Category: Homework

What your Name says about You

C1 – Advanced

We all need to be identified. From the time of birth and even before conception, most parents have already thought of names for their children.  The origin of our names can be from names of the seasons, famous people, from baby books or simply from our parents’ imagination.

Is choosing a good name necessary?

WHAT YOUR NAME SAYS ABOUT YOU

Discuss:

1. Are you happy with your name? How did your parents choose your name?
2. What are some of the most common names for boys and girls in your country?
3. Do you know the meaning of your name? If yes, what does it mean?
4. Do you believe some names or words have magical qualities?
5. Is the trend of naming children changing in your country?

The Nightmare Retirement Scenario

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever thought of your retirement? We all age and would need to leave our jobs to enjoy our savings and life after years of work, but have we really given it a thought?

Let’s check a scenario and possible ways on how we can keep our retirement on track.

http://money.cnn.com/2015/06/17/retirement/retirement-run-out-of-money/index.html?iid=TL_Popular

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the age for mandatory retirement in your country? What is the advantage and disadvantage of retiring at this age?
  2. Where and how would you like to spend your retirement years? Why?
  3. How are you preparing for your retirement years?
  4. What are the three (3) things you would like to accomplish/have before and after you retire?

Alcoholism on the Rise in Italy

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B2 – Upper intermediate

As in other cultures, wine is part of the Italian culture. Italians take wine pretty seriously. They relax and enjoy a glass paired with their delectable dishes.

However, for the young, the story isn’t quite the same. Read the article below about young Italians and their drinking habits.

Alcoholism on the Rise in Italy

Discuss:

1. What do you think is a healthy dose of alcohol?
2. How much beer, wine or vodka can you drink daily without any damage to your health?
3. Italian youths are becoming reckless drinkers. Do you see this happening in your country?

New Software Helps Catch Criminals

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In this day and age, technology hasn’t only made our life easier, it has also been keeping us safe.

Read the article below to know more on how computers and programs are being used by the task force to combat crime.

New technology in the world of police and crime aims at making it easier to catch criminals. Researchers and computer experts are working on new computer programs that try to find out which areas of a city might be more prone to crime than others.

The software analyzes how police have patrolled certain districts of a city in the past and compares this information to present day data. This data is also compared to behavior patterns of criminals.  While it may take humans hours to spot a certain pattern, machines can do this in a short time. The program has been successfully tested in the United States and Great Britain.

Software giants like IBM are helping combat crime. The company states that over the past years it has helped to bring down crime in Memphis by 30%. Software programs help find out where the city’s hotspots are so that police can concentrate on patrolling certain areas.

In Los Angeles, a similar program is being tested with the help of another computer company. The city’s police supervisor states that working with serious data is far better than just tracing calls and hoping to get lucky in catching a criminal.

In Great Britain, millions of pounds have been spent on TV surveillance. Although government officials say that CCTV is working, critics say that despite getting camera images from all over the country, there are not enough police officers patrolling the streets.

In the future, the European Union hopes to combine both techniques – sophisticated computer software paired with camera surveillance. One of the problems is that there is too much video material, which makes it impossible for the police to examine. With special software, a lot of footage could be examined in a relatively short period of time.

Source: http://www.english-online.at/news-articles/technology/new-software-helps-catch-criminals.html

Discussion Questions:

1. Are there hotspots in your city? Talk about your experience being in this hotspot.

2. What are the things that the police or local government doing in order to keep your city safe?

3. Do you think that more technology should be used to keep your city safe?

Speaking Activity: At Work

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Business English – B1 – Intermediate

For this activity, you’ll be able to learn common phrases that you can use at the office. Be ready to also share some of your past work experiences and to talk about employment in your country.

Click the title below and be ready to have a discussion.

Topic: At Work

Sitting May Be Dangerous For Your Health

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Sitting on an office chair for prolonged periods of time can definitely cause lower back pain or worsen an existing back problem. What else are the other effects?

Read the article below to know more about the consequences of sitting for too long.

http://breakingnewsenglish.com/1506/150609-sitting.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this?
  2. How long do you usually sit everyday? What do you notice are its effects on you/your body?
  3. How do you make your lifestyle less sedentary?
  4. What can you do to curb the amount of time you spend on the chair?
  5. What other things have effects on a person’s longevity?

Men Taking their Wives’ Names

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C1 – Advanced

What’s in a name?  Some traditions and culture call for women taking their husband’s name immediately after getting married. But there’s a trend happening when it comes to changing names. Is it really new or is it just popularized by celebrities?

Read on to find out why.

A new wedding trend? The men taking their wives’ names

Discuss:

1. How do you feel about this trend of men taking their wife’s surname?
2. Do you know anyone who has adapted this practice?
3. What is the custom in your country when it comes to taking names?

Overcome Emotional Sensitivity

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B2 – Upper intermediate

Being emotional or sensitive can sometimes be seen as a weakness. Contradictory to popular belief, it is healthy to be emotionally sensitive.  It is, however, important to find the balance with your emotions to avoid over-reaction.

Read the article below to know the details in overcoming sensitivity. The article is divided into three parts. Feel free to read it in parts.

How to Overcome Emotional Sensitivity

Discuss:

1. Would you consider yourself quite sensitive?
2. How do you react to negative situations?
3. Do you practice any of the suggestions mentioned in the article (journaling, self assessment, meditation)?

 

Music Affect Your Mood

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Did you know that music and emotions are linked?

We either listen to music to feel happy or when we are in a very good mood or we also give some songs a listen because we are sad.

Read the article below to know more about the link between music and emotions.

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/mental-listening-to-music-lifts-or-reinforces-mood-051713

Discussion Questions:

  1. What kinds of music do you enjoy listening to depending on your mood at that moment?
  2. Is music possibly some sort of coping mechanism for some people? Why or why not?
  3. Was there a stage in your life wherein you listened to a specific music genre? Talk about it in detail.
  4. Name a song that helped lift your mood in a particularly rough times in your life.
  5. Cite a song that is your favorite to play to help boost your mood.

Should You Have the Right to Die?

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B2 – Upper intermediate

The topics of euthanasia and assisted suicide get a lot of media attention. Only a few countries around the world permit assisted suicide and many other governments with laws against the practice prefer not to take the issue to court.

Read the article below to find out the stories of some people who are fighting for their right to die. Watch the short video of Brittany Maynard as well.

Should You Have the Right to Die?

Discuss:

1. What is your initial reaction to assisted suicide?
2. Should doctors help patients kill themselves?
3. Does your government have any laws related to this issue?