Tag: audio

Who Does the Housework?

B2 — Upper Intermediate 

Household chores are a necessary evil. Though they can sometimes be boring or unpleasant, they need to be done. Doing household chores is an important part of daily life. We clean our rooms, wash dishes, do laundry, and take out the trash. Chores keep our homes clean and comfortable. 

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the division of labour when it comes to household chores.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260813

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to pull one’s weight“ mean? ”Anamarija also thinks women appreciate it when their husbands pull their weight.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  2. What does “to take a breather” mean? “Mothers have more space for their careers, or hobbies, or just simply totake a breather when dads and sons take some of the pressure off mums.” Use the expression in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “fair share” mean? “Do you do your fair share of household chores?” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. In the UK, the most hated chore is cleaning the windows. What do you think will be the people’s answer to the same question in your country? Why do you think many people hate this chore?
  2. What are your thoughts on this: “Women in wealthy countries also spend much more time on unpaid care work than men.”?
  3. Which chore do you like doing the least? Why?
  4. What happens when one person does most of the chores?
  5. How can family members share the housework more fairly?

Making Cities Feel Quieter

B2 — Upper Intermediate 

Some people enjoy the peace of the countryside, while others prefer the noise of city. 

However, studies show that too much noise can increase stress and anxiety.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about making the cities feel quieter.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260521

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to dress loud“ mean? “Indians talk loud, celebrate loud and dress loud.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  2. What does “soundscape” mean? “Similar soundscapes are now helping city dwellers relax in other cities too, including Tokyo and Barcelona.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “counterintuitive” mean? “So, the art installation was really to make this park a little quieter by adding some quiet noises. So, it’s counterintuitive, but you can make a park less noisy by adding some calmer sounds.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on this: “Too much noise can increase stress and anxiety.”?
  2. Should the noise be limited in cities? Share your thoughts.
  3. What can be done to tackle the noise pollution problem in cities?
  4. How do sounds/noises around you affect you?
  5. Do you prefer a quiet town or a busy city? Why?

Latin America’s UNESCO Sites In Danger

B1 — Intermediate 

UNESCO sites such as Machu Picchu in Peru and the Rio Plátano Biosphere Reserve in Honduras are in danger.

Too many tourists damage them. Rain and trash also cause problems.

Honduras is losing forests because of illegal cattle farming and tree cutting. Animals and local people are also at risk.

Experts say everyone must work together to protect these places.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the threats to Latin America’s UNESCO sites.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/latin-americas-unesco-sites-are-in-danger-level-2

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “threaten“ mean? ”This dangerous activity harms wild animals and threatens local communities.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  2. What does “armed group” mean? “Indigenous leaders try to protect their forest homes, but armed groups hurt them.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “cattle farming” mean? “In Honduras, large parts of the rainforest are being destroyed by illegal cattle farming, tree cutting, and drug crime.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How can tourists help protect these sites?
  2. How can the government save these sites?
  3. Why is it important to protect these places for the future?
  4. Do you think there should be fewer tourists? Why?
  5. Have you ever had the same problem in your country? Talk about it.

Nuclear Power Plants Do Not Have Enough Water

B1 — Intermediate 

Europe is facing very hot and dry weather. The Danube River is very low. A nuclear plant in Romania had to stop. Hungary also had problems with its nuclear plant. Solar power helped prevent blackouts. But power is still hard to supply at night. Experts say Europe needs better energy systems.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about water shortage at some nuclear power plants.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/nuclear-power-plants-do-not-have-enough-water-level-2

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is a “nuclear power plant“? ”The water level in the Danube River is very low, so Romania had to stop its nuclear power plant because there was not enough cold water.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  2. What does “solar power” mean? “Luckily, Hungary uses much more solar power now, which helped supply energy during hot daytime hours, but getting enough power during the night is still difficult.”Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “drought” mean? “Severe drought and hot summer weather have caused big problems in Europe.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why did the nuclear plant in Romania stop?
  2. How can solar power help?
  3. Should people use less electricity? Why?
  4. What can governments do to prevent power shortages? 
  5. What other problems do you know are caused by extreme heat? Discuss them.
  6. Share your point of view about this: “Experts say Europe needs better energy systems.”

Posting Zero

B1 — Intermediate 

Social media feels too much and fake. Many people still use it, but they post less. This is called Posting Zero. People are afraid of judgment or to feel pressure to look perfect. Bots also make social media feel less real. Many users want simple and honest posts again.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about social media use drop.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/posting-zero-level-3

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to feel louder than ever” mean? “Social media feels louder than ever, filled with ads, repetitive videos, and artificial content.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “honest moment“ mean? ”Many users hope social media can return to a place where real people share small, honest moments again.” Use the expression in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  3. What does “feed” mean here: “In the past, people shared simple photos and everyday moments; however, now, feeds look perfect, commercial, and unreal.”Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do people used to post on social media in the past? 
  2. Why are they stopping or posting less now?
  3. Do you like posting on social media? Why?
  4. Is it okay to stop posting on social media? Why?
  5. “Bots also make social media feel less real.” Do you agree or disagree?
  6. How can social media feel more real?

EU Digital Passport System

B1 — Intermediate 

The EU is introducing a new digital passport system. It will allow travelers to use digital travel documents on their phones.

