Category: Homework

WikiLeaks Founder’s Extradition Case

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Wikileaks published, among others, documents and materials that exposed misconduct by the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan. Several rights groups have been throwing their support to WikiLeaks’s founder Julian Assange and have been asking for his release. However, the United States stands firm on its decision to continue asking for the former’s extradition in order for him to face the charges against him.

Let’s watch the short video to know the updates on the extradition request for Julian Assange.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Who is Julian Assange and what crimes is he facing in the US?
  2. What is your take on this extradition of Julian Assange?
  3. Should matters of national security trample on government transparency?
  4. Should there be a limit to freedom of the press?

Indonesia Bans Palm Oil Exports

B1 – Intermediate

Due to global food inflation, Indonesia has decided to take some measures to ensure the availability of food products in their country. One of them is to stop the export of palm oil.

More than half of the palm oil supply in the world comes from Indonesia.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about Indonesia’s plans to ban export of palm oil.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/indonesia-bans-palm-oil-exports-level-3/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the reasons Indonesia is banning palm oil export?
  2. What is your opinion about this economic decision?
  3. How is this going to impact other countries?
  4. How has your country been affected by the recent crisis?
  5. What are some economic decisions that your country has made amidst the recent crisis?

South Korea Bans Child Monitoring App

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Our lives are now very much dependent on smartphones. They have become a need. They enable us to multitask.

Coupled with the power of the Internet, kids and teens are able to explore the world and do more using these. As children start to own smartphones at an earlier age, parents are getting more wary of the risks involved.

In South Korea, the government has passed a law to help ensure the safety of children and teens’ smartphone use through an app. However, problems arose along the way.

Read the article to learn more about the banning of the use of a mobile phone app that monitors social media activities of parents’ children in South Korea.

https://www.english-online.at/news-articles/living/south-korea-bans-child-monitoring-app.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree or disagree with the South Korean government’s prohibiting this app? Explain your position.
  2. Is this monitoring software a good idea? Please explain.
  3. What are some famous apps that promise the same concept?
  4. How effective are these apps?
  5. Are you concerned about your online presence? Why or why not?
  6. What are other effective means to monitor the online activities of our children?
  7. What is your opinion on children owning smartphones?
  8. Has your government also approved and banned certain apps in your country? Why did they do so?

People Have No Money to Boil Potatoes

B1 – Intermediate

The war between Russia and Ukraine has substantially affected everyone around the world. The cost of living in United Kingdom has increased so much since the oil and gas prices have increased.

They now have this dilemma of “heating or eating”, parents have to choose between heating up and feeding their children. The basic necessity prices of food, heating, and transport have become quite unreasonable that even boiling potatoes is now a problem for some people.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about the worsening cost of living in the UK.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2203/220328-cost-of-living-crisis-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. How has the war between Russia and Ukraine affect other countries?
  2. What do you think will happen if this war continues?
  3. Has this war affected you and your country in some way? Explain how.
  4. Talk about your own lifestyle and the cost of living in the city you live in.
  5. How can we prevent poverty? Can the government help?

UK’s Help for Ukraine Refugees a Disgrace

B1 – Intermediate

Nick Ferrari, one of Britain’s most popular radio hosts, shames United Kingdom in their treatment of the refugees from Ukraine. Despite the fact that more than 79,800 Ukrainians applied for a visa, 40,900 visas only were issued and 12,000 refugees at most were accepted. A number of people say that United Kingdom is setting up the process of getting a visa too complicated for refugees to fail.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about UK’s refugee crisis response.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2204/220411-uk-refugee-response-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why did Nick Ferrari call the government’s response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis “a disgrace”?
  2. What are some of the struggles of the Ukrainian refugees in applying for a visa in United Kingdom?
  3. Do you think that UK is setting up the process of getting a visa too complicated for refugees to fail? Explain.
  4. Is Spain accepting refugees from Ukraine? What is the process to become a refugee in your country?
  5. Are you open to accepting refugees in your own home? Why or why not?
  6. How can we help Ukrainians in our own ways?

