.

If they are still in really good condition, there’s no rips or stains or tears in them, I try to find someone else who could use them and wear them.

But if it’s something that’s very stained and dirty and worn out, I like that we have recycling bins around the city to put our old clothes in. That’s a good point.

I think I usually wear my clothes until they have big rips and holes in them.

I’ll even wear them sometimes with some stains in them. Okay, I think I maybe have seen someone wear something with a tear in it before.

But if it’s something that you love, it can be hard to get rid of.

But there’s another option, friends. Today, we are going to be talking about the benefits of upcycling clothing. This is going to be a very interesting lesson.

Let’s get right into it.

The Benefits of Upcycling Clothing

Turning trash into treasure

Do you have a closet full of clothes that you no longer wear but are worried about throwing away?

If so, you’re not alone.

Hi everyone, welcome to Language Lab. I’m Jack.

首先來看名詞 closet，意思是衣櫃或者壁櫥。

來看例句：During their games of hide and seek, Juliana’s favorite hiding spot was in the closet.

在捉迷藏遊戲時，Juliana 最喜歡躲藏的地方就是衣櫥。

或者是 Could you help me install this closet organizer so I can use the space more efficiently?

你能幫我安裝這個衣櫥收納架嗎？這樣我就可以更有效率地利用空間。

來學一個相關的名詞，walk-in closet 就是指步入式的衣帽間。

比如 I’ve always dreamed of having a walk-in closet with a seating area in the middle, like the ones wealthy people have in movies.

我一直夢想擁有一個步入式的衣帽間，中間有一個座位區，就像電影裡有錢人家的那種。

All right, friends. Well, our title today is the benefits of upcycling clothing.

Now that word upcycling sounds a lot like recycling, and there’s a reason. That’s right.

Here we see in our article turning trash into treasure. This reminds me of the phrase one man’s trash is another one’s treasure. Some things that we consider to be trash, other people might find useful. Exactly. So, how can we make our old clothes useful again, sometimes in a new way?

Let’s get into it. Do you have a closet full of clothes that you no longer wear?

Okay, I know I have a few things that I no longer wear. This word no longer means not anymore. You used to wear it but now you don’t, right?

I certainly have some clothes that just don’t fit me anymore, but I have kept them for a little too long.

It might be a good idea for me to donate them. Yes, that is a good plan, or you could upcycle them.

We’re going to talk about that here in a minute.

But first, let’s talk about to throw something away. If you throw something away, it means you dispose of it. You put it in the trash can. You’re not going to use it anymore. Yeah, like you will throw away your trash after you’re done eating out.

While, friends, you might want to throw away clothes you’re not using anymore, but there are other options. That’s right.

And here we say you’re not alone. This is a great phrase for you to know, friends. This means that others have the same feeling or others have the same experience as you. Yeah, you might not think about it but if you’re feeling nervous on stage, you’re not alone. Many people feel the same way. That’s a really good point.

All right, friends, we’re going to learn about upcycling in just a moment, so let’s go to our next reading.

The Benefits of Upcycling Clothing

In an age where sustainability and reducing waste are major concerns, upcycling clothing has emerged as one possible solution.

It offers many benefits, including a unique way to breathe new life into old garments.

It also presents many advantages for the environment and the individual.

接下来看advantage这个名词.意思是优势或是好处.

譬如

One advantage of living in the city is the convenience of its transit system.

生活在城市的一大優勢是有便捷的交通系統.

advantage的反义字是在字手加上dis.变成disadvantage.意思是劣势或是缺点.

比如although she was at a disadvantage in basketball due to her height she was quick and able to hold her own on the court.

由於身高的原因他在打籃球方面處於劣勢但是他的動作敏捷仍然能在場上獨當一面.

advantage的形容词是advantageous.意思是有利的有益的.

譬如

Having dual citizenship is advantageous for investment purposes though double taxation can be a risk depending on the countries involved.

擁有雙重國籍有利於投資但雙重課稅可能會帶來風險取決於所涉及的國家.

dual citizenship 雙重國籍

So I am a fan of donating my old clothes I am not wearing anymore but that’s not what we’re talking about today as we talk about upcycling that’s right.

