Category: Class

Can Global Warming End our Civilization?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Many scientists believe that runaway global warming could occur much more quickly than expected.

This article contains recent information about the rising temperature of our planet.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/01/14/opinion/co2-crisis-griffin/index.html

Discuss:

1. In your country, do you feel the worsening condition of global warming?
2. What is your local community doing to minimize or prevent global warming?
3. Do you think there is still hope when it comes to “repairing” the environment?

Victims of Cosmetic Surgery

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Being beautiful gives you a lot of advantages. It boosts confidence and people seem to trust you more. In some job applications, they prefer to hire people who are more good looking. But how far you will go to be beautiful?

Read the article below and be prepared to express your thoughts.

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-30295758?OCID=fbasia

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this news?
  2. What is your personal definition of beauty?
  3. How important is beauty to you?
  4. What do you do in order to be beautiful or presentable?
  5. How far are you willing to go to be beautiful or to change your physical appearance?
  6. Is plastic surgery common in your country? Why or why not?

Are We Less Smarter Now?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A research suggests that humans have become less smarter since the Victorian Era. In  this article, it explains how and why human intelligence has declined over the past years.

Read the article below and watch the two videos included in the article.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/22/people-getting-dumber-human-intelligence-victoria-era_n_3293846.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree that people have already reached their intellectual peak? Why or why not?
  2. Aside from those stated in the article, what other factors do you think cause or can cause the decline of intelligence?
  3. Do you agree that people today are becoming less intelligent? Why or why not?
  4. What do you think can be done to improve intelligence today?

Bullying or Normal Competition?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Bullying has become a universal issue, whether in school or at work. Is it really bullying or just a normal competition among peers?

Let’s find out more about it through the audio conversation below. Be prepared to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-150108

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on corporate bullying?
  2. Have you witnessed bullying within your company?
  3. What policies are there to curtail bullying in the workplace in your country?
  4. How do we draw the line between competition and bullying at work?

Teenagers and Sleep

B2 – Upper Intermediate

If you have teenagers at home, then you’re probably familiar with the problem of them not going to bed on time and consequently, not being able to wake up the next morning for school.

Read the article below to discover the importance of getting enough sleep for teenagers and how to help them get enough of it.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/teenagers-and-sleep-how-much-sleep-is-enough

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do you think most teenagers are “night owls”?
  2. How were your sleeping habits like when you were a teen? What would you have done differently?
  3. As an adult, do you still have difficulties getting enough sleep? Why or why not?
  4. What are some of the health issues that are associated to sleeplessness?

Leisure Time for A Healthier You

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B2 – Upper intermediate

Life can be very difficult if you don’t know how to relax. Having time for leisure is important for us to stay healthy. There are various activities we can do to give ourselves enjoyment and take our minds away from work even just for a short time.

Read the article below to know more about the relationship between leisure time and mental health.

Leisure time physical activity linked to lower depression risk

 Discuss:

1. What activities do you do when you’re not working? How often do you do them?
2. How do you handle everyday stress?
3. What sport or physical activities are you engaged in?

Your Typing Style Can Reveal Your Emotions

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C1 – Advanced

A new computer program can now recognize people’s emotions based on how they type. Read the article below to know more about a concept called “the singularity”.

 

Your Typing Style Can Reveal Your Emotions

 Discuss:

1. Would you want to use this program for yourself? Why or why not?
2. Other than as a teaching tool, how else can this program be useful?
3. In your opinion, can computers completely measure human emotions accurately?
4. Why do you think people would want to create technology that can read human emotions?

 

Video: The Strange Disease of Always Being Hungry

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C2 – Proficient

There are many mysterious diseases in the world. If you are lucky, they can find medications for it. In some cases they can’t. Medical researchers are continuously exploring ways to cure a number of diseases .

Watch the video and read the article below about a girl who was miraculously cured from her very rare disease and the others who suffer from the same syndrome.

Always Hungry Girl Gets ‘Childhood’ Back After Weight Loss Surgery

Discuss:

1. Explain the rare condition mentioned in the video. What happens to the patients who suffer from this condition?
2. How do you stay healthy?
3. Is it hard to be healthy?
4. How do you avoid being sick?
5. Will it be possible in the future that all diseases will have a cure?
6. What are other strange illnesses that you know of?

More Foreign Students in the US

B2 – Upper intermediate

More and more students from other countries flock to the US to pursue their education. Watch the video and read the article below to know more of the facts.

US Hosts Record Number of Foreign Students

Discuss:

1. What do you think are the main reasons why most students prefer to study in America?
2. What are the benefits of studying abroad?
3. Have you ever considered or experienced studying abroad? Talk about this experience.

Korean Air Executive Went Nuts Over Nuts

C1 – Advanced

Heather Cho resigned as an executive of Korean Air after a nut incident. She was said to have gone furious at the head steward for serving her macadamia nuts in a packet instead of a plate.

Read more about this incident and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-30461979

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you feel about the said executive’s behavior?
  2. Have you ever heard of similarly over-the-top behavior?
  3. Some say the pilot could have refused the executive to avoid the delay caused by the incident. If you were in the pilot’s position, what would you have done?
  4. If you were in the steward’s shoes, what would you have done?
  5. Talk about a similar incident you’ve witnessed onboard or at the airport.