Category: Homework

Are GMOs Good or Bad?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

For centuries, farmers have been selectively breeding animals and plants for better results, this is a form of GMO. Yet this hasn’t faced scrutiny like scientific GMOs, and we ask, “why is that?”.

GMOs or Genetically Modified Organisms have been criticized heavily by the general public due to many reasons, but is this skepticism justified or do GMOs actually help us live a better life?

What are their pros and cons from a scientific point of view?

To find out more, let’s watch this video.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the expression “get to the bottom of something” mean? Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What is “yield“? Use it in your own sentence.
  3. What does “pronounced” mean? Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. From your point of view, are GMOs good or bad? Elaborate on your stand.
  2. Can you think of any other pros and cons of GMOs? Cite all of them.
  3. Do you believe that there is a type of GMO that can help stop climate change? Explain your point.
  4. In your opinion, is there a way to help GMOs have a better reputation? How?
  5. What are some ways that you know GMOs are used?

Inside the Head of Jeff Bezos

B2 – Upper Intermediate

He is Amazon’s Executive Chairman. His whopping loot of around US$139 billion puts him on top of the list of the world’s richest. With all that he has achieved, one must be wondering, “What goes on in that mind of his?”.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript for a peek on how Jeff Bezos thinks.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-210809

Discussion Questions:

  1. What can we learn from Jeff Bezos’ business sense and his story of success? 
  2. What do you think goes in the mind of super wealthy people such as Bezos most of the time?
  3. If you were very wealthy, what do you think would often occupy your thoughts?
  4. When Jeff Bezos’s friends talk about him, three words they often use are: invention, risk-taking and long-term vision. What do you think are three words your friends would use for and about you and why?
  5. What do you think is the secret to your business/company’s success?
  6. Which business person do you idolize and why?

VR Treat Fears and Phobias

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Virtual reality (VR) is a way for you to escape reality by putting on a headset. Ever since the invention of this device, it has been used in several ways.

One of the most recent ways it is being utilized is helping people treat their phobias and addressing serious issues such as domestic violence.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript to find out how VRs help treat fears and phobias.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2022/ep-220512

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of using VRs to overcome fears and phobias?
  2. If you had a phobia, would you consider using VR to try and solve your problem?
  3. Cite other uses of VRs.
  4. Discuss your opinion about the VR simulation project of virtual embodiment in a Barcelona prison.
  5. Talk about a time when ‘dropping your defenses’ helped you in a situation.

Tattoo Health Device

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Scientists in South Korea are developing a health device that can signal users about any possible health problems. Perhaps the most unique thing about it is that it is in the form of a tattoo. 

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about electronic ink.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/south-korean-scientists-develop-tattoo-health-device-/6683886.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of this medical technology?
  2. Do you think this device will be popular in the future? Why or why not?
  3. What might be its pros and cons?
  4. What devices do you use to monitor your health? Describe each of them.

Quiet Quitting

B1 – Intermediate

The workplace is a very competitive world. We are taught to do our very best in order to succeed. 

However, it seems times have changed. Workers only work to achieve the minimum of what they should be doing in their job while they are working to later just leave.

Read the article about the concept of quiet quitting and how it is becoming more common in the workplace.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2210/221003-quiet-quitting-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are reasons workers are quiet quitting?
  2. Was there ever a time you had to quit quietly at work? Talk about this time.
  3. How to be a good employee?
  4. What is the proper way to quit work? 
  5. Talk about a time you ‘went the extra mile’ at work.
  6. How did the pandemic change the way you do or think about your job?

Finding Your Mission

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

Every day, lots of people struggle to find their calling in life and not all of them succeed as it takes a lot of effort, patience, and know-how.

Watch the video and you’ll learn how to make the search for one’s calling easier. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think is your mission in life? How did you find out about it?
  2. What is a calling? Why do many people struggle to find their calling?
  3. How can you understand that you’ve finally found a calling in life?
  4. Which of your childhood dreams would you like to live out?
  5. Would you change your career to find something more interesting and suitable for you? Why or why not?
  6. What would you do if your loved ones were against your passion?

How People Drink Wine Around the World

B2 – Upper Intermediate

People’s choice of booze differs depending on many factors. But wine is undoubtedly one of the world’s most favorite. 

There are different ways people from every country enjoys this boozy drink.

Read the article about the different ways people drink their wine across the world.

https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/how-people-drink-wine-around-the-world

Discussion Questions:

  1. Which points in this article did you find the most interesting and surprising, and why?
  2. Share other ways people consume their wine that you’ve heard of.
  3. What’s the best way to enjoy wine?
  4. Do you have the custom to BYOB in your country? Why or why not?
  5. Do you think drinking wine will become more or less popular in the future? Explain your point.

Charbonnay Wine 

B1 – Intermediate

People are believed to have been consuming wine as early as 5400-5000 B.C. And ever since, there has been a continuing demand for wine all over the world. 

In Northern France, they have invented a new type of wine that is called “Charbonnay”. 

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about this new kind of wine.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/charbonnay-wine-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of charbonnay? Would you like to try it? Why or why not? If you have tried it, what can you say about it?
  2. Are there any new varieties of wine that has been produced in your country recently? Talk about it.
  3. How important is wine and the wine industry in your country?
  4. Do you like drinking wine? Why or why not?
  5. What are the good and bad things about wine/wine drinking?

Patience

B1 – Intermediate

In today’s modern world, life has become a constant pursuit of distraction. Being more patient can do wonders to our mental health, career, and personal relationships. Patience makes us better people.

Let’s listen to the audio and read the transcript below about patience.

https://listenaminute.com/p/patience.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are you patient? Is it difficult for you to be as such? Explain your answer.
  2. How can you improve the quality of patience in yourself? What techniques can you think of?
  3. When was the last time you lost your patience?
  4. Who/what requires the most patience in your life?
  5. Do you think you’re getting more patient or impatient as you get older? Explain.

Earliest Medical Operation

B2 – Upper Intermediate

When we look at how much the medical field has progressed over time, wouldn’t it be interesting to glance back at how it all started and how the first surgeries were like? 

A new research reveals that contrary to our beliefs that healthcare is a newer concept, prehistoric people were not exactly just left to their own device when it comes to their medical needs.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about possibly the earliest medical operation that dates back to 31,000 years ago.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/earliest-medical-operation-might-have-been-31-000-years-ago/6737970.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about this discovery?
  2. What comes to your mind when you hear the word “surgery”?
  3. Picture yourself living 31,000 years ago. How do you imagine the medical services would have been like? 
  4. Talk about a surgery or any medical procedures you have had and describe the procedures and medical technologies used for your treatment.
  5. Talk about a few of the most modern medical treatments and technologies that you know of and what do you think about them.