Category: Class

Police Turn Criminal’s Ferrari into Patrol Car

B1 – Intermediate

Catching joyriders, illegal road racers, and more aggressive drivers could be a problem for the police. They drive too fast. Police won’t be able to catch up with these law breakers if they drive slow cars.

The solution – the Czech Republic police have used a criminal’s Ferrari into a patrol car. Now this high-powered sports car can help police during high-speed chase. In Dubai, the police also drive fast cars to ensure their citizens’ safety.

Read the article about the police using a criminal’s Ferrari as patrol car. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2207/220728-patrol-car-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree or disagree with police using seized supercars as patrol cars? Explain your point.
  2. Do you think police presence on streets make people feel safe? Why or why not?
  3. What do you think about high-powered cars? Would you like to own one? Why or why not?
  4. Do you enjoy watching car races? Why or why not?

Woman Saves Dogs

B1 – Intermediate

They say dogs are man’s best friend. But in countries like China, they are nothing but juicy meat. Eating them is normal there.

A retired Chinese woman who also is a known animal activist does everything she can to save dogs from being killed and eaten. She takes care of many dogs in her home. Many people support her but there are also a lot who don’t because they think that eating dogs is a normal part of their tradition.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about a woman who rescues dogs.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/woman-saves-dogs-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of what this woman does for these dogs? Would you support her? 
  2. What do you think of some people taking advantage of her and selling her dogs to make money?
  3. What is your opinion on eating dogs as a tradition in some countries?
  4. If you could save an animal and take care of a lot of them, what would it be and why?
  5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of owning a pet?

Fake News

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Every day we come face to face with fake news. It has been there for centuries, but with the advent of social media, it has become more prevalent these days. It could affect someone personally or impact the society on a global scale. There are obviously several disadvantages to fake news and these include the following:

Change in Public Opinion

This is blatant within the political sphere where fake news is used to manipulate the public’s opinion for profit, public support, or to change the public’s mind about a rival political party.

Defamation

Despite everyone enjoying the right to self-expression, there are those who misuse this right to defame well-known global personalities. Fake news is a great way of spreading false information beyond the internet. Two common examples are when one hears about a celebrity’s affair or when a celebrity experiences their own death through a death hoax.

 False Insight  

Regardless of whether they are true or misleading, people tend to blindly believe the words of an influential person. Most people choose not to dig deeper and find it out for themselves. Therefore, negatively changing their perception about someone or something in the news.

Amazingly, there is a silver lining. We may notice some positive things about fake news as well.

 Recreation Consider satire or works of parody that are meant to be for fun. Just think of all the celebrity gossips or the fact that some people think that reptiloids are among us! Everyone, whether offline or on the internet, loves a good laugh.

Improvement in Memory According to the journal Psychological Science, the ability to recall a time when you heard or read fake news helps your brain to remember true information. A research team conducted two experiments on 96 participants. Throughout the experiments, their memory was tested to check whether recollections were true or based on misinformation. They read both factual and made-up statements from news sites and then read statements that corrected the fake news. It turned out that misinformation reminders helped the participants see the cracks in their memories and promoted better memory recollection. Also, individuals that face fake news head-on have a raised awareness of disparities between what is fact and what is fiction and have better memory updating. Clearly, regardless of the kind of fake news, there is some usefulness to it.

Now you know that there’s a break in the clouds and there might be an upside to dealing with disinformation. But be careful and don’t let fake news determine what you think or who you are.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What other pros and cons can you add to this list?
  2. Do you think the pros of fake news justify distributing it? Why or why not)?
  3. Is it worth trying to fight such fake news in an attempt to stop blatant disinformation?
  4. How would you explain to your grandmother that she shouldn’t believe everything she reads and that hoaxes are published everyday?
  5. Where do you get your news from and why do you choose these sources?
  6. Have you ever encountered an internet hoax that you actually believed but later on found out wasn’t true?

Man Saves a Driver

B1 – Intermediate

Hundreds of car accidents happen every single day. Human errors and external factors have been associated with collisions on the roads. Getting into a car accident can lead to several unwanted consequences that is why road safety is something that road users must keep in mind at all times.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about how a courageous man saved a driver who was having a seizure.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/man-saves-a-driver-level-2/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this story?
  2. Are road accidents a major cause of death in your country?
  3. Have you ever been involved in a traffic accident? If yes, what happened?
  4. What do you do when you see an accident on the road? Do you stop to watch/help or do you pass?
  5. How strict are the traffic laws in your country?
  6. Are there any groups of people more likely to have car accidents than others? Who and why?

The Case for Job Hopping

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Thinking a bit more traditionally, it is believed that one should stay at a company for  at least a few years or even better, for years on end. 

In the more recent years, many employees who keep hopping to different companies are benefiting from career leverage. 

