Category: Homework

Smart Gym

B1 – Intermediate

More and more people wants to stay healthy. Exercising is one sure way of achieving this goal. So more people have been going to the gym now, more than ever. 

However, because of the Coronavirus pandemic, people had to stay in their homes. This is when smart gyms became popular. And it might be here to stay.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript about smart gyms.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/smart-gym-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of smart gyms? 
  2. Would you like to use one? Why or why not? If you are already using one, share your experience.
  3. What are the good and bad things about smart gym?
  4. What are the gyms like in your city/country?
  5. Which do you think will be more popular in the future, physical or smart gyms? Explain your choice.

A Lake Is Full of Fish Again

B1 – Intermediate

Lakes have many uses for humans. However, what happens when a lake dries up?

This is what happened to Lake Dojran, a lake that is located in North Macedonia and Greece. It is one of the largest lakes in Macedonia.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript about Lake Dojran and the efforts in reviving it.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/a-lake-is-full-of-fish-again-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this news?
  2. Do you think we are taking care of nature enough? 
  3. How can we take care of our lakes, rivers, seas, etc.?
  4. Share a similar problem you have in your country. What was done to solve that problem?

False Consensus Effect Drives Environmental Damage

B2 – Upper Intermediate

“I bet everyone else does it too!” Have you experienced justifying a wrongful action by arguing that it is socially acceptable to do so? If your answer is yes, you may have fallen trap to the false consensus effect.

The false consensus effect is a psychological concept which states that people overestimate how acceptable and prevalent their own behavior is. According to research, this psychological thinking has contributed to environmental damage.

Click the link and find out more about the false consensus effect.

https://theconversation.com/everyone-else-does-it-so-i-can-too-how-the-false-consensus-effect-drives-environmental-damage-153305

Discussion Questions:

  1. Can you cite some situations when the false consensus effect can be observed?
  2. How can the false consensus effect contribute to environmental damage?
  3. Have you fallen victim to false consensus effect?
  4. What can we do to prevent ourselves from falling into this kind of psychological thinking?
  5. Based on the article, how can the same psychological concept be used to address the problem of environmental damage?

European Space Agency to Recruit Females and Disabled Astronauts

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A lot of little boys dream of becoming astronauts. It is quite rare to hear little girls express interest in goign into space. But perhaps it’s time to change this. Let the dream of becoming an astronaut more accessible to everyone. 

To date, NASA’s European counterpart The European Space Agency has only commissioned two women to go into space. This year, they want to fix the imbalance and achieve diversity.

Read the article and watch the video about ESA’s plans to recruit more women and disabled people.

https://www.euronews.com/2021/02/16/european-space-agency-in-bid-to-recruit-more-female-and-disabled-astronauts

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are thoughts on/reaction to this: “Only 65 of the more than 560 people who have ever gone into space have been women.”?
  2. What do you think about ESA’s goal to recruit more women astronauts?
  3. Is there diversity in your workplace? Elaborate.
  4. How is diversity achieved in your workplace?

Hitting a Pandemic Wall

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It’s been almost a year after the pandemic hit the world and everyone’s been fighting their own demons since. Safe to say, it’s really been tough on everybody. After nearly a year into this whole ordeal, many people have been suffering from the so-called ‘pandemic fatigue’. 

Read the article below to find out more about how to cope when you hit the pandemic wall.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/coronavirus-pandemic-wall-mental-health_l_601b3c9dc5b6c0af54d09ccb

Discussion Questions:

  1. Discuss your thoughts on the following statements:

a. The pandemic has over-activated my stress system.

         b. Uncertainty also plays a huge role in hitting this wall.

        c. Hitting the pandemic wall is a completely valid response to totally irregular circumstances.

2. Do you think you experience or have experienced the dreaded pandemic fatigue? How is/was this moment for you?

3. What were your ways of coping with stress pre-pandemic and what are new ways that you have learned to cope with everyday stress during the pandemic?

4. What are the good things that came out from your experience of a pandemic?

5. What lessons can you take away from this whole experience?

Coca-Cola Trials Paper Bottle

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Until the last couple of years, the concept of a paper bottle would seem at best an oxymoron, but innovations continue to break barriers in the pursuit of packaging that offers sustainability benefits, ideally aligned with recycling.

Soft drink manufacturers are facing pressure on two fronts: the amount of sugar in their drinks and the amount of plastic waste their products produce. Coca-Cola is attempting to solve that second problem with the development and testing of a paper bottle.

Read the article below to learn more about Coca-Cola’s project on eliminating plastic from its packaging entirely.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-56023723

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are plastic bottles a problem in your country?
  2. Why are paper bottles better?
  3. What might be the technical challenges to the paper bottle?
  4. We rarely bought bottled water 50 years ago. Why do we buy so much today? Is it clever marketing by water companies?
  5. Would your life change much if all bottled water was banned?
  6. What do you do with the plastic bottles at your home?

The Money Talk for Couples

B2 – Upper Intermediate

If you want to strengthen your relationship, you have to talk about everything and that of course, includes your finances. Financial disagreements could sometimes unfortunately lead to break-up so understanding how your partner handles their money is a great way to prevent it from happening.

Watch this video to know the importance of managing your finances well as a couple.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How can couples achieve good financial management?
  2. How can disagreements with your significant other because of money matters be prevented?
  3. Agree or disagree: Not taking on money management roles in a relationship is like forgetting a foreign language. You’ll end up losing some of your ability.
  4. How do you measure financial success?
  5. What’s the one thing you wish your parents would have done differently financially?

Paperless Office

B2 – Upper Intermediate

New technological advances have given us the tools to transition a paperless office. Going paperless has a positive impact on your budget, business efficiency, and brand positioning.

Let’s read some steps on how to go paperless in your small business.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kateharrison/2013/04/19/5-steps-to-a-nearly-paperless-office/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the pros and cons of a paperless office?
  2. Has your company/office transitioned to a fully paperless already? Talk about the transition.
  3. Do you think companies should go totally paperless now? Why or why not?
  4. Do you agree that paper-based document management and business dealings are expensive and inefficient? Why?
  5. How can we manage and organize digital files in our office?

Right Time for Elderly To Hand Over Their Keys

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Driving helps people in their senior years stay mobile and independent. However, the risk of being injured or killed in a motor vehicle crash increases as people age.

An article in the New England Journal of Medicine argues that “retirement from driving threatens one’s health and wellness.”

Watch the video to know more about it and be able to answer the questions that follow.

Discussion Questions:

  1. In your own personal view, are the elderly drivers still capable of driving? Should they be allowed to drive despite their age? Why or why not?
  2. As age affects driving ability, what should be done to maintain the safety driving on the road especially for the elderly?
  3. Do you agree that retirement from driving threatens one’s health and well-being? Explain your answer.

Lost Cause

B1 – Intermediate

People always say to never surrender but sometimes there is no reason to try anymore. There are certain things that we need to give up and move on from.

Let us hear more about it in the video.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/english-in-a-minute-lost-cause/6007555.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does the idiom “lost cause” mean?
  2. Have you ever given up on something or someone?
  3. What are the signs that says you need to move on?
  4. How do you move forward after a lost cause?
  5. What are the things that you never back down from?