Category: Class

Superman #1 the Most Expensive Comic

B1 – Intermediate 

It was in 1939 when the comic book Superman # 1 first came out. It started the genre of superhero comics. Superman No. 1 went on to become the inspiration for many other superheroes that followed.

A copy of the first Superman comic that is in perfect condition belonged to three brothers who found it after 86 years of just collecting dust in their late mother’s house.

At an auction, it was sold for $9.12 million.

Read the article about Superman #1 comic selling for $9.12 million at an auction.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2511/251124-superman-comic-5.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is an “auction”? “A pristine copy of the very first self-titled Superman comic has been sold at auction for $9.12 million.” Use the word in a sentence and give a synonym.
  2. What does “blueprint” mean here, “Superman No. 1 became the blueprint for today’s modern superheroes.” Use the word in a sentence. What’s another meaning of “blueprint”?
  3. What does “mint condition” mean? “Mint condition copies are very rare because many people cut off the front cover to use as a poster.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your thoughts about the story of the three brothers and them finding this comic at their late mother’s house after 86 years.
  2. What do you think about the amount of money that this comic was sold for?
  3. What are your thoughts on this comic being the “pinnacle of comic collecting?
  4. Do you like collecting? Why or why not?
  5. If there is one piece of pop culture history that you could have, what would it be and why?
  6. What is the most priceless thing you own and why is it so valuable for you?

Japan Emergency Plan to Stop Bear Attacks

B1 – Intermediate 

Due to a series and increasing number of bear attacks in Japan, the government had to come up with emergency measures to lower the number of humans’ encounters with bears that have led to deaths and injuries.

Read the article about Japan’s emergency measures to address increasing bear attacks in some parts of the country.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2511/251117-japanese-bear-attacks.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to address” mean in this context, “Japan’s government has created emergency measures to address record numbers of bear attacks.” Use the word in a sentence in the same context. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “to devise” mean? “Wildlife management experts have devised a plan to reduce the increasing numbers of fatalities, injuries, and encounters with bears.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What is a “buffer zone”? “Authorities will also set up a buffer zone in many areas.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the article, what are the reasons for the growth in bear populations in Japan? Discuss the three reasons.
  2. What are the measures that the Japanese government created to address the problem with bear attacks?
  3. What is your reaction to the rising bear attacks in Japan?
  4. Have you ever had a similar problem with bears in your own country? Talk about it.

AI Taking Over the Hiring Process

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping the way companies recruit and hire talent. From screening resumes to scheduling interviews, AI tools are streamlining processes that once took days or weeks.

While these technologies offer efficiency and objectivity, they also raise questions about fairness, transparency, and the human touch in hiring.

In this article, we explore how AI is taking over parts of the recruitment process and what it means for both employers and job seekers.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ai-screener-interviews-jobs_l_6908f3ace4b0ad5446e1157e

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to slog through” mean? “Candidates are slogging through the process trying to just get as much as a conversation, and recruiters and hiring managers are being drowned in resumes and applications by the hundreds.” Use this phrase in a sentence and give a synonym.
  2. What does “to get unstuck out of the mud” mean? “All this AI stuff has felt like a way to try to get unstuck out of the mud, because without it, there’s no way that recruiters could meaningfully sift through the number of applications they’re getting.” Make a sentence with this. Give a synonym or similar expression.
  3. What is the meaning of “to break through the noise“? “The most effective way to break through the noise is through networking and personal connections.” Create a sentence with this idiom and give a synonym or similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does AI help recruiters manage the large number of applications more efficiently?
  2. What benefits do job seekers get from AI screenings or automated processes, if any?
  3. In your opinion, what is the most promising benefit of integrating AI into the hiring process?
  4. How could candidates leverage AI-driven hiring systems to their advantage?
  5. How would you feel if an AI system reviewed your job application instead of a human recruiter?

Encouraging People to Save is the Key to Financial Resilience

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The article argues that to withstand economic shocks, people need more than just emergency funds systems must proactively support saving. It highlights how employers, policymakers, and institutions around the world can help build financial buffers for individuals.

Read the article to know how to make saving a more structured and accessible habit.

https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/03/saving-is-key-to-financial-resilience/?