The system may make travel faster and easier. However, people may also have concerns about privacy and data security.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about EU´s new digital passport system.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/eus-new-digital-passport-system-level-3

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “biometric check” mean? “This digital system replaces manual passport stamps with biometric checks.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “self-service kiosk” mean? ”Travelers first register at self-service kiosks and then meet a border officer for verification.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  3. What does “stretch” mean here: “Long queues stretching hundreds of meters have caused travelers to wait up to five hours, which leads to missed flights.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about a digital passport and this new digital passport system?
  2. Would you prefer a digital passport or a traditional passport? Why?
  3. What are the advantages of a digital passport?
  4. What problems could people have with digital passports?
  5. Do you think digital passports are the future of travel?
  6. Should digital passports be used around the world?

The Golden Ratio

B1 — Intermediate 

The Golden Ratio is a special number that helps make things look balanced and nice. It is about 1 to 1.618. People use it in art, buildings, and design. It can be seen in the Parthenon, Mona Lisa, and some famous logos like Twitter and Pepsi.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the golden ratio.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/the-golden-ratio-level-3

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Explain the concept of “the golden ratio”. ”In the 1860s, Gustav Fechner claimed people preferred this shape, which helped create the idea that the golden ratio represents beauty.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “disprove“ mean? ”However, his study was later disproved.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  3. What does “view” mean here: ”Everyone’s view of beauty is different.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the positives and negatives of the golden ratio?
  2. Do you think the Golden Ratio is interesting? Why or why not?
  3. Share your opinion on this, “The golden ratio is interesting in art and nature, but it is not a rule for beauty.”
  4. Share your thoughts on this, “Everyone’s view of beauty is different.”
  5. Talk about something that you think has the most beautiful design. Describe it as detailed as you can.
  6. If you could design something, what would you make?

Rude Emails

B2 — Upper Intermediate 

Sometimes, people write emails in a hurry and forget to use polite language. A short reply or an unclear message can easily be misunderstood and hurt someone’s feelings. 

On the other hand, a kind greeting, clear explanation, and respectful tone can make communication much more pleasant. 

Taking a few extra minutes to review an email before sending it can help avoid misunderstandings and maintain good relationships.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about rude emails.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260702

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to belittle someone“ mean? ”The fight response can make us belittle someone.” Use the expression in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  2. What does “to get something off one’s plate” mean? ”Then the flight response is when people try to protect themselves by withdrawing or avoiding. They won’t reply, or if they do reply, maybe they don’t answer all of the points in the email. They’re just trying to get it off their plate.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “to put someone in their place” mean? ”Emails that are hostile in tone and language, or even cc’ing senior personnel in on the message in order to elevate an issue and put someone in their place.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you ever received an email that you thought was rude? What happened? What should you do if you receive a rude email?
  2. Why do you think some people write rude emails?
  3. How can people write professional and respectful emails?
  4. How does the tone of an email affect the reader?
  5. Why is it important to proofread an email before sending it?
  6. Do you think emails are more likely to cause misunderstandings than face-to-face conversations? Why?

Young People Leaving Turkey

B1 — Intermediate 

A recent study found that many young people in Turkey feel unhappy. Many of them are thinking about moving to another country, especially to Europe. They hope to find better jobs and have a better life. A lot of young Turks are worried about their future.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the way young Turks feel about their future.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/young-people-are-leaving-turkey-level-3

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “gloomy mood” mean? ”A recent study has revealed a gloomy mood among young people in Turkey, and has shown that nearly two-thirds are considering emigrating, primarily toward Europe.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “stagnant economy” mean? ”In addition, the country is suffering from high inflation and a stagnant economy.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “job prospect“ mean? ”This leaves young Turks with bad job prospects and an official unemployment rate of 31%.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your views on this, “Turkey now faces a danger of losing its youth as young people choose between staying to fight for freedom or seeking success abroad.”
  2. What is your opinion about young Turks thinking about moving to Europe?
  3. How did you imagine your future would be like when you were young? How does it compare to your life now?
  4. How do you think young people from your country feel about their future?
  5. What can a country do to help young people have a better future?

Argentina Fans Have Heart Problems after Matches

B1 — Intermediate 

Watching sports events such as the World Cup football is exciting, but it can also be stressful.

A study from Argentina found that strong emotions during big games can cause heart problems in some people. This is more dangerous for people who already have heart problems. Fans should enjoy the games but also take care of their health.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the rise in serious heart-related issues among football fans.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/argentina-fans-have-heart-problems-after-matches-level-3

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “cardiac arrest” mean? ”Medical experts explained that the extreme tension triggers high blood pressure, dangerous arrhythmias, severe chest pain, and even cardiac arrest.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “spike” mean here: ”As the defending champions reached the 2026 final after several dramatic, late-minute comebacks, cardiologists reported a sharp spike in cardiovascular cases.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “emotional rollercoaster” mean? ”While football itself doesn’t cause these medical events, the intense emotional rollercoaster can act as a dangerous trigger for individuals who already have some health issues.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this news?
  2. Do you think some fans take sports too seriously? Why?
  3. Why do people care so much about their favorite team? 
  4. Should people with heart problems be more careful when watching exciting sports? Why?
  5. Have you ever felt very excited or nervous during a sports game? Talk about it.