Because what we’re going to focus on today is the idea of sustainability.

You’ll see that word in this next sentence.

Sustainability is the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level yeah.

Recycling things helps promote sustainability.

Think about recycling old soda cans that helps us reuse those same materials without using new metal.

That’s dug out of the ground exactly.

Let’s read here in our article in an age where sustainability and reducing waste are major concerns upcycling clothing has emerged as one possible solution.

What does it mean if something is a major concern well the word major means big or great.

And so major concerns are really big worries that you have.

They’re the most important things that you’re concerned with exactly.

Climate change is one of today’s major concerns.

It’s a big problem that everyone is thinking about.

And here of course we’re talking about sustainability and reducing waste as our major concerns.

But upcycling clothing has emerged what does it mean.

Is something has emerged well if something emerge it comes into view or comes into the thinking of people.

It’s something that comes out okay.

Here’s an example of how you could use emerged in a sentence.

A new leader emerged after the election.

So that means that a new leader was there a new leader is seen.

They become present now and now they are the leader.

That is just like upcycling.

It has now emerged as a possible solution.

It offers many benefits including a unique way to breathe new life into old garments ah.

To breathe new life into something.

This is a great phrase for you to know friends.

This means to refresh something or to improve it.

Maybe it wasn’t very good or it was getting old but when you breathe new life into it it becomes something new or it becomes usable again.

There might be some old furniture at a second hand store then an artist buys it and completely renews it.

They breathe new life into that old furniture and make it beautiful again.

That’s right we read here it also presents many advantages for the environment and the individual.

Advantages is a great word for you to know friends.

As you saw it in your language lab today.

And we still haven’t gotten to the definition of upcycling but we are hearing about a lot of its benefits.

It benefits the environment and the individual as well right.

Just like recycling it sounds like we’re not using new materials we’re making use of things that we already have.

And that’s great for sustainability well before we continue it’s time for us to go and watch today’s info cloud.

Hello everyone welcome to info cloud Garrett.

Do you remember that old chair I was going to toss out.

Oh right but instead of throwing it away you turned it into something amazing.

I repainted it added new cushions and now is the most comfortable chair in my house.

I really gave it a second life hey.

That’s a great phrase.

Let’s talk about it today good idea.

When you give something a second life you take something old broken or unused and find a way to make it useful or valuable again exactly.

It’s not just about furniture people repurpose jars into plant holders turn worn out clothes into cleaning rags and even use old electronics for parts.

It’s also a great way to be environmentally friendly instead of throwing things away you extend their use.

Friends think about how you can give something a second life before discarding it.

You might be surprised by your creativity and who knows you might end up with something better than the original.

Try giving something a second life.

give something a second life 賦予某樣東西第二次的生命

資源回收已經是現代人生活中的一部分。

將跟大家分享的用語是 give something a second life。字面上是賦予某樣東西第二次的生命。讓他再次變得有價值。例如將舊衣服變成抹布或是你重新粉刷一張舊椅子讓他看起來像新的一樣。你就可以說 I gave it a second life。

我讓他再一次有價值了。

你也可以把淘汰的電子產品拿來當做某種零件。這也是環保的好方法。

這就是今天的 Info Cloud下次雲端見。

The Benefits of Upcycling Clothing

Upcycling is taking something old that might have ended up in a landfill and transforming it into something new.

Laura Vitig founder of the sustainable online platform Brightly says upcycling is one of the best things for the planet.

It’s reported that a piece of clothing is only worn seven to ten times before it is tossed.

But what if people started thinking of new ways to use old clothing rather than throwing it away.

That would keep clothes out of landfills reducing their environmental impact.

In addition upcycling clothes encourages you to display your creative side.

Instead of following the latest trends upcycled pieces express your personal style resulting in designs that are one of a kind.

