Category: Class

MIT Predicts Societal Collapse

The general living quality of the common person has become equal or better than that of rulers in the greatest empires of history. However, the sustainability of our modern society is fragile, and the future is uncertain. And on the current global path, one of MIT’s greatest prediction models shows that our society could very well collapse in the next 14 years.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “too much weight given” mean? “Is the fact that this report is ahead of schedule actually something to be worried about or is this all just a case of too much weight being given to statistical correlations?.” Use this phrase in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  2. What does “hedged their bets” mean? “Well like good economists, the researchers kinda hedged their bets.”  se this expression in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  3. What does “by all accounts” mean? “By all accounts, this is what you would consider a complete collapse of society.” Use this idiom in a sentence. Give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you believe MIT’s prediction will come to pass? Why or why not?
  2. Will humans be able to survive a societal collapse? Elaborate on your answer.
  3. If the prediction model accounted for global warming, what do you think would happen?
  4. What are the factors that are leading to MIT’s prediction coming true?

Tips to Budget, Invest, and Retire Early

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Financial experts recommend starting to invest as early as possible, even with small amounts. They also encourage creating a realistic budget, avoiding unnecessary debt, and planning for retirement based on personal goals rather than following traditional expectations.

Read the article to know why consistent financial habits are more important than trying to get rich quickly.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/jun/28/expert-personal-finance-money-tips?

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “index fund” mean? ” Letting go of that belief and investing in low-cost index funds instead allowed her to pay off loans and retire early.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “financial freedom” mean? “Money coach Bernadette Joy emphasizes creating a personalized vision for financial freedom, noting that most people have never defined what “enough” means to them.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “nest egg” mean? “Ask family to help build your kids’ nest egg.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you usually make a budget? Why or why not?
  2. What is one money habit you would like to improve?
  3. Do you think it’s important to start investing at a young age? Why?
  4. Have you ever saved money for a big goal? What was it?
  5. What is the best financial advice you have ever received?

Fewer Gen Z Rely on Family for Financial Assistance

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A recent study by the Bank of America (BofA) found that fewer young adults rely on financial help from their families than in previous years. However, many still live paycheck to paycheck due to rising housing costs, student debt, and everyday expenses.

Watch the video and read the article to know why many Gen Z adults are openly discussing budgeting and saving money, a trend known as “loud budgeting.”

https://newsroom.bankofamerica.com/content/newsroom/press-releases/2026/05/bofa-study-finds-fewer-gen-z-rely-on-family-for-financial-assist.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “side hustle” mean? “Redefining what it means to take control of their finances in early adulthood, nearly 70% of Gen Z have taken concrete steps in the past year to manage rising costs, including cutting back on dining out (40%), passing on events with friends (24%) and picking up a side hustle (16%).” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “to weigh on someone” mean? “However, housing costs still weigh heavily on this generation, with nearly 30% of those surveyed pointing to housing and rent as top barriers to financial success, a figure that has remained consistent in recent years.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “loud budgeting” mean? “From $0 date nights to loud budgeting, Better Money Habits® Survey reveals how Gen Z is managing through affordability challenges and social spending pressure.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the article, why are many young adults still living paycheck to paycheck?
  2. What are your thoughts on loud budgeting?
  3. What are some of the biggest financial challenges facing young adults today?
  4. How has financial support from families changed compared to previous years?
  5. What can young adults do to improve their financial situation despite rising living costs?

The Rise of Long-Term Unemployment

B2 — Upper Intermediate 

Google is facing challenges as more people use AI tools and social media instead of traditional search. As search habits change and users rely on direct answers, concerns are growing about the future of web traffic, online content, and Google’s search dominance.

Watch the video and find out about how AI search is changing the web, why fewer users are visiting websites, how Reddit has benefited from the shift, and what it could mean for the future of online information.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “cold lead” mean? “I think I banged on every person’s door in my LinkedIn connections. I had found every single connection I had and there was just cold lead and a no.”Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  2. What does “low hire, low fire” mean? ”The rising amount of long-term unemployed people is the sign of the low hire, low fire environment, with companies reluctant to increase head counts amid higher interest rates and the rise of artificial intelligence.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “non-farm payroll” mean? ”That’s exemplified by the hiring rate for US non-farm payrolls, which stood at 3.5% in March.” Use the term in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think long-term unemployment is primarily an individual issue or a societal issue? Why?
  2. What are the benefits of long-term unemployment? How about its hidden tolls??
  3. What’s the labor market conditions like in your own country at present? What are the biggest challenges facing your country’s labor market today? Discuss.
  4. What are your thoughts on this, “Economists are interested in this group of (long-term unemployed) people because their experience can help determine the health of the American labor market.
  5. What role should the government play in reducing unemployment and improving job security?