Unpunished Crimes at UK Royal Palaces

B1 – Intermediate

There are a lot of Royal Palaces in United Kingdom, Buckingham Palace is the most well-known and visited of all the royal residences since it is located in the heart of the capital.

A shocking news has been revealed that even though the London’s royal palaces has the highest of security measures, there were still plenty of crimes that were committed in these palaces and loads of those culprits were not unpunished.

As of today, Elizabeth II is the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Next to the throne would be Charles, Prince of Wales.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about how many crimes committed at the Royal Palaces have been left unpunished.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2204/220425-royal-palaces-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What kind of crimes happened in UK Royal Palaces?
  2. Why did these crimes happen there even though these places are supposed to have the highest security measures in London?
  3. Why are majority of those people who committed the crime left unpunished?
  4. Are there some reports of any crime near or at the Royal Palace of Madrid or any Royal Palace in Spain? Name some.
  5. What are the usual crimes in Spain and how are they punished? Are most of the guilty people punished?

What Fans Want These Days

B1 – Intermediate

Fans love and suppor their celebrity idols so much. They would do anything for them, even to buy or pay for things that would remind them of their favorite stars.

Cameo, a US company founded a website where a fan can message a celebrity and get selfies and videos from them directly.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the website Cameo.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/what-fans-want-these-days-level-2/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about the website ‘Cameo’? Talk about the good and bad things about it.
  2. How is this website helpful to celebrities and their fans?
  3. Would you like to be a member of this platform? Which celebrity/celebrities would you like to a get a selfie or personalized videos from?
  4. How would you feel about getting a personalized greeting from your idol say, on your birthday or Christmas?
  5. If there is something your idol owns and could give to you, what would would it be and why?
  6. Why do you think fans spend so much time, money, and efforts for their favorite celebrities?

Relieving Stress in Broom Room

C1 – Advanced

Stress is our body’s response to pressure from a certain situation or event. Small daily nuisances and major life changes can trigger stress. At times, it serves a useful purpose. It enables us to respond quickly when something potentially threatening happens and helps us avoid danger.

Let’s watch the video below about a unique way to release stress.

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0b8fd4f/relieving-stress-in-shanghai-s-boom-room-

Discussion Questions:

  1. What’s your opinion about de-stressing with destruction?
  2. Would you try this kind of method to ease your stress? Why or why not?
  3. What causes you the most stress?
  4. Is modern technology stressful or does it help to unwind? Explain.
  5. Do you agree that a little bit of stress is good for us? In what ways?
  6. What are other healthy ways to reduce stress? What works best for you?

Brains Do Not Slow Down Until After 60

B1 – Intermediate

The brain is the most important organ in the human body. It controls our movement and everything that we do. It helps us think, makes us well focused and also helps us analyze problems.

But as we grow older, our brain processing starts slowing down.

Let’s read the article below and learn more about human brain processing speed and age.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2202/220221-mental-processing-speed-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Does it take you a long time to make decisions? Why?
  2. When is the most active your brain has ever been?
  3. How would you likely feel when your brain starts deteriorating?
  4. What do you do to take care of your brain?
  5. How forgetful are you? Cite situations when you suffer forgetting things.
  6. How impulsive are you? Cite situations when you became impulsive in your decisions.

Posting Selfies on Social Media and Narcissism

B1 – Intermediate

Social media is a form of electronic communication where one can exchange messages, upload and download photos and/or videos, and also share information and ideas with other users. However, posting too many pictures and too much personal information about yourself can lead to narcissism.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about how posting too many selfies can result to narcissism.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1811/181113-social-media-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree that posting selfies on social media can increase narcissism? Explain.
  2. What are the good things and bad things about social media?
  3. How could social media sites be beneficial for people?
  4. Does your personality change when you are on social media? Elaborate.
  5. People who post their selfies want attention and likes from other people. What is your opinion on this statement?