今天的 Usage Tip 來看。It’s reported that 的句型意思是據說或據報導。用來轉述他人的看法。它會以虛主詞 It 來開頭然後將所引述的內容放在後面 that 詞句中以避免一開始就寫出冗長的轉述讓句子變得拗口。

在本句中被動態的動詞 reported 也可以替換為 believed said 或是 rumored。

來看例句。

It’s rumored that the company will lay off hundreds of employees next month。

據傳這家公司下個月將會裁員數百人。

Alright we are finally there everyone.

It’s time to talk about what upcycling really is that’s right and maybe you’ve guessed it already.

But just in case let’s see what our article has to say.

Upcycling is taking something old that might have ended up in a landfill and transforming it into something new.

We have a couple of great terms we want to look at in this sentence first.

Let’s talk about the idea of something ending up somewhere else well this phrase is all about that word end.

Where is something in the end?

If something ends up as something it results in something often unexpected.

That’s right.

Here’s an example of how you could use ended up in a sentence.

We ended up staying longer than planned.

Maybe you went to a party and you planned to leave by nine pm but you ended up leaving at 10 pm that was unexpected.

Exactly well many of these clothes would have ended up in a landfill.

Now a landfill is a place where much of our trash goes especially in the United States.

I think here where we live now things are a little different.

But a landfill is a place where people will bury that trash underground and cover it.

Although it’s a little more complicated than that exactly.

Here’s an example of how you could use that word landfill in a sentence.

The city is working to reduce landfill waste.

The problem with the landfill is oftentimes trash just goes there and stays there.

It’s not being recycled.

It’s not being burned or anything like that.

Just sits there yeah.

They try to keep any of the bad chemicals in the trash from going out of the landfill.

But they take up a lot of space.

And our trash only keeps increasing so upcycling can help.

We here hear Laura Vitig founder of the sustainable online platform Brightly says upcycling is one of the best things for the planet.

All right I’m curious why this is true.

Let’s keep reading with this next sentence.

It’s reported that a piece of clothing is only worn seven to ten times before tossing it.

This is a statistic I think you’ve heard before on this program.

Friends people oftentimes only wear a piece of clothing seven to ten times before they stop wearing it they might even throw it away.

Now we have this word tossing here and that’s exactly what it means in this situation.

Tossing something means to put it in the garbage or to throw it away.

Sometimes tossing can mean just to throw something carelessly as well right.

You might toss a ball around with your friends or here you toss your papers into the trash can.

So I definitely think that statistic is wild for me.

I wear my clothes way more than that I do as well.

But I think the issue is with fast fashion and consumerism people feel the need to buy more than what they actually need.

And then they get tired of the trends especially after they’ve already passed.

We read here but what if people started thinking of new ways to use old clothing rather than throwing it away.

Well that’s a good idea.

That would keep clothes out of landfills reducing their environmental impact.

Now the impact that something has is the effect that it has on other things.

Here’s an example.

Pollution has a negative impact on the environment.

Because of pollution the environment suffers.

Right it has a negative impact.

Well in addition upcycling clothes encourages you to display your creative side ah.

Very interesting this word creative means to have an original idea or to have a very vivid imagination and a lot of ideas in general.

Right.

You might say the artist is very creative with her work and uses paints that no one else does.

All right well we read on here instead of following the latest trends upcycled pieces express your personal style resulting in designs that are one of a kind.

One of a kind something that is one of a kind is unique or special.

It’s not like other things for example maybe you have some jewelry that is one of a kind.

That could be because you made it yourself or because you bought it from an artist who didn’t make a lot of the same pieces.

Right when you buy something at a store you’re buying something that’s been copied over and over again often at a factory whereas if you make something yourself there’s nothing else like it.

Right.

And according to Laura here if you’re upcycling your clothing it can help you express your personal style.

Now Garrett we haven’t actually seen how to do this yet have we?

No we have kind of a definition of upcycling.

You’re taking your clothes changing them in some way and making them unique and usable again.

You’re breathing a new life into them.

But we don’t know how to do that I think this is something we’re going to talk about in tomorrow’s lesson.

So make sure you come back for that friends first.

Let’s go to today’s fun fact.

Hello fact friends.

I am detective Ernest Finder and I have a fun fact for you today.

