Category: Class

Why People Like Crime

B1 – Intermediate

Do you ever wonder why so many people enjoy bad things? They like watching and reading about or listening to crimes and other morbid events.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about how much people like crimes.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/why-people-like-crime-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you like crime stories? Why or why not?
  2. Why do you think a lot of people enjoy these kinds of stories/shows?
  3. What might be reasons more women are interested in crime stories than men?
  4. Experts say that women are more interested in a killer’s thoughts. Do you agree or disagree with this? Explain your side.
  5. What’s the most heinous crime do you know of? How did you know about it?

The New York Times Buys Wordle

B1 – Intermediate

There is a new craze in town. It’s Wordle, a web-based word game. The New York Times also owns some online games that their users can enjoy playing. It’s no surprise NYT wanted to add Wordle to their numerous games that can be found on their website.

Read this article to know more about The New York Times’ acquisition of Wordle.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2202/220203-wordle-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is this a good investment for The New York Times? Why or why not?
  2. Have you tried playing Wordle? If yes, what do you think of it? If not yet, would you try it now that you know about it?
  3. What other online word games have you tried playing?
  4. Why do you think Wordle became very famous in such a short time since its release in October 2021?
  5. Do you think people would continue playing this if it isn’t for free anymore? Why or why not? 

Using Scarcity in Marketing Strategy

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Companies and businesses use the tactic of scarcity marketing to stand out. The idea is to make product scarce in order to attract customers and boost sales. It’s based on a psychological principle that the more difficult it is to obtain something, the more people want it.

Watch the video on how scarcity is used in marketing strategy and be able to express your opinions by answering the questions that follow.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do you think scarcity marketing has been effective and why has it become a powerful sales and marketing tool?
  2. What are some of scarcity marketing do you know of? Cite some examples.
  3. Share an experience you had when you fell for scarcity marketing which led you to purchase a product.

School Lunches from Around the World

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Lunchtime at school is a very important part of a kid’s day. It provides them with enough energy to learn and be active.

Many schools provide students with access to meals. When choosing what to eat for lunch, making a healthy choice is really important.

Let’s watch the video to see what school lunches around the world are like.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do kids in your country usually eat for lunch at their schools?
  2. What was your school lunches like when you were a kid?
  3. Do you think school lunches should be provided by the government? Explain.
  4. What are things to consider for school kids’ lunches/snacks?
  5. In your opinion, which country has the best school lunch? Why do you think so?

Embryo a Year Younger than the Mother

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Some couples are lucky to have children without needing any medical interventions but there are others whose dreams of having a child is a long shot. Luckily, with the help of science, their dreams could possibly come true.

Read the article and watch the video about the oldest frozen human embryo and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://edition.cnn.com/2017/12/19/health/snowbaby-oldest-embryo-bn/index.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on/reaction to this news?
  2. What do you think about embryo donation and adoption?
  3. Talk about other modern methods of conceiving that you know about.

Measles Outbreak in Europe

B1 – Intermediate

Measles is an infectious disease that has not been a very big problem in decades. However, there had been a huge increase in the number of people affected by this disease in Europe last year. 

Read this article about the new measles outbreak in Europe.

https://www.english-online.at/news-articles/health-medicine/new-measles-outbreak-in-europe.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why was there a massive outbreak of measles in Europe?
  2. How do you feel about the increase of measles cases in Europe?
  3. How can the government encourage parents to have their babies receive measles immunization?
  4. What other outbreaks have you had in your city/country the past few years? How did the ministry of health and/or the government manage the outbreak?
  5. What other vaccinations/immunizations do you know babies should get?

Teenagers Aren’t What They Used To Be

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Whenever we hear the term teenager, we picture of a phase in someone’s life when one is making dumb choices while struggling to mature via trial and error.

The bulk of choices taken by adolescents are impacted by their peers and how others behave.

Let’s take a look at the article below to find out why teenagers aren’t what they used to be.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220124-why-teens-arent-what-they-used-to-be

Discussion Questions:

  1. Did you like being a teenager? Talk about that phase in your life.
  2. What are the best and worst things about being a teenager?
  3. Do you think today’s teens are the same as teenagers 20 years ago? Explain your point.
  4. Do you think parents look forward to their cute little children becoming teenagers? Why/why not?
  5. Why is it that teenagers tend to rebel so much?
  6. What impact do teenagers have on society?

Freedom

B1 – Intermediate

Freedom is the ability to live one’s life, doing what one wants, living where one wants, eating whatever one wants, and learning whatever one’s heart wishes.

This means that freedom should be enjoyed in various aspects of life and that it is not only an essential term.

Let’s have a look at the transcript and hear the audio about freedom.

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

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is freedom for you? How important is it to you? Would you fight for your freedom?
  2. Do you feel that you have as much freedom as you want in your life? Why/why not?
  3. Do men or women have more freedom in your country? Cite examples to prove your point.
  4. Can freedom damage a country? Explain your point.

Running a Successful Small Business

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Owning a business sounds like a dream: you are your own boss and you get a say on everything from top to bottom of things. A lot of people are enticed by the idea of a business where they own their time, earn their own money, and take charge of where the money goes or how it’s spent, but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.

Starting or owning a business takes a lot of responsibility and sacrifices. So many things happen behind the scenes that are tricky and challenging.

The tips laid out in the article below aims to help budding entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs-to-be in setting up and running a small business successfully.

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/08/make-money-in-business.asp

Discussion Questions:

1. Are you interested in having your own business? Why or why not? If yes, what kind of business would it be?
2. What sacrifices must be made to start a business? Are you willing to take them?
3. What are some challenges faced when starting a business?
4. What are some rewards of owning a business?
5. How do you keep yourself organized at work and in other aspects of your life?
6. What is good customer service?
7. What are other tips that you can add to the list?

A Dress with a QR Code

B1 – Intermediate

Fashion industry has always been built on creativity and stylish expression. From simple to bizarre fashion trends, we’ve seen it all. However, an Egyptian smart designer has come up with something a little out of the ordinary that combines fashion, technology, and tourism.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the smart dress with its own QR code.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/a-dress-with-a-qr-code-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Describe the smart dress this designer created.
  2. What do you think of this creation?
  3. Do you think this is helpful to tourists? Why/why not?
  4. As a tourist, how important are travel guides for you to know places to visit?
  5. How else can QR codes be used?