Category: Class

False Money-Saving Tricks

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Are you able to save money or does money simply flow through your fingers? Often than not we have our own tips and tricks on how to save money. But are those really helpful?

Let’s find out what Reader’s Digest editors say about some money saving myths.

You use travel sites, not airlines, to book flights

Now that travel sites like Expedia are doing such brisk business, airlines are fighting for their own pieces of the profits. Many carriers now offer lowest-price-guaranteed fares on their own websites, and waive the booking fees that the big travel sites often tack on to your reservation. And if you’re wondering why you’re not finding fares for some of your favorite bargain airlines, like Southwest or JetBlue, on these big travel sites, it’s because these airlines don’t always release their inventory to travel superstores. That’s yet another reason to do some extra sleuthing on your preferred carrier’s web page before finalizing your reservations.

You ‘top off’ your gas tank

Those little squirts of gas you try to add to your tank at the end of a filling often end up staying in the hose. That means you’ve actually given gas away to the next user of your pump!

You always turn off lights when you leave a room

Think you’re doing your electric bill a favor? Turning off compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), which use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent light bulbs and can last up to 10 times longer, when you leave a room for less than 15 minutes actually costs more than leaving them on. So if you are likely to be back in that part of your house soon, leave the lights on to save.

You cut up extra credit cards

Yes, it’s smart to reduce your temptation to splurge by destroying cards. But if you actually cancel them, it could hurt your credit rating. Here’s why: Lenders worry about how close you are to using all the credit available to you. If you close an account, you lose its credit line. As a result, you are using a greater portion of the reduced amount you can now borrow. How many cards do you need? While the average American household has nine, two or three active cards should be plenty.

You fall for common grocery store promotions

Here’s a well-kept secret: When a grocery store advertises a special (say, buy 10 containers of yogurt for $5), you don’t have to buy the number of items they’re advertising. In this case, you could buy one container for 50 cents. Unless the store specifically states otherwise, you should buy as few as you want. Also: Don’t fall for limits. Keep your money in your purse when you see signs like “Limit six per customer. Stores know that customers will buy more of an item if they think there’s a shortage, and there generally isn’t.

You dropped your wholesale club membership (and no longer use the pharmacy)

If you decide to stop paying for a wholesale club membership, you can still buy prescriptions there even if you’re not a member. The pharmacy may tack on a small fee, but you have the right under federal law to fill prescriptions at any pharmacy, so tell the person asking for your ID at the front door that you’re only visiting the pharmacy. (But don’t get carried away; you won’t be able to buy anything else without a club membership ID).

You frequent discount stores

They tempt you not only with their excellent bargains, but also with their, “I don’t know what I was thinking when I bought this” impulse buys. How can you avoid these temptations? Avoid the shopping cart. Buy only what you can carry in your arms. You’ll end up buying only what you really need and want.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Which of the tricks mentioned in the article do you actually practice?
  2. Do you think reading this would change some of your money-saving habits? Why or why not?
  3. Share some of your own money saving tricks.

Barbie the Most Famous Doll in the World

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The Barbie doll has always been an iconic toy. It’s  famous throughout the globe. During the past decades, Barbie doll has undergone through many developments in terms of its appearance. But recently, another toy company has produced a doll that also captures the eyes of children.

Read this lesson about Barbie, the most famous doll, turning 50.

http://www.english-online.at/hobbies/barbie/barbie-famous-doll-at-50.htm

Discussion Questions:

1. Was the Barbie doll famous during your time? How about now?
2. What are some of the popular toys that became part of your childhood?
3. What can guarantee the popularity of a certain toy or merchandise?
4. What kind of toys are good for children?

Smart Snoring Device

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Mayo Clinic says half of adults snore. Snoring is breathing when asleep with some harsh or snorting noises that is caused by vibration of the soft palate inside our mouths. It can cause serious health issues.

Watch the video below to find out about the high tech anti-snoring device.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “damper” mean? “Your snoring is putting a damper on things at home.” Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What does “on the go” mean here, “Nora comes in a beautiful portable bag, equipped with a rechargeable battery, making it easy to use on the go.”?

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does snoring affect one’s sleep?
  2. What do you do to avoid or minimize snoring?
  3. What do you think of Smart Nora?
  4. Would you consider yourself to be a person who generally sleeps well?

Europe Must Wake Up to Terror Threats

B2 – Upper intermediate

With the recent attacks in some European countries, a top member of the French government has expressed the need to take action to defend itself from terrorist threats.

Europe must wake up to terror threats

Discuss:

1. What is your definition of terrorism?
2. Is there a difference between a freedom fighter and a terrorist?
3. If a country repeatedly kills innocent civilians while trying to kill terrorists, does that country take part in terrorism?

