Category: Homework

The Gender Pay Gap

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Data show that the majority of medium and large companies pay higher wage rates to men than to women. In spite of all these records, skeptics still do not believe in the existence of the idea. See how the video debunks myths about the gender pay gap.

Discussion Questions:

1. Discuss the six myths about the gender pay gap.
2. Do you experience the pay gap in your company?
3. How can we resolve issues about the pay gap?
4. In what other phenomena are men considered to be more privileged than women?
5. In what events are women thought to be more advantaged than men?

Talk Tips to Ace Your Speaking Exam

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Do you have cold feet when you take an exam? Well, everyone does, for sure. If you are preparing for a speaking exam, watch the video below to get some tips and have your fear surmounted. Afterwards, do a sample speaking test with your tutor.

Discussion Questions:

1. Tell me about a speaking exam that you had.
2. What other tips can you add to pass a speaking exam?

Sample Speaking Test:
Part 1
Interview
1. If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?
2. What’s your favorite piece of clothing you own / owned?
3. What hobby would you get into if time and money weren’t an issue?
4. What would your perfect room look like?
5. How often do you play sports?

Part 2
Short Talk
Choose a topic to talk about for 2 to 3 minutes.
(social media, the best place to go in summer, the best thing about the year, etc.)

Part 3
Two-way discussion
Answer questions about the chosen topic.

Tethered to Phones

B1 – Intermediate

Parents are concerned about the amount of time their teenage children spend in front of screens, while more others expressed concern about their own screen time.

Experts say parents have a big role in their kids’ screen habits and setting a good example is a big part of it.

https://www.voanews.com/a/study-teens-parents-tethered-smartphones/4539560.html

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you think people are too tethered to their phones? Why or why not?

2. How often do you use your cellphone?

3. Should parents set a good example to their children by showing lesser usage of cellphones?

World Trade Center Subway Station Reopens

B2 – Upper Intermediate

People welcomed the first train rolled into the new WTC Cortlandt station. The train station was buried under the rubble of the Twin Towers on 11th September 2001 and now the new fully accessible station features a mosaic that uses words from the Declaration of Independence.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45463886

Discussion Questions:

  1. In what ways do you think the re-opening of the subway station will be most beneficial?

2. How would Americans feel about the re-opening of the train station?

3. Do you think re-opening of this train station will bring back bad memories of the 9/11 attack?

 

US to Spend Billions on Artificial Intelligence Weapons

B1 – Intermediate

What springs to your mind when asked about AI or Artificial Intelligence? Well, opinions differ for sure. Some would say it is of great advantage and some would say it is dangerous or a few would say they don’t care.

The United States will spend billions on developing AI weapons. They wanted to be ahead in terms of this technology as China and Russia are known to have their own.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1809/180912-weapons.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on AI weapons?
  2. What would be the outcome if these weapons will be used in the future?
  3. Will there be more of the advantages than the disadvantages?
  4. How do these weapons protect the welfare of the country?
  5. Would these weapons make the US more powerful than its counterparts?

Marketing a Country

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There are about 200 countries around the world. Each of which strives to get resources, improve trade activities, and garner attention.

Now, the bigger challenge is, how do you rise above everyone and let the world know that your country exists?

Read more about nation branding from the article below.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-45263511

Discussion Questions:

1. In your opinion, what are other ways to boost a country’s profile?
2. What do you think is your country’s image to the world?
3. What part of your country’s brand would you change?
4. Which country or countries do you have very good impression of?

Town Governed Through Twitter

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Social media has undeniably become a vital part of our societies. It is an essential tool for our daily activities such as communicating, socializing, accessing to news and information, and making decisions.

A small town in Spain takes the use of social media to new heights.

Read the article about Jun, a town governed via Twitter.

https://medium.com/@socialmachines/the-incredible-jun-a-town-that-runs-on-social-media-49d3d0d4590

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree or disagree with this idea? Why or why not?
  2. What do you think are the positives and negatives of using Twitter this way?
  3. How else do you think social media can be used in a positive way?

Button Batteries Kill

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Medical cases involving button batteries have been reported since the 1970s. Who would have thought that these tiny things in your remote control or car keys could be so dangerous?

Read the article to find out more.

https://theconversation.com/button-batteries-kill-heres-how-we-can-prevent-needless-child-deaths-from-battery-ingestion-101187

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the article, how do button batteries cause damage?
  2. What can parents do to prevent incidents with batteries from happening? How should parents child-proof their homes?
  3. How prevalent are button battery injuries among kids in your country? Why do you think that is?
  4. What other health-related issues are very common among children in your country these days?
  5. Have you or anyone you know had a medical emergency as a kid or involving a child? Please share.

When You Drink Coke Instead of Water

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In a small town in Mexico, water is not so readily available. Its residents therefore, have resorted to drinking the much more plentiful Coca Cola instead.

Check out the article to find out more about the dire consequences this situation has brought about.

http://www.thetimesinplainenglish.com/when-you-drink-coke-instead-of-water/

Discussion Questions:

1. What does the article say about this Mexican town?

2. Who do you think is to blame in these circumstances, and why?

3. Do you like soft drinks or soda? Talk about the effects of drinking too much of these.

The Worst Things about Working at Google

C1 – Advanced

I bet a lot of, if not all, people perceive working at Google as THE dream job. On the contrary, according to some people who have worked in this tech giant, sometimes, it’s not all “rainbows and ponies”.

Click on the link to read more on Googlers’ least favorite things about being employed at Google.

https://www.businessinsider.com/google-employees-worst-things-about-working-at-google-2016-12#its-hard-to-be-honest-with-your-colleagues-2

Discussion Questions:

1. Talk about some complaints Googlers have about working at Google.
2. What are your thoughts on these confessions?
3. What’s the best and worst thing about working in your company?
4. What comes to your mind when you hear “Google”?
5. What are important things you look for in a company you will work for?