Category: Class

The Benefit of Single-Tasking

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Do you find yourself frequently multitasking? It might be worth reevaluating this habit. ‘The One Thing’ by Gary Keller discusses the advantages of concentrating on a single task at a time.

To learn more about the benefits of single-tasking, please read the article below.

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/07/the-benefit-of-single-tasking-and-how-to-get-yourself-to-do-it.html

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “to turn the tide” mean? “What helped me turn the tide and just start single-tasking?” Use this phrase in a sentence.

2. What does “to make all the difference” mean? “Basically, I chose to look at my time like money, and though I’ve only been doing it for a little while, it has made all the difference.” Use this expression in a sentence.

3. What does “to get one’s arms around something” mean? “As anyone familiar with budgets will tell you, before you can effectively budget, you need to get your arms around your spending habits.” Use this idiom in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you find multitasking useful? Why or why not?

2. How does the article view multitasking and do you agree with this perspective?

3. According to the article, practicing single-tasking can help rebuild your focus and attention span. What are your thoughts on this statement?

4. Among the benefits of single-tasking, which ones would you like to attain?

5. How valuable is it for you to achieve a state of flow?

Iran-US Prisoner Swap

B1 – Intermediate

Prisoner swap or exchange is the return of personnels from the opposing nations at war. As a general rule, captured enemies cannot be enslaved and should be handed over to the nation they served by the end of the war.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript to find out more about the recent prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Iran.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/iran-us-prisoner-swap-level-3/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the adjective “unfrozen” mean in this context? “…alongside the transfer of $6 billion in unfrozen Iranian funds to banks in Qatar.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of the word “detained“? “This carefully orchestrated exchange will see detained US dual nationals released from Iran.” Use it in your own sentence and give two synonyms.
  3. Define the verb “hint at“. “...followed by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken hinting at their eventual return.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does this prisoner swap entail?
  2. Do you agree that this exchange can be likened to a ransom? Why or why not?
  3. What do you know about the US-Iran tension?
  4. Does your country have a prisoner exchange treaty with other countries? What is your opinion on this kind of treaty?

Presidential Children and the White House Reputation

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It is common for voters to feel a personal connection to the highest leader of their country. This personal connection is comparable to that of a close family member. This is why when voters choose their candidate, they also take into account the parenting skills of their chosen president-to-be. The public image of the candidate’s children could be as significant as theirs in the voters’ eyes.

Let’s read the article and know more about some notable presidential children and how their image affected their presidential parent’s political image.

https://theconversation.com/hunter-biden-is-the-latest-presidential-child-to-stain-a-white-house-reputation-but-others-have-shined-it-up-212233

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “reviled” mean? “As a historian of the American presidency, I see the case of Hunter Biden as a revealing indicator of the ways that presidential children have figured in American public life, whether they were beloved or reviled.” Give 2 synonyms and use “reviled” in a sentence.
  2. Define “rough-and-tumble“. “The assumption that young children should be free from the political rough-and-tumble has recently made them highly effective symbols for presidential image-making.” Use this idiom in your own sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of the phrasal verb “harken back“? “His approach harkened back to the 19th century, when presidents appointed their adult sons to office while young children rarely appeared in public. ” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Who is Hunter Biden and what are his legal troubles?
  2. How do presidential children affect their parent’s likelihood of winning/losing in an election?
  3. In your opinion, is it fair for the immediate family members of politicians to have their private lives on public display? Why or why not?
  4. How can this relationship result to nepotism? Is nepotism at this level common in your country?
  5. Talk about a controversial presidential child that you know of.

Over-Tourism Threatens Mt. Fuji’s World Heritage Status

B1 – Intermediate

Mt. Fuji is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It got this status in 2013. 

Many people, not just from Japan, but from all over the world, dream of visiting and climbing this famous mountain that in Japan, is even considered sacred.

Especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a massive increase in the number of people who has visited and wishes to visit Mt. Fuji. This has caused a lot of problems for this World Heritage Site.

Read the article about how Mt. Fuji’s World Heritage status is at risk because of over-tourism. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2309/230911-climbing-mt-fuji-5.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “eyesore” mean in this sentence, “These are an eyesore on the mountain’s once-pristine habitat.”? Use this word in a sentence in the same context.
  2. What is a “bullet climber“? “Another headache for authorities is “bullet climbers“.” Use this term in a sentence.
  3. What does “altitude sickness” mean? “They risk getting altitude sickness.” Use this term in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are some problems in Mt. Fuji?
  2. What is your reaction to this news about over-tourism in Mt. Fuji?
  3. What should the Japanese authorities do to tackle this problem with over-tourism in Mt. Fuji?
  4. Would you like to climb Mt. Fuji? Why or why not?
  5. What other World Heritage Sites that would you like to visit one day? Why do you want to visit these places?