Japanese Managers Tell Employees to Learn English

B2 – Upper intermediate

It’s no surprise that English has become the world’s language when it comes to business and learning English in companies is now the norm.

Click the title and read the article to know more about the company Rakuten and its journey with the English language.

http://www.english-online.at/news-articles/business-economy/japanese-managers-tell-employees-to-learn-english.htm

Discussion Questions: 

  1. Explain the reason why Japanese managers would like their employees to be able to speak in English. Do you agree with their logic?
  2. How do you feel about the whole experience of learning English?
  3. In the article, it said that “…it is humiliating for Japanese workers to speak English. It is thought of as a way of getting rid of unwanted workers.” What is your reaction to this?
  4. Aside from English, what other languages do you think are very useful to learn?
  5. How would you describe your country’s education of English in schools?

Will New Two-Child Policy Lift China’s Economy?

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B2 – Upper intermediate

For the longest time China has sat tight with the law of one child per family. But, in 2015, the country announced its plan of lifting the old law and moving forward with two children per family.

Read the article below then express your thoughts about the topic.

Will New Two-Child Policy Lift China’s Economy?

Discuss:

1. What do you know of China’s previous one-child policy?
2. Is it good for the government to pass such laws?
3. How would you describe the population in your country?

The Meaning of Clothes

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B2 – Upper intermediate

The say that the clothes make a man. But do clothing really matter? Is the way you dress significant to who you are?

Listen to the podcast and be ready to answer some discussion questions. Be prepared to also study and explain some vocabulary words.

The meaning of clothes

Discuss:

1. According to the podcast, explain what a sari is. How is it worn?
2. How would you describe your style when it comes to clothes? What are your preferences?
3. How do you usually dress for work? Do you have a dress code at the office?
4. What is your opinion of the clothes that we have now in this generation?

The End of Digital Age

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The 1970s gave birth to the digital age. A period when the personal computer was introduced, giving us the ability to transfer information at almost lightning speed. But what would happen if the advancements and breakthroughs arrived at the pace of a tortoise instead of a hare? Or what would happen if it all just came to a complete standstill?

Read the lesson and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

Computers have become intertwined with nearly every aspect of our society, and their disappearance would be inconceivable. We take them for granted, as we do the technological advancements that appear every few years, almost like clockwork. Computers get quicker, the Internet offers more information, and other household devices like TVs and DVD players simply do more. But what would happen if the advancements and breakthroughs arrived at the pace of a tortoise instead of a hare? Or what would happen if it all just came to a complete standstill?

It’s a realistic scenario. and microchip manufacturers are concerned. The chips, which power all our electronics nowadays, have begun to reach technological limits because they just can’t shrink much more in size. To stave off the impending problem, manufacturers have poured billions of dollars into research and development, working toward chips that blend computing muscle with innovative behavior. The microchips will handle their tasks with greater finesse, and thereby hopefully avert the looming problem. Think smart chips are capable of adjusting their function based on the needs of the program and the user. However, the paucity of answers beyond that point serves as a portent for the end of the digital age. perhaps occurring around 2020.

It’s a race among chip manufacturers, as they scramble to maintain Moore’s law. Gordon Moore, the founder of Intel, anticipated that the processing power of a chip would double every two years. So far, he’s been right on the money. In fact, microchips have outstripped expectations, for their processing power has better than doubled every two years. A slowdown or end of the digital age would prove detrimental to the economies around the world. Electronics would cost more, on top of which consumers wouldn’t upgrade because of fewer new products.

Source: headsupenglish.com

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you think the proposed scenario will happen in the future?
2. What do you think would happen if there were a technological crash?
3. How often do you use computers? Would a technological slow down concern you?
4. Do you think there are greater problems facing the world in the near future? If yes, what are they?
5. What do you think computers will be like 5/10 years from now?

What Makes Us Laugh?

B2 – Upper intermediate

As one Yiddish proverb goes, “What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul“. What do you make of this expression?

Listen to Alice and Neil’s conversation in this BBC 6 Minute English episode entitled, “What makes us laugh?”

What makes us laugh?

Discuss:

1. Do you think there is a connection between depression and comedy?
2. What kind of comedy do you prefer?
3. When was the last time you laughed so hard that it made you cry?
4. Please share some funny/famous Spanish jokes or stories.

Water on Mars: What Does It Mean?

B2 – Upper intermediate

Humans have always been curious about things – almost everything.  Our curiosity has brought us beyond planet Earth, searching for the answers of unending questions about life.  Is there life somewhere outside our beautiful planet?

Watch the video then read the article to know more.

Water on Mars: What Does It Mean?

Discuss:

1. Is it really worth the enormous expense to search for any life outside planet Earth while poverty, crime, diseases and death are still left unsolved?
2. Do you think there is life existence in other planets?