Category: Homework

Why Does Society Value Beauty Over Brains?

B1 – Intermediate

The ideal for beauty includes flawless skin, shiny, healthy hair, big eyes, even features and a proportioned body shape. This ideal has remained true throughout our history.

People seem so obsessed with beauty that a pertinent question might not be what it is, but why it is so important to us?

Click the link below to have a better understanding why most of us value beauty more than intelligence.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/quora/2014/01/11/women_and_beauty_why_does_society_value_looks_over_intelligence.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think beauty affects self-esteem?
  2. How do you define beauty, using your own words?
  3. How popular is plastic surgery in your country?
  4. What are some of the negatives about being beautiful?
  5. Do you think beauty is related to power?

Corporate Social Responsibility

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We normally associate business with financial gains. But at the end of the day, is it really just about the money?

In recent times, a lot of companies are moving toward dedicating their efforts to developing their company’s corporate social responsibility’s arm.

Check out the link below for a better understanding of CSR.

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/corp-social-responsibility.asp

Discussion Questions:

1. In your own understanding, what is CSR?
2. In your opinion, should CSR be an important part of any company? Why or why not?
3. Talk about your company’s CSR.

Are Food Preservatives Bad for You?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Food preservatives are substances added to food items in order to inhibit, retard or arrest the process of fermentation, acidification, and decomposition of food items’. Or, in other words, they are a type of  food additive  which prolong shelf life and keep products from being broken down by microorganisms

But the question is, how safe are they? Watch the video and be able to discuss the questions that follow:

 

Discuss:

  1. What are the benefits of using preservatives in food?
  2. What do you think about preservatives? Are they beneficial or harmful?
  3. Do you seek out preservative-free food?
  4. What are some ways of preserving food in your country?
  5. What are some of the most popular preserved food in your country?

11 Ways to Tell If You’re an Annoying Neighbor

B1 – Intermediate

From apartments to tiny houses, noisy neighbors can be a terrible nuisance to deal with.  Noisy neighbors can really be irritating at times, disturbing your sleep and regular activities.  However, we too, are neighbors to other people and sometimes, we may not know we’re bothering others.

Read the article below to see if you fall into the category of nice or annoying and be able to discuss the questions that follow:

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-corbett/are-you-an-annoying-neigh_b_6016682.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the most common neighbor complaints?
  2. Do you get on well with your neighbors?
  3. What kind of neighbor are you?
  4. Have you ever had problems with your neighbors? Explain.
  5. What is it that neighbors do that peeves you the most?
  6. Have you ever considered suing your neighbor? Why?
  7. Do you treat others as you’d like to be treated?
  8. How do you keep your neighbors from complaining?

Tips for Job Interviews

B2 – Upper intermediate – Job Interview

Are you going to a job interview soon? Are you nervous that maybe you will stutter and fail the interview? Then, don’t fret because we got you covered. Watch the video below and learn how to ace that interview.

Discussion Questions:

  1.  Have you ever had a job interview in English before? If yes, how was your experience?
  2.  What kind of preparations do you do before a job interview?

Sample interview questions to help you practice:

  1.  Tell me about yourself.
  2.  What is your strength?
  3.  What is your weakness?
  4.  Why should we hire you?
  5. Why are you leaving your job?
  6. Why do you want this job?
  7. What are your goals in the future?

How to Improve your English Speaking Skills

B1 – Lower Intermediate

Have you tried almost every technique to study English? Are they effective? Do you want to try another technique that will help you improve your English speaking skills? Then, let’s watch the video below. We can practice or start a discussion later.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What kind of techniques or methods have you tried to improve your speaking skills?
  2. Which is the most effective method?
  3. What do you think about the technique in the video?
  4. What are your weaknesses and strengths in English?

Steve Jobs Talks About Managing People

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Steve Jobs was one of the most famous CEO in the world. Ever wonder how he did it? How did he manage his people and build a successful multinational company?

Watch as Steve Jobs talks about managing people.

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the interview, how is the company organized?
  2. What kind of organization is set up in this company?
  3. According to Steve Jobs, why did Apple become successful? Share your thoughts on this.
  4. Explain your company’s management style. Is there anything that you would like to change?
  5. What do you think is the best way to manage people? Elaborate.

Headaches

B1 – Intermediate

Almost everyone suffers from a headache at least once a year. In most cases, they are not dangerous and the person suffering it can still function normally. 

Headache is usually described as pain anywhere in the region of the head or neck. Headaches are very common and their effect can range from mild to worst.

Read on to know about the types of headaches, their causes, and ways to treat them.

https://www.english-online.at/health_medicine/headache/headache-disorder-of-nervous-system.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you often suffer from headaches? What type of headache do you often suffer from? What usually cause them?
  2. What do you do when you have a headache?
  3. Do you think people should see a doctor immediately when they have a headache? Why/why not?
  4. Some say that physical activities such as exercise can help with relieving headaches. Do you agree or disagree with this? Explain.

Showering Everyday Is Bad

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It’s common sense that we take a bath to wash away germs that can make us sick, to keep clean and to smell fresh. However, a research shows that we do not actually have to shower every day for it may cause more harm than good.

Click the link to find out.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/is-shower-everyday-good-or-bad-cleaning-hygiene-university-utah-amazon-village-microbes-skin-a7546216.html

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you take a shower every single day? How do you feel when you skip a shower?

2. After reading the text, would you change your routine?
What is your daily self-care routine?

3. How do you take care of your skin? What are the advantages of having beautiful skin?

Protesters Ransack South African H&M Stores Over Racist Ad

B2 –  Upper Intermediate

H&M, a Swedish multinational clothing-retail company, faces a backlash when an image of a black child models a sweatshirt with the slogan “coolest monkey in the jungle” came out.

This led to protesters running amok in some H&M stores in South Africa to express their anger.

Read the article to know more.  

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/protesters-ransack-south-african-h-m-stores-over-racist-ad-n837506

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on H&M’s advert?
  2. What are your thoughts on the protesters action?
  3. Speak about another company that was involved in a similar controversial.
  4. H&M already issued an apology for the racist advert. How do you think this kind of advert or controversy can affect a company like H&M?
  5. Share your thoughts about protests over corporate wrongdoing turning violent in South Africa. Has there ever been a similar incident in your country? Talk about it.