Tag: audio

People Lose Jobs in Webinar

B1 – Intermediate

Getting fired is such a terrible experience. It puts a worker in a difficult situation. It will leave someone with a lot of questions, especially when they know they were doing well in their job. Now that a lot of companies have also removed employees and have stopped hiring, it would be more difficult to recover and get another job.

For some employees at one company, they were caught by surprise during a conference call. They were left helpless, clueless, and jobless right before the holidays.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript in the link below on how this CEO fired his employees.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/people-lose-jobs-in-webinar-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. How would you feel if you were fired this way?
  2. How could the CEO have handled the situation better?
  3. What are some common reasons why companies remove or fire employees?
  4. Do you know someone who got fired? What happened and how did they take it?
  5. What are your company policies when firing or removing employees?
  6. Do you know of some companies who have removed or fired employees because of the pandemic? What are they?

Dentists

B1 – Intermediate

We all need dental care. Sadly, some people are afraid to visit the dentist for different reasons. Some have the fear of pain, feelings of embarrassment, or inability to pay for the procedure they recommend.

https://listenaminute.com/d/dentists.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you have dental fear? Why or why not?
  2. How often do you visit a dentist and why is this?
  3. When was the last time you visited a dentist? What procedure was done to you?
  4. Is dental care free in your country? If not, is it expensive to seek dental care?

Getting Married

B1 – Intermediate

Marriage is a serious commitment that should not be made lightly.
Take the time to make sure you and your partner are on the same page by talking about some key issues, checklists, and things to keep in mind as you explore marriage.

Let’s have a look at the transcript and hear the audio about getting married.

https://listenaminute.com/g/getting_married.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think there is anything scary about marriage?
  2. Is marriage different today than it was a hundred years ago? Explain.
  3. Are there any rules to marriage? Name some that you know of.
  4. What would the world be like if there was no marriage?
  5. What is important in a marriage?

New Zealand Has New Plan to End Smoking

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Smoking is a hard habit to break. Most people smoke for different reasons such as peer pressure, stress relief, or some might think it’s “cool”. Quitting smoking can be very challenging but it will definitely yield greater health benefits at any age.

Let’s listen to the audio about New Zealand’s plan to end smoking.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/new-zealand-has-new-plan-to-end-smoking/6347731.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is smoking a problem in your country? Why or why not?
  2. Why do you think it is so difficult for people to give up smoking?
  3. Do you get angry about passive smoking – breathing in secondhand smoke? Why or why not?
  4. Which is worse for your health, smoking every day or drinking every day?
  5. In some countries and sectors of society, smoking is actually increasing. Which of the following would be the best way to reduce smoking? Explain your answer.
    • Increase the price of cigarettes
    • Make smoking illegal
    • Launch a public health campaign
    • Limit smoking to very specific areas
    • Something else

First Female Honduras President

B1 – Intermediate

Many people are now inspired to push for change and betterment by exercising their rights as citizens. This is what happened in Honduras during their 2021 elections. The people voted for their very first female president who has promising plans for their country.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the first female president of Honduras.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/first-female-honduras-president-level-2/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What qualifications would you like a government official to have?
  2. Do you think having a female leader is a good or a bad thing? Explain.
  3. Are there differences in terms of leadership between a male and a female leader? What might they be?
  4. What would be an effective way to express your concerns to government leaders?
  5. Would it be better if your city/country had a female government leader? Explain.

Love Fridge

B1 – Intermediate

A lot of people suffer from hunger. In Germany, they have started an idea to put refrigerators outside where people can bring and get food for free. This is to help people who need food.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about a special refrigerator called ‘Love Fridge’.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/love-fridge-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of this idea?
  2. If there is a love fridge near your house, would you also put food there? Why or why not?
  3. What things have you done for people who need help?
  4. Explain your opinion on this statement: “There is enough food but the food does not get to the people who need it”.
  5. Americans throw away a lot of food. Do you think Spanish do the same?
  6. What do you do so you do not waste any food?

City Without Electricity

B1 – Intermediate

Electricity is a vital part of modern life. Almost everything is powered by electricity. We use it in our day-to-day life such as operating appliances, lighting, heating, public transportations, medical necessities, and much more. In our world today, we are nothing without it.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about how Maidugri, the capital city of the Borno State, live through life without electricity.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/city-without-electricity-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What kind of world would we live in without electricity?
  2. Have you ever experienced a blackout? How was it? What did you do?
  3. What are three electric appliances that you can’t live without and why?
  4. What are other alternatives to electricity?
  5. Would you prefer to have no electricity or no water? Explain your answer.

Why We Forget the Things We Learn

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Memories make us who we are. They hold very important knowledge about our lives. They provide us with a sense of self and make up our continual experience of life.

They have a fundamental role in all learning because they let you store and retrieve the information that you learn. However, for some people, it is difficult to retain things they’ve read or learned but they easily remember some of the most trivial information.

Let’s listen to the audio below to find out why we tend to forget the things we learn.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-211118

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you have a poor or a good memory? Explain.
  2. When was the last time you forgot something? What did you forget? Why do you think you forgot it?
  3. Is it good to have a perfect memory? Why or why not?
  4. Are you good at remembering names/numbers/faces/dates? Share some experiences.
  5. What techniques do you use to remember things?

Flight Attendants Wear Comfortable Clothes

B1 – Intermediate

Flight attendants must maintain a certain look. We usually see flight attendants in a business jacket with either pants, skirt, or dress, hair neatly pulled back, all made-up, and wearing heels. However, flight attendants of a Ukrainian airline told their company they are not happy wearing heels and tight skirts anymore.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about flight attendants’ new way of dressing.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/flight-attendants-wear-comfortable-clothes-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about the normal flight attendant’s clothes or uniform?
  2. What can you say about flight attendants being able to wear comfortable pants and shoes?
  3. Do you think this initiative could be good for the company? Why or why not?
  4. What was the best and worst experience you have had with a flight attendant?

Facebook Changes Name

B1 – Intermediate

Facebook has been in the middle of controversies recently. In order to save the company, they have decided to change its name. 

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about Facebook’s name change.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/facebook-changes-name-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about Facebook changing its name?
  2. Do you think this could help save their company?
  3. What advice can you give Mark Zuckerberg?
  4. What business moves can a company do to save their company if their situation is getting bad?
  5. Are you a Facebook user? Why or why not?