Category: Homework

Hobbies Are Great

B1 – Intermediate

How we spend our free time is important for our well-being. In fact, there are a lot of benefits to having hobbies. 

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about why hobbies are good for us.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/hobbies-are-great-level-2/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the good things about hobbies?
  2. Are there any disadvantages to hobbies?
  3. What hobbies do you have and why do you enjoy doing them so much?
  4. How do your hobbies help you in your life?
  5. What hobbies do you want to take up next and why?

Men vs Women’s Intelligence

B1 – Intermediate

You might have met a man who thinks he is so clever. According to a study, men actually overestimate their intelligence. On the other hand, women tend to have a more accurate estimate of the power of their brains.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about how men and women estimate their intelligence.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/men-vs-women-level-2/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree or disagree with the results of this study? Explain.
  2. What do you think are the reasons men think they are intelligent than they actually are?
  3. Why are women able to have a clear idea of how clever they are?
  4. Is it a good or bad thing to overestimate your intelligence. Explain your point.
  5. How intelligent do you think you are? How do you know this?
  6. Who is the most intelligent person you know and what makes you think they are brilliant?

The Challenge of Not Eating Food for 30 Days

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The famous YouTuber Mr. Beast is known for his extreme, over-the-top videos and most recently the vlogger attempted not eating food for 30 days, which would be his most dangerous challenge yet.

Though we all know that not eating food is dangerous, what is the immediate danger?

And there are many other questions that come from this type of challenge that can be quite insightful.

To find out more, let us watch this video.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on this?
  2. In your opinion, would you be able to not eat food (with supervision) for as long or longer than Mr. Beast?
  3. Before watching this video, did you know about refeeding syndrome?
  4. If you were to fast for 3 days, what would be your estimate as to how much carbohydrates you could eat?
  5. What are your thoughts on crash diet?

Crisis in Sri Lanka

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Economic stability is important in the development of a country. This implies that people have the resources necessary to a healthy life. This is otherwise the case in Sri Lanka where economic, political and social turmoil prevail. Just recently, some Sri Lankans forced their way into their president’s official residence when their frustration has reached a boiling point.

Let’s watch the video and read the news to know more about the predicament Sri Lanka is in.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/7/13/sri-lanka-in-crisis-what-when-and-why-explainer

Discussion Questions:

  1. What factors contributed to Sri Lanka’s economic crisis?
  2. How do you think this economic collapse could have been prevented?
  3. In your opinion, does a mere change of leader would rectify the current situation?
  4. How does your government create economic recovery and growth after the COVID-19 pandemic?

Refinancing Mortgage Loans

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Buying a house is probably the biggest financial decision we ever have to make in our lives. Most people do not have enough funds to cover the entire cost of their house that is why they turn to banks or other financial institutions for financial assistance. When mortgage rates go down, some people see this as a chance to refinance their mortgage.

Let’s listen to this short commercial to know more about mortgage refinancing.

Refinancing Mortgage Loans

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does mortgage refinancing work?
  2. What are the benefits of refinancing a mortgage?
  3. Do you see any pitfalls in refinancing a mortgage?
  4. Do you have a mortgage? Does this option seem appealing to you?

The Spice Trade

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Ages ago, when money was still non-existent, trading of goods was the only way to access different products from different countries. One of the most in demand products were spices.

Spices have a lot of uses. People traveled far just to bring these spices back to their homeland. Many cities became rich because of trading them. It became very important to the economy of Europe.

Read more about the history of the spice trade on this link.

https://www.english-online.at/history/spice-trade/spice-trade.htm

Discussion Questions:

1. What are some of your favorite spices and why do you love them?
2. What spices can be found in your country?
3. What are the pros and cons of trading goods?
4. What areas and moments in the past would you want to explore?
5. Who were some explorers that you know?
6. What are modern types of trading?
7. Do you think that the introduction of money was a good or bad idea? Please explain.
8. What are the products that your country exports and imports?

Stop Lashing Out When Hurting

B2 – Upper Intermediate

According to surveys, rates of depression are still considerably higher than before the global epidemic and both have been associated to rage and frustration.

While it is impossible to handle our anguish from transforming into negativity, we can adjust how we respond to our emotional reactions.

Click the link for some expert tips on how to prevent lashing out when we’re in pain.

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/07/12/health/stop-lashing-out-wellness/index.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you act when you’re furious?
  2. What are the benefits to getting angry?
  3. What happens when you keep your rage bottled up?
  4. What are ways you express your anger in a healthy way?
  5. Is it easy for you to keep your anger under control and hidden? How do you do it?
  6. Do you know anyone who has good anger management skills? How do they do it?
  7. Can you recall an instance when your thoughts have affected your anger?

Dollar Stores Are Full of Toxic Products

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As many people struggle to make ends meet, they try to find solutions to the rising household costs. Consequently, dollar stores have become popular nowadays. However, evidence shows that the chemicals present in products that can be found in such shops are harmful to the environment and endangering human health.

Read the article to learn more about how dollar stores are full of toxic products and be able to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.treehugger.com/dollar-stores-toxic-products-5235538

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you have dollar stores in your country? What do you think about these stores?
  2. Why do you think they are as popular as they are in your country?
  3. Have you ever bought anything from a dollar store before? Why or why not?
  4. Would you change your mind about or habit going to dollar stores after reading this article? Why or why not?
  5. What are your priorities and standards as a shopper? Explain why each factor matters to you.

Snap-Judge People as Boring

B2 – Upper Intermediate

According to modern studies, people have various expectations with what characteristics define a stereotypical bore. These prejudices, like other varieties of categorizing, might not have been wholly accurate, but can have very harmful impacts. Before they have even spoken, people brutally assess those who fit “boring” stereotypes, assuming they are less kind and capable than the typical person and unjustly acknowledging them in social situations.

Why do people make snap judgments about others based on their passions and fields of work?

Let’s make time to read the entire article to learn more.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220422-why-we-snap-judge-some-people-as-boring

Discussion Questions:

  1. What factors contribute to a boring personality?
  2. How do you determine a person’s nature?
  3. What makes someone a good judge of character?
  4. How do you respond to a judgmental person?
  5. Is it a bad thing to be dull and uninteresting? How do you interact with boring people?
  6. Have you met someone you thought was a complete bore at first but you were entirely wrong about that person after you’ve known them better? Talk about this experience.
  7. What do you do in order to make sure you leave a very good impression on someone upon your first meeting?

Have People Forgotten How to Behave in the Office?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Some people become somewhat tolerant of the nuisances that come with being surrounded by coworkers and more socially apprehensive after achieving full control over business settings at home. Others, on the contrary, could be so content to be in an office among coworkers that they end up breaking social norms that used to exist.

Have employees spent considerable time at home that they have neglected the workplace standards?

Let’s make time to read the entire article to learn more.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220627-have-people-forgotten-how-to-behave-in-the-office

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are you skeptical about returning to the office because of social anxiety?
  2. What can managers and employees do to help the transition go smoothly?
  3. Are there any complicating factors you’d be happy to disclose that might make returning to the office incredibly tough or troublesome for you?