Category: Homework

Professor Lectures for Two Hours Online On Mute

B1 – Intermediate

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected various aspects of normal life including going to school and the office. As a result, schools were forced to conduct classes online.

A University professor gave a 2-hour lecture online but did not notice that he was on mute the whole time.

Let’s read the article below to know more about it.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2102/210213-online-lecture-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is better face-to-face classes or online classes? Why?
  2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of online classes?
  3. If you were the professor, how would you feel if this happened to you? Explain.
  4. If you were one of the students, how would you feel or what would you have done?
  5. Talk about anything funny or embarrassing that happened to you while doing a presentation at work.

Fascism

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Fascism is generally related to German Nazi and Italian regimes that took control in the aftermath of World War I. This political system centers on national strength and national interest over all other societal needs.

Read the lesson on fascism and living through a fascist regime below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.english-online.at/history/fascism/life-in-a-fascist-regime.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is fascism? Can you name countries with a fascist state?
  2. What factors led to the rise of fascism in Europe?
  3. What are some good and bad things about fascism? 
  4. Have you had a fascist state in the past? How was the situation for ordinary citizens?
  5. What do you think is the most ideal political system?

Aboriginal Children – Australia’s Stolen Generation

B2 – Upper Intermediate

For more than six decades since 1910, many children of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were forcibly taken away from their families as part of the Australian government’s policy of Assimilation. This is a policy based on the misguided belief that these First Nations children would be better raised by a white family.

Read the lesson on Australia’s Stolen Generation below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.english-online.at/history/aborigines/australias-stolen-generation.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the Stolen Generation?
  2. Why were Aboriginal children stolen?
  3. Do you think this government policy is justified and humane? Elaborate.
  4. Do you agree that the Australian government should compensate all families affected by this policy? Elaborate.
  5. Do you think that the government should publicly acknowledge and apologize for this act? Elaborate.

Travel in 2021: What To Know About Flying

C1 – Advanced

Vaccination against the coronavirus is ramping up as year 2020 ends. As a result, many people in the U.S. feel optimistic about traveling again in the year 2021.

Watch the video to know how might the vaccines impact traveling and what people need to know to prepare for following our wanderlust again. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you feel about the video? Do you think it’s safe to travel this 2021? Why or why not? Would you consider traveling this year after having the vaccine? Why or why not?
  2. How often did you use to go on a trip before the pandemic? How important is traveling to you?
  3. What are your thoughts on this statement: “After nearly a year of lost travels, some say, it’s just the thought of a future escape that counts.”?
  4. “Plan a trip. Even if you don’t end up taking it, it’s good for your mental health to have something to look forward to.” Do you agree or disagree with this? What are you most looking forward to do soon?
  5. “Experts say that the return to travel would start with leisure travels. Unlikely that the business travel would pick up right away because people are finding that you can do business fine over Zoom.” Share your thoughts on this. Would you like to be sent on a business trip around and out of your country again as soon as possible? Why or why not?

Share Buying Mistakes

B2 – Upper Intermediate

According to stock market experts, more and more traders commit mistakes in buying shares in the wrong company. This could be a result of the recent trading controversy involving GameStop. This frenzy highlighted the mix-up traders can commit when buying shares.

Read this article on the growing incidence of share buying mistakes.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-56020950

Discussion Questions:

  1. Explain “ticker tape confusion”.
  2. What mistakes have traders been making in buying shares?
  3. What are the reasons for such trading mistakes? How can said share buying mistakes be prevented?
  4. What are your thoughts on the fact that mistakes are not only committed by novice and private investors but even by retail and institutional ones?
  5. Have you ever invested? Talk about what you know about investing.

Emotional Spending

B2 – Upper Intermediate

With the crazy times we’re living, each and everyone of us tries to find our own source of happiness. Some have found it in online shopping or online spending. 

Since the pandemic started, many have been struggling with the dilemma: “Should I give in to such frivolous purchases or not?” “Would this bring joy to my life?”

Read this article on to how to recognize the problem of emotional spending and how to take control of your finances again.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/feb/09/i-thought-buying-things-would-make-me-feel-better-it-didnt-the-rise-of-emotional-spending

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are reasons that led people to an online spending frenzy?
  2. What is an investigative shopper? Are you one?
  3. Have you ever been guilty of emotional spending? How has it been beneficial for you and how has it been disadvantageous?
  4. How has your online spending habits changed during the pandemic?
  5. What can one do to avoid emotional spending?

Why CEOs Make So Much Money

B2 – Upper Intermediate

An Economic Policy Institute analysis showed that on average, high-ranking executives of some of the largest US companies earned around $21 m a year. 

Despite a looming global economic recession, it appears that the salaries of CEOs continue to get bigger and bigger. This will most likely intensify the scrutiny of pay inequality.

Read this article to find out why CEOs make so much and if it has always been the case.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210125-why-ceos-make-so-much-money

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the responsibilities of a CEO?
  2. Why should they be paid a lot? Is this fair?
  3. Would you like to become the CEO of a company one day? If so, what kind of top boss would you be like?  If not, for what reasons?
  4. Do you agree or disagree that CEOs are the most important factor of success of a company hence, they should be paid the highest?
  5. What do you know about the CEO of your company?

People’s Relationships with Pets During Pandemic

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There’s no question that having a pet in your home during the best of times can bring joy. In more trying times, as we’re experiencing now during the COVID-19 pandemic, pets can offer more than just a slobbery greeting or good-natured nuzzle.

Let’s find out how people’s relationships with pets have
changed during the pandemic.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/people-s-relationships-with-pets-have-changed-during-pandemic/5742399.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you have, or have you ever had any pets?
  2. Why do you think people keep pets?
  3. Sometimes people claim that pets give people psychological or physical help. What is your opinion?
  4. What are the positive and negative aspects of owning pets?
  5. There are occasional news reports about dangerous dogs attacking people. What could be done to prevent this?

Refurbished Smartphones

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Phones are much more expensive than before. The prices of flagship phones from big brands have jumped more than a hundred percent in just a few years. Some people are unwilling to spend thousands of dollars on a device that turns obsolete in just a few years.

These days, there is an increasing demand for refurbished phones. A refurbished phone is one that has been previously owned which has been sold or traded-in to a company that then resells it after bringing it up to its best possible condition.

Read the article below to learn more about refurbished phones and decide whether they are worth buying or not.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2021/feb/09/refurbished-smartphones-are-widely-available-so-should-you-buy-one

Discussion Questions:

  1. How many phones have you had? On average, how long do you hold on to your phones?
  2. Do you think the prices of smartphones these days are reasonable? Why or why not?
  3. Have you owned a refurbished phone? Do you think it is worth buying?
  4. What are the environmental impacts of e-waste? What can we do to lessen them?
  5. Share any experience with a faulty mobile phone or gadget.

The Egg – A Short Story On Reincarnation

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever heard or seen someone saying that they are someone in their past life and puzzled you at some point as to what they are really trying to say? It is believed that this kind of phenomenon is called reincarnation when someone is reborn and have already experienced or had vision of their past life. The idea or possibility conveys both mystic and exotic sense.

Watch the video and learn more about reincarnation.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you heard of reincarnation? How does reincarnation occur?
  2. How is reincarnation viewed in your culture?
  3. Do you believe it could be true or not? Would you like to experience this phenomenon?
  4. If you were to be reincarnated, how would you like your new life to be?
  5. Can someone who experienced it be credible in claiming it to have happened? How could someone justify such mystic occurrence?