Did you know that here is an upcycling idea.

Turn old pants into a bag just sew up the ends of the pants.

It’s true I’ve seen people do it.

But why would you turn pants into a bag?

You can carry your stuff.

People will take pictures of you.

Your friends will not bother you or hang out with you.

And that’s today’s fun upcycling fact.

All right friends like we said we’ve talked about what upcycling is but not yet on what to do or how to do it.

And we want to ask before we finish are you interested in upcycling your clothes based on what we talked about today?

Okay well based on what we talked about today upcycling is a way to promote sustainability and to help the environment.

So without knowing exactly how to upcycle my clothes it sounds like a great idea.

But I would be very interested to find out how much work I would have to put into it right.

I think sometimes I just want to donate my clothes I don’t want to put that much effort into it.

It’s not like I’m wasting my clothes I’ve worn them for years yes.

Exactly I’m curious to see what suggestions our article has tomorrow.

All right friends that’s all the time we have for today.

My name is Anne Marie and my name is Garrett.

We’ll see you again tomorrow right here on Studio Classroom.

The Benefits of Upcycling Clothing 舊衣升級大改造(下)

空中英語教室 20250624

(使用CapCut 自動字幕功能)

Hello everyone.

My name is Garrett and today is a great day to learn something new.

So let’s do that together.

My name is Anne Marie.

And this is Studio Classroom.

Thanks for joining us, friends.

Yesterday we began our topic talking all about upcycling.

That’s right.

We are looking at the benefits of upcycling clothing.

Yesterday we talked about the fact that most pieces of clothing are only worn seven to ten times.

And that is not sustainable.

So we want to be able to keep using those same materials.

One way is to give them away or recycle those things so someone else can use them.

But it sounds like when you upcycle you do something yourself with those clothes.

I think we might have a lot of DIY projects on our hands in today’s article.

Let’s find out all about it, friends, and get going with our first reading for the day.

The Benefits of Upcycling Clothing

Upcycling clothes can also be a cost-effective way to freshen up your wardrobe and your home.

As a consumer, rather than constantly purchasing new items, you can transform existing pieces through upcycling projects.

A few ideas include turning old shirts into cute summer tops.

You can make a jean skirt or shorts from an old pair of jeans.

Give couch pillows a new look by covering them with bright sweater material.

There are many ideas and here is the best part.

Many projects don’t require a sewing machine.

Hello I’m Jack.

今天的USB要來介紹transform以及與他搭配的介系詞，包括through、by、from to、into。

Transform加上名詞再加上不同的解析詞都有不同的用法。

搭配through或by表示改造的方法。

Through強調該方法需要經歷一段時間。

By則是指一個具體手段。

如果搭配from A to B，則是帶出改變的起點與終點。

意思是把某人或某事物從A狀態轉變到B狀態。

搭配into則是著重於轉變後的最終狀態。

來看一個例句：

The city government transformed the site from ruins to a gallery by collaborating with local artists.

市政府與當地藝術家合作，將該地點從廢墟改造成了畫廊。

All right.

Well, I’m not convinced that upcycling is worth my time yet.

Let’s get in and see what we actually need to do.

Maybe our article will convince you, Garrett.

Here we go.

Upcycling clothes can also be a cost-effective way to freshen up your wardrobe and your home.

Now we have this idea of freshening something up.

This means that you’re making something look or feel new again.

Yes.

You might use this to talk about the way that you look.

You might say, “I need to freshen up before dinner.”

You might wash your face or fix your hair a little bit.

Well, friends, this phrase is a lot like the one we used yesterday — to breathe new life into something.

You make it look fresh and new again.

This makes me think of the decorations in your home.

Maybe you’re tired of the place you live or tired of your furniture.

But all that you need to do is freshen up the room by adding a vase of flowers or a new picture on the wall.

That can breathe new life into that room.

That’s right.

Well, as a consumer, rather than constantly purchasing new items, you can transform existing pieces through upcycling projects.

Consumer.

This is a great keyword, friends.

A consumer is a person who buys goods or services.

