Category: Class

He Failed 1000 Times

B2 – Upper Intermediate

All of us want to be successful in this race called life. However, it is impossible to reach success without going through failures and hardships.

In this video, we will learn how one of the most popular cooks in the world became known despite thousands of rejections and misfortunes.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you experienced failure?
  2. What was your biggest failure that you’ve had so far?
  3. How did cope up with it?
  4. What can you say about the story?
  5. If you were in Colonel Harland Sanders’ situation, will you do the same? Why/why not?

Gossiping is Worse Than Covid

B1 – Intermediate

Everyone gossips. Gossiping is usually done by talking about people behind their backs, which is painful for that person who is being talked about whether the information is true or not. It may only lead to some emotional and social problems.

Read the article below to know more about it.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2009/200910-gossip-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What images come to your mind when you hear the word ‘gossip’?
  2. Why might the Pope think gossip is worse than COVID-19?
  3. What do you think of people who gossip on social media?
  4. How do you feel if you are the subject of gossip?
  5. Should gossiping be made illegal? Why / Why not?

Ride-On Suitcase

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As we travel, we want to take as many things as we need with us considering the hassles of carrying a heavy luggage on our way to the airport. For some, it may also be troublesome to find a ride to the airport if you are traveling during peak hours. Worry no more because a man from China made an invention that will make traveling even with a weighty suitcase a breeze.

Read more about this battery-powered scooter cum luggage through this article.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/world/take-a-ride-on-your-suitcase-and-honk-your-way-through/story-wtQoR5SXGzNyF58gxTHPYL.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. How did He Liangcai come up with this invention?
  2. What do you think of the suitcase scooter? Would you purchase it?
  3. How often do you travel by plane? Have you ever forgotten something on your way to the airport?
  4. What are your usual preparations prior to going to the airport?
  5. What are your must-haves when traveling?

Online Piracy

B1 – Intermediate

Because of Covid-19 restrictions, a lot of people stay at home. One thing you can do in your house is watching movies and series. Normally, you need to pay for subscription to Netflix, Amazon Prime, or HBO to be able to watch.

But what do you do if don’t want to pay to watch movies and series? Some people go to online piracy sites. These are websites where you can download or stream films and TV shows illegally but for free. This action is a big problem for the entertainment businesses.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about online piracy.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/online-piracy-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is online piracy and how does it affect companies like Netflix and Disney? What are its effects on the entertainment industry?
  2. What is your opinion about online piracy?
  3. How common or big is this problem in your country?

This Guy Was Accidentally Buried Alive and This Is What Happened

B2 – Upper Intermediate

If you knew this was your last day on Earth, how would you want to spend it? Death is scary. It can make us think about what we want to do with our lives.

I couldn’t think of anything worse than a slow and painful death. I couldn’t imagine someone waking up in their coffin just to die again.

Unfortunately, a lot of people were buried alive due to negligence and imagining what they had gone through is completely horrendous. As terrifying as it may seem, it’s still possible to survive being buried six feet under alive.

Watch the video and know how to escape this predicament.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why are there many people who got buried alive in the past? What do they do if the dead resurrects?
  2. If this happened to someone you know, how’d you feel seeing someone “come back from the dead”?
  3. According to the video, what must one do in order to escape?
  4. Why do they have to bury the dead 6 ft under?
  5. Why are there people trying to bury themselves alive?

Gut Feeling

B1 – Intermediate

Imagine your boss making an important decision for the company based on their intuition. This would be met with doubts since important decisions should be carefully thought of, right?

Let’s listen to the audio and find out more about gut feelings.

http://www.idioms4you.com/complete-idioms/gut-feeling.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is a gut feeling?
  2. Have you ever had one before? Did you react based on it?
  3. Talk about a gut feel you had and did it come true or not?
  4. Do you believe that gut feelings help us avoid danger or potential failure?
  5. What are the things you consider before making major decisions?

Digital Marketing Trends for 2020

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We have fully immersed ourselves in all things digital these days. Internet is the best place to reach out to millions of people using different strategies. Let us familiarize ourselves with the current online marketing trends in 2020.

Read the article below.

5 Digital Marketing Trends for 2020?

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the different marketing trends mentioned in the article? Explain.

2. Do you have other marketing tactics that you use?

3. Have you embraced a more digital-minded business or digital strategies? What digital tools do you use?

4. How would you rate your skills and resources in digital marketing?

5. What other digital marketing trends or strategies do you foresee or would like to see in the coming days?

Should Stay-at-Home Parents Be Paid?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

At this time, many would agree that both parents should be employed to sustain one’s family’s needs. However, this isn’t the case for everybody. Some couples decide that one parent should remain at home to take care of the children and of course, the household chores and that one parent isn’t paid either by the government or by their respective spouses.

It has been a much debated topic whether it is time to recognize the economic value of domestic labor.

Watch the video below to further understand this topic.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about domestic labor? Do you think it is a challenging job that needs to be paid? Why and why not?
  2. What are the downsides of paying stay-at-home parents? Do you think more parents would rather stay at home and never work outside? Is it necessarily bad?
  3. Do you think this idea would increase gender inequality?
  4. Could we consider this idea an investment in children?
  5. In your opinion, would you choose to be a stay-at-home parent? Would the possibility of a pay for such work affect your decision?

Wind Turbines Cause Bird Deaths

B1 – Intermediate

With our growing problem with the environment, we continue to find alternative sources of energy. One example of alternative energy source is wind. 

One good thing about wind turbines is that they produce green energy. However, one problem with them is the danger they bring to wildlife, especially birds.

Find out more about this environment concern and what the solution is to this problem.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2008/200829-wind-turbine-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the good and bad things about wind turbines or wind farms?
  2. What are other common causes of death of birds that you know of?
  3. How is the scientists solution helpful?
  4. Are there a lot of wind turbines in your city/country? What do you think of them?
  5. What is your opinion on this statement: “wind farms should not be a risk to wildlife”?

India, Russia, and One Chess Gold Medal

B1 – Intermediate

In competitions, there is only one winner. But at the Olympiad 2020, that one gold medal went to two competing countries India and Russia. The chess match was done online due to Covid-19 but India had internet problems.

Read this lesson to find out more about two countries winning one gold medal in chess.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2009/200902-chess-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on giving the gold medal to both India and Russia?
  2. Was it acceptable to share the medal due to internet problems from India’s end? Why or why not?
  3. Have you ever heard of a similar story? Tell us about it.
  4. Do you know how to play chess? How and when did you learn to play it? What can you say about this game/sport?
  5. Is there a Spanish game similar to chess? Talk about it.