Category: Homework

Boarding School at An Early Age is Child Abuse

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A boarding school provides education for pupils who live on the premises. Traditionally, pupils stayed at the school for the length of the term; some schools facilitate returning home every weekend and some welcome day pupils.  The United Kingdom has  a rich history of such schools.

Increasing numbers of children are being educated at boarding schools in the UK.  According to George Monbiot, who still struggles with the emotional impact of being sent away at the age of eight, we must protect children from the damage they can cause. He says if working-class parents did this, there would be an outcry. So why are upper-class parents getting away with what has become a form of acceptable cruelty?

Watch the video and be able to express your position on this topic.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you feel about the video? Do you agree with George Monbiot’s argument?
  2. What do you think about boarding schools? Do you know anyone who was boarded or boarding schooled?
  3. Cite some of the pros and cons of sending a very young child to boarding schools.

Flying Taxi

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The idea of a flying taxi that will keep us from getting late is definitely a dream come true especially for commuters who always get stuck in really bad traffic congestion on a daily basis.

Here’s a video about a self-piloting flying taxi in New Zealand.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think flying taxi is the solution to the traffic problem? Explain.
  2. What are the pros and cons of using flying taxis?
  3. Talk about some traffic problems and the traffic system in your city/country.

The Imposter Syndrome

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever landed a job that you felt you didn’t deserve? How about a score on a term paper that you think you got out of luck despite all the hard work you put in?

Watch the video and find out why we sometimes doubt what we accomplished.

 

 

Discussion Questions:

1. What is the imposter syndrome?

2. How does it hinder one from reaching his full potential?

3. How can one overcome these feelings of inadequacy?

4. Have you ever doubted your capabilities?

 

Personality Types

B2 – Upper intermediate

In the world of business and even in our day to day interactions, we will meet with and talk to people with different personalities. Understanding other people’s personality traits can completely transform your communication skills with others in any setting.

Learn about the four personality traits in the video below.

Discussion Questions:

1. Explain the four personality types and how to deal with them in a business transaction.

2. What personality do you think you have?

3. What personality type/s do most of your clients have?

4. How can we de-escalate or resolve personality clashes with a friend, family, and co-worker?

Living on the Most Crowded Island on Earth

B2 – Upper intermediate

Santa Cruz del Islote is a tiny island off the coast of Colombia. It is home to 1,200 people and is considered the most densely populated island on the planet.

Check out the video to learn more about this unusual place.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Would you like to live on an island like this? Why or why not?
  2. What are the pros and cons of living in a densely populated and isolated area?
  3. Have you ever thought of island living? Is it something that you would like to do?

Here’s Who You Call When an Earthquake Strikes

B2 – Upper intermediate

Disasters can strike without warning. And loss of life and property can be devastating. In Mexico, a group of brave volunteers formed a rescue team in order to save lives trapped beneath collapsed structures.

Meet the “Topos” or “Moles”. Learn about them in this short but inspiring video.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Who are the moles? Why were they formed? What do they do?
  2. Talk about disaster rescue teams in your area/country.
  3. Have you ever been in a disaster? Talk about your experience.

Nature Makes You Happy

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A new study from BBC Earth and the University of California has revealed that watching nature documentaries can make you happier. In today’s age of digital and high technology, using it could bring back our connections with nature. New research suggests that it could improve our health, happiness, and well-being.

Watch the video and find out how our relationship with nature may be deeply linked to our happiness.

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the video, how does nature affect people? How does it affect you?
  2. How often to do you watch nature documentaries and why?
  3. How does watching nature footage affect viewers?
  4. What do you think is the importance of connecting with nature?

Is the Death Penalty Ever Moral?

C1 – Advanced

Capital punishment or death penalty is a practice whereby a person is killed by the state as a punishment for a crime.

Supporters of the death penalty say it is an important tool for sustaining law and order, inhibits crime, and costs less than life imprisonment.

Detractors of capital punishment say it is not a disincentive to committing crime. They say life sentence is a more severe and less expensive punishment than death.

Are there circumstances under which a murderer deserves the death penalty? In other words, should capital punishment be abolished or not?

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree with capital punishment?
  2. Which is worse, life imprisonment or the death penalty?
  3. Do you think the victim’s family should be able to choose the method of execution?
  4. Is the death penalty a deterrent to violent crime?

Binge Drinking

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Binge drinking refers to the excessive consumption of alcohol in a single setting. It is very common among people in several countries worldwide, and is somehow similar with social drinking since it is often done in groups.

Binge drinking is considered a serious public health problem, but can be prevented.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How often do you drink?
  2. Do you ever drink to excess?
  3. What is most likely the reason for you to binge drink?
  4. What kinds of social problems does alcohol cause in your country?
  5. Talk about the drinking culture in your country.

Prepare Kids for the Future in the Workplace

B2- Upper Intermediate

Having successful children is what most parents aspire for. As much as we should let kids be kids, we should also think about how to raise them in order for them to be workplace-ready.

How do we prepare our children to excel in the workplace in the future?

https://www.inc.com/video/jt-odonnell/how-to-raise-kids-who-will-succeed-in-the-workplace.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What advice did the speaker share? Do you agree or disagree?

2. What are ways to raise successful children?

3. Should children be raised always thinking they should constantly strive for success?

4. How did you prepare for joining the workforce?

5. Talk about a challenge you had at work and how you overcame it.