Being Unhappy at Work

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It is a fact that most of us dedicate majority of our time to working.

So, it is rather imperative that we make sure that we hold a job that does not bring us sorrow.

Being happy at our work is so much more than high compensation and great benefits.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about being happy at work.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2023/ep-230817

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to be on one’s feet” mean? “When I waitressed in cafes I was on my feet ten hours a day – it was exhausting!” Use this idiom in your own sentence.
  2. Define “presenteeism”. “In the work that we’ve done within the construction industry, we have trialled what we would call an ‘output-based’ way of working, which means we shift away from this sense of presenteeism.” Use this word in a sentence.
  3. What does “to breathe down one’s neck” mean, “The pressure to work quickly means you might have your boss breathing down your neck.”? Use this idiom in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What makes a workplace horrible? On the other hand, what is a good job/workplace?
  2. What should someone do if they had a terrible job/workplace? Give them some pieces of advice on how to handle this ordeal.
  3. Share your thoughts on shifting away from presenteeism and instead, heading toward an output-based way of working.
  4. What’s the worst job you’ve ever held? How did you go through with it?
  5. How can burnout be prevented?
  6. According to a Forbes magazine survey done in the UK, being a call center agent is voted the worst job. What is your reaction to this?

Eco-Anxiety

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The impact of climate change is undoubtedly on Mother Nature. However, this problem isn’t only affecting the planet, but also people’s mental health.

According to experts, more and more people suffer from ‘eco-anxiety’. Knowing the state that our world is in now is enough to bring people stress and anxiety.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about climate anxiety.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2023/ep-230810

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does ”ball game” mean? “We perhaps have these models… now we have the exact science, so it is an absolutely different ball game… we actually know what to do now.” Use this idiom in your own sentence.
  2. What does ”impassioned” mean? “It is about getting on with it, and the young people are the furthest ahead in this they can see the future as theirs and they’re impassioned to do something about it.” Give 2 synonyms and use “impassioned” in your own sentence.
  3. What does “to reach net zero” mean, “And also, you know, at the moment the government is trying to reach net zero by 2050 and all that, and they committed to creating 2 million new green jobs.”? Use this idiom in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on eco-anxiety?
  2. How do the climate change-related issues take a toll on you and/or the people around you? 
  3. How can we deal with eco-anxiety?
  4. What is your reaction to this, “Many of those suffering from eco-anxiety are young people.“? Why do you think this is the case?
  5. Do you think young people are truly impassioned to do something about the state we have left the planet in? Why or why not?
  6. Do you think dedicating one’s entire working life to building a green sustainable future has a huge effect on their psychology? Explain your thoughts.

Penny Supermarket Charges True Cost of Foods

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Food is an ultimate essential for humans. Perhaps most of us do not pay so much attention to it, but agriculture and food production contribute a great deal to greenhouse emissions.

The German-French discount supermarket chain Penny wants their customers to pay extra for certain food items in order to cover for their true climate/environmental costs. This initiative from Penny also aims to make grocery shoppers aware of the impact of food production on the environment.

Read the article about Penny’s “True Cost” campaign.

https://www.dw.com/en/true-food-prices-germany-penny/a-66422126

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does ”greenwashing” mean? “Bernhard Krüsken, the general secretary of the German Farmers’ Association, called the campaign a “greenwashing project of a discount supermarket that otherwise has little interest in fair pricing.” Use this word in your own sentence.
  2. What does ”markedly” mean? “Almost all of the products that the German discount supermarket Penny is now selling at the “true cost” of their environmental impacts are markedly more expensive.” Give 2 synonyms and use “markedly” in your own sentence.
  3. What does “to be reflected in something” mean, “These impacts are not yet reflected in sales prices, but they cost our society money indirectly.”? Use this idiom in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on Penny’s campaign? Do you believe it is just greenwashing? Why or why not?
  2. How will this campaign affect Penny?
  3. Will this initiative really make consumers consider the environmental consequences of their purchases? Explain.
  4. What are some things you do as a consumer to minimize the impact of your purchases on the environment?
  5. “Germans paid only 11.1% of their household budget for food, less than people in the EU usually pay.” How much do you think a household in your country typically spends on food? Is it a very high or very low budget in your opinion?

Double Negatives

In standard English, there should only be one negative form in the subject-predicate structure. 

The negative form is created by using negative words such as nobody, no one, nowhere, nothing.
Example:

She’s going nowhere.
Nobody was at home.

The negative form may also be created by making the verb negative.
Example:

I will cook dinner.I will not cook dinner.
We are going to the theatre.We are not going to the theatre.

