Category: Class

Woman Runs Record 150 Marathons

B1 – Intermediate

A marathon is a 42-kilometer run. Running a marathon is quite very physically challenging. So not everyone can do it. You have to train intensively for many months in order to do so.

However, for Australian runner Erchana Murray-Bartlett, running a marathon is like a walk in the park. 

Read the article about a woman who ran a marathon daily for 150 days.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2301/230119-record-marathon-runner-2.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrase “in shape” mean, “They would need to train for months to be in shape for the 42-km run.”? Use this expression in your own sentence.
  2. What does “smash” mean here, “She smashed the previous record of 106.”? Give a synonym and use this word in your own sentence. 
  3. What does the expression “to string together” mean, “If you keep stringing together little tiny goals, you can make it.”? Use this expression in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of  Erchana Murray-Bartlett’s achievement?
  2. What do you think about marathons/long-distance running?
  3. What are the benefits from running marathons? What are the hard things about it?
  4. What is your opinion on Ms. Murray-Barlett’s mantra, “If you keep stringing together little tiny goals, you can make it.”
  5. What do you do to help yourself continue when you are doing something that is very difficult?

Artificial Intelligence in University Assessments

B1 – Intermediate

A lot of things in our society and how we do things have changed with the help of artificial intelligence or AI. A new way to use AI is to let students use AI text generators in their exams. This is very much like using calculators in math tests.

Read the article about allowing the use of artificial intelligence in students’ tests at universities.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2301/230123-a-i-in-assignments-4.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the expression “to go pen and paper” mean, “You cannot stop it. The alternative is the Middle Ages – going to pen and paper.”? Use this expression in your own sentence.
  2. What does “landmark” mean here, “Three universities have adopted a new, landmark policy – to allow students to use AI in assessments.”? Use this word in your own sentence. 
  3. Give 2 synonyms of “assessment”. Three universities have adopted a new, landmark policy – to allow students to use AI in assessments. Use them in your own sentences.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on this ‘new, landmark policy’?
  2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using AI text generators/language-processing tools in exams?
  3. Do you agree or disagree that “Artificial Intelligence could affect exam fairness.”? Explain your point.
  4. Have you ever tried using any AI text generators/language-processing tools? Talk about your experience.
  5. Talk about your experience ‘going pen and paper’.

France to Increase Price of Baguettes

B1 – Intermediate

Baguette is an essential food for French people. However, as a result of the increasing energy cost, the price of this French bread also had to be raised. The conflict in Ukraine has caused the cost of electricity and gas to go up on the international market. As a consequence, bakers were affected.

Read the article to know more about it baguette’s price increase.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2301/230109-baguette-prices-4.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of “woe“? “Wheat supply issues caused by the Ukraine War are adding to bakers’ woes.” Use the word in a sentence.
  2. What does the word “treble” mean? “One baker is worried about his future. He may have to treble his baguette prices.” Make one sentence using the word.
  3. What does the word “damper” mean in this sentence, “France introduced an “electricity damper” to limit how much bakers’ electricity bills can rise by.”? Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What popular food is essential in your country? Share something about it and tell why it is essential.
  2. What do you think about the bakers’ decision to increase the cost of baguettes?
  3. If there was a price increase of the product you like, would you be willing to continue buying it or would you rather find an alternative? Why or why not?

Lazy People Are More Likely to Succeed

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It might surprise you to find out that a person can be more productive if they are lazy. Bill Gates has often been quoted as saying, “I always choose a lazy person to do a hard job because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it.”

Read the article to learn about the benefits of doing nothing and how to take advantage of it.

https://tipsmake.com/7-reasons-why-lazy-people-are-more-likely-to-succeed

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of the word “paradoxical“, “This may sound paradoxical in this age and lifestyle today.”? Use it in a sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of the word “crammed” in this sentence, “They have many ideas because their minds are not crammed with common thoughts and responsibilities.”? Use it in a sentence.
  3. Give 2 synonyms of “to some extent“? Use this phrase in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the benefits of a lazy employee according to the author?
  2. What are your thoughts on this, “Lazy people can really do a lot of work and being lazy is sometimes an advantage.”?
  3. Share your thoughts on this statement: “In order to  achieve great success in life, besides the natural talent, you have to know how to spend time wisely.”
  4. How can working with lazy co-workers impact your work?
  5. What are some technologies or tools you use that let you relax a little at work?

Stay Positive at Work

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Having a positive mindset at work is beneficial. It can improve one’s mood, boost confidence, help focus on future goals, and thereby, increase productivity in the workplace. By maintaining a positive outlook, one can focus on areas of improvement rather than work challenges. Make daily tasks at work enjoyable as positivity can influence not only you but also your co-workers.

Watch the video to explore how you start incorporating more positivity in your work life.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the idiom “cut someone some slack” mean? “Cutting yourself some slack will be an aid in finding motivation to learn and grow from your mistakes.” Use it in your own sentence.
  2. Give 1-2 synonyms of the “drawback“. Use them in sentences. “If you focus on the drawbacks of your role, it’s going to seem impossible to stay positive at work.“
  3. What is the meaning of the phrase “to reap the rewards of something“? “Use these strategies to reap the rewards of staying positive at work.” Use this idiom in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What’s your attitude towards your work? Are you usually positive or the opposite? Why or why not?
  2. How do you stay positive and motivated to get things done at work?
  3. Which strategies mentioned in the video that you think are helpful in your work life?

