1. What do you think are the consequences if neighborhood pubs continue to close? 2. Does your city have very strict laws when it comes to planning and building? 3. Do you think there’s too many commercial spaces in your neighborhood? 4. If it was in your power, what changes would you make in your city?
Implanting Microchips has always raised issues worldwide. Is it ethical and are we really ready for it? In Sweden this year, the newly opened Epicenter office complex in Stockholm makes this chip implant possible.
Check the video and share your thoughts.
Discuss:
1. What do you think about being chipped? Is it ethical? 2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a microchip implant? 3. Would you voluntary have one under your skin?
*Click the title to listen to an audio of a similar topic: Human Microchips
Most parents around the globe have the same struggle of understanding a teenager’s behavior. Teens are often misunderstood. Even if we, ourselves, became teenagers once, we are still baffled by how they conduct themselves.
Read the article below to get a better picture of why teenagers act as such.
1. Have you been in this stage where you feel no one understands you? 2. How would you describe yourself as a teenager? 3. How would you differentiate teenagers during your time and teenagers of today? 4. What do you think is the best way to raise teenagers?
They say that “travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.” If this is true, then you can say this guy is quite rich. Read on as he tells us some peculiar habits that he has learned from his experiences visiting and living in different places in the world.
1. Talk about three strangest habits you’ve acquired or observed from visiting or living in a different country? 2. How do you adapt to differences in customs and traditions? 3. Which habit mentioned in this blog would you like to pick up?
Paternity leave is the time a father takes a leave off work at the birth or adoption of a child. This kind of leave is rarely paid. Some companies offer new dads paid time off ranging from a few days to a few weeks.
Read the article and watch the video clip to know how other countries are allowing their new parents to spend time with their children.
1. After reading the article, do you think that your country should make changes when it comes to parental leaves? 2. Do you know anyone who decided to have a maternity (or paternity) leave for a year to focus on rearing the child? 3. How long do you think is the ideal time off for a paternity leave?
Becoming more aware of body language can help us communicate with other people more effectively. You can understand what other people are saying even when they are not talking. We can convey strong feelings that are too difficult to express in words.
Read the article then answer the quiz on the site to check your comprehension. Feel free to listen to the audio while reading.
Body language is a form of communication without using words. Body language includes the use of body posture, gestures, eye movements and facial expressions. A lot of body language is actually subconscious. This means that the person using body language is not fully aware that they are using it. Some psychologists say that body language actually communicates more information than using words.
Being able to “read” body language means being able to understand what a person really thinks or feels through their body language. Human beings seem to instinctively understand other people through their body language even when they speak a different verbal language. It is likely that in human prehistory, body language was an important survival mechanism that helped us to display and distinguish between threats and safety.
Body language can communicate negative emotions. For example, when a listener crosses their arms against their chest, it can mean disagreement with the speaker. This can also be indicated when a listener leans away from the speaker. A lack of eye contact can show a person is anxious or discomfort. It can also mean disbelief. When a listener is bored, they are more likely to tilt their head.
Positive feelings are often shown in body language through the use of facial expressions, eye contact, and posture. Leaning forward usually shows that a person is interested in what the speaker is saying. When a person looks in another person’s eyes and then down at their lips, it usually means they have romantic feelings for the speaker. Standing or sitting straight with good posture shows that a listener is taking the person’s speech seriously.
Scientific studies have revealed that body language can even reveal when a person is being dishonest. For example, when a person is lying, they tend to touch their face during the conversation. They may also blink too much or not blink at all. Body language can reveal a lot about people but it’s important to remember that everyone’s body language is a little different and trying to “read” too much information through body language can lead to miscommunication.
Source: dreamreader.net
Discuss:
1. Do you notice people’s body language when you speak with them? 2. Are you careful with your body language in important settings like a meeting or a job interview? 3. Are you more expressive in your words or in your actions?
With certain jobs that require sitting in front of the computer for long hours, it is important that we know how proper posture plays a role in keeping us healthy and ache-free.
Let’s find out more about the proper sitting posture and the good effects of it to our health and body.
Read the article then answer the quiz on the site to check your comprehension.
Scientists are beginning to understand that sitting down for long hours can be very bad for your health. One of the reasons for this is that poor posture leads to health problems. Here is some advice to help improve your posture and your health.
Sitting with poor posture can lead to serious chronic back pain that doesn’t go away. Many people wrongly believe that they should sit with their backs straight at a 90 degree angle to the floor. Scientists, however, have recently discovered that this actually causes more stress on the body. They found that sitting with the back slightly reclined at a 135 degree angle is the healthiest posture. The back muscles are more relaxed and the spine is at a more natural resting position.
Many people develop constant neck pain while sitting. They bend their necks forward to look at a screen or read a book. The lower neck muscles need to work very hard to support the weight of the head. The bones in the spine can slide forward, causing a great deal of neck pain. To avoid this problem, you should try to look at the top portion of a computer screen when working at a desk. Your elbows should be at the side and your feet should be flat on the floor.
You should also try to occasionally stop work and do some stretching exercises. Put your hands behind your back and bring your chest forward slowly. Take a deep breath and relax. You could also try to work while standing up. Finally, you can try to buy a special kind of chair that is built to improve sitting posture.
1. Can you say that you have good posture? 2. Do you try to do some stretches in the middle of the day when you feel like your body is getting tired? 3. What are some of the exercises you do to keep your muscles in shape?
1. Are there more younger people than older individuals in your country? 2. How does your government take care of the senior citizens? 3. What are the effects of an ageing population to a country?
A legend is a story that has been passed from generation to generation but cannot be proved as true. Each country has its own legend to tell its people. Some legends are popular worldwide.
Listen to the audio clip and study the vocabulary words. Be ready to use the words in sentences and to answer some discussion questions.
Unedited images of Beyonce have circulated over the Internet showing the famous singer’s natural looks. Reactions to the leaked photos have been mixed, and discussions have begun anew regarding the representation of women in television and print media.
Watch the video and be ready to express your thoughts about this topic.
