Youtube Exercise » English Grammar Homework

Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Address

Stanford

48.3M views 18 years ago

Warm-up Questions

What do you think a “commencement address” is, and what is it usually about?
Why might a famous business leader be invited to speak at a university graduation?
What life advice would you expect to hear in a Stanford commencement speech?

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Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Address

Story 1: Connecting the dots (dropping out and calligraphy) (00:00 – 05:37)

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1. Why does the speaker say he decided to drop out of college?

He couldn’t see the value and didn’t know what he wanted to do.
He got a job offer from a computer company.
He wanted to travel and live abroad.
He failed most of his required classes.

2. What class did the speaker choose because it looked interesting, even though it seemed impractical at the time?

Computer programming
Business management
Calligraphy
Physics

3. What lesson does the speaker give about “connecting the dots”?

You can only connect the dots looking backwards, so you must trust the future.
Success depends mostly on avoiding mistakes.
You can always predict your future if you plan carefully.
College is the only way to build a meaningful career.

Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Address

Story 2: Love and loss (being fired and starting over) (05:37 – 09:04)

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1. What happened to the speaker when he was 30?

He moved Apple’s headquarters to a new city.
He retired from Apple.
He sold Apple to another company.
He was fired from Apple.

2. What did the speaker say replaced the “heaviness of being successful” after he was fired?

The lightness of being a beginner again
The certainty of knowing everything
The fear of taking any risks
The pressure of public attention

3. What advice does the speaker give about finding the right work?

Follow your friends’ recommendations even if you’re unsure.
Choose the safest job and stay there.
Keep looking and don’t settle if you haven’t found it yet.
Only do work that is easy and comfortable.

Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Address

Story 3: Death (time, courage, and “stay hungry, stay foolish”) (09:04 – 15:05)

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1. What does the speaker say is the best way he knows to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose?

Saving a lot of money
Remembering that you are going to die
Always asking others for advice
Avoiding big decisions

2. What did the doctors initially tell the speaker about his cancer?

It was almost certainly incurable and he might have only months to live.
It was definitely harmless.
It could be cured without surgery.
It would go away on its own with rest.

3. What does the speaker warn people not to be trapped by?

Curiosity
Friendship
Ambition
Dogma

Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Address

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1. Across the speech, what is the main purpose of the three personal stories?

To encourage graduates with life lessons about choices, setbacks, and meaning
To explain Apple’s complete business strategy
To teach detailed technical skills for building computers
To criticize universities for being too expensive

2. Which theme appears repeatedly in the speaker’s advice?

Putting other people’s expectations first
Always follow a strict plan and never change direction
Trusting yourself and continuing even when the path is uncertain
Avoiding failure by taking no risks

3. What does the phrase “stay hungry, stay foolish” most likely mean in the speech?

Avoid responsibility and act immaturely
Keep learning, stay curious, and be willing to take unconventional risks
Never eat too much and never study
Focus only on making money quickly

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Address

Do you agree that you can only “connect the dots” looking backward? Why or why not?
What is one experience in your life that seemed useless at the time but later became valuable?
How should someone respond after a major failure (for example, losing a job or not reaching a goal)?
What does “don’t be trapped by Dogma” mean in modern life (school, career, social media, family expectations)?