Category: Homework

The Inevitability of the Office Romance

C1 – Advanced

Fraternization in the workplace involves relationships that go beyond the normal scope of employee interactions. Some companies may allow dating among their employees, but others strictly do not.

Read more about employee fraternization and how an organization can establish a healthy employee dating policy within it.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220228-the-inevitability-of-the-office-romance

Discussion Questions:

1. What are some benefits and harms of allowing a romantic relationship in a workplace?

2. Tell me about employee fraternization in your workplace. Why or why is it not allowed?

3. In what industries do you think employee fraternization can and can stringently not be allowed?

4. If employee fraternization were not allowed in your company, what would you do if you fell in love with a colleague?

A Conversation about Life

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As one saying goes, “Being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable”… Or, is it?

Watch the video below of a very young boy and an old man, who are 57 years apart as they talk about life and their experiences.

Discussion Questions:

1. What’s the worst thing about being young? What do you fear about being old?

2. Do you wish you were young/er, or old/er? Why?

3. How do you view falling in love at your age now?

4. What advice would you give your younger self? What would you ask your older self?

5. What is the most important thing in your life now?

Stress Relief

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Everyone experiences stress at times. Stress can be helpful because people can develop the skills they need to deal with possible threatening situations throughout life. Stress is a disadvantage when it prevents a person from taking care of themselves or their family.

More and more people try to find healthy ways to cope with it.

Click the link and find out some simple tips to help reduce stressful feelings and symptoms:

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/gretchen-rubin/stress-relief-10-extremel_b_617967.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are you stressed out? What usually makes you stressed?
  2. Do you think the tips mentioned in the article are helpful to relieve stress?
  3. How do you cope up with stress?
  4. Do you have any more tips to add in order to reduce stress?

 

What Causes Insomnia?

Do you struggle to go to sleep even though you are tired? Or do you wake up in the middle of the night and lie awake for hours, tossing and turning, anxiously checking the clock?

Insomnia is a very common problem and most of us experience this some time in our lives.

So what is insomnia? Is there any way to break the cycle?

Watch the video as Dan Kwartler details the science of insomnia.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What keeps you up at night?
  2. Do you have difficulty falling asleep?
  3. What are some ways to help you fall asleep easily?
  4. How do you feel when you suffer from Insomnia? How do you cope with it?

What Everyone Should Know About Teamwork

C1 – Advanced

We are living in a modern world where people rely much on technology and machines. This only means that competition is also rapidly tougher than before. As competition rises, individualism occurs along with it. Therefore, if we talk about teamwork nowadays, it is almost as impossible as climbing the Himalayas Mountain.

Everyone knows that teamwork is the key to any organization’s success and challenges are dealt with more easily when two or more heads are taking part, but teamwork is a challenge in itself. It requires effective communication and humility towards a common goal.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/luisromero/2016/01/20/what-everyone-should-know-about-teamwork/#55eecea73631

Discussion Questions:

1. How would you describe your ability to work as a team member?
2. Do you prefer working in a team or independently?
3. Have you ever had difficulty working with a team?
4. Talk about your own experiences that demonstrate teamwork.
5. What strategies would you utilize to cultivate teamwork within your team/department?

Relationship-building

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Employees spend a good deal of time in the office. You interact with different people with different personalities all the time.

It is vital that you establish a good relationship with the people you work with everyday.

Listen to the audio and learn some practical ways to develop relationship-building competency.

 

Discussion Questions:
1. Differentiate team building and relationship-building.
2. What are ways to develop relationship-building competency?
3. Why is this competency important in the workplace?

The Green Card Lottery

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The government’s protection on one’s pursuit of happiness is the main concept of the American dream. People from different parts of the world would like to have a piece of this dream. In order to do so, the first step would be to secure a green card.

There are millions of immigrants who are applying for this to gain residency in America. Every year, a lottery is held by the US government to give out green cards.

Read on to find out more details about the American Green Card Lottery.

https://www.english-online.at/government/green-card-lottery/green-card-immigration-to-the-us.htm

Discussion Questions:

1. What is a green card?

2. What are the benefits of having a green card in the United States?

3. Why do people from many countries wish to live in the USA?

4. Would you ever want to live in the United States of America? Why or why not?

Summertime: Food Poisoning Alert

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Food poisoning is more common than we think. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), there are over 40 million cases of food poisoning every year. The effects of this condition can be simple and not too worrisome, like a case of mild diarrhea or a slight fever. But in extreme cases, it can cause severe dehydration and an inability to pass urine, among others.

Food poisoning can occur all-year round, but it is most common in the summertime.

Check out the article to find out why and how to prevent it.

http://www.thetimesinplainenglish.com/summer-time-food-poisoning-alert/

Discussion Questions:

1. Why is food poisoning more common in the summertime?

2. How can food poisoning be prevented? Please explain.

3. Have you ever experienced this condition before?

America’s Position on Breastfeeding

B2 – Upper Intermediate

For decades, doctors and health experts have praised the wonders and benefits of breastfeeding. Breast milk contains antibodies that help strengthen a baby’s immune system. It also lowers the risk of asthma and allergies. In general, breastfed babies have a healthier outlook compared to those who have never been breastfed.

Shockingly, however, at a recent World Health Organization (WHO) meeting, America changed its stance on breastfeeding.

Read the article below to find out more about this stunning news.

http://www.thetimesinplainenglish.com/americas-position-do-not-encourage-breast-feeding/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What were America’s reasons for changing their position about breastfeeding?
  2. What is your opinion about the article?
  3. Should this practice be encouraged or discouraged? Kindly explain.
  4. How is breastfeeding in public viewed in your country?

Miss Universe’s First Transgender Contestant

B2 – Upper Intermediate

On June 29, Angela Ponce of Seville made history as she was crowned Miss Universe-Spain. She is the first ever transgender candidate in the prestigious pageant’s 60-year history. Although this is seen as a groundbreaking achievement for the LBGTQ community, many people on social media are divided in their opinions about allowing a former male to take part in an event associated with natural-born women.

Take a look at the article and find out more.

https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/beauty/face-body/meet-miss-universes-first-transgender-contestant/news-story/308156f8ac3e2c5e492abfe53cbb08e5

Discussion Questions:

  1. Should a transgender woman be allowed to compete in Miss Universe? What is your opinion?
  2. Why is this a controversial subject? How can this affect society in general?
  3. Are beauty contests popular in your country? What can you say about beauty pageants?