Category: Class

Inventing Languages

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Language is a tool for connecting people. Throughout history, words have come and gone, evolving with the times.

Pop culture has invented and introduced some interesting new words or new languages. We see them created and distorted for cinematic effect much to the enjoyment of the audience. Language construction started a long time ago and has since then been practiced by people either to communicate more effectively, as part of the changing times, or as an artistic expression.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript in the link below to learn more about inventing languages.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2022/ep-220113

Discussion Questions:

1. What are some other reasons people invent new languages or new words in a language?
2. Would you be interested in learning an unusual, fictional language? Why or why not?
3. How can we keep a language from dying or disappearing?
4. What are other languages that you would want to learn?
5. Why can learning languages be difficult to do?
6. What are some effective ways to easily learn a language?

Minister Swims for Hours after Helicopter Crash

B1 – Intermediate

A Madagascar police minister was lucky enough to be one of the few to survive after their helicopter crashed into the Indian Ocean. He was one of only two men to survive the accident by swimming for so many hours.

Read the lesson about Serge Gelle’s incredible story of survival. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2112/211227-survival-swim-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this story?
  2. What do you think about the two men?
  3. Have you ever been involved in an accident? Share your experience.
  4. Share an experience where you have ‘beaten the odds’.
  5. When a situation is very difficult and hopeless, what do you try to do?

Test 299

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Lickable TV Screen

B1 – Intermediate

Has this ever happened to you? You were watching TV and you saw a very delicious dish/food on the screen and you wished you could taste it?

Japanese professor Homei Miyashita has invented a TV screen that can imitate food flavors. Images you can taste indeed!

Read the lesson about lickable TV screen below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2112/211230-lickable-tv-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about this invention?
  2. How helpful is this technology?
  3. What other technologies would you like to see in televisions?
  4. How important is TV to you?

Extreme Weather

B1 – Intermediate

There is nothing we can do to prevent natural calamities from occurring. In 2021, we have seen many unusual natural disasters that happened in new places. This must be a sign that our weather is becoming more and more extreme.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about extreme weather in 2021.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/extreme-weather-in-2021-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are some examples of extreme weather you have experienced in your country last year?
  2. What do you think of this/these occurrence/s?
  3. Why do you think this is happening?
  4. Is there anything we can do about extreme weather? Explain.
  5. How prepared is your country for natural calamities? Elaborate.

Test 316

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Health Checks at Certain Age

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the past years, people only used to go the doctor when they were sick or dying. It is necessary to go for a regular medical check-up as it can identify early signs of health issues and can result in a healthier life. “Prevention is better than cure” could not be any truer.

Let’s read the article below about the importance of health checks depending on our life age.

https://theconversation.com/im-approaching-a-milestone-birthday-what-health-checks-should-i-have-at-my-age-172047

Discussion Questions:

  1. How often do you get a medical check-up? How often should people get a check-up?
  2. What might be reasons people do not get checked up as regularly as they should?
  3. Are you a healthy person? How often do you get sick?
  4. What health changes have you noticed as you’ve begun to age?
  5. Do you consider yourself a hypochondriac? Do you know anybody who might be considered one?
  6. What steps are you taking to ensure you prevent chronic disease down the track?

Making a Business Proposal

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Identifying your business’ goals and objectives is very important in order to properly present them to a prospective customer or client. It will help you persuade your prospects to have a solution to any business problems they might have.

Here is the video showing some tips on how to make a business proposal.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you tried presenting or doing a business proposal? How did it go?
  2. What products or services did you offer?
  3. What are the things that we have to keep in mind when drumming up business proposals?
  4. What are the usual problems/difficulties that can be encountered when making business proposals?
  5. Why is business proposal important? Explain your thoughts.

Pope Francis on Opting for Pets over Children

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Pope Francis has made comments that couples who opt for animals instead of children are selfish. According to him, there are a lot of people nowadays who prefers to have one child or none at all but has cats or dogs that take the place of children. He also said that this denial of fatherhood or motherhood takes away our humanity. He encourages people to adopt children or make children naturally.

Learn more by reading the article on the website below.

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/01/05/europe/pope-dogs-cats-kids-intl/index.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree with Pope Francis? Why or why not?
  2. Would you prefer having pets, children, both, or none?
  3. What are the pros and cons of having pets?
  4. What are the pros and cons of having children?
  5. What can happen in the future if more people choose to have pets instead of children?

Pig-to-human Heart Transplant

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Studies show that pig hearts are close to the human heart. However, due to certain factors, the patient surviving after, would most likely not happen.

Thanks to genetically modified pigs, it has been made possible.

To find out more, let’s watch this video.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/heart-transplant-pig-human-patient/

Discussion Questions:

  1. In your opinion, is this a game changer for people who need organ transplants? Share your views on this medical breakthrough.
  2. Without science, do you think this would have been possible? Explain.
  3. If there were other animals this procedure could be possible with, which ones would it be and why?