Google Just Killed Websites

B2 — Upper Intermediate 

Google is facing challenges as more people use AI tools and social media instead of traditional search. As search habits change and users rely on direct answers, concerns are growing about the future of web traffic, online content, and Google’s search dominance.

Watch the video and find out about how AI search is changing the web, why fewer users are visiting websites, and what it could mean for the future of online information.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “closed-loop” mean? “Google is transforming from a gateway to the internet into a closed-loop answer machine.”Use the word in a sentence.
  2. What does “feedstock” mean? ”Publishers created content, Google helped people find it, and the traffic flowed back to the source. Now, that relationship has shifted. The web is less a partner than a feedstock.” Use the word in a sentence.
  3. What does “paywall” mean? ”Doubt and cynicism become the default. That’s not how human knowledge is supposed to develop. Now, curiosity is run by gatekeepers and paywalls.” Use the word in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of AI providing answers directly in search results?
  2. Do you think it is fair for AI search tools to use information from websites without sending users to those sites? Why or why not?
  3. How could the decline in website revenue impact the quality and availability of online information?
  4. How might AI-powered search change the future of the internet and online publishing?
  5. What responsibility do technology companies have in protecting the sustainability of the online content ecosystem?
  6.   Do you prefer getting quick AI-generated answers or visiting websites for more detailed information? Why?

Americans Find New Ways to Survive Higher Prices

B2 — Upper Intermediate 

As tensions in Iran persist and inflation drives up expenses, ordinary Americans are trying to find strategies to help them cope with the growing cost of living. They are looking for creative ways to stretch their budgets. 

Some are cutting back on nonessential spending, shopping for discounts, using coupons, and seeking lower-cost alternatives for everyday needs. Others are taking on additional work or adjusting their lifestyles to better manage increasing expenses and maintain financial stability.

Watch the video and find out about how Americans are finding ways to manage higher costs.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to feel the hit” mean? “Luckily, I have a co-teacher where we split everything, but I know she’s feeling a hit herself and we’ve already had conversations that we’re going to have to take it easy.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  2. What does “to turn up the heat” mean? ”We’ve told you how rising food prices are turning up the heat on restaurants. In Texas, beef is so expensive, now barbecue joints are losing money on brisket, a staple menu item.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “to hold the line on something” mean? ”For now, he’s holding the line on prices, ordering only what he needs” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the biggest financial challenges people face when the cost of living increases?
  2. How might continued increases in living costs affect people’s quality of life?
  3. What strategies can individuals use to manage higher expenses effectively?
  4. Do you think taking on extra work is a sustainable solution to rising living costs? Why or why not? 
  5. What role should governments play in helping citizens cope with inflation and rising prices?
  6. Have you or someone you know changed spending habits because of higher prices? How?

American Chinese Restaurants Outnumber Fast Food Chains

B2 — Upper Intermediate 

In the United States, there are more Chinese restaurants than most major fast-food chains like McDonald’s. For decades, it was very difficult for authentic Chinese dishes like Peking duck to gain popularity as the Americanized versions were more appreciated by the locals. Many Chinese restaurateurs also faced discrimination and cultural resistance.

Today, as China’s restaurant industry slows, many Chinese chains are expanding into the US, betting that Americans are more open to authentic Chinese cuisine.  