Furniture

B1 – Intermediate

A house seems complete when it is fully-furnished. For most homes, the essential ones should be enough. There are also people who invest a lot of money and effort in making their homes unique and stylish by buying many kinds of furniture.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about furniture.

https://listenaminute.com/f/furniture.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the word “antique” mean? Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “chests” mean in this sentence, “ I love going round old houses and looking at all the beautiful sofas and chests and cabinets from hundreds of years ago.”? Give 2 synonyms.
  3. What does the idiom “wander around”mean? Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are essential home furniture?
  2. What non-essential furniture do you have at home?
  3. Where do you usually buy your furniture from? Why do you prefer to buy from this/these shop/shops?
  4. What is your opinion on expensive antique furniture?

The ‘Benjamin Button’ Effect

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Aging is inevitable and everyone goes through it. Not everybody enjoys the aging process and some even hope they don’t age a day. Recently, in molecular biologist David Sinclair’s lab at Harvard Medical School, old mice are growing young again. Scientists have the goal of doing the same for humans.

Read this article to know more about the ‘Benjamin Button’ effect.

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/06/02/health/reverse-aging-life-itself-scn-wellness/index.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “caveat” mean, “With that caveat, Sinclair is willing to share his tips: He keeps his starches and sugars to a minimum and gave up desserts at age 40 (although he does admit to stealing a taste on occasion).“? Use this word in a sentence.
  2. What does “ravage” mean, “It’s a permanent reset, as far as we can tell, and we think it may be a universal process that could be applied across the body to reset our age,” said Sinclair, who has spent the last 20 years studying ways to reverse the ravages of time.“? Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “expunge” mean, “A study published in 2016 by researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California, showed signs of aging could be expunged in genetically aged mice, exposed for a short time to four main Yamanaka factors, without erasing the cells’ identity.“? Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this research? Do you support this kind of research? Why or why not?
  2. Do you think it’s possible to reverse the aging of humans without any complications? Share your thoughts.
  3. In your opinion, what do you think are the pros and cons of reverse aging?
  4. Would you like to be young again? Why or why not?

The Mandela Effect And False Memories

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever noticed that you may distort some facts when talking about the same past event on different occasions?

Read the article and analyze how memories can be distorted or manipulated.

https://listcaboodle.com/the-mandela-effect-and-false-memories/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of the word “lapse“? Use it in a sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of the phrase “creep into“? Use it in a sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of the word “insinuate“? Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you have a good memory? What vivid events from your childhood do you remember best?
  2. What is your stand on the Mandela Effect? Give your own example/s of Mandela Effect.
  3. What might be some events that people tend to exaggerate when retelling them. Why do you think they do that?
  4. Can a person train their long-term memory? Will it prevent them from stirring false memories? Explain your thoughts.

Post-Traumatic Growth

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Whether you’re in the midst of or instantaneously after a traumatic ordeal, it might feel impossible to recognize hidden significance in it. However, as humans, we have an innate flexibility to cope.
Everyone handles trauma in their own distinct way and it is often a lengthy road to recovery. Some individuals display that profound psychological transition after a major life event or catastrophic experiences. The adversity can unintentionally result in positive changes in awareness of oneself, others, and the world. You may recognize some meaningful outcome as you gain momentum through your healing process. This is referred to as post-traumatic growth.

To learn more, please follow the link.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220311-the-complicated-truth-of-post-traumatic-growth

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the expression “isn’t all sunshine and rainbows” mean? “I know it’s ugly having to see someone you cared about betray you like that, but life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows.” Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What does “putting the pieces together” mean? Use this phrase in your own sentence.
  3. What does the word “aphorism” mean? Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What factors contribute to post-traumatic growth?
  2. How can post-traumatic development result in positive changes?
  3. Can everyone experience post-traumatic growth?
  4. Who is most likely to experience post-traumatic growth?
  5. Is post-traumatic growth a form of resilience? Explain.

Universal Basic Mobility Could End Youth Disconnection

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Transport mobility lets individuals carry out fundamental duties beyond the home environment. Mobility allows people to access school, work, and business establishments. With that said, it helps them to stay connected.

In Bakersfield, California, youth disconnection is a social problem. That is why the city selects 100 young residents to participate in a mobility study. The program aims to empower young people and combat youth disconnection.

Use the link below to read the entire article and learn more about the study.

https://www.optimistdaily.com/2021/11/could-universal-basic-mobility-end-youth-disconnection/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of “marginalized workers”? Use it in a sentence.
  2. In the sentence “It could help address the US’ hiring crunch which has left many entry-level and service positions vacant.”, what does hiring crunch mean?
  3. What does “no-strings-attached” mean? Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is youth disconnection a problem in your country? Explain in detail.
  2. What do you think is the relationship between mobility and youth disconnection?
  3. The article discusses the basic mobility program in Bakersfield, California. In your opinion, how effective is this?
  4. Are there any other strategies that might address youth disconnection? What are those?