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “staggering” mean? “The financial aftermath post-treatment is staggering: a five-figure medical bill that forced you to use all of your savings, take on high-interest debt and postpone critical expenses for your family.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “unravel” mean? “This is a stark reminder of how quickly a single unexpected event can unravel a household’s financial stability, and how vital it is to build resilience before a crisis strikes.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “financial buffer” mean? “The importance of building financial buffers cannot be overstated. Yet for many households, savings remain a low priority – until circumstances leave no alternative.” Use it in a sentence. Give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do you think many people still struggle to save even when they know it’s important for financial resilience?
  2. What kind of support or systems would help you personally save more consistently?
  3. Do you agree that employers and governments should play a bigger role in encouraging people to save? Why or why not?
  4. How has your own approach to saving changed during economic uncertainties?
  5. What small habit do you think could make the biggest impact on someone’s long-term financial stability?
  6. Share your thoughts on this: Our current savings systems are largely reactive rather than proactive.
  7. What are your thoughts on the idea of employer-sponsored savings programmes?

Shared Reality as a Key Component of Close Relationships

B2 – Upper Intermediate

New research in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that a shared sense of reality plays a such a vital role in social connections.

The research explains how when we meet someone for the first time, we feel that we “click” with that individual. Moreover, it offers an insight about how sometimes, romantic couples and close friends have a sense that they share the same thoughts and feelings about the world.

Read the article to know how shared reality builds social connection and makes relationships stronger.

Psychologists identify “shared reality” as a key component of close relationships

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “riff off” mean? “You know the feeling of striking up a conversation with a stranger and immediately starting to finish each other’s ideas and riff off of each other?” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “subjective experience” mean? “In nine studies with 1,571 participants in total, the researchers found evidence that the subjective experience of sharing a set of feelings, beliefs and concerns about the world was a defining feature of close relationships.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “inside joke” mean? “Couples high on shared reality engage in motivated behaviors to restore their sense of shared reality, like referencing inside jokes and shared memories or trips they took together. “ Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you think couples can create a stronger shared reality when they’re going through stressful or uncertain times?
  2. Why do you think shared reality plays such a big role in helping couples build stronger relationship?
  3. What do you think are the dark sides to shared reality?
  4. Why are humans motivated to establish a shared reality with others?
  5. Does a lack of shared reality lead to conflict, and can it be a divisive force, as seen in social and political divides? 

iCloud Costs Too Much

B1 – Intermediate 

If you own any Apple device, then you are familiar with iCloud. iCloud is Apple’s cloud-based storage service where your data like photos, files, notes, and passwords are stored and synced across all your devices.

As of 2025, the price plan on iCloud is somewhere around € 0.99 for 50 GB of cloud storage to € 59.99 for 12 TB. 

In 2024, the UK consumer group, Which? filed a £3 billion class-action lawsuit against Apple accusing the company of making it difficult for its customers to use other third-party cloud storage services. They get trapped in Apple’s ecosystem  and continuously have to pay for additional storage every time.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about Which?’s collective claim against Apple, alleging that the company overcharges for iCloud storage.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/icloud-costs-too-much-level-3

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “payout” mean? “Which? estimates the claim could lead to a 3-billion-pound payout, with individuals possibly receiving around 70 pounds each.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “discourage” mean? “The consumer group ’Which?’ argues that Apple’s actions violate competition laws by limiting customer choices and discouraging alternatives.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “collective claim” mean?  “This lawsuit, along with others targeting tech giants like Facebook and Google, uses a newer legal mechanism allowing collective claims.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about this lawsuit?
  2. Do you think Apple’s actions violate competition laws? Explain.
  3. What do you think about iCloud’s prices?
  4. Share your opinion about having to pay for cloud storage every month.
  5. Talk about your devices’ storage.

How Trust Allowed Wikipedia to Become Reliable

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Wikipedia began as a risky experiment: an online encyclopedia that anyone could edit. Yet over time, it grew into one of the world’s most trusted information sources. This transformation was made possible by a unique culture of trust — trust in volunteers to contribute honestly, trust in the community to correct mistakes, and trust in transparent processes that ensure accuracy. Understanding how this trust was built helps explain why Wikipedia became surprisingly reliable despite its open-door design.

Watch the video and be able to answer the questions that follow.


Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define “open source“. “It wasn’t long ago when people considered Wikipedia a joke. After all, how can you trust an open source?” Use the term in a sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of the word “guardrail” here, “
    Wikipedia’s greatest value to students is helping them get started. Wikipedia can be extremely useful in giving students some guardrails.”    ? Make your own sentence using the word.
  3. What does the word “dogged” mean in this sentence, “Launched in 2001 by founder Jimmy Wales, credibility and trust issues have dogged the website over the years.“? Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym or similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think an open sources like Wikipedia can stay reliable in the long run, or will trust eventually break down as more people edit it?
  2. In your opinion, is community-driven fact-checking more effective than traditional expert-only editing? Why or why not?
  3. Do you believe Wikipedia’s transparency — such as edit histories and discussion pages — plays a bigger role in its reliability than the expertise of its contributors? Share your thoughts.
  4. Do you think other online platforms could become more trustworthy if they adopted Wikipedia’s model of shared responsibility and open collaboration? Share your insights.