Watch the video and explore how Chinese food became a staple of American dining and how the industry is evolving.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to be shrouded in something” mean? “The origin of fortune cookie is just like the origin of pizza. It is shrouded in mystery.” Use the expression in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  2. What does “to be blown out of proportion” mean? ”It isblown totally out of proportion. Prejudice against Chinese food has become embedded when society needs a scapegoat.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What is a “scapegoat”? ”It is blown totally out of proportion. Prejudice against Chinese food has become embedded when society needs a scapegoat.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your impression about the history of how Chinese cuisine became widely-accepted in America?
  2. What do you think it is about Chinese restaurant business that made it very lucrative in the US? Do you think it will work in your country too?
  3. How popular has the Chinese cuisine become in your country? What do you think about that? What are other foreign cuisines popular in your country? Why do you think this is?
  4. Do you think adapting traditional foods to local tastes helps preserve or dilute a culture’s culinary identity? Why?
  5. Should restaurants prioritize authenticity or customer preferences when serving cultural foods? Share your thoughts.

Job Hugging

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In this day and age, the world has begun to feel incredibly unstable. With the rise of artificial intelligence, the onset of large economic wars, and problems with even securing job positions, Gen Z has become paranoid about leaving their current positions.

To find out more about job hugging, watch the video below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “fly around” mean? “And there are all of these workplace buzzwords that are just flying around, things like ‘quiet quitting, bare minimum Mondays, the great resignation’.” Use this idiom in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  2. What does “flip something around” mean? “But if you flip that around, you have all these employees saying, “Well, why are you just treating me like a number?”  se this expression in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  3. What does “canary in the coal mine” mean? “I think the tech sector is a good kind of canary in the coal mine.” Use this idiom in a sentence. Give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the positive and negative effects of job hugging?
  2. Do you believe job hugging will be less prevalent in the next few years? Elaborate on your answer.
  3. How will job hugging affect Gen Z in the future?
  4. In your opinion, what does job hugging say about the current state of the job market?
  5. Share your thoughts on this, “Fear is the biggest obstacle to career growth.”

Living with Debt

B2 — Upper Intermediate 

There comes a time in one’s life when they need financial help to pay for something they couldn’t afford right away. Many people rely on loans or credit to cover large expenses, such as purchasing a vehicle or a home. In return, they agree to repay the borrowed amount over a period of time.

With prices of goods and services steadily increasing, some individuals now depend on credit not only for major purchases, but also for basic needs like groceries and monthly bills. When borrowing becomes excessive or difficult to manage, it can create financial pressure and negatively affect a person’s mental and emotional well-being.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about living with debt.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260528

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “overdraft” mean? “According to debt support group The Money Charity, roughly how much is the average British adult in debt through credit cards, overdrafts, and personal loans?” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  2. What does “in arrears” mean? “For many people in Woldham, Jason included, debt was an ordinary feature of daily life. And beyond that, being in arrears was part of daily life.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  3. What does “the never-never” mean? ”Jason actually fluctuated between wanting to clear all of his debts on the one hand, and on the other what he described as living on thenever-never and actually questioning the supposed moral obligation to pay his debts.” Use the expression in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. When is taking on debt a responsible financial decision, and when can it become a problem?
  2. How can debt affect a person’s mental health and overall quality of life?
  3. What strategies can individuals use to prevent debt from becoming overwhelming?
  4. Should financial literacy and debt management be taught in schools? Why?
  5. How can governments and financial institutions help people avoid excessive debt?

Social Media Makes Scotland Popular

B1 — Intermediate 

Tourism is a very important industry in Scotland and brings in a lot of money. Social media apps like TikTok and Instagram are helping more people discover beautiful places.

Scotland quickly became popular with tourists through these platforms.

However, there are advantages and disadvantages to this.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about how social media made Scotland popular.

https://newsinlevels.com/products/social-media-makes-scotland-popular-level-3

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “hotspot” mean? “Beautiful videos are going viral, and they turn quiet and remote natural places into famous hotspots overnight.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  2. What does “short-term rental” mean? “To help save their communities, some cities are now introducing a new tourist tax and putting strict rules on short-term rentals.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  3. What is a “camper van”? ”Thousands of visitors arrive in big camper vans, block narrow single-track roads, and leave lots of rubbish behind.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the pros and cons of a place becoming popular on social media?
  2. What is your opinion on imposing tourist tax and putting strict rules on short-term rentals in some communities in Scotland?
  3. Should influencers be careful and stop promoting tiny places that don’t have enough spaces for crowds? Explain.
  4. Have you ever wanted to visit a place after seeing it online? Why? Talk about it.
  5. What should visitors do to respect local people and the environment?