Category: Class

McDonald’s Respond to Backlash Over Rising Prices

B2 – Upper Intermediate

McDonald’s and other fast-food chains have recently become focal points of controversy as they wrestle with the consequences of raising prices on their menus. This backlash has ignited extensive discussions and examination regarding the affordability and availability of fast food, a sector traditionally linked with convenience and budget-friendly choices.

Watch the video to know more about it and be able to answer the questions below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the idiom “to leave a bad taste in the mouth of someone” mean? “Prices at the Golden Arches leave a bad taste in the mouth of consumers who just want value.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘to leave a bad taste in the mouth of someone’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does “foot traffic” mean? “At Chipotle, sales and foot traffic rose in the quarter despite that 3% hike in menu prices in October.” Make a sentence using this term.
  3. What does the word “leeway” mean, “That’s one store on the Connecticut turnpike. These franchisees have a lot of leeway.“? Use the word in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What factors do you believe have contributed to McDonald’s decision to raise prices, and do you think these reasons justify the backlash from consumers?
  2. In your opinion, how might the rising prices at McDonald’s impact consumer behavior and their perception of the brand?
  3. Do you think McDonald’s has a responsibility to provide affordable options for consumers, or is it acceptable for them to adjust prices in response to economic factors?
  4. How could McDonald’s effectively regain consumer trust and loyalty following the negative reaction to its price adjustments?

Bare Minimum Mondays

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As the weekend draws to an end, many individuals experience “Sunday scaries”, a phenomenon characterized by a sense of unease and dread. Numerous workers all throughout the world feel the same way as they struggle with the upcoming workweek. What ought to be a day of rest and renewal becomes overshadowed by the weight of responsibilities and challenges that await them on Monday morning. Hence, some people are starting to do “bare minimum Mondays”.

Read this article to learn how “bare minimum Mondays” can help with “Sunday scaries”.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/18/bare-minimum-monday-how-it-works-and-what-experts-think-.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of “to let someone off the hook”? “So alleviating that pressure and choosing to let myself off the hook was a much needed change of mindset going into the beginning of the week … which suddenly allowed me to be productive again.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘to let someone off the hook’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does the expression “to put one’s foot on the gas” mean? “With the volume of work or meetings on our plates, there needs to be a heightened focus on mental health and well-being instead of employees thinking they have to put their foot right on the gas at 9am on Monday.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘to put one’s foot on the gas’ in your own sentence.
  3. Define “to keep one’s finger on the pulse”. “One of the most powerful ways to get out in front of this is to keep your finger on the pulse of how employees are doing and what they need.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘to keep one’s finger on the pulse’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you also experience “Sunday Scaries”? How do you deal with it?
  2. Share your thoughts on “bare minimum Mondays”.
  3. Do you agree with this statement, “But bare minimum Mondays could lead workers to procrastinate to avoid stress.” Share your opinion on this tendency among workers.
  4. Have you ever tried implementing “bare minimum Mondays” in your own life? If so, what was your experience like? If not, what are the reasons you haven’t done so.
  5. Are there any potential drawbacks or limitations to adopting the “bare minimum Mondays” approach, and how can individuals mitigate them?

Vampire Tasks

B2 – Upper Intermediate

“Vampire tasks” or those repetitive, tedious tasks at work are slowly draining our productivity across workplaces these days. These distractions disrupt our focus and slow our progress.

From numerous emails to unnecessary meetings, these tasks can appear essential yet contribute nothing to our overall goals. As a result, we become locked in a loop busyness, attempting to complete important work within the turmoil.

Read this article to learn how to deal with vampire tasks and boost productivity.

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/08/vampire-tasks-are-killing-your-productivity-at-work-says-workplace-expert.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to get bogged down by something” mean? “Cecily Motley, the co-founder of Harriet, an AI-powered workplace assistant, calls these repetitive, tedious activities “vampire tasks” — and warns that getting bogged down by admin work is the number one thing that kills people’s productivity.” Give 1-2 similar expressions and use this phrase in a sentence.
  2. Define “timeboxing” in this sentence, “You can time yourself completing different tasks to figure out the duration of each one and build a confident framework for your timeboxing schedule from there.” Give 1-2 similar expressions and use this term in a sentence.
  3. What does “counterintuitive” mean? “It might seem counterintuitive, but saying “no” to unnecessary tasks or taking on more work doesn’t just prevent burnout — it can also help you build trust in the workplace.” Give 1-2 similar expression/s and use this word in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do “vampire tasks” affect your productivity at work?
  2. How do you deal with your administrative tasks?
  3. How do you communicate with your colleagues or supervisors about the challenges posed by vampire tasks in the workplace?
  4. Share your thoughts on this, “The smallest tasks on our to-do lists can often be the most draining.“
  5. What steps can individuals take to identify and mitigate the effects of vampire tasks on their productivity?

