Category: Class

Video: ‘Cute’ Cuisine is a Bitesize Art

B2 – Upper intermediate

It’s no secret that cooking has evolved over the years. We’ve experienced fine dining cuisine where a small quantity of food is artistically placed on the plate. Then we had molecular gastronomy where science meets art and gives birth to an innovative way of having a meal.

Now, a new trend called miniature food has gone viral on Youtube and viewers just can’t get enough of it. Watch the video below then express your thoughts.

‘Cute’ cuisine is a bitesize art

Discuss:

1. What were your thoughts when you were watching the video?
2. How did the trend of miniature food and cooking happen? Explain what “Kawaii” is.
3. What are some Japanese art that you find interesting?
4. Describe some of the good and fancy restaurants that you’ve been to in the past.

Discovering Your Ancestors

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Knowing your roots and discovering your history is always a fascinating idea. There’s a sense of wonder and mystery as we try to find out who we are.

Websites such as Ancestry.com have been garnering a number of clients as more and more people are getting curious in tracing their genealogy.

Read the article below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

There has been a surge in genealogy websites in recent years, proving that more and more Americans want to trace their family history. Records, such as ship registries and marriage and death certificates, are digitally scanned and available online for the sleuths, too. And now there’s a new option: photo detectives.

Armed with fashion magazines and an eye for detail, photo detectives hunt for clues in old photos. Hair styles, clothes and fashion, and the objects in the pictures help detectives pinpoint dates, places, and professions. The job also requires an expert’s knowledge in social history. For example, a photo of a woman with unusually short hair in the 19th century could mean that she had scarlet fever. A person sick with the disease often had their head shaved. Or a photo of a baby carriage in the mid-1800s could be an announcement that the infant had died, instead of recording his birth. The period had a very high infant mortality rate, and death cards were often sent to family and close friends. These are only some of the facts that photo detectives must have at their fingertips.

Photography was invented in the 1830s. The earliest photos usually required a visit to the studio by the whole family, which was a lengthy and formal process. But when Kodak invented the snapshot in the 1880s, family collections grew with shots of birthdays, holidays, and everyday life. Unfortunately, most people didn’t consider labeling the pictures. The descendents now find it troublesome to identify the old pictures.

Photo detectives can help. But customers may not always like the results, as sometimes the answers disagree with family lore.

Source: headsupenglish.com

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you think it’s important to trace your family’s history? Why/not?
2. What do you know about your grandparents? How about your great-grandparents?
3. Do you have old photos at home? If yes, are there people in the photos you can’t recognize?
4. Would you ever consider hiring a photo detective to tell you more about your family? Why/not?
5. How would you feel if you discovered one of your ancestors was a terrible person?

Have Bonus, Will Botox

B1 – Intermediate

The desire to look young as we become older is nothing new. Cosmetic brands have been releasing anti-aging creams for women and for men.

Read the article below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

Bankers in London are spending their bonuses in an unusual way. They are choosing cosmetic surgery to look younger because the job market is very competitive. The bankers are choosing nose jobs, wrinkle fillers, liposuction, and botox injections to slow the effects of age.

Operations increased to more than 22,000 last year, and both men and women are getting cosmetic surgery. In fact, men make up eleven percent of this total, and the percentage has increased every year.

Mel Braham, chairman of the Harley Medical Group, said that more men realize they need to look good. He explained that older men worry about their jobs, especially if they are 50 years old but look like they are 60. That person doesn’t want a younger person to take his job. Braham also added that men should start these treatments early to look younger and healthier for a longer period of time.

Most men are asking to change the shape of their nose or get rid of their love handles. But there may soon be a remedy for baldness too. This would expand the business of cosmetic surgery for men even more.

At the moment, prices range from £200 for botox injections to £6000 for a facelift.

Source: headsupenglish.com

Discussion Questions:

1. What are your feelings about cosmetic surgery?
2. What are your feelings about a job that would force you to consider cosmetic surgery?
3. Would you ever choose to have cosmetic surgery (or have you)? Why/not?
4. Do you know anyone who has ever had cosmetic surgery? What was your opinion?
5. Why do you think more people are so concerned with cosmetic surgery in general?