You might see this in a lot of news reports or even on social media.

The idea of being a consumer.

Right.

And companies focus on consumers.

The consumers are the ones that buy things from them, so they try to make consumers happy.

Okay.

So instead of being a consumer who just buys and buys and buys, there’s another way.

You can transform existing pieces through upcycling projects.

Here are a few ideas.

Well, a few ideas include turning old shirts into cute summer tops.

Okay, very interesting.

If you turn something into something else, it means that you change it and make it become something different.

People could also turn into something else as well.

Sure.

Here’s an example.

I’ve turned my garage into a music studio.

At first it was a place I parked my car.

Now I record music there.

Very interesting turning one thing into something else.

We read on.

Here you can make a jean skirt or shorts from an old pair of jeans.

These are a lot of DIY projects, friends.

What’s another thing that could be done?

Well, you could give couch pillows a new look by covering them with bright sweater material.

So I guess you take your old sweaters and put them over your couches or your couch pillows.

Yeah.

I think you’re right.

I think this would really depend on the condition that your clothes are in before you start these projects.

I think that for a lot of people they get rid of clothes, like you said, because they’re worn out.

But if you’re just getting rid of your clothes because you’re bored of them, this might be a good option.

I agree.

And friends, if you can’t think of any ideas on how to do this exactly, I’m sure there are lots of examples online.

Well, we continue.

There are many ideas and the best part, many projects don’t require a sewing machine.

Well, the sewing machine is important for a lot of projects.

This is a device that is used for stitching fabric.

You put the fabric together and then you put it through the machine and it sews it together for you.

Yes.

My parents often used a sewing machine when I was a kid to fix clothes that were ripped when I was young.

But fortunately for us, because sewing machines are very big and not everyone has them, these DIY projects don’t necessarily need one.

Right.

So you don’t need too much equipment.

You do need ideas, though.

We just talked about some of them.

We’ll continue in just a minute.

Let’s get to our next reading.

The Benefits of Upcycling Clothing

Even actresses and fashion houses are jumping on the upcycling bandwagon.

For example, actress Emma Watson wore an upcycled wedding dress on the red carpet.

The fashion industry’s take-make-waste production model is experiencing a change.

Designers around the world are featuring upcycled creations.

We look at the noun “designer.”意思是設計師。

譬如：They hired an interior designer to decorate the restaurant’s dining area.

他們請了一名室內設計師來布置餐廳的用餐區。

“Designer”如果當形容詞是指設計師品牌的或名牌的。

來看例句：I know you prefer designer jeans, but they are three times the price.

我知道你比較喜歡名牌牛仔褲，但它們的價格要貴上三倍。

或是：The new mall is full of stores selling the most popular designer brands from around the world.

新的購物中心有許多商店，銷售全球最流行的設計師品牌。

So upcycling is something that anyone can do.

And you don’t even need a sewing machine.

But who is actually doing this?

Well, we find out in this next section that even actresses and fashion houses are jumping on the upcycling bandwagon.

To jump on the bandwagon.

That’s a phrase we’ve talked about before, friends.

Here’s another good use for it.

But what I’m not quite sure about is what a fashion house is.

Well, a fashion house is a company that designs and produces clothing.

But not just any clothing.

It’s really high-end, fancy clothing.

Fashion houses are those name brands that you often see at fashion shows.

Okay, here’s an example of how you could use “fashion house” in a sentence.

Many fashion houses showcase their designs at Fashion Week.

Right.

It’s many of those companies that are named after people like Gucci or other names like that.

I see.

And we’re going to see an example in this next sentence.

For example, actress Emma Watson wore an upcycled wedding dress on the red carpet.

Now, at the beginning of this sentence is that phrase “for example.”

This is used to introduce something chosen as a typical example or a typical case of something.

Right.

You will often hear us say this phrase as we give you examples for how to use different words and phrases in a sentence.

For example, you should exercise daily.

For example, take a short walk.

Now there’s something else that we want to take a look at in this sentence.

And that is the idea of a red carpet.

When we talk about the red carpet, we are talking about a special event for celebrities.

