Tag: Advanced English CAE

Ways to Keep Exercising in a Heatwave

C1 – Advanced

With the global temperatures going higher and higher by the year, we might be putting our health at risk when we continue exercising.

Now, just because it is summer doesn’t mean we have to put our exercise routines on a halt. There are ways to keep being active – and not having to worry about suffering from a heatstroke.

Read the article about some ways to keep exercising even in the middle of a heatwave.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/jun/15/10-ways-to-keep-exercising-in-a-heatwave

Discussion Questions:

  1. Does high temperature somehow affect your workout routine? Share your experiences.
  2. Which among the tips mention do you practice? Which ones are you willing to try?
  3. How else do you deal with the heat to keep exercising during very hot weather days?
  4. What are your thoughts on acclimatization?
  5. “A heatwave could be an opportunity to try something new.” Would you be willing to mix your exercise routines up to adapt to the summer heat?

Why Sitting Is Bad for You

C1 – Advanced

Ponder on how much time you dedicate to sitting down on a daily basis. You may sit down throughout the entire working day at a desk in front of a computer. You sit during your commute to and from work. And you sit when you’re watching TV in the evening, or surfing the web.

But is sitting really that risky?

Watch the video carefully and be able to answer the questions that follow.

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the video, why is too much sitting harmful?
  2. Do you agree that sitting too much can ruin your health? Why or why not?
  3. What are some ways to reduce the health risks from too much sitting?
  4. How sedentary is the modern lifestyle? Share your insights.

 

Grilled Whole Fish with Chiles and Coconut

C1 – Advanced

This video is meant to practice both your listening skills and your vocabulary. Feel free to watch the video more than once and take note of words or expressions that are new. Be ready to answer comprehension questions.

Discuss:

1. According to the video, why is it a good idea to use very hot coals when grilling fish? How long should it take the fish to cook (per side)?
2. How should the fish look like once it’s cooked or done?
3. What are the different sauces that Melissa Clark paired her fish with? Why did she choose these sauces?
4. Are you fond of grilling? Have you tried grilling fish?
5. Have you tried hosting a barbecue party during the summer?

 

11 Habits Of Mentally Strong People

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C1 – Advanced

Mentally strong people have healthy habits. They manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in ways that set them up for success in life.

Check out these things that mentally strong people  do so that you too can become more mentally strong.

11 Habits Of Mentally Strong People

Discussion:

1. How would you describe being mentally strong?

2. Do you consider yourself a mentally strong individual?

3. Which of the habits mentioned in the article do you practice? Which ones do you not?

4. Would you like to add anything to the list?

 

Achieving Work-Life Balance

C1 – Advanced

Work-life balance refers to the balance between a person’s career and his or her personal life. Many people work longer hours and have fewer holidays and days off, in part because of globalization, outsourcing, and a loss of job security. As a result, employees have less time for personal interests, friends and family. Such an imbalance can lead to reduced productivity, depression and high levels of stress.  Although the employee makes the choice to work longer hours, the corporate culture is also responsible. Companies should educate their workers on the importance of a healthy work-life balance.

Watch the video carefully and be able to answer the discussion questions below:

http://www.englishwithjo.com/business-english-work-life-balance/#more-1994

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you have a good balance between your work and personal life? If yes, how do you achieve it?
  2. Do you like working under pressure?
  3. What deadlines do you have to meet in your daily life?
  4. Are you good at managing your time?
  5. Do you ever delegate tasks when you get too busy?
  6. Have you ever worked over the weekend to meet a deadline?
  7. Have you ever missed an important social or family event because of work?

Math Anxiety

C1 – Advanced

Do you feel very worried when dealing with anything related to mathematics? If your answer is yes, keep this in mind: “anxiety is not a reflection of your ability”.

Watch this Ted-Ed video and learn more about mathematical anxiety, what causes it and what the best ways are to deal with it:

 

Let’s talk:
1. Explain the concept “growth mindset”. Do you agree with this?
2. What can you do when you suffer from math anxiety?
3. What problems did you have in math and how were you able to conquer it?
4. Are boys innately better at math than girls?
5. What were your best and weakest subjects when you were a student? Why do you think that is?

Why Do We Feel Nostalgia?

C1 – Advanced

On holidays, it’s natural to feel a longing for times gone by—a childhood spent singing carols or meals spent with now departed loved ones. Recently, scientists have explored the bittersweet feeling of nostalgia, finding that it serves a positive function, improving mood and possibly mental health.

Watch and listen carefully to the video and be ready to answer the questions:

Discuss:

1. What makes you nostalgic?

2. How often do you feel nostalgic and how does it affect you? Does it affect you in a positive way or in a negative way?

3. In your own opinion, Is nostalgia good or bad? Explain your answer.

4. How do you deal with nostalgia?

The Benefits of Good Posture

C1 – Advanced

Having good posture is imperative to have good health. Along with eating right and getting enough sleep, correct posture will help you be more physically fit.

Watch the video below to know how our posture affects our health.

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the video, what does good posture look like?
  2. What do you think about your posture? Is it good or bad? Explain.
  3. How has good posture benefit you?
  4. What are the causes of poor posture? What are it effects?
  5. How can one achieve a good posture?

3 Tips to Boost Your Confidence

C1 – Advanced

People admire individuals who are self-confident. Self-confident people are risk-takers and are not afraid to face their challenges. They have an air of optimism around them and are comfortable with themselves.

The video below shows us how we can have that self-confidence to carry us through the day.

Watch the video carefully then be ready to answer some discussion questions:

Discuss:

  1. How is confidence defined in the video?
  2. What are several factors that impact self-confidence?
  3. How confident do you feel? Are you full of it, or do you wish you had more of it?
  4. To what extent are you aware of your weaknesses and strengths? How do you feel about your weaknesses?
  5. How can you improve your self-confidence?
  6. What are the factors that build your self-confidence?
  7. If you have a low self-confidence, what do you guess are the contributing factors?

What Would Happen If You Didn’t Sleep?

C1 – Advanced

It may seem obvious that sleep is beneficial. Even without fully grasping what sleep does for us, we know that going without sleep for too long makes us feel terrible, and that getting a good night’s sleep can make us feel ready to take on the world.

Scientists have gone to great lengths to fully understand sleep’s benefits. In studies of humans and other animals, they have discovered that sleep plays a critical role in immune function, metabolism, memory, learning, and other vital functions.

Watch the video carefully then be ready to answer some discussion questions:

Discussion Questions:

  1. In the video, what are the effects of sleep deprivation?
  2. What does sleep do to our body that makes it very important?
  3. How many hours of sleep do you generally need per night? Do you manage to sleep as much as you need? If not, why not?
  4. Do you use, or have you ever used, any special methods that help you get to sleep? (e.g. sleeping pills, herbal remedies,counting sheep,meditation)