Category: Homework

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you had that feeling that you thought you did not deserve the success that you achieved, that you believed you were not intelligent, or that you were over-evaluated by others? Probably, you are one of those who have experienced the Imposter syndrome. Find out how some successful people braved it and what we can do to overcome it.

The Imposter Syndrome and How to Overcome It

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your experience of Imposter syndrome and how you overcame it.
  2. What are your strengths and how do you put them to use?
  3. What are/were your ‘shoulds’ and how do/did you unwrap them?
  4. Where do you apply the “fake it ’till you make it” advice in your life?
  5. What can you tell a person suffering from Imposter syndrome?

Rejuvenate Yourself

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Do you find it hard to break a routine and find some time to take a load off? No matter how much we have on our plate, we should always remember to give ourselves a well deserved time off.

Below are some downright advice about how to feel revitalized despite a hectic or too ordinary schedule.

Are you one of the almost half of Americans who did not take a summer vacation? Do you often find yourself rushing from A to B with no time to breathe, working seven days a week and not taking time for lunch? If so, it’s time to take a break. When you are building a business or climbing the corporate ladder or assuming others’ responsibilities, it’s easy to become caught up in work and routines and easy to forget that we are not machines. Taking a break is not only necessary for the well-being of our minds and bodies, but a real need. Ironic, isn’t it, that if one waits for the perfect time to take a break, it never seems to come, because there is always something to do and take care of, instead of taking care of ourselves and accepting that well-deserved break.

Taking a Break Doesn’t Have to Take You Away

Summer just came and went. It promised adventure, romance, fun, and leisure; but did your dreams become reality this year? Or did you continue to dream of white sandy beaches, quiet cool mountain views, the solitude of the desert, the excitement of an action-filled adventure vacation, or even of distant lands? The only thing stopping us from fulfilling our dreams is ourselves. There is always a way if we prioritize. Taking a break doesn’t have to be about going away. More and more people have realized that taking a break can be as simple as not answering the phone or e-mail for a week, hanging out in pajamas all day, spending time alone or with friends, and perhaps best of all not having a single plan of what to do, doing absolutely nothing. How about a retreat with no traveling and no financial outlay? You could simply investigate and experience the sound of silence for a few days. Don’t use your voice, communicate when you must with pen and paper. Those who have experienced the bliss of silence are full of praise for the many benefits derived from this simple, yet different approach to taking a break.

Take a Solitary Break

When was the last time you took a break from those that you love? A friend recently found herself taking a real break alone for two weeks. Her husband and children took a trip abroad and she chose to stay at home. It was her first break on her own for over 25 years. She looked forward to it with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. By the end of the two weeks, she reported that she had thoroughly enjoyed her own company and that the single life was a lot simpler and most enjoyable. Even in the most wonderful relationships we can find ourselves again and breathe a breath of fresh air by taking a break from our partners and being even for a short time separate units.

Ten Tips for Taking a Break from Life

If you feel like you can hardly remember the last time you took a break, check the following ten tips for taking a break from life, reality and yourself. You are guaranteed to start to feel rejuvenated, revitalized and ready to take a real break sometime soon.

  • Buy a New Outfit – Make a shopping trip especially for something new to wear which is bright, colorful and just perfect for breaks and vacations. Then leave right away and enjoy your purchase. Your wardrobe with thank you for giving it a new splash of color
  • Give Your Taste Buds a Treat – Take a break from skipping lunch at work and making do with eating fast food. Instead, eat something simple, colorful, fun, exotic or with wild flavors and textures. Enjoy!
  • Indulge in a Day of Silence – Take one day out of your life and vow not to say a single word. Relax, enjoy the peace and silence.
  • Change Your Routine – Drive to work a different way. Break your usual daily habits. Expect the very best all day and be ready for the unexpected.
  • Squirrel Away Some Mad Money –  Dream a dream of your perfect break or vacation. Promise to put a little money aside regularly to make it happen. You’ll be amazed at how easy and painless it is to do.
  • Be Still for Ten Minutes – Take a break from life as you know it by sitting down and being still for ten minutes. Close your eyes and relax. Let your thoughts come and go. Focus on your breathing. Allow your body to relax and your mind soar.
  • Take Down Your Guard, Be Yourself – Take a break from the image that you have of yourself and the image that you project. Just let yourself be whoever you feel like being in the moment. Give yourself permission to be you.
  • Check In – Make a regular practice of stopping whatever you are doing and checking in with yourself to feel how who and where you are at the moment. Keep a gratitude journal.
  • Allow Yourself to Feel Awed – Take a break from reality. Look at a simple object, a flower, a tree, or a building. Imagine you are looking at it as if for the very first time.
  • Step Out of Your Comfort Zone – Take a break from barriers and boundaries. Do something you did not know you could. Overcome your fear and amaze yourself.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How busy are you?
  2. Which among the tips do you do?
  3. What is your own way to change your routine?
  4. What do you do during your alone time?
  5. What are your plans for your upcoming vacation this year? If none, if given the chance, what would you do or where would you go?

Foreign Accent Syndrome

B2 – Upper intermediate

A person’s accent is the product of where they are from and may also be from their social and educational background. For example, someone from Australia will most probably speak with an Australian accent, but in Australia there are also different accents because of differences in social background and education. This is generally the case for everybody in any part of the world. Is having an accent a distinction or a disadvantage?

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1802/180215-british-accent.html

Let’s Talk:

How important is the accent to one’s culture?