However, there are cases when we hear double and even triple negatives being used in some regional dialects of English and other languages worldwide. This is mostly used in informal conversation and is not acceptable in formal contexts especially in writing.

Double Negative
This is created by adding a negation to the verb and to words that modify the noun or the object of the verb.
Example:

non-standard dialect standard English
I couldn’t never live with nobody like that.I couldn’t ever live with anybody like that.
She never mentions nothing important to no one.She never mentions anything important to anyone.

Double Negation with Adjectives and Adverbs  ( not + negative adjective/adverb )
You can use ‘not’ + a negative adjective or adverb to make your sentence less strong. By using this form, the overall meaning of the sentence becomes positive but it shows that the writer is fully aware of it. This is mainly used in formal writing.
Example:

It is not unimaginable that the election result will remain the same even after repeating it.
Misbehaving tourists are not uncommon in the city.
A: Your total bill is twenty euros.
B. Fine, that’s not unreasonable.

Capital Letters

We use capital letters for the first word of a sentence and for a proper noun.

When to use a Capital LetterExampleExample Sentence
At the beginning of a sentenceI will eat paella.
She needs to rest.
People’s names and titlesMaria, Juan, Mr. Rios, Mrs. FernandezHe likes Maria.
I invited Mrs. Fernandez.
Names of placesBarcelona, Germany, Canary IslandI am in Barcelona.
He is going to Germany.
Days of the week, months, and holidaysMonday, Tuesday, November, December, Christmas, New YearShe goes to school every Monday.
He is on vacation in November.
My favourite holiday is Christmas.
InstitutionsHarvard University, British School of Málaga, Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterI am studying at Harvard University.
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is the best hospital in California.
AcronymsCIA, CDC,BBC, FBIHe works for the CIA.
I like all BBC programs.
Titles‘Money Heist’, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, ‘Don Quixote’I love watching Money Heist.
I like listening to Bohemian Rhapsody.

Rules:

1. Names of countries, cities, streets, planets, religions, companies are all proper nouns so you have to capitalise them. 

The Earth has only one moon.
I live at 123 Birmingham Street.

2. Do not capitalise seasons.

Children don’t go to school in summer. They return in September.

3. Capitalise words that come from the names of places such as nationalities, languages and adjectives that refer to the people or things from a particular place. Adjectives and nouns that come from the names of religions must be capitalised as well.

Some Germans live in Spain.
Christmas is a special holiday for Catholics.
Cowboy boots are popular with Texans.

4. The most important words in film, music and book titles are capitalised. A person’s job title is also capitalised only when it is used before the name of the person.

Steve Jobs, the former chairman of Apple, died in 2011.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez arrived in Barcelona yesterday.
I am reading Pride and Prejudice.

Ellipsis Clauses

Ellipsis in English grammar is when words have been intentionally left out to make the sentences more concise instead of having wordy sentences.

Despite the omission of words, the use of ellipsis should not affect the completeness and correctness of the sentence.

Examples:

A: Are you joining the meeting later? B: [I’m] not sure.
[Have you] Seen your friend lately?
The young lady [who was] performing onstage won the prize last year.

Two Types of Ellipsis

  1. Situational Ellipsis

This type of ellipsis is mostly used in speaking in informal conversation. 

We exclude grammatical words like articles, pronouns, prepositions, and to shorten responses to questions.

Examples:

A: [Is] She coming? B: [I] hope so.
A: How are you doing? B: [I] Couldn’t be better.
A: When [are] you leaving? B: [I’m leaving] Next week.
[Care for some] coffee?
[It’s a] Shame you have to go now.

2. Textual Ellipsis

This type of ellipsis is used in both speaking and writing. This choice of omission takes place since we can easily understand the context from the surrounding text. It is also more related to specific grammar rules.

a. After “and” and “but”

In coordinated clauses joined together by ‘and‘, ‘but’ and ‘or’, some words in the latter clause are often omitted since they have been brought up in the first clause.

Examples:

I went to the gym and then [I went] to the supermarket.
I asked for three thousand euros monthly salary, but they only offered me two [thousand euros].
Alex finished the race at 28.5 seconds and John [finished the race] at 32.75 [seconds].

b. Adverbial and Relative Clauses

To reduce adverbial clauses, textual ellipsis is also used. This is done by discarding the subject and the auxiliary verb after the conjunctions while, when, after, before.

When [you are] interrupting the speaker, you should at least be brief and straightforward.
She was doing the laundry while [she was] watching the TV series.

To reduce relative clauses, sometimes the relative pronoun and auxiliary verb ‘be’ are discarded.

The defendant [who was] indicted is a very influential man.
The property [which was] foreclosed was built in the 80’s.