Category: Homework

Scientists Make Skin Look Younger

B1 – Intermediate

Beautiful skin is a healthy skin. Taking good care of your skin and protecting it is very important. As the largest organ you have, your skin is essential to your general health. If the skin is unable to function well, it will affect the other parts of the body.

One obvious signs of ageing is how our skin changes as we grow older. It is important to take care of your skin if you want keep looking young.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about new technique that can slow down the ageing process.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2204/220414-younger-looking-skin-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about this technique?
  2. Would you rather look younger or feel younger? Why?
  3. How do you take care of your skin?
  4. How can we slow down the ageing process?
  5. What problems do people have as they age?

Elon Musk Buys Twitter

B1 – Intermediate

Elon Musk is one of the most intelligent people alive as well as one of the richest with a net worth of around 20 billion dollars. Many know this man by his three highly successful companies; SolarCity, Tesla, and SpaceX.

Let us read the article below and learn more about Elon Musk buying Twitter.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2204/220428-twitter.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about Elon Musk’s decision to buy Twitter?
  2. Musk thinks Twitter has a lot of potential. Do you agree with him? Why or why not?
  3. What do you know about Elon Musk?
  4. What are the good and bad things about social media websites?
  5. How important is free speech? Explain.

Problems with Bottled Water

B1 – Intermediate

Water isn’t a luxury. It is a basic need. Unfortunately, many people do not have access to safe drinking water. This is why bottled water is very important. All over the world, people drink bottled water.

However, there are many problems with producing this drink.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the problem with water bottles.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/problems-with-bottled-water-level-2/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the problems with bottled water?
  2. What should be done to lessen these problems?
  3. Is drinking bottled water also very common in your country? Why is that? 
  4. How often do you buy bottled water? 
  5. Now that you know the problems bottled water bring, would you change your habits in consuming them? Why or why not?

A Special Helmet

B1 – Intermediate

The Israeli company Brain Space created a special helmet that can monitor people’s brain activities. From the information that will be collected using the helmet, it is the goal to make products and services for people.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about Brain Space.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/a-special-helmet-level-3/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about this helmet?
  2. What are the uses of this helmet?
  3. What might be the bad things about this product?

Spanish Village Changes Name

B1 – Intermediate

The problem between Russia and Ukraine is getting worse and worse. It is necessary to find ways to make everyone know about the problem. We have to do our part to help the victims of this war.

As a way of helping, a Spanish village had decided to change its name from “Fuentes de Andalucia” to “Ukraine”. They also changed the names of some streets in their village.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the Spanish village that changed its name.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/spanish-village-changes-name-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree with this change in the name of the village? Why or why not?
  2. How would you feel if your village or city changed its name?
  3. What are the good and bad things about changing the name of a place?
  4. What are ways to make people know about the problems in Ukraine?
  5. How can we help Ukraine?

Fake Accident

B1 – Intermediate

Money is very important for us to live. When you start having money problems, what is the best thing to do?

A British man who was having financial problems faked his own accident and people thought he was dead. But he didn’t really die. He showed up again after many years of disappearance and said he didn’t remember anything.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about a man who faked his accident.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/fake-accident-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think Darwin faked his own death? Why or why not?
  2. In your opinion, does his wife know anything about the accident? Explain.
  3. What are the usual reasons people have financial problems?
  4. What can a person do if he/she is having problems with money?
  5. Darwin said that it is better for the family when he is dead. Do you agree with him? Why or why not?
  6. Do you know a person who did the same thing as Darwin? Talk about him/her.

Managing Conflict in the Workplace

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Conflict can happen anywhere. Even more so in a competitive environment such as the workplace. It could stem from different employee backgrounds and personalities. When left unresolved, it could lead to more serious problems at work.

Let’s listen to the podcast about managing conflict in the workplace.

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/business-english/podcasts-for-professionals/managing-conflict

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are common causes of workplace conflict?
  2. Have you ever experienced or witnessed workplace conflict? How was it resolved?
  3. How can workplace conflict be avoided?
  4. In your company, what are the conflict management strategies being implemented when workplace tension arises?
  5. How is good, constructive working atmosphere achieved/maintained in your workplace?

Toddlers Running Errands

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It’s understandable that some parents view young children doing errands as risky. The world is so complex, unpredictable, and full of risks. Our children may be exposed to when they are outside for extended periods of time without parental supervision.

A show that has been on Japanese television for more than three decades is fresh to an American audience. Children ages 2 to 4 are tasked with performing chores for their parents on the show.

Watch this video about the Japanese reality show that makes toddlers/very small children run errands by themselves.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of letting small kids run errands alone?
  2. In your culture, do parents let their very young kids do things on their own?
  3. How do you think would introducing this in your country be received?
  4. What were some of the errands you used to run as a kid? At what age did you start doing them?
  5. What do you think is the proper age to let a small kid be on their own out on the streets?

Why Some People Are Always Late

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Punctuality matters. It benefits us in all aspects of life. When we are punctual, we show others that we are dependable and that we respect their time. But today, we fail to recognize its value. We have so many excuses for being late. The lack of punctuality has become the blatant hallmark of our culture.

Let’s watch the video to find out why some people struggle so much with their punctuality.

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0br5sll/why-some-people-are-always-late

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you consider yourself a “timekeeper” or a “timebender”? Why is this?
  2. What might be a few reasons some people are always tardy?
  3. Is it considered rude in your country to be late? Explain your answer.
  4. Have you ever been late late for an important event? What happened?
  5. How do you feel when you are late for a class/appointment/date?
  6. To what events/situations is it important to arrive on time?

Ethical Fading

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We have all have different ways to rationalize our behaviour. We tend to believe that the ethically-questionable decisions we make are fair and justified, which in fact is quite the opposite. Ethical fading is when we engage in unethical behaviour without perceiving it as such.

Watch the video to learn more about ethical fading and be able to answer the questions that follow.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What’s your take on ethical fading and moral disengagement?
  2. Cite some examples in which these situations happen.
  3. Why do some people engage in ethical fading?
  4. What are some ways to prevent it?