Do you find it difficult to understand foreigners because of their accent?

If you were to have the FAS one day, what accent would you like to have?

 

Language to Persuade Someone to Change Their Mind

B1 – Intermediate

As defined by Britannica, persuasion is the process by which a person’s attitudes or behavior are, without duress, influenced by communications from other people.  It often involves manipulation. People get manipulated which can sometimes be offensive while some only try to persuade to stop others from making hasty decisions.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/english-at-work/63-language-to-persuade-someone-to-change-their-mind

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is it easy to persuade someone to change their mind? Why or why not?
  2. Talk about your experiences persuading someone to accept your point of view. How did you do it?
  3. Is agreeing on issues or topics the best way to solve a disagreement? Explain.

7 Myths About Owning A House

B2 – Upper intermediate

Buying a house can be complicated and scary at the same time. There’s also a lot of misunderstanding in some instances. We have a lot of misconceptions when it comes to buying and owning a house. Here are some of those.

7 Myths About Owning A House That Just Aren’t True

Questions for discussion:

  1. How easy/difficult is it to get your own home in your country?
  2. At what age do you think is the perfect time to get your own house?
  3. Do you think home security systems are only for the rich?
  4. Describe your dream house.

Green Economy

B2 – Upper intermediate

Different industries in coal and oil mining and alike have been the back bone of our economy but unfortunately they leave a lot of contamination and cause environmental pollution.  Asia is one of the biggest and fastest growing continent in the world. There are hundreds of factories that are located there. Will it be possible to change from industrialization to a green economy?

The video below suggests how  they can have a “green economy” which is both sustainable for their development and environment.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is a Green Economy?
  2.  How does Green Economy differ from previous efforts to promote sustainability  –  what’s new?
  3. What are some of the concerns and tensions with the concept of a Green Economy?
  4. What are the challenges to a transition to a Green Economy, and what will make it possible?

Eating Out, An Unhealthy Habit

B1 – Intermediate

Dining out was once reserved for the wealthy or a special occasion. Not anymore. Now more than a third of the food Americans eat is made up of so-called “away-from-home” foods, which include both restaurant food and prepackaged or prepared foods purchased at supermarkets. And about 40 percent of that comes from fast-food restaurants serving the likes of cheeseburgers and French fries.

It seems then that the more you “buy out”, the more likely it is that you will have a calorie and fat rich diet that is poor in nutrients.

Let’s read the article to learn some of the issues with eating “out of the home” and talk about the questions that follow:

http://www.amdietetics.com/articles/eating-out-an-unhealthy-habit

  1. What do you think about eating out? Do you consider it an unhealthy habit? Why or why not?
  2. What are some of the negative consequences of eating out on our health/body?
  3. Share your thoughts on this statement, “The more you “buy out”, the more likely it is that you will have a calorie and fat rich diet that is poor in nutrients.“.
  4. What are ways to prevent eating out so much?

To Tip or Not to Tip… or Should it be Banned?

B2 – Upper intermediate

How much should you give?  There’s a long tradition of tipping in the U.S. Non-tippers are considered cheap (the ultimate insult to an American) .  Most Americans are shocked by anyone who doesn’t tip or who tips too little, and some go to extremes and tip everybody in sight.

Could America’s generous tipping culture be coming to an end? Let’s read the article and talk about the questions that follow:

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-22846846

Discuss:

  1. Do you usually leave a tip?
  2. How much are you suppose to tip different people?
  3. Is tipping common in your country?
  4. Do you think it’s important to leave tips?
  5. Can you think of jobs where tipping is an important part of the salary?
  6. When are some times you shouldn’t leave a tip?
  7. When was the last time you left a tip for someone?
  8. How much do you usually leave for a tip?
  9. Would you leave a tip even if you thought the waiter or waitress didn’t seem to work for it?
  10. Can you think of some places where tipping is required?
  11. Can you think of some places where tipping is optional?
  12. Can you think of some places where tipping is not necessary?

Conversation with Colleagues

B1 – Intermediate

Business is all about good communication. While communicating with customers is important, internal communication must be given attention, too.

Communicating effectively with your colleagues minimizes misunderstandings and increases work efficiency. Active communication also produces healthy working relationships. This, in turn, creates a more pleasant and less stressful work environment.

Watch the video about a conversation with a colleague.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is it easy to communicate with your colleagues? Why or why not?
  2. What do you often talk about with your colleagues?
  3. What are ways to communicate effectively with colleagues?
  4. Talk about a situation when you had a miscommunication with your colleagues. How was the problem resolved?
  5. What can be done to avoid miscommunication at work?

Why Translation Technology Should Not Replace Learning Languages

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Trying to understand someone who does not speak your language could now be a thing of the past, thanks to some groundbreaking gadgets that claim to translate foreign languages in real-time. Imagine how easy it will be to communicate with people from any parts of the world without breaking a sweat. However, the rise of this technology should not replace learning languages and stop people from doing so.

Click the link below to know the most accurate reasons for that.

Translation Technology Should Not Replace Learning Languages

Discussion Questions:

1. According to the text, why should translation technology not replace learning languages?

2. What are your thoughts on translation technology?
How much do you rely on translation tools?

3. Besides English, what other languages are you learning or do you want to learn?

4. Give an example of a Spanish word, phrase, or idiom that is often mistranslated to other languages.

5. As you see it, should or should not translation technology replace learning languages?