A lot of times before the event they need to walk through and have their picture taken.

And if you look at the ground as they are walking through, it’s often a red carpet.

That red is a color of celebration there.

It’s something that is fancy.

And you might say, “She looked stunning as she walked down the red carpet.”

Often, celebrities walk down the red carpet from their cars all the way to the entrance of whatever event they’re going to.

Exactly.

Now we read on here.

And we see the fashion industry’s take-make-waste production model is experiencing a change.

“Take-make-waste.”

This sounds exactly the opposite of “reduce, reuse, recycle.”

It’s totally different.

It’s all about using things up, producing things for consumers without any worries about sustainability.

So they are experiencing a change from this model.

Designers around the world are featuring upcycled creations.

That’s right.

Now, if something is featured, it means that it is being shown or showcased or that it is included in something.

Oftentimes, if something is being featured, it means it is given a place of prominence.

Right.

If you look at our Studio Classroom magazine, every month we have special stories or articles that are featured on the cover.

Those are special articles we want to show off.

Exactly.

We want to feature them.

Now, I do like this section here, Garrett, because a lot of times pressure is put on us as a consumer to not be wasteful.

But oftentimes it’s the fashion industry itself or designers who are being the most wasteful.

And they are contributing the most to pollution and ruining of our natural resources.

Yeah.

And if they can set an example, more consumers will follow.

So friends, we’ll see how these fashion houses are setting an example and upcycling.

We’ll continue in just a moment.

Let’s go to our Info Cloud first.

Hello friends, welcome to Info Cloud.

Hey Rex, have you ever heard the phrase “turning the old into gold?”

I don’t think the expression is very common, but I bet it means you take something old or outdated and transform it into something valuable or useful.

That’s right.

My neighbor Gary just used my old pair of jeans to make a stylish new bag.

I just thought it was amazing.

That sure sounds like turning the old into gold.

The expression is often used to describe the process of repurposing or revitalizing old items, ideas, or practices to give them new life and value.

The idea of “turning the old into gold” also highlights the creativity and innovation involved in making the most out of what we already have.

It reminds us that with a little effort and imagination, we can find new value in things that might otherwise be discarded or overlooked.

turning the old into gold

當有人將舊的物品重新利用，做出有價值的東西，這就是“turning the old into gold”。

字面上就是用舊的東西把它變成黃金。

例如，有人利用舊的牛仔褲做出非常時尚的包包，這就是“turning the old into gold”。

除了物品之外，一些老舊的想法或是做法，只要做出一些調整，也可以被賦予新的價值。

這也是“turning the old into gold”。只要發揮一些創意或美感，就可能有意想不到的成果。這就是今天的Info Cloud，我們下次雲端見。

The Benefits of Upcycling Clothing

As awareness of environmental issues grows, consumers are more conscious of their purchasing decisions.

By choosing to upcycle, individuals can actively participate in reducing waste and promoting sustainability.

Why not take something old and make it into something new that will benefit both you and the planet?

接下來看 “conscious” 這個形容詞。意思是有意識的。

譬如：Grace became conscious of child labor when her teacher had her do research about it in preparation for a class debate.

當老師要 Grace 做有關童工的研究，好為班級辯論做準備時，她開始漸漸意識到童工的問題。

另外來學一個相關的形容詞：self-conscious。

意思是不自在的或自我意識。

來看例句：Self-conscious and shy, Liam often stuttered when speaking to more than one person at a time.

Liam 容易緊張又害羞，當同時跟很多人說話時就經常結巴。

如果在 “conscious” 前面加上 “un” 變成 “unconscious”，就是失去意識的、不省人事的。

譬如：The man was knocked unconscious when the taxi struck him and he fell to the ground.

那名男子被計程車撞倒在地，失去意識。

Alright.

So more and more people are getting on the bandwagon and doing some upcycling.

And we want to be a part of that.

That’s right.

As we see in our article, as awareness of environmental issues grows, consumers are more conscious of their purchasing decisions.

We saw that word “conscious” already in our Language Lab.

Right.

