Category: Homework

Will Smith Apologizes to Chris Rock after the Oscars Slap

B1 – Intermediate

Everyone in the entertainment industry anticipates the Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, whereby artist are given with international recognition, prestige, and awards. The 94th Academy Awards for the year 2022 could be one of the most controversial events when actor Will Smith slapped host Chris Rock on the stage for joking about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, and her shaved head. Afterwards, Will Smith apologized to everyone except to Chris Rock but eventually made a public apology to him a day later.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about Will Smith’s apology.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2203/220331-will-smith-apology-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts about Will Smith’s actions during the Oscars?
  2. What would you do if your were in Will Smith’s situation at that time?
  3. How do you usually react to an insensitive joke about you or your love ones?
  4. Is it better to defend yourself through words or actions when offended? Explain your point.
  5. How do you apologize when you intentionally or unintentionally hurt someone?

India’s Caste System

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Imagine being born in a group that predetermines the entire aspect of your future. From the school you are going, the job you are going to have and even the selected group where you can choose who you’re going to marry. This is India’s caste system.

Watch the video and find out the basic concept of this system.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is India’s caste system and how does it work?
  2. Who are the untouchables and why are they treated poorly?
  3. How does the caste system affect India’s social order?
  4. Do you find this social stratification fair? Share your opinion on this.
  5. Do you think the caste system can be completely eradicated? Explain your point.

Society and Life in the 1960s

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The sixties was a revolutionary time. It was a memorable point in history, filled with celebrations and controversies. This was not only evident in one country, but all across the globe.

Activism, inventions, conflict, and music painted a rich picture of this decade. These marked as a springboard for other developments and changes that came in the decades that followed.

Read the article below on what life was like in the 60s.

https://www.english-online.at/history/1960s/society-and-change-in-the-sixties.htm

Discussion Questions:

1. What were some historical events in the 60s that you know about?
2. Who among these historical figures are you familiar with?
3. What would be some interesting things that you would want to try in this decade?
4. How was your country during this time?
5. What were some good and bad things that came out of the 60s?
6. What are some other memorable decades?
7. If you could travel in time, what decade would you go to and why?

Frustration

B1 – Intermediate

Frustration is the source of many chronic mental conditions and severe emotional symptoms. It is a feeling that can distress a person. It is a very strong emotion that should not be ignored. It may not seem threatening, but prolonged exposure to this feeling could harm your psychological well-being.

Let’s have a look at the transcript and listen to the audio about frustration.

https://listenaminute.com/f/frustration.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What causes frustration?
  2. What are the common responses to frustration?
  3. How can we overcome frustration?
  4. How do you manage your frustration?
  5. What is an example of frustration?
  6. When was the last time you felt frustrated? Share about that moment.

Kids Getting Older Younger

B2 – Upper Intermediate

New technology may be exposing children to more data, attempting to make them more cognitively sophisticated. Is it causing them to mature more quickly or more slowly than generations past? To see if they are undoubtedly growing up much quicker is a matter of interpretation. It may also be necessary to refresh what we consider are the accomplishments of transformation and what it tends to mean to leave the nest.

Let us read the full text to find out if children nowadays grow up quite quickly.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220324-kgoy-kids-getting-older-younger

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is unlimited access to news, social media, and other privileges forcing the present generation into emotional maturity before they reach adulthood? Share your two cents on this.
  2. Do you agree or disagree that children now are more savvy than previous generations? Explain your stand.
  3. Do you think we’ve become obsessed with technology? Why or why not?
  4. How does technology affect children’s learning and development?
  5. What are the benefits and drawbacks of technology in education and to the new generation?
  6. Should we blame technology or failed parenting for KGOY?

Bad Habits

B1 – Intermediate

A habit is understood as the process of demonstrating or committing a particular trait on a continuous basis. A person might adapt to a variety of harmful behaviors over time. Possessing a serious addiction, a dietary issue, or a variety of other disruptive behaviors are just a few examples.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript about bad habits.

https://listenaminute.com/b/bad_habits.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. How have you successfully gotten rid of a bad habit?
  2. What bad habits bother you the most?
  3. What good habits do you admire the most?
  4. What unusual habits do you observe in your family members? Do these habits bother you?
  5. How can an individual develop a good habit?
  6. Which habit is the most important for parents to set as an example for their children?
  7. Are we born with our bad habits or do we develop them from the environment we grew up in? Explain your point.

Baby Girl Born from Frozen Embryo

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A baby girl has been born from a human embryo that was frozen 24 years ago. It is the world’s longest-known frozen embryo that has been used to birth a child. According to doctors, frozen embryos can develop just as effectively as fresh ones.

Read this lesson about an embryo frozen for more than two decades and the birth of a baby girl from it.

https://www.english-online.at/news-articles/health-medicine/baby-girl-born-from-embryo-frozen-24-years-ago.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about embryo cryopreservation?
  2. Is this technology popular in your country? Why do you think this is the case?
  3. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of embryo freezing?
  4. Is this the future of human reproduction? What are your thoughts on this?
  5. Is this something that young people should consider doing at their prime? Why or why not?

US Life Expectancy Drops Because of Opioid Abuse

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Life expectancy in the United States has fallen for the second year in a row. The surge in opioid-related mortality, particularly among young individuals, is one of the key reasons.

Read the article on how opioid abuse has affected the life expectancy in the US.

https://www.english-online.at/news-articles/health-medicine/us-life-expectancy-drops-because-of-opioid%20abuse.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this news?
  2. What is the life expectancy in your country?
  3. In your opinion, what are the factors affecting life expectancy?
  4. Do you use a lot of painkillers? What kind?

Netflix Reaches Almost All Countries in the World

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Netflix is one of the most popular streaming services in the whole world today. It was once only accessible in 60 countries. But more recently, it has expanded to over 130 countries worldwide. Millions of additional subscribers are expected to join the company in the near future.

Read the article about Netflix.

https://www.english-online.at/news-articles/entertainment/netflix-reaches-almost-all-countries-in-world.htm

  1. Do you use Netflix? Why or why not?
  2. What is the most used streaming platform in your country?
  3. How would you compare Netflix to the other platforms that you use?
  4. China is the only major country, where Netflix has not yet made its services available. What is your opinion on this?
  5. How can Netflix maintain its popularity?

Instagram Celebrates 5th Anniversary

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Instagram, the world’s most popular photo-sharing app, is five years old. Instagram’s success can be attributed to a variety of factors. For starters, you can publish photos and videos on other social media platforms. Facebook paid a billion dollars for Instagram in 2012. As a result, the social media behemoth has poured millions of dollars into making Instagram even more appealing to users.

Read the article about Instagram and how it was founded.

https://www.english-online.at/news-articles/entertainment/instagram-celebrates-5th-anniversary.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you use Instagram? Why or why not?
  2. What do you think of this app?
  3. What changes did you notice after Facebook bought Instagram?
  4. In your opinion, what factors led to the success of Instagram?
  5. Do you think Instagram will eventually lose its importance and appeal to its users? Discuss your opinion.