Category: Class

Are You a Body With a Mind or a Mind With a Body?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Man has made a lot of advances in the field of Natural Sciences. However, despite these accomplishments, we are still yet to fully understand the very core of all these—our brains. Experts say that we are yet to fully understand how the brain processes information.

There are a lot of theories that attempt to define what a “self” is, but the fundamental question remains. Are you a body with a mind or a mind with a body?

Let’s watch the video and find out.

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the video, what does the Rubber Hand Illusion experiment show about our judgment?
  2. Do you believe that our body is part of our consciousness? Why or why not?
  3. What do you think is the reason why despite extensive research, we still understand very little of how the brain works?
  4. What is your opinion on neuroprosthetics and/or mind uploading? Do you think they’re possible?
  5. Based on the arguments raised in the video, which one do you think are we? A body with a mind or a mind with a body? Explain your answer.

Botanists Find World’s Ugliest Orchid

B1 – Intermediate

Flowers are wonderful creations of nature and are used as beautiful arrangements for decorating. There are many kinds of flowers, one of which are orchids. Orchids are well-known for its beauty, fragrance, and their colorful blooms. Ugly orchids are rare but apparently, they exist too.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about this kind of orchid.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2012/201221-orchids-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the consequences for us when plants become extinct?
  2. How can a flower be ugly?
  3. What are your favorite flowers and why?
  4. How sad is it that plants are disappearing? Is this a problem, how so?

Healthcare Clowns Help Patients Laugh and Recover

B1 – Intermediate

As the old saying goes, “Laughter is the best medicine.” Laughing reduces stress, increases energy, and it makes us feel good.

Hospital clowning continues to grow around the world because they help patients focus on something other than their illness.

Let’s read the article below about healthcare clowns.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2012/201217-healthcare-clowns-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of the idea of healthcare clowns? Elaborate.
  2. Do you think “Laughter is the best medicine.“? Why / Why not?
  3. What helps reduce your stress or anxiety when you are or one of your loved ones is sick?
  4. What other things could clowns do to help society?
  5. Do you think clowns are scary? Why / Why not?
  6. How has humor help you pass difficult situations in your life?

Cyber-Bullying

B1 – Intermediate

Cyber-bullying is quite a common issue nowadays. It is easily done by people who hide their identities by making fake profiles. Peoples lives can be ruined just by bad comments posted in their social media accounts.

Let us hear more about cyber-bullying in the audio.

https://listenaminute.com/c/cyber-bullying.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is cyber-bullying a common problem in your country right now?
  2. What are the reasons why people bully others online?
  3. Are there consequences for the people who do this?
  4. What can be the effect of cyber-bullying on the victims?
  5. Is there a way to stop people from cyber-bullying others?

Being Single

B1 – Intermediate

People always wants to find love but others tend to choose to be single for tons of reasons. We could say that being in a relationship gives us happiness and belongingness while being single gives us freedom and thrill.

Let us hear more about the good and bad thing about being single in the audio.

https://listenaminute.com/b/being_single.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the pros and cons of being single?
  2. What are the pros and cons of being in a relationship or being married?
  3. Is it better to settle down when you are young or when you are old?
  4. How does one’s life change when they are single versus when they are in a relationship/married?

First Person Gets Covid-19 Vaccine

B1 – Intermediate

Margaret Keenan is a 90-year-old grandmother who became the first person in the world to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine outside of a trial in Britain. Although she urges people to get the vaccine, there are still some people who are in doubt and worried about its safety.

Listen to the audio and be able to answer the questions below.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/first-person-gets-a-vaccine-level-2/

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you feel about this news?
  2. What can you say about Margaret Keenan? If you were her, would you like to be the first person in the world to get vaccinated with a new vaccine?
  3. In general, what do you think of vaccines?
  4. Would you get this COVID-19 vaccine when it’s available for everyone? Why or why not?
  5. Why do you think some people are worried about getting this vaccine?

Machine Makes Books Safe

B1 – Intermediate

Libraries in Japan have installed machines that disinfect books using ultraviolet light. This will ensure the health and safety of borrowers and visitors, especially the elderly during the coronavirus pandemic.

Listen to the audio and be able to answer the questions that follow:

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/machine-makes-books-safe-level-2/

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you feel about the article?
  2. What do you think of these machines that sterilize books in libraries?
  3. Would you want these machines to be installed in all libraries and other public places?
  4. What are some other ways to avoid bringing the virus to homes and families?
  5. Do you enjoy going to libraries? Why or why not?

Japan to Use Artificial Intelligence to Match Couples

B1 – Intermediate

Can you imagine yourself finding someone to be with in a relationship through the use of an AI software? Well, it is now possible.

Japan has recently started using an AI program to match couples in order to increase their birth rate, which is one of the lowest in the world.

Read the article for more information on AI matchmaking.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2012/201211-ai-matchmaking-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of this AI matchmaking program in Japan?
  2. Will this help the country address its problem on low birth rate?
  3. Do you have the same issue in your country? How has the government addressed this issue so far?
  4. Will your government be willing to spend much money to get men and women matched up using an AI technology?
  5. Would this be an effective tool for an ageing society?
  6. What are the pros and cons of this technology?

What It Takes to Crush a Pandemic

B2 – Upper Intermediate

COVID is exposing all of us to the same challenges. That’s why it’s necessary for all the countries to be able to fight this pandemic in sync. How do we do that? Finding an effective tool is just one step in this big fight because we still have to consider the existence of the product and access to that product.

Watch as global health strategist Johanna Benesty talks about how to find the arsenal tools to fight COVID and why we need to make them accessible to all.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of the COVID19 vaccine? Do you think it’s going to be effective?

2. What will happen if there is not enough vaccines for everyone?

3. What has COVID/the pandemic taught you?

4. How strong is the health care system in your country?

Why Do We Choose to Text Instead of Talk?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Don’t call until you’ve texted to confirm it’s okay to call. This is one of the cardinal rules of communicating. In general, people prefer to text rather than to call but if we take a closer look at it, calling is much more convenient than texting. You take your phone out, dial the number, then talk to the person on the other end of the line. Also, miscommunication tends to happen more often with texting than calling. So why do we still prefer to text?

Let’s listen to the audio to know some of the reasons why people are more inclined to text rather than talk.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Which form of communication do you prefer: texting or talking? Why?
  2. Have you experienced being misunderstood because of some text that you sent? Describe the experience.
  3. Do you agree or disagree that texting is changing how we interact with each other?
  4. What are the situations in which talking would be a better option than texting?
  5. What are the pros and cons of texting and talking?
  6. What are the possible consequences if we rely too much on texting to convey our messages to others?