Category: Homework

How Warren Buffett Made Billions

C1 – Advanced

Warren Buffett is arguably one of the richest men on earth. He is also one of the most successful investors in all of history. In addition, he has donated a sizable $30.80 billion to charity.

His life and success story is one that many people admire.

Watch the video below and discover how it all started for him and find out the steps he took to get all the way to being one of the wealthiest and most successful man.

Discussion Questions:

1. Tell Warren Buffett’s success story.
2. What are some business principles you learned from his story?
3. What businesses would you be interested to invest in?
4. If you would become a multi-billionnaire like Buffett, will you donate to charitable causes too? Which causes would you like to donate to?
5. Although Buffett’s one of the richest men, he remains frugal in his ways. What are your thoughts on this?

Simple English to Business English

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Business English is something you have to be familiar with. It will help you to communicate more effectively and fluently during day to day workplace scenarios such as presentations, negotiations, meetings, small talk, socialising, writing reports and C.V writing. Like any other vocabulary, business English vocabulary can be improved by reading a lot, learning a new word a day, and keeping a dictionary at hand. In short, you hold the key.

Watch the video to learn how to change basic English into business English.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Use all the words/phrases in a sentence.
  2. Give other examples of necessary business English words.
  3. How important is business English to you and your job?
  4. What different techniques do you have for learning new vocabulary?

Christmas Celebrations in Different Countries

B2 – Upper intermediate

Christmas is fast approaching. This occasion is widely celebrated almost in every country around the world. Do you wonder why and what is this season all about? For Christians, it’s about the birth of Jesus Christ the son of God and some say it’s for gift giving. Most of the time, it means Santa Claus is coming to town to deliver presents. A few would say they just go along with the global celebration.

Watch the video below and see how Christmas is celebrated across the globe.

 

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you celebrate Christmas in your country?
  2. How much do you like to celebrate Christmas?
  3. Are there unique Christmas traditions you can share?
  4. What is the meaning of this season to you?
  5. Talk about the best Christmas holiday you’ve ever had.

Songs for Learning English

B1 – Intermediate

Songs are ideal resources for learning English because even those who are not fluent in the language often know how to pronounce the words in a song merely just by listening to it. Also, they may help in teaching certain forms of grammar and vocabulary.

Accordingly, what songs might English learners play on their gizmos to improve their skills? Get on to the video to find out.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the songs mentioned in the video?
  2. Can you suggest other songs for learning English?
  3. What other ways can we improve our listening and comprehension skills?
  4. What can you say about songs nowadays?
  5. What is your favorite song, and how does listening to it make you feel?

Tattoo Artist Is the Last of Her Kind

B2 – Upper intermediate

A tattoo is a form of body modification where a pattern or design is made by inserting ink and dyes into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Though for many it is a painful process, it remains a very popular one that lots of people get done.

Meet Whang-Od, the last remaining Mambabatok, a tattoo artist who uses a thousand-year old method using traditional hand-tapping motions.

Discussion Questions:

1. Who is Whang-Od? What does she do?

2. What are your thoughts on tattoos?

3. Do you know of any ancient or traditional forms of art from your country?

The Philosophy of Stoicism

C1 – Advanced

Most of us just dream of being able to live the best life we could. Knowing how to confront adversity and thrive is something we all need to master.

Stoicism means that although sometimes we can’t control situations in our lives, we can manage the way we look at them.

Watch the video below for more on the philosophy of Stoicism.

Discussion Questions:

1. Describe the philosophy of stoicism. What are your thoughts on it?
2. What are the four cardinal virtues?
3. How do you fare in the face of adversity?
4. What is the most difficult situation you have ever been in and how did you overcome it?
5. What are your thoughts on what Epictetus’s idea that “we suffer not from events in our lives but from our judgement about them”?

Leave a Bad Taste in Your Mouth

From a first date gone horribly wrong to a rude manager you had to deal with – these are just some of the things that could leave a bad taste in your mouth.

Listen to the recording and find out what it means.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak/ep-181203

Discussion Questions:

1. What does “leaves a bad taste in your mouth” mean?

2. Has anyone or any experience left a bad taste in your mouth?

3. How do you deal with such an unpleasant situation?

 

Tariffs and Trade War

B1 – Intermediate

A tariff is a tax on imported goods and services from foreign countries. US plans to add tariffs on Chinese products. If this happens, China will answer by doing the same on US goods.

Read the article below and find out about trade wars.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1803/180325-trade-war-1.html

Discussion Questions:
1. What are the effects of US’s plans to put trade tariffs on Chinese goods?
2. How will this affect trade in the whole world?
3. Which countries does your country buy goods from and which countries buy goods from your country?

Working Many Hours

B1 – Intermediate

Tesla founder Elon Musk believes people should work more than the typical 35-40 hours a week in order to change the world. In fact, many CEOs of multi-billion-dollar companies work about 70 hours per week.

Read the article and be ready to talk about working very long hours.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1811/181129-working-week-1.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “workaholic” mean? “He is a workaholic but he loves working.” Use this word in your own sentence.
  2. What is a “founder“? “He is the founder, CEO, and lead designer of SpaceX.” Use this word in your own sentence.
  3. What is a “co-founder“? “He is the co-founder of PayPal.” Use this word in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on Mr. Musk’s idea?
  2. What might be the good and bad things about being a workaholic?
  3. Talk about your own experience working long hours.

Nike: A Billion-Dollar Brand

C1 – Advanced

Nike is the biggest sportswear brand in the world. As of 2017, the company is valued at 30 billion dollars and consistently ranks in the Fortune 500 each year.

How did this athletic brand come about? Let’s learn more about Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman, the founders of Nike, and how they established this huge multinational corporation over 50 years ago.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How did Nike begin?
  2. What do you think about Nike as a brand? What sporting equipment brands do you like?
  3. If you could set up a company of your own, what kind of company would it be?