Things Starbucks Won’t Tell You

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Starbucks is found everywhere in cities worldwide and they want you to feel happy with what they offer. But there’s more to know behind their friendly atmosphere and tasty menu. Even though Starbucks shares a lot about what they do, there are some things they don’t always tell their loyal customers.

Watch the video to know the five things that Starbucks might not openly talk about.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the idiom “to take a hard look at something” mean? “A blogger called the Food Babe has taken a hard look at a pumpkin spice latte.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the word “hyped-up” mean? “There’s something called a fruity pebbles frappuccino, it’s a sort of a hyped-up version of strawberry frappuccino.” Make one sentence using the phrase.
  3. What does the word “by-product” mean? “She finds a lot of things she doesn’t like in it. Particularly, caramel coloring which is a known carcinogen, or at least one of the chemical by-products of caramel coloring is a known carcinogen.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on the importance of transparency in the food and beverage industry, particularly for companies as large and influential as Starbucks?
  2. Do you think Starbucks has a responsibility to disclose all aspects of their products and practices to consumers, or are there valid reasons for them to keep certain information hidden? Share your thoughts.
  3. How much does transparency about ingredients and sourcing affect your decision to purchase from Starbucks? Would you be more or less likely to visit if they were more open about these aspects? Why or why not?
  4. How much do you trust Starbucks as a company to provide accurate and honest information about their products and business practices?

Eurozone Economy

B1 – Intermediate

The Eurozone economy refers to the collective economic system of the European Union (EU) member states that have adopted the euro as their official currency.

Governed by the European Central Bank (ECB), the Eurozone aims to promote economic stability and facilitate trade and investment among its member states through monetary integration.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the Eurozone economy.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/eurozone-economy-level-3/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “narrow margin” mean in the sentience, “The eurozone’s economy struggled to grow last year, avoiding a recession by a narrow margin, in contrast to the global economic expansion.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘narrow margin’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does “key player” mean in this sentence, “Germany, a key player in the euro area, faced an industrial downturn, impacting the entire region.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘key player’ in your own sentence.
  3. What does “subside” mean, “Economists predict a slow recovery, with household consumption expected to drive growth as energy prices stabilize and inflation subsides.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘subside’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do economic problems in Germany affect the overall performance of the eurozone economy? Explain.
  2. What are possible long-term implications of the eurozone’s economic problems and how might it affect the future economic policies and strategies within the region? Elaborate and explain.
  3. How might strikes and protests about high prices impact consumer confidence and economic stability within the eurozone?
  4. How do you think the economic struggles of the eurozone might impact the daily lives of individuals living within the member countries?

Egypt’s Pyramid Restoration

B1 – Intermediate

The pyramids in Egypt are ancient wonders that have fascinated people for centuries. From the famous pyramids at Giza to the smaller ones across Egypt, these historical monuments are part of our shared human history. Yet, keeping them safe and strong is a not an easy job.

To preserve the pyramids, Egypt is working hard on trying to restore them. This means fixing up the old stones and making sure the pyramids stay strong against elements such as the wind, sun, and rain.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about Egypt’s pyramid restoration.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/egypts-pyramid-restoration-level-1/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to break all the rules” mean in the sentence, “It breaks all the rules for fixing old things.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘to break all the rules’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does “a big gift” mean in the sentence, “The workers say that it is a big gift for the world.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘a big gift’ in your own sentence.
  3. What does “think carefully about something” mean in the sentence, “The country must think carefully about what to do with old buildings.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘think carefully about something’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do you think many people in Egypt emphasize the importance of taking care of old buildings and special places? Elaborate.
  2. How important is it to balance modern aesthetic improvements and preserving the historical value of ancient structures like the Menkaure Pyramid? Explain.
  3. What are the positive and negative impact of historical landmarks’ restorations on local communities/on a country?
  4. Are there any specific examples of old buildings or special places in Spain that have been successfully preserved and restored? Elaborate.
  5. Which World Wonder do you want to visit and why?

Jobs Safe from Artificial Intelligence

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As more and more industries use artificial intelligence (AI), people worry more about how it could affect their occupations. Because AI can learn and automate tasks, it might replace many traditional jobs. But even with all this technology and advancements in AI, some jobs seem to remain indispensable.

Watch the video and explore which jobs are likely to withstand the tide of automation and why.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the word “broad-based” mean? “If you’re sitting in front of a computer doing something relatively routine and predictable, whether it’s writing the same report again or doing the same kind of spreadsheet and analysis, all that is definitely going to be impacted, so it could be very broad-based.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘broad-based’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does a “white-collar job” mean? “There are going to be a great many white-collar jobs that will also be impacted by this.” Use the term in a sentence.
  3. What does the word “dexterity” mean? Ex. Skilled trade jobs like electricians, plumbers where you have a need to have lots of dexterity and mobility are the safest. Use the word in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you believe that some jobs are truly safe from being replaced by AI, or do you think all jobs are at risk to some extent? Share your thoughts.
  2. What factors do you think make certain jobs more resilient to automation compared to others?
  3. How do you think the society could prepare for the possibility of widespread job displacement due to AI?
  4. Can you think of any examples of jobs that are likely to remain safe from AI in the foreseeable future? What characteristics do these jobs have that make them less susceptible to automation?

