Category: Class

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 despite India’s technical problems?
  2. What are the pros and cons of online competitions?
  3. Have you ever experienced Internet problems during an important online activity? What happened?
  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 game in your country that is similar to chess? Talk about it.

Test 821

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If and Whether

Informally, if and whether can be interchanged. However, in formal writing, it pays to know the distinct uses of each. As a general rule, use if in conditional sentences. Use Whether to present two possible alternatives.

Uses of If and When

  • We can use If and Whether in indirect questions. Use if or whether for indirect yes-no questions and questions with or. If is more commonly used than whether.

Call the parents and find out if any of them can volunteer for the cleanup drive.

I talked to him and asked if he’d take a taxi or if he’d drive from the airport.

  • With or, it is more common to use whether especially when two or more alternatives in the indirect question are available.

After the class, the students asked whether they should take an exam, make a book report, or both.

  • In more formal context, we use whether.

The suspect will be asked whether he would confess to his crime.

  • From a business meeting, notice whether being used.

Carrie read an article that she’d written and the executives decided whether it should be published.

  • Use or not with if and whether when talking about an alternative. Put or not immediately after whether or at the end. With if, only use or not in end position.

They texted Michelle to confirm whether or not she really got sick.

I texted Chase to confirm whether he really got sick or not.

He texted Angel to find out if she really got sick or not.

  • To introduce clauses that comes after verbs that express doubts, use if or whether.

She isn’t sure if she can sleep. She’s too excited.

I didn’t study properly so I doubt if I’m going to pass the test.

We’re not sure whether we’ll be able to call you from the village.

Uses of Whether

  • To talk about future plans or decisions, use whether before a to-infinitive.

She was thinking whether to study English abroad.

Some household chores, such as cleaning, need to be done by every member. Others, such as whether to iron clothes, can only be done by just one person.

  • Use whether after prepositions.

Correct: I don’t think she worries about whether you are happy or not.

Incorrect: I don’t think she worries about if you are happy or not.

Common Mistakes in Using If and Whether

  • Using if before a to-infinitive

Correct: He doesn’t know whether to save his money or just save it.

Incorrect: He doesn’t know if to save his money or just save it.

  • Using if directly before or not

Correct: Can you tell me whether or not you are available for an interview?

Incorrect: Can you tell me if or not you are available for an interview?

  • Using if after prepositions

[talking about a trip to Australia for a year]

Correct: They are not sure about whether they get good jobs after graduation. They just want to finish their degrees as soon as possible.

Incorrect: They are not sure about if they get good jobs after graduation. They just want to finish their degrees as soon as possible.

Test 771

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Brain-Hacking Computer Chip

B1 – Intermediate

Elon Musk, a tech pioneer, wants to develop a computer-to-brain technology in humans. An experiment has already been done on a pig. If this technology succeeds, we might be seeing superhuman powers in the near future.

Read this lesson more to find out more about putting a computer chip on human brains.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2008/200831-superhuman-powers-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on the potential of this technology?
  2. How do you feel about such technology?
  3. How can it change our lives?
  4. What would be the advantages and disadvantages of this technology?
  5. Do you think it’s possible for AI to cause destruction to humans?

What’s Hidden on the Forbidden North Sentinel Island?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

One of the most intriguing places on the planet would be the
North Sentinel Island. How so? On this infamous & unspoiled island, a unique civilization can be found. This is the home of one of the most mysterious tribe – the Sentinelese.

According to scientists, the Sentinelese have been living in complete self-isolation for almost 60,000 years; thus, they don’t know anything about the rest of the world. They don’t have any idea about computers, schools, or businesses. They have been living on their own, unbothered.

Know more about this tribe as you watch the video.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why is it an infamous island? Why is the island being protected?
  2. How do the Sentinelese people live? What makes their civilization unique?
  3. Why do you think a lot of scientists want to visit the North Sentinel island?
  4. If you could visit the island, what would you want to ask the Sentinelese?
  5. What do you think is hidden in North Sentinel?