Category: Class

Quiet Quitting

B1 – Intermediate

The workplace is a very competitive world. We are taught to do our very best in order to succeed. 

However, it seems times have changed. Workers only work to achieve the minimum of what they should be doing in their job while they are working to later just leave.

Read the article about the concept of quiet quitting and how it is becoming more common in the workplace.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2210/221003-quiet-quitting-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are reasons workers are quiet quitting?
  2. Was there ever a time you had to quit quietly at work? Talk about this time.
  3. How to be a good employee?
  4. What is the proper way to quit work? 
  5. Talk about a time you ‘went the extra mile’ at work.
  6. How did the pandemic change the way you do or think about your job?

Finding Your Mission

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

Every day, lots of people struggle to find their calling in life and not all of them succeed as it takes a lot of effort, patience, and know-how.

Watch the video and you’ll learn how to make the search for one’s calling easier. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think is your mission in life? How did you find out about it?
  2. What is a calling? Why do many people struggle to find their calling?
  3. How can you understand that you’ve finally found a calling in life?
  4. Which of your childhood dreams would you like to live out?
  5. Would you change your career to find something more interesting and suitable for you? Why or why not?
  6. What would you do if your loved ones were against your passion?

How People Drink Wine Around the World

B2 – Upper Intermediate

People’s choice of booze differs depending on many factors. But wine is undoubtedly one of the world’s most favorite. 

There are different ways people from every country enjoys this boozy drink.

Read the article about the different ways people drink their wine across the world.

https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/how-people-drink-wine-around-the-world

Discussion Questions:

  1. Which points in this article did you find the most interesting and surprising, and why?
  2. Share other ways people consume their wine that you’ve heard of.
  3. What’s the best way to enjoy wine?
  4. Do you have the custom to BYOB in your country? Why or why not?
  5. Do you think drinking wine will become more or less popular in the future? Explain your point.

Charbonnay Wine 

B1 – Intermediate

People are believed to have been consuming wine as early as 5400-5000 B.C. And ever since, there has been a continuing demand for wine all over the world. 

In Northern France, they have invented a new type of wine that is called “Charbonnay”. 

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about this new kind of wine.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/charbonnay-wine-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of charbonnay? Would you like to try it? Why or why not? If you have tried it, what can you say about it?
  2. Are there any new varieties of wine that has been produced in your country recently? Talk about it.
  3. How important is wine and the wine industry in your country?
  4. Do you like drinking wine? Why or why not?
  5. What are the good and bad things about wine/wine drinking?

Patience

B1 – Intermediate

In today’s modern world, life has become a constant pursuit of distraction. Being more patient can do wonders to our mental health, career, and personal relationships. Patience makes us better people.

Let’s listen to the audio and read the transcript below about patience.

https://listenaminute.com/p/patience.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are you patient? Is it difficult for you to be as such? Explain your answer.
  2. How can you improve the quality of patience in yourself? What techniques can you think of?
  3. When was the last time you lost your patience?
  4. Who/what requires the most patience in your life?
  5. Do you think you’re getting more patient or impatient as you get older? Explain.

Earliest Medical Operation

B2 – Upper Intermediate

When we look at how much the medical field has progressed over time, wouldn’t it be interesting to glance back at how it all started and how the first surgeries were like? 

A new research reveals that contrary to our beliefs that healthcare is a newer concept, prehistoric people were not exactly just left to their own device when it comes to their medical needs.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about possibly the earliest medical operation that dates back to 31,000 years ago.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/earliest-medical-operation-might-have-been-31-000-years-ago/6737970.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about this discovery?
  2. What comes to your mind when you hear the word “surgery”?
  3. Picture yourself living 31,000 years ago. How do you imagine the medical services would have been like? 
  4. Talk about a surgery or any medical procedures you have had and describe the procedures and medical technologies used for your treatment.
  5. Talk about a few of the most modern medical treatments and technologies that you know of and what do you think about them.

Used Luxury Goods Growing Popularity

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the midst of the economic crisis and financial uncertainties, the market for used luxury products is booming in China. More and more owners of such items now know that they can make good money from their luxury goods and on the buyers’ end, they get a good bargain.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the growing popularity of used luxury goods in China.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/in-china-used-luxury-goods-growing-in-popularity-/6768412.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why are second-hand luxury products becoming popular in China?
  2. Is this trend happening in your country too? Why or why not?
  3. Do you think it is a good investment to buy luxury items in the middle of an economic crisis? Explain your point.
  4. Do you have luxury items and would you be willing to sell and why?
  5. What are ways to get through an economic crisis?

Woman Lives Every Day Like It’s 1958

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The idea of time travel is fun as it lets you see how people lived before. For some, it is scary because they have no idea what to expect. What if I tell you that today there is a woman who lives her life exactly like she is in the 1950s?

Watch the video and meet Laci Fay, the vintage girl next door.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Looking at Laci Fay, describe the vibe that she gives off.
  2. When people choose to live differently than others, what do you think are some challenges that they might face?
  3. Do you know anything about the 1950s? Discuss your ideas.
  4. How do you think the 1950s is different from today?
  5. If you could travel back in time, which era would you choose? And why?

Why Great Businesses Fail

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Experts believe that when a successful company fails to deal with disruption, it might collapse. On the other hand, what sets companies like Amazon and Walmart apart from those that fail, is their ability to decide quickly. They do not let the slow process of decision-making kill innovation.

Watch the entire video that explains why great businesses fail.

Discussion Questions:

  1. The video talks about the term ”ideation”. How do you define it in your own words?
  2. Think of a successful company in the past that failed and went bankrupt. What were the reasons for it going under?
  3. According to the speaker, some companies are good at the incubation period. Why do you think these companies fail when they decide to scale up?
  4. What lessons can companies in the world learn from Amazon?
  5. The video teaches companies about ideation and scaling up. How can these concepts be applied in your personal and professional life?

The Life of Nelson Mandela

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Nelson Mandela never supported discrimination on the grounds of race. If truth be told, he fought against it. He was an activist, a politician, and a philanthropist. Learn more about this Nobel prize awardee who was also the first black president of South Africa.

Watch this video to know more about the life of Nelson Mandela.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your understanding of the term ”white-only authority”?
  2. Describe Nelson Mandela as an activist.
  3. Do you think he was an ideal politician? Explain your answer.
  4. Many considered Mandela a freedom fighter. Do you agree or disagree? And why?
  5. In the 90s, Mandela became president and pushed for equal rights. Has it been achieved today? Provide specific points to support your answer.