A Space for Teen Boys to Speak Openly about Their Struggles

B2 – Upper Intermediate

At Oberlin High School in Ohio, educators have launched a groundbreaking program designed to help adolescent boys open up about their feelings. Recognizing that many teen boys struggle to express their emotions—reportedly only 38 % feel comfortable discussing mental health with friends—this initiative creates a safe space for discussion and reflection.

Watch the video and read the article to learn more about this school program called “Men’s Work”.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/oberlin-ohio-high-school-unique-space-teen-boys-speak-openly-struggles

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is an “emotional roller coaster“? “I think boys, in particular, feel this emotional roller coaster, this push and pull, on the one hand, I’m hearing from media and news that I think men should be able to cry.” Use this expression in a sentence.
  2. Define “manosphere“. “The Men’s Work sessions are designed to discuss and challenge messaging from the “manosphere” that students like Santos Navarro, a senior at Oberlin High, are frequently exposed to online.” Make a sentence with this term.
  3. What does “to be drawn to someone/something” mean in this context?  “It’s one reason that some young men are drawn to social influencers collectively known as the “manosphere,”” Create a sentence using this idiom.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your personal reaction to this initiative? Would you support a program like this in your school?
  2. According to the article/video, what are some of the benefits boys experience from participating?
  3. How can schools create a safe space for boys to share their feelings?
  4. How can emotional literacy help students in their academic and personal lives?
  5. What do you think young boys/men in your country struggle with?
  6. Share your insights on what you believe it means to be a modern man.
  7. What are your thoughts about “manosphere”?

Malawi’s First Climbers Take Their Sport to New Heights

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As stress and pressure continue to affect young people in Malawi, many are turning to an unexpected source of relief—rock climbing. What was once a little-known sport in the country is now gaining popularity among the youth, who see it not only as a physical challenge but also as a way to clear their minds, build confidence, and find balance in their daily lives.

Read this article to learn more about it.

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/jul/29/malawi-first-rock-climbers-bouldering-take-their-sport-to-new-heights

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “jutt out” mean? “But, once it jutted out at a 25-degree overhang, he struggled – and was hooked.” Use this in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. Define “self-sufficient“. “The coronavirus pandemic was a wake-up call that Malawi’s climbers had to be more self-sufficient, says Nhlane, 34.” Make a sentence with this. Give a synonym.
  3. What does the expression “to never look back” mean? “Ed Nhlane was running a tour guiding company and hoping to get into rock climbing when he heard about Algeo’s wall through a friend in 2019. ‘I never looked back,’ he says.” Use this in a sentence. Give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do you think rock climbing is becoming a popular sport among young Malawians?
  2. What personal qualities or skills do you think rock climbing helps develop among the youths?
  3. Do you think governments should invest in outdoor recreational facilities for young people? Why or why not?
  4. How might economic or social challenges in Malawi influence young people to seek new hobbies like rock climbing?
  5. In what ways can adventure sports like rock climbing positively impact mental health?

Alberta Curbs Immigration to Boost Youth Employment

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The Alberta government is exploring measures to curb immigration, with the hope that reducing the influx of new residents will create more job opportunities for young people in the province.

Officials say this strategy aims to address rising youth unemployment and provide Alberta’s next generation with a stronger foothold in the labor market.

Read this article and watch the video to learn more about the topic.

https://globalnews.ca/news/11433837/alberta-government-immigration-youth-employment

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to reach out to someone” mean? “Alberta’s government is helping to pay $10 of the hourly wage for young people up to 400 hours,” explained Smith. So if you’re looking for staff, do please reach out to them.” Make a sentence with this phrase.
  2. Define “resume targeting“. “They’re free to access for anyone aged 15 – 24, and provide services that range from resume targeting, interview prep and connecting youth with potential employers.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  3. What does “transferable skill” mean? “Communication, working within a team, those are things they’re actively doing at school, along with transferable skills they’ve learned at home.” Create a sentence with this term.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How might immigrants and newcomers feel about such a policy?
  2. Do you think youth unemployment is caused more by a lack of opportunities or by other factors, such as skills or education? Explain your stance.
  3. In your opinion, should governments prioritize local employment over the benefits brought by immigration? Why or why not?
  4. How do you think immigrants contribute to the job market, and how might limiting them affect different sectors?
  5. What’s your opinion on this line from the article “A lack of job experience doesn’t mean a lack of skills.“?