Emojis in Business Communications

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Emojis add humor and spirit to digital communications. It expresses happiness, laughter, anger, fear, etc. However, in business, a more traditional approach using formal language in plain text has been the norm. The question is whether to use emojis or not in business communications.

Get further insight from the article below.

https://www.business.com/articles/put-an-emoji-on-it-should-you-use-emojis-in-business-communication/

Vocabulary Questions

  1. What does the idiom “to break down barriers” mean in the sentence, “Emojis in a business setting break down barriers in formal communication and bring conversations down to a personal level.”? Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the idiom “to get lost in translation” mean in the sentence “Emojis can get lost in translation.”? Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does the word “launchpad” mean in the sentence, “Emojis should serve as a launchpad for more in-depth conversations.”? Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions

  1. Do you like using emojis when having a digital conversation? If so, describe one emoji that you frequently use.
  2. Do you work in a formal or informal industry? Are employees allowed to use emojis? Tell me more about it.
  3. How can adding emojis change the way you communicate with your colleagues, superiors, clients, or customers?
  4. Cite situations where using emojis might be considered inappropriate.
  5. Do you think emojis will evolve in the future? If so, how?

The End of Rank and Yank

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Rank and yank is a management style where employees are assessed and graded based on their performance and the lowest-performing individuals are let go or moved to different roles each year.

Critics say this is an outdated practice, but some still defend it.

Read the whole article to know more about the topic.

https://www.business.com/articles/the-end-of-rank-and-yank-management-practices-revisited/

Vocabulary Questions

  1. What does the idiom “to pull one’s weight” mean in the sentence, “How do you determine which employees are making a valuable contribution to your business and which aren’t pulling their weight?”? Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the idiom “to purge dead wood” mean in the sentence, “The idea behind employee rating systems is to purge dead wood.“? Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does the term “to dole out” mean in the sentence, “While a rank-and-yank evaluation sets performance goals and metrics and provides a way to dole out incentives, it also promotes individuals over the team, discourages collaboration and can demoralize underperformers.”? Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions

  1. What is your opinion about Jack Welch and his stack ranking system? Do you see him as a good CEO? Why or why not?
  2. After reading the pros and cons of the rank and yank management style, are you its defender or detractor? Explain your stance.
  3. What recommendations do you have for companies that implement the rank and yank method?
  4. Among the rank and yank alternatives mentioned in the article, which one do you think is the most efficient? Explain your answer.
  5. What management style does your company use to assess its employees? Do you like it? Why or why not?

Having a Doppelganger

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A doppelgänger, derived from the German words “doppel” (meaning double) and “gänger” (meaning goer), refers to a mysterious and often unsettling phenomenon of encountering one’s exact look-alike or identical double. This concept has deep roots in folklore and mythology, with various cultures interpreting it differently.

In literature and popular culture, encountering a doppelgänger is often associated with foreboding omens or supernatural occurrences. The doppelgänger motif has been explored in numerous stories and films, highlighting the psychological and sometimes eerie implications of coming face-to-face with one’s identical counterpart. The phenomenon adds a layer of mystery and intrigue, provoking questions about identity, fate, and the blurred boundaries between reality and the supernatural.

Read the article below, listen to the short audio, and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/do-you-have-a-doppelg%C3%A4nger-/7467075.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “dead ringer” mean in the sentence, “My best friend in college is a dead ringer for George Clooney? When we’re out in public, he gets asked for his autograph all the time.” Use it in your sentence. 
  2. What does the word “mirror image” mean in the sentence, “Well, if you weren’t there, then I ran into your doppelgänger. She was a mirror image of you!? Give two synonyms or similar expressions and use “mirror image” in your own words. 
  3. What does the expression “to trade places with someone” mean in the sentence, “I wish I could trade places with my doppelgänger!“? Use it in a sentence. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do cultural beliefs and folklore influence the perception of doppelgängers, and do such beliefs exist in your culture?
  2. English often borrows words from other languages. Can you think of other words in English that have been borrowed and adapted from different languages? What impact does this linguistic borrowing have on language evolution?
  3. Have you ever personally encountered someone who looks remarkably similar to you or someone you know? Share your experience and reactions.
  4. How would you react if someone told you they met your doppelgänger? Do you find the idea intriguing or unsettling?
  5. Doppelgängers often carry symbolic meanings. What do you think the concept of a doppelgänger represents in a broader sense, beyond physical resemblance?