I think many of us, when we go to buy clothing, what is the thing we’re most worried about, Anne Marie?

I think it’s the price.

Yeah.

The price or if the clothes fit correctly.

And of course, if I see on the tag that this is a more sustainable product or an environmentally friendly product, it makes me happy.

But that’s not always what I’m looking for first.

Yes, that is important.

Well, by choosing to upcycle, individuals can actively participate in reducing waste and promoting sustainability.

There are so many good terms in this sentence, friends, so let’s take a look at them one by one.

First, we see this word “individuals.”

We’re talking about separate people or members of a group.

When you’re talking about an individual, you’re just saying one specific person.

Yeah.

You might say: The program helps individuals develop new skills that they will use in their future careers.

This isn’t talking about the group’s collective skills.

It’s talking about each person in that group and the skills that they personally develop.

Right.

You might think of us as Americans and say, well, all Americans do things a certain way.

But that’s not always true.

We’re individuals.

And each individual has their own way of doing things.

That’s a great point.

Another term that I want to take a look at in this sentence is “actively participate.”

What does it mean if you actively participate in something?

Well, you participate or you take part in something.

But you do that with effort and interest.

You care, and you put time and focus into it.

Exactly.

Here’s an example of how you could use “actively participate” in a sentence.

Students should actively participate in class discussions.

If you are talking in class when the teacher asks you to have a discussion, that’s going to help you learn.

You need to actively participate.

Yeah.

I think part of that is talking or being a part of it in that way.

But also listening and not zoning out or losing focus.

Exactly.

The last term we want to take a look at from this sentence is that term “reducing waste.”

Reducing waste means that you are decreasing the amount of garbage.

Or it can also be talking about pollution.

Both recycling and upcycling can help in reducing waste and things that are put into the landfill.

Okay.

Let’s read the sentence one more time with all of those terms we just looked at.

By choosing to upcycle, individuals can actively participate in reducing waste and promoting sustainability.

We’re coming to the end of our article here, friends.

What’s that last sentence say, Garrett?

Well, why not take something old and make it into something new that will benefit both you and the planet?

That sounds like a win-win situation to me.

A win-win situation is when both sides benefit from something.

With upcycling, people can benefit because they don’t have to buy new clothes.

And they can turn their own things into something new.

And the planet benefits as well because waste is reduced.

Right.

I think we might all have the same kinds of habits that we do every single day when we open up our closet.

So maybe this week, you can find a little time to open up your closet and look through it.

Try to see if there are any clothes that you don’t wear anymore.

That’s a really good point.

Alright friends.

But we have a little more to talk about in just a moment.

First, let’s do something fun.

It’s time for today’s Fun Fact.

Hello fact friends.

I am Detective Ernest Finder, and I have a fun fact for you today.

Did you know that here is an upcycling idea?

Use an old T-shirt for a cleaning rag.

It’s true.

Do not use a new T-shirt for a cleaning rag, especially if it belongs to someone else.

Trust me.

I tried this.

And that is today’s fun fact.

Upcycle!

Alright.

As we finish up our program today, let’s talk about our Talk About It question.

Here it is.

Besides the ideas mentioned in the article, can you think of other ways to upcycle your clothes, Anne Marie?

I certainly can, because this is something that I used to do when I was growing up.

This might date me a little bit, but for a while it was a trend to take your T-shirts, cut them up the side, and then retie them on the sides to make some kind of little design.

I definitely did that when I was a teenager.

Well, I think I’m going to need some help with this one.

I haven’t thought about it much.

Maybe there are some more ideas online.

Or I just need to look at my clothes a little longer.

Yes.

I think the point here is that although it can be time-consuming, and you might have to find a pattern or an idea online, upcycling clothes could be fun.

And it is good for the environment.

That’s something we should think about.

Right.

It could be a fun project to do with a friend or a family member.

As you get clothes out together and maybe share your ideas.

That does sound like fun.

Friends, how would you upcycle your clothes if you could?

Do you have any ideas?

Talk about that in English.

That’s all the time we have for today.

My name is Anne Marie.

And my name is Garrett.