Category: Homework

Why Do Humans Cry?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

All animals cry just like humans so that they can clean their eyes tor lubricate their eyes, but only Humans cry emotionally, why is this?

Babies crying makes sense because they can’t speak, so they have to find another way to show emotions and this carries on to adulthood, and during this time, people also want to comfort us, like when we used to cry as a baby.

There are a few reasons this can happen, in order to find out these reasons, let us watch this video:

Discussion Questions:

  1. When you see another person cry, how do you feel about it/them?
  2. What are other reasons we cry?
  3. In your opinion, is emotional crying beneficial to humans? Explain why or why not.
  4. Which moments make you cry your heart out?

Night Shift Work

Due to the boom of 24-hour services, there has been a high demand for night shift work. This allows businesses to deliver their services uninterrupted.

Some people adapt well to working late. However, this work setup can be difficult for many. It affects a person’s health because of the unusual working hours.

Listen to the audio and the transcript at the link for more information on night shift work.

https://www.esleschool.com/night-shift-work/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the good and bad things about working at night? What are some bad effects of night work on our health?
  2. Why do people work at night?
  3. What time of the day are you most productive? Why do you think that is?
  4. Do you like 24-hour supermarkets or mini grocers? Why or why not?
  5. How many hours of sleep do you need each night? Do you like taking naps in the afternoon?
  6. What was the longest time where you haven’t had any sleep? How was the experience?
  7. How do you think it would be like for you if you worked the nights?

Find Fresh Air on Google Maps

B1 – Intermediate

Google Maps is a mapping platform with detailed geographical information. This is just the primary function of this platform but there actually more and Google Maps is continuously upgrading and adding new and better features.

Read the article about Google Maps’ new features.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2206/220613-google-maps-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the new Google Maps features and what do you think about them? 
  2. Do you think the new features are going to be useful for you? Why or why not?
  3. How much and what do you use Google Maps for? What do you like and dislike about this platform?
  4. What other features do you want Google Maps to have?
  5. Do you use mapping or GPS platforms/apps a lot? Why or why not?

Tax on Farm Animal Burps

B1 – Intermediate

Governments around the world are continuously thinking of ways to address the problems with climate change. It may sound unbelievable and ridiculous but yes, the New Zealand government has revealed its plans to put taxes on some farm animals’ burps. 

Confused yet? Read the article and find out why New Zealand plans to tax cow and sheep burps.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2206/220616-cow-burps-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why is NZ government planning to tax animals’ burps?
  2. What do you think of this measure?
  3. Did you know farming makes up 14.5 percent of global greenhouse gasses? If not, what was your reaction to this?
  4. What is your government doing to address the problems with climate change?
  5. What problems do farmers have in your country?

Problems in the Sugar Industry

B1 – Intermediate

Another industry is now feeling the effects of the conflicts in Ukraine. As Ukraine is one of the main producers of sugar beet which is a plant used to make sugar, there could be a shortage in the supply and increase in prices of sugar soon.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the problems in the sugar industry.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/problems-in-the-sugar-industry-level-2/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about this news?
  2. How is the stop of sugar harvest in Ukraine affecting the sugar industry?
  3. What will happen if this problem persists?
  4. What products are running out of stock and/or increasing prices in your country as a consequence of the war in Ukraine?
  5. How important is sugar in our day-to-day lives and in industries?

Names

B1 – Intermediate

Our names are a crucial part of our identity. From the day we are born, we are assigned this identifier. It represents who we are. When someone remembers our name, we feel respected and important. That’s why choosing the best name for a child is one of the biggest decisions parents have to face.

Let’s listen to the audio below about names.

https://listenaminute.com/n/names.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you like your name? What does it mean?
  2. If you could change your name, what would you choose to replace it with and why?
  3. Do you have a nickname? If so, what is it and how did you get it?
  4. Are you good at remembering names? Why or why not?
  5. Do you think a person’s name can influence their life/character? Explain your answer.
  6. What is the most common boy/girl’s name in your country? Do you like to have a common name or a distinctive one?

Buzz Lightyear Film Banned

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The LGBT community is now somehow accepted by most of the countries all over the world to the point that we now have same-sex marriages and laws against LGBT discrimination in some places.

However, there are still countries that do not allow any kind of same-sex relationships nor any form of display of such relations.

The spin-off movie Buzz Lightyear has been banned in 14 countries because of a lesbian kissing scene between a female character Alisha Hawthorne, voiced by actress Uzo Aduba, and her female partner.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about the Buzz Lightyear film being banned in some countries over lesbian kiss.

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-61786355

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are you thoughts about these countries banning the movie?
  2. Should Disney just delete this scene? Why or why not?
  3. How will this ban affect the Disney movie?
  4. Do you think that showing LGBT scenes could affect the viewers, especially the younger ones? Share your opinion on this.
  5. How is the LGBT community viewed and treated in your country?
  6. Do you think that the LGBT community could be accepted by everyone in the future? Why or why not?

Voluntourism: More Harm than Good?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Teaching English in foreign countries, helping to build schools and orphanages, working on conservation projects … These are all examples of voluntourism. It’s a combination of visiting other countries while doing some volunteer works too.

Dedicating time and effort to doing volunteer activities seems great and fulfilling. But is it all what it’s cracked up to be? 

Watch the video about voluntourism and its downsides.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to what’s discussed in this video?
  2. Has anyone shared their volunteering experience with you? What did they tell you? Talk about some of your volunteer works too.
  3. Would you prefer to volunteer with animals or do some administrative work?
  4. Do you think that all job positions are suitable for volunteering? What other jobs can you do as a volunteer?
  5. Have you ever been in a situation where you had to abandon your responsibilities?
  6. What do you think the pros and cons of so-called “voluntourism” are?

New York City Bans Foie Gras

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Foie gras is a special food made of duck’s liver. However, this delicacy is not without controversy attached to it. The thing is, the way foie gras is made is rather agonizing for the ducks. Hence, some cities are deciding to outlaw this food product.

New York City is one city that has also voted to ban the sale and production of foie gras by 2022.  It has long been considered a French delicacy, but for animal rights activists, they are concerned about the cruelty inherent in its production process. The demand is still there and it continues to be served at many restaurants in New York. Reactions have been mixed and emotional but activists hope this new ban will put an end to its consumption.

Read the article and be able to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.treehugger.com/new-york-city-bans-foie-gras-4856359

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you ever eaten/tried foie gras before? If you have, how do you find this French delicacy? If you haven’t, would you like to give it a try? Why or why not?
  2. What do you think about banning its sale and production?
  3. What would be the positive and negative effects of banning it?

Optimists vs Pessimists

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Optimism and pessimism are our way of thinking and considered basic traits of the human brain. Optimism reflects a belief of hopefulness about the future whilst pessimism is not a trait most people desire to have. There are benefits and drawbacks to both.

Let’s listen to the audio and read the transcript below to find out more about optimism and pessimism.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2022/ep-220331

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are you more of an optimist or a pessimist? Explain your answer.
  2. Do you enjoy being with optimist people or do you find them annoying? Explain.
  3. Have ever lost something because of being optimist/pessimist?
  4. How do you deal with unpleasant or disastrous situations?
  5. Think of a situation where optimism can save you?
  6. Optimistically speaking, what will you be doing 10 years from now?