Category: Class

Mixed-gender Events at the 2020 Olympics

B1 – Intermediate

The 2020 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXXII Olympiad and commonly known as Tokyo 2020, is a major international multi-sport event due to be celebrated in the tradition of the Olympic Games as governed by the International Olympic Committee.

In the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics, some events will have mixed-gender participants. This will make the Tokyo Olympics very gender-balanced. However, not every is pleased with this.

Find out about mixed reactions towards mixed-gender sports events at Tokyo 2020.

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1706/170613-2020-olympics.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do mixed-gender competitions promote gender equality in sports? Why or why not?
  2. Should more Olympic sports introduce mixed-gender events? Explain your answer.
  3. What problems do organizers face when creating mixed-gender competitions?
  4. Are you a fan of the Olympics? Why or why not?
  5. What is your favourite event at the Olympics and why?
  6. Do your country’s athletes do well in the Olympics?
  7. Which Olympics can you remember well?
  8. What does hosting the Olympics do for a country?

Robot Police Officer

“RoboCop” is a 2014 film about a crime-fighting cyborg. Dubai Police have revealed their first robot officer, giving it the task of patrolling the city’s malls and tourist attractions. Now, this is real-life RoboCop!

Read more about the first robot police here:

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1705/170530-robot-police-officer.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your general opinion about robot police officers?

2. Some see robots as menacing, some see them as helpful – how about you?

3. What do you expect from a police officer? Do you think this robot will be a better alternative?

4. Do you think your government needs to spend money on employing more police officers, or availing robot police?

5. What other roles will robots play in our society later this century?

Mindfulness Meditation Room for Students

B1 – Intermediate

A school in New York built a new meditation room and hired a meditation consultant to help its students and staff relax and perform better.

Watch the video to find out more about this unique approach.

Discussion Questions:

1. What is mindfulness meditation?
2. Have you ever tried any form of meditation?
3. In your opinion, what mental health issues can be addressed by meditation?

Ways to Keep Exercising in a Heatwave

C1 – Advanced

With the global temperatures going higher and higher by the year, we might be putting our health at risk when we continue exercising.

Now, just because it is summer doesn’t mean we have to put our exercise routines on a halt. There are ways to keep being active – and not having to worry about suffering from a heatstroke.

Read the article about some ways to keep exercising even in the middle of a heatwave.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/jun/15/10-ways-to-keep-exercising-in-a-heatwave

Discussion Questions:

  1. Does high temperature somehow affect your workout routine? Share your experiences.
  2. Which among the tips mention do you practice? Which ones are you willing to try?
  3. How else do you deal with the heat to keep exercising during very hot weather days?
  4. What are your thoughts on acclimatization?
  5. “A heatwave could be an opportunity to try something new.” Would you be willing to mix your exercise routines up to adapt to the summer heat?

Forget Office Cubicles, Try ‘Co-Working’

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In a more globalized world, sharing resources hasn’t been new. Now, a new concept of a “Co-working Space” which helps small businesses and self-employed individuals to stay connected with others by renting a room or small place to work.

Let’s learn more about this coworking work environments, watch the video and read the transcript.

https://www.voanews.com/a/co-working-new-office-style/3365475.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does Carl Pierre think the advantages of such a workspace are?
  2. What do you think about the concept of co-working spaces?
  3. What does your workspace look like?
  4. Describe your ideal/dream workspace.
  5. Do you think that, in the future, all business will be conducted from a co-working space? Why or why not?
  6. Do you think that, in the future, offices will become obsolete because of the Internet? Why or why not?

Food Waste

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Food waste is food that is discarded or uneaten. Each year, we dispose of a third of the world’s food.

Listen to this podcast to learn more about food wastage and ways to stop it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-170511

Let’s talk:

1. Where does the biggest percentage of food waste come from?

2. What usually happens to the food we waste?

3. What are the consequences of food waste?

4. What is Selina Juul doing to stop food waste in Denmark? What are other ways to avoid wasting food?

5. What do you tend to do with your leftovers?

6. How’s not finishing your food viewed in your country?

How to Haggle: Successful Bargaining Tips

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Bargaining or haggling is a type of negotiation in which the buyer and seller of a good or service debate the price of a transaction.  Not all purchases are open to bargaining. Typical places where bargaining is common include markets, antique shops, and second-hand car shops.

Click the link and read a few guidelines to help us get the best bargain. Answer the discussion questions that follow:

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/how-to-haggle

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is bargaining an acceptable practice in your country?
  2. In what kinds of shops is it acceptable?
  3. Do you like to bargain?
  4. What sort of things have you bargained for?
  5. What’s the best bargain you have got?
  6. What strategies did you use?
  7. Have you ever been ripped off?
  8. What is the bargaining etiquette in your country?
  9. What other negotiating do you do in your everyday life?
  10. What are some reasons people give for wanting a price reduction?

Tesco Homeplus Virtual Subway Store

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Innovation is the development and implementation of ideas that lead to more value for whatever business you are in.

When grocery chain Tesco wanted to expand their market share in South Korea, they came up with a brilliant idea. Because the people in South Korea work long hours, Tesco thought of an efficient way to sell their products.  Why is this shop interesting to view?

Watch the video to find out. Be able to answer the questions that follow.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about Tesco’s virtual store at subway stations in South Korea?
  2. How was Tesco better than its competitor in terms of innovation?
  3. Do you think this innovative idea could be successfully applied in all countries? Explain.
  4. What are the most important innovations for you in your daily life?
  5. Have you ever worked for a company that has implemented any innovative ideas? Talk about it.
  6. Have you ever had an innovative idea? If so, did you put it into action?

Emails – Advantages and Disadvantages of Electronic Mail

B1 – Intermediate

Email is much older than ARPANet or the Internet. It was never invented; it evolved from very simple beginnings.

Early email was just a small advancement from what we know these days as a file directory – it just put a message in another user’s directory in a spot where they could see it when they logged in. As simple as that. Just like leaving a note on someone’s desk.

Read more on the advantages and disadvantages of using e-mails.

http://www.english-online.at/media/emails/advantages-disadvantages-of-electronic-mail.htm

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you agree with the all the advantages and disadvantages of emails as stated in the article?
2. How does email messaging improve your communication with others especially in the field of business?
3. How do you think you can protect yourself from phishing?

Baby Boomers – The Golden Generation

B1 – Intermediate

Almost exactly nine months after World War II ended, “the cry of the baby was heard across the land,” as historian Landon Jones later described the trend. More babies were born in 1946 than ever before: 3.4 million, 20 percent more than in 1945. This was the beginning of the so-called “baby boom.” In 1947, another 3.8 million babies were born; 3.9 million were born in 1952; and more than 4 million were born every year from 1954 until 1964, when the boom finally tapered off. By then, there were 76.4 million “baby boomers” in the United States. They made up almost 40 percent of the nation’s population.

Read the full article about baby boomers here:

http://www.english-online.at/geography/baby-boomers/baby-boomers-golden-generation.htm

Let’s talk:

1. Who are baby boomers?

2. Are boomers prepared for the challenges of aging?

3. What is your opinion on some baby boomers who can’t retire because they haven’t saved enough money to take it easy? Is the situation in your country the same?