Category: Class

The Key to Effective Business Coaching

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Coaching and developing talents is one skill that has become imperative for managers to have. Managers and businesses alike recognize the benefits of having managers that are equipped with this skill.

Read this article and know the keys to effective coaching.

https://www.forbes.com/2010/04/28/coaching-talent-development-leadership-managing-ccl.html#66efc69338e0

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the purpose of coaching?
  2. Talk about all 5 categories mentioned in the article. Share your thoughts for each point.
  3. How else can a manager implement effective coaching?
  4. What’s the coaching process like in your company? What’s good about them? How can they be improved?
  5. What is your manager like?

Test 612

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Cyber Security for the Rich and Famous

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Smartphones are used a little too much these days – from dating to traffic updates, accessing bank accounts, among others. However, the problem is that there is no perfect control against cyber attacks even rich and high-profile individuals are vulnerable.

Let’s read more about cybersecurity through this article:

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/25/tech/bezos-amazon-cybersecurity/index.html

Discussion Questions:

1. Why is cyber security important?

2. Do you turn on automatic updates on your smartphones?

3. How often do you change your passwords? How do you make sure your passwords are protected?

4. What are the risks associated with using public wi-fi?

5. Give some tips for protecting yourself against identity theft.

China Battles Coronavirus

B1- Intermediate

China is ramping up for containment measures as other countries are preparing for a major outbreak that has killed 56 people and infected at least 1,975 more.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2001/200124-coronavirus-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What were some of the first things you knew about Coronavirus? What information do you know about it now?
  2. What was your reaction to this news when you first heard about it then?
  3. How prepared was your country during the Coronavirus pandemic? How ready is it now for another pandemic?
  4. What do you think your government could do better if another pandemic were to happen?

Japanese City Asks Tourists to Stop ‘Sand Graffiti’

B1 – Intermediate

City officials of Tottori are asking tourists to avoid writing messages and pictures in the sand of its giant sand dunes. More than 3,300 cases of ‘sand graffiti’ happened at this tourist spot in the last 10 years.

Read the article below to know more about this new rule.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1905/190525-tottori-sand-dunes-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of the city’s new rule to prohibit graffitis on sand dunes?
  2. Share your opinion on this: Graffiti damages the dunes. It ruins the pleasure people get in looking at them.
  3. What do you think of the tourists’ actions?
  4. What rules should tourists follow when they are visiting National reserves such as the Tottori Sand Dunes?
  5. Would you be interested to visit the Tottori Sand Dunes? Why or why not?

Linking Words of Contrast

Level: Intermediate-Advanced

Although, even though, in spite of and despite are words that are often used to connect two contrasting ideas or to express that one statement makes the other surprising. They are often found either at the beginning or in the middle of the sentence.

The way they are used differ depending on the different structures they are used with.

although / even though

Although and even though are followed by a subject and a verb. The only difference of even though from although is that it is a little stronger and more emphatic.

They liked the cake, although she would have loved more cream filling in it.
Although they loved each other very much, they decided to end their relationship.
Even though he gave her everything, she still left him.
The students didn’t get the answer correctly, even though their teacher gave them all the clues they needed to solve the problem.

though

Though and although can be used interchangeably.

Though Meghan is not a royal, Prince Harry married her. = Although Meghan is not a royal, Prince Harry married her.

Though can also be placed at the end of the second phrase. This structure is more commonly used in spoken English.

We were so exhausted as we had to hike all day to reach the top of the mountain. The view was so worth it, though.

in spite of / despite

In spite of and despite are followed by either a noun, gerund, or pronoun.

They didn’t win the match, in spite of their impressive play during the game.
In spite of the hardship, the team remained unfazed.
Despite being sick, she had a great holiday.
The food was terrible. In spite of that, we had a great time.

In spite of and despite are also often followed by the fact that + subject + verb.

In spite of the fact that it rained very heavily, the wildfires weren’t extinguished.
Despite the fact that it was only the beginning of July, it was very hot when we arrived in Sevilla.

Why Do Students Drop Out of School?

B1 – Intermediate

Nowadays, a lot of American high school students have been dropping out.

Let’s see what the usual reasons for this are and some possible outcomes when students drop out of high school on the link below.

https://www.english-online.at/education/school-dropouts/school-dropouts.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the reasons students drop out of school?
  2. How can dropping out of high school affect young people’s future?
  3. How do you think can we improve our education system so students wouldn’t choose to stop studying?
  4. Talk about someone you know who is a dropout. Did this person become successful or not?
  5. What would you say to a high school student who wants to stop their studies?

We May Be Able to Learn Vocabulary While Sleeping

B1 – Intermediate

Good news to everyone who wants to expand their vocabulary! A new study in Switzerland has shown that we can learn new vocabulary while sleeping. It is also possible to learn a foreign language this way.

Check out this article below for more information.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1902/190206-learning-vocabulary.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think that this is effective?
  2. Would you like to try it?
  3. How do you expand your vocabulary?
  4. What other languages would you like to learn?
  5. What other things would you like to learn while you sleep?

Garbage Collectors Start Library with Abandoned Books

B1 – Intermediate

There’s an old saying, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. This phrase perfectly describes this article about garbage collectors in Turkey who recycle abandoned books. The collection grew gradually as they began saving books and has now built a library.

Learn more by reading the article on the website below.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1905/190509-library.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What can you say about the article?
  2. Do you have a lot of libraries in your city?
  3. How often do you go to libraries?
  4. How can reading affect your life?
  5. Do you think there are still a lot of people who go to libraries?

Scarcity Marketing

B2 – Upper Intermediate

FOMO is an internet slang that stands for ‘fear of missing out’. It’s one of the most fundamental instincts people have and this is what businesses capitalize on as a tactic in order to create artificial scarcity so their products would be of greater value to consumers.

Watch this video to learn more about scarcity marketing and consumer theory.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is scarcity marketing and how does it work?
  2. What’s your impression of this marketing strategy?
  3. Why do you think this works?
  4. Talk about advertisements/brands that use this marketing strategy.
  5. What other marketing trick do you know of?