A Plastic Ocean

C1 – Advanced

“With plastic, man is faced with another brainchild run amok. At times it seems that technology cannot exist without it. Plastic may seem indispensable; it is also virtually undisposable. When man is through with it, he is hard put to get rid of it. The plastic that holds a six-pack of beer cans together might last anywhere from 450 to 1,000 years.” (Oceans – Precious Resource or Global Sewer?)

Watch the short video below then express your thoughts about trash polluting our oceans.

Discuss:

1. How would you describe the video?
2. What do you think will happen to our oceans in the future?
3. Is it possible to completely stop the use of plastic?
4. Does your city have its own initiative to lessen the use of plastic? Help the environment?

Shanghai IKEA Bans Old People from Dating

C1 – Advanced

How would you feel if you see a sign outside an establishment saying that the restaurant will only be for people who purchase their food first? An IKEA branch has reportedly posted the same sign outside their coffee shop. Find out more by clicking the link to the article.

Shanghai IKEA bans old people from dating

Discuss:

1. What should IKEA do about older people using their cafe to look for love?
2. What is wrong with using a store’s café as a meeting place?
3. Should coffee shops stop people from using seats for extended periods?
4. What makes society a place where old people feel alienated?

British People Commit Micro Crimes

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Micro crimes are minor criminal offenses. Turns out, 3 out of 4 British people have, at one point in their lives, committed a micro crime.

Just what exactly is a micro crime and how serious is it?

Read the article below to discover the findings of a research done about crime. Be ready to answer discussion questions afterward.

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1610/161026-micro-crime.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think of micro crime?
2. How is micro crime different from the usual crimes we hear of?
3. Why do men and the middle class commit more micro crimes?
4. What crimes do you worry about in your country?
5. What should the punishment be for micro crimes?

Why Finland’s Schools are Successful

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Finland has been delivering educational excellence to its children and this country’s success in education has other nations doing their research.

Click on the link below to find out why Finland’s schools are successful.

http://www.english-online.at/news-articles/education/finlands-school-system-is-successful.htm

Discussion Questions:

1. What makes Finland’s schools successful?
2. Tell me about your country’s educational system.
3. Do you think your country would benefit if it follows Finland’s way?
4. What can your country adopt from Finland’s educational system?

Jungle Marathon: A Dangerous Race

B2 – Upper intermediate

Marathon events are held everywhere all around the world. And, with its increasing popularity, different variations of marathon race are conducted. One of these is the Jungle Marathon. This is not your typical marathon, as some people say that this is one of the most dangerous races one could ever experience. Let’s find out why.

http://www.newsinlevels.com/products/jungle-marathon-level-3/

Discussion Questions:

1. Have you ever joined a marathon before?
2. Do you think the Jungle Marathon is dangerous?
3. Why do you think a lot of people are into marathon races?
4. Would you like to try this in the future?
5. What other sporting events have you tried or are you willing to try?

Million Deaths Each Year to Air Pollution

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B2 – Upper Intermediate

Air pollution ranks number four in the leading cause of death. It has directly affected many young children and has caused unemployment in men and women.

Read more about this by clicking the link below.

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/27/business/energy-environment/study-links-6-5-million-deaths-each-year-to-air-pollution.html

Discussion Questions:

1. How can air pollution be slowed down?
2. What are alternative sources of energy that can be used in order to slow down air pollution?
3. In your own little way, how can you fight against pollution?
4. Does your country have very aggressive projects or initiatives related to the care of the environment?

Japan’s Population is Declining

B1 – Intermediate

It’s official. Japan’s populations is dramatically shrinking. After years of warnings about Japan’s aging population and its low birth rate, the day is here. Japan’s official census shows that the country’s population has shrunk.

Read more about this by clicking the link below.

Japan’s Population is Declining

Discuss:

1. How is the birth rate in your country? Is it also declining?
2. How does immigration affect a country’s birth rate?
3. If the trend continues, what do you think will happen to Japan?
4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having many children?