Category: Homework

Photos Ended Child Labor in the US

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The Industrial Revolution had led to a need for workers and in the pursuit of cheap labor, many companies hired children. This, in turn, had put them in dangerous conditions for long hours and low pay. As the outcry against this practice grew, the National Child Labor Committee hired Lewis Wickes Hine to travel the country and photograph and interview child laborers. His images are powerful, and his careful documentary work gave them more context and helped spur the passage of legislation.

Check out the video below on his outstanding work and be able to answer the questions that follow:

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do feel about what’s discussed in the video?
  2. What are your thoughts on how Hine carefully shot his photos to shine a light on the problem in child labor?
  3. What do you think of Child Labor? Do you think it still exists today?
  4. Do you like taking pictures? What is your purpose in taking them?
  5. What do you think is the importance of photography in our life? How powerful is it?

The Decluttering Trend

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Do you have a lot of things that you no longer need or use? Perhaps now’s the time to start decluttering.

Click the link below and find out all about this current trend of decluttering.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-190411

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you need to declutter? Why or why not?
  2. What are the ways to get rid of clutters?
  3. Why do you think people keep on buying things they don’t need?
  4. What do you do with or what do you think happens to things that you no longer need?
  5. What do you think led to the rise of decluttering’s popularity?

Why’s It Called ‘Mother Tongue’?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Mother tongue is a language a person learns from birth and it plays a significant role in one’s life. It is also called home language, native tongue and a first language.

Let’s listen to the podcast and learn more about the term ‘mother tongue’ and the relationship between language and gender.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-191031

Discussion Questions:

  1. What’s the subconscious difference in attitude towards words that are gendered?
  2. How many languages can you speak, read, and write?
  3. Why is your first language termed ‘mother tongue’?
  4. Do you think that the mother tongue should only be used as a medium in higher education?

The Rise of Virtual Restaurants

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Much commerce is being done through the Web these days. This is particularly evident in the food industry. The Internet is offering exciting new possibilities for sellers and foodies alike.

The following audio and text will deepen our understanding of this matter.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/online-food-ordering-gives-rise-to-virtual-restaurants/5137728.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Nowadays, people either order in or eat out. What makes either option appealing?
  2. Which apps have you already used to have food delivered? Was it a convenient or cumbersome means of ordering food?
  3. Why have some restaurateurs decided to take the “virtual” route in doing business? What keeps some of them from fully embracing the idea?

Europe’s Most-Wanted Criminals

B1 – Intermediate

A website of Europe’s most wanted shows that women can commit serious crimes too. In fact, 21 of Europe’s most-wanted fugitives are members of the fair sex.

Read more on this through this article and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1910/191022-most-wanted-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What was your reaction to this news?
  2. What is your comment on the statement, “Crime has no gender”?
  3. Are women equally as capable of committing serious crimes as men?

What Really Happens to the Plastic You Throw Away

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The plastic bottle. By the time you read this, you would have probably gone through hundreds of these ubiquitous yet nondescript items. Where did they come from? Where are they headed?

Watch this informative video and find out the fate of three such bottles.

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the narrator, how is plastic made?
  2. Explain what happens to each of the three plastic bottles in the story. Which scenario does the video state is the best outcome?
  3. In your city, what usually happens to discarded plastic bottles? How do you feel about this after watching the video?
  4. Enumerate all the plastic items you can see from where you’re sitting or standing at the moment. How many are there in total? What is your reaction to this tally?
  5. What concrete steps can we take to ensure less plastic harms the global ecosystem?

Why McDonald’s Failed In Iceland?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

McDonald’s famous golden arches seem ubiquitous the world over, but in one European country, it eventually closed shop. What led to the fast-food giant’s downfall in this part of the world? Will it make a comeback?

The video that follows provides, pardon the pun, food for thought.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you like fast food fare? Why or why not?
  2. Which fast-food restaurants thrive in your country? What do you think contributed to their success?
  3. What restaurant franchises failed to gain a foothold where you live? Why do you think this happened?

Internship – Exploitation or Experience?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

College students need to find the balance between work, friends, family, and academic deadlines. With all these overwhelming tasks and pressure, the significance of having a substantial internship experience can be overlooked.

Let’s listen to the podcast and find out more about internship, its significance, and the issues surrounding it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-191017

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is an internship? Did you have an internship as a college student?
  2. How important is an internship?
  3. What is your opinion on the unpaid nature of internship programs? Do you think it is fair to work for free?

Living By the Sea Makes Us Happier

B1 – Intermediate

They say, ‘home is where the heart is‘. Who lives happier lives – is it the people who live by the beach or the ones who reside in the inland?

Read the article and find out how living near the coast helps with mental health.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1910/191004-living-by-the-sea-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree with the result of the study?
  2. In which place do you want to live that could make you happier?
  3. What might be reasons living near the beach helps improve our mental health?

Food and Drinks on Public Transport

B1 – Intermediate

Public transport is used for going from one point to another. Some people use them for other things. They do other things while on the bus or train.

Read the article and find out what the UK government is planning to ban on public transport.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1910/191012-public-transport-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the UK government thinking about doing?
  2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this ban?
  3. Do you agree or disagree with this ban? Explain your position.
  4. What is your opinion on prohibiting fast food at football games?
  5. Do you ever eat or drink while on public transport? Why or why not?
  6. What other things do you do or see other people do while on public transport?