Tag: Advanced English CAE

A Guide to Breakups

C1 – Advanced

Almost all of us has experienced loss. Especially during the teenage years, when young men and women start crushing on someone and have their first take on a relationship.

Read the article below to know about Julia’s dating experience and her suggestion of ending affairs.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/201101/the-thoroughly-modern-guide-breakups

Discussion Questions:

  1. What did you think of Julia’s heartbreaking story?
  2. What can you say about her suggestions when it comes to ending a relationship?
  3. Share any bad experiences when it comes to dating.

How Reading Can Change You

167959-173958

C1 – Advanced

Reading has always been a part of people’s lives. You can learn a lot through reading. You read from the time you begin school until the time that you start working. It is one hobby that some people love and adore.

Read the article below to discover how what we read can mould our personalities.

How Reading Can Change You in a Major Way

Discuss:

1. Do you think reading is important?
2. How often do you read?
3. Do you like reading? What are your preferences in books?
4. What are some of the interesting books or stories you’ve read?

Workaholic Fathers ‘Symbolically Absent’

DSC_0221_810_500_55_s_c1

C1 – Advanced

Recently, the leader of the Catholic Church spoke about fathers whose primary focus has been their work rather than their children.  He explained the important role fathers play in their children’s lives and why a patriarch’s being “symbolically absent” can be a problem not just for his family but society as well.

Read the article below and express your opinions regarding Pope Francis’ views.

Pope criticizes workaholic dads, says they’re ‘symbolically absent’

Discuss:

1. What are a father’s roles in a family?
2. What happens to children when their father is “symbolically absent”?
3. According to the article, some fathers used to practice authoritarianism. What does this mean?
5. Is an authoritarian father better than a father who’s always absent? Why or why not?

What the World Can Learn from Auschwitz

C1 – Advanced

The world commemorates the history of Auschwitz concentration camp.  Anita Lasker-Wallfisch said that it was like a global cemetery without a tomb. It was an unspeakable hell.

Click below to watch the videos. This is a set of eight short video clips. Feel free to watch as many as you wish but do watch at least three.

http://edition.cnn.com/videos/tv/2015/01/22/voa-orig-natpkg-anita-lasker-wallfisch.cnn/video/playlists/intl-70-years-since-the-liberation-of-auschwitz/

Discussion Questions:

1. Re-tell the stories of the survivors featured.
2. What can we learn from this terrible part of the history?
3. How did you feel after watching the videos?

Gadgets in School as Educational Tools

_80438565_newchild

C1 – Advanced

The use of tablet and iPads in schools are nothing new. But is it really effective? Read the article below to know more about how technology can be effective in schools.

Should schools gorge on gadgets?

Discuss:

1. How do you feel about young children using tablets and laptops in learning their ABC’s and 123’s?
2. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of using such technology in the classroom?

Toyota Selling Hydrogen Fuel Car

toyota mirai
Photograph: Toyota/EPA

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Toyota has started selling a few hundred Mirai cars in Japan, US and Europe.  The Japanese car maker has taken its first small step into the unproven market for emissions-free, hydrogen-powered vehicles.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/nov/18/toyota-begin-selling-fuel-cell-cars-mirai

Discussion Questions:

1. Which car bands do you prefer?
2. Do you think more environment-friendly cars should be produced?
3. Are there now more and more “green” cars running aound your city?
4. Is air pollution a major problem in your country? Kindly discuss.

An Incredible Little Apartment

C1 – Advanced

Christian Schallert’s 258 square foot apartment doesn’t look big enough to be a comfortable home, but he did an awesome job of designing it to make it feel bigger than the actual measurement would suggest.

Read the the article then watch the video to view the whole apartment.

Man Shows Off Incredible Transformation Of 258-Square-Foot Apartment

Discuss:

1. How would you describe your house/flat?
2. What do you think about his apartment’s design concept?
3. Talk about your dream house.

No More Playing Hooky

caleb.hiltunen-590x393

C1 – Advanced

Should attendance in class be mandatory, or should students be allowed to play hooky as long as they can keep their grades up?

Technology and financial uncertainty are two factors that have changed the methods of calling the roll in universities and colleges across America, all in the hopes of tuition well spent, student loans paid and higher graduation rates.

Read on, and weigh in with the issue.

Cracking Down on Skipping Class

Discuss:

1. What is meant by “playing hooky”? Have you ever played hooky?
2. Is attendance an accurate predictor of success in university?
3. What are the consequences of skipping classes to students? To parents? To the colleges and universities?
4. Can you suggest other ways of getting students to class on time and driving down absenteeism?

Boosting your Happiness

C1 – Advanced

Every human  in the planet wants to be happy. This is considered the ultimate goal anywhere in the world.  Watch the video and read the article below to know more about the effect of happiness and unhappiness  in life.

7 ways to boost your happiness

Discuss:

1. What is your opinion about the study and advice in achieving happiness?
2. Have you done any of the practical suggestions mentioned in the article? Which ones are you currently practicing?
3. In your opinion, what other activities can help a person’s well-being?

Eating Disorders Affect Men Too

C1 – Advanced

We commonly relate eating disorders to women. However, over the last 15 years, this has changed. The number of men suffering from eating disorders has significantly increased to 27%.

Read the article below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/jan/18/are-more-men-getting-eating-disorders

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your reaction to the rise of men who are being diagnosed with eating disorders. What do you think causes these disorders?
  2. Why do you think eating disorders have long been perceived as an issue affecting women and girls?
  3. What can we do to help people battling these conditions?