Read the article about the advantages of job hopping and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220720-the-case-for-job-hopping

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “buoyant job market” mean? “With each move, she’s worked with higher-profile clients, gained greater experience and acquired deeper skills that now give her leverage in a buoyant job market.” Use this term in your own sentence.
  2. What does “pay-off” mean? “There has also been another significant pay-off: Anna’s successive job moves have meant her salary has grown by 30% in a short space of time.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘pay-off’ in your own sentence.
  3. What does “to work one’s way up” mean? “I started at a small start-up, and have quickly worked my way up.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘to work one’s way up’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your thoughts on job vagrancy or the “Hobo Syndrome”.
  2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of staying in the same company for a long time?
  3. In your opinion, what is the most ideal number of years of tenure to stay in a company, and why?
  4. In the past, people worked only one job in their whole professional life. Can you imagine that for yourself?
  5. What’s the longest time you’ve worked for a company? What made you stay there for that long?
  6. Should the years you’ve stayed at a company should matter? Explain.

Eiffel Tower in Need of Repair

B1 – Intermediate

Paris is a very famous touristic city. The Eiffel Tower is an equally famous sight in it. Millions of people visit this important tourist spot.

The Eiffel Tower was built for the World’s Fair in 1889. After more than a hundred years, this iconic structure needs some repairs.

Read the article about the Eiffel Tower’s state and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2207/220707-eiffel-tower-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you seen the Eiffel Tower? What do you think of it?
  2. How do you feel about the state it is in?
  3. Should historical structures like this be taken down when they are too old, damaged, or broken down? Why or why not?
  4. What is the most important structure in your city? Talk about it. How is it being maintained?

The Great Barrier Reef

B1 – Intermediate

A lot of places in the world are amazing and they need to be protected. One of them is the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Tourists go here to the see incredible coral reefs.

However, the UN claims that the reef is dying. Australia disagrees with what the UN is saying. This statement is not good for their country’s tourism industry.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript to know about the UN and Australia and their position on the Great Barrier Reef’s state.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/the-great-barrier-reef-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think the UN was right in saying the reef is dying? Explain.
  2. What can you say about Australia’s reaction to this statement?
  3. What do you think is the best thing to do in this situation?
  4. What do you think about the GBR? Would you like to visit it someday? Why or why not?
  5. What are some UNESCO World Heritage Sites in your city/country? Do you think they are properly protected? Why or why not?
  6. Which is more important, protecting places like the Great Barrier Reef or the tourism industry in a country? Explain.

Napalm Girl

B1 – Intermediate

The Vietnam war was was a dark period in history. During that time, many attacks were launched. In one of them, South Vietnamese planes dropped napalm bombs on a village. Direct contact with flaming napalm can cause burns all over the body. 

One of the victims of this attack is Kim Phuc Phan Thi who was 9 years old at the time. While she was burning, she had to take her clothes off. She will later be known as “Napalm Girl”.

Photographer Nick Ut took a photo of her while running for her life without clothes on. This photograph will then become one of the most iconic photos of the 20th century.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript to know about napalm girl’s photograph.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/napalm-girl-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you feel about this story?
  2. Look for napalm girl’s photo on the internet. Talk about what you think of this photo.
  3. What do you think about ‘napalm girl’ and the photographer staying friends after all this time?
  4. Talk about a photo that you would remember forever. What makes this photo unforgettable?
  5. How important are photographs in telling our history?

Children and Screens

B1 – Intermediate

Everyone depends on technological devices nowadays. Some parents even use gadgets such as mobile phones and tablets to help them with their children. They let their young kids use these devices for many hours daily.

There have been many studies on the effects of screens on children. Perhaps it’s time we pay attention to the dangers of letting children be on their gadgets for long periods of time.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the WHO’s new guidelines for parents and their children’s screen time.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/children-and-screens-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of this new guidelines?
  2. What are the bad effects of using devices for many hours on children?
  3. Do you think children use gadgets too much and way too young? Explain.
  4. What are alternative activities for children instead of using mobile phones and tablets?
  5. If you have children, what are your guidelines on their screen time?

Investments

B1 – Intermediate

Everyone of us wants to live a comfortable life and be financially stable. Having a stable income gives you peace of mind, but some people also choose to take the risk and invest their money.

Nowadays, people have become more curious about investments. Many are looking for ways to grow their money and achieve their financial goals. Are you one of those people?

Listen to the thoughts of one person about investments on this link.

https://listenaminute.com/i/investments.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is an effective way to handle one’s money?
  2. Have you ever thought of investing your money? Please elaborate.
  3. Where is it best to invest? Where is it risky?
  4. What are some common forms of investment in your country?
  5. Do you know someone who invested their money? How was their experience?
  6. Do banks offer a good opportunity for money to grow? Why or why not?
  7. Should courses on investments be more available? Please explain.
  8. What are some other forms of investment not related to money?