Tag: Advanced English CAE

Korean Air Executive Went Nuts Over Nuts

C1 – Advanced

Heather Cho resigned as an executive of Korean Air after a nut incident. She was said to have gone furious at the head steward for serving her macadamia nuts in a packet instead of a plate.

Read more about this incident and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-30461979

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you feel about the said executive’s behavior?
  2. Have you ever heard of similarly over-the-top behavior?
  3. Some say the pilot could have refused the executive to avoid the delay caused by the incident. If you were in the pilot’s position, what would you have done?
  4. If you were in the steward’s shoes, what would you have done?
  5. Talk about a similar incident you’ve witnessed onboard or at the airport.

Behaviors That Could Kill Your Career

C1 – Advanced 

Does your job feel like a dead end? It’s easy to look around and blame company politics. But what if the problem is you?

Let Jack Welch help you evaluate yourself. Read the article on ten pitfalls that could stall your career.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20141110044443-86541065-10-behaviors-that-could-kill-your-career

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are you guilty of any of these behaviors?
  2. What is the danger of over-committing?
  3. Do you have colleagues who have a rigid attitude? How do you deal with them?
  4. How can we fix or solve complacency?
  5. What are some methodologies, immediately actionable practices, and respected credentials does your company employ?

Blood Test May Predict Suicide Risk

shutterstock193661093

C1 – Advanced

A recent study found a simple blood test that can help identify a person’s risk of committing suicide. Read the article below to know more about a specific gene that has helped the study.

 

 

 

Blood Test May Predict Suicide Risk By Studying Levels Of Gene Mutation SKA2

Discuss:

1. Do you think this kind of test can be useful in your country? Why or why not?
2. How else can this test be useful?
3. What psychological disorders do you know of? Please briefly discuss them.
4. Do you think more studies should focus on psychological disorders? Why or why not?

Foodini Food Printer

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Lazy old days won’t be the same once you have a 3D printer that will just give you what you are craving for. ‘Foodini’ is an innovative machine that will print real food without taking your time preparing it. It was introduced by Natural Machines.

https://edition.cnn.com/2014/11/06/tech/innovation/foodini-machine-print-food/index.html

Discussion Questions:

1. Would you like to taste food straight from your printer? Why or why not?
2. Do you think food items processed by ‘Foodini’ are healthy? Explain your thoughts.
3. Will this machine be a helpful one? Is it worth buying, especially when it costs top dollar? Explain.
4. If you could invent something related to food, what would it be?
5. What are some of the food inventions that you truly enjoy and/or would like to try?

Beef Production Damages Environment

C1 – Advanced

We are what we eat. But do the food we eat harm our planet?

Read the article to know more about the scientific relationship of the food we eat and the environment.

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-28409704

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you like meat and dairy products?
2. What meat or dairy product do you like the most?
3. Do you believe that food production has real significant effect on the environment? Explain.
4. How do you think you can reduce the environmental impact of the food you eat?

Malala Yousafzai Wins Nobel Peace Prize

C1 – Advanced
The girls’ rights activist Malala Yousafzai has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2014. She is known mainly for human rights advocacy for education and for women in her native province and has made her countrymen very proud.

Malala Yousafzai wins Nobel Peace Prize

Discuss:

1. Share your ideas about gender equality. Do you think women in your country are being treated fairly?
2. What are the other social issues in your country that you think should be addressed?

*article was published in October 2014

Unguarded Talk: Threat to Companies

C1 – Advanced

While most big companies focus on possible ways their top secret information may be breached and how they could prevent it from happening, they are overlooking one threat to information security.

http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20140910-loose-lips-and-corporate-secrets

Discussion Questions:

  1. If you were in the writer’s shoes, what would you do or think at that moment?
  2. What are your thoughts on the loose lips risk? Should companies consider loose lips a serious matter? Explain.
  3. Share your thoughts on this statement: “Discretion is the wiser part of valour.“.
  4. Talk about other risks your company/industry face on a regular basis.
  5. What are ways for companies to ensure information security?
  6. Tell a related story about information breach that you know of.

Dealing with Procrastination

C1 – Advanced

Procrastination is nothing new to us. It is when you wait until the last minute before doing something you are supposed to do.

This article explores how procrastination plays a role in our lives. Be ready to explain some idiomatic expressions included in this article. You’ll be using them in sentences as part of your exercise.

http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/overcoming-procrastination/

Discussion Questions:

1. How do you view procrastination? When do you think it is good and bad?
2. Do you agree with the article? Are there some points you disagree on? Please discuss them.
3. How do you fight procrastination?

Keys to Making Better Decisions

C1 – Advanced

We make decisions every day. Each of us react differently to different situations and knowing ourselves more enables us to make decisions that are best for us and those around us.

https://hbr.org/2012/03/three-keys-to-much-better-deci/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Discuss the three keys in your own words. Talk about your insights for each and share some personal experiences.
  2. Do you agree or disagree with this statement: “The intensity of an emotion is not a reason to act on it.”?
  3. How exactly is cultivating perspective helpful in making a good decision?
  4. Have you ever made a decision where it involved some sacrifices and discomfort on your end? Talk about that situation.
  5. How do you make it a point to come up with good decisions?
  6. What was the most difficult decision you’ve ever had to make? How did you come up with your decision and what was the outcome of that decision later on?

The Six Secrets of Self-Control

C1 – Advanced

Do you have the habit of checking your phone all the time, even when it’s not necessary? Are you an impulsive person who just can’t resist buying when there’s a sale? Our self-control is always on the line.

Click on the title below and read the article to know more about self-control.

The Six Secrets of Self-Control

Discuss:

1. Explain the 6 secrets of self-control.
2. Which ones do you practice? Do you agree with all of them?
3. Would you say that self-control is your strength?
4. When was the last time that you had to practice self-control?