Tag: audio

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?

Four Seasons

B1 – Intermediate

Do you sometimes wish it could be summer all year round? Summer times are relaxing and fun. But as delightful as it is, we need the other seasons as well.

The different amounts of sunlight around the Earth during the year creates the seasons. The Earth’s orbit, rotation on its axis, and its tilt are all the reasons for spring, winter, autumn, and summer.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the four seasons.

https://listenaminute.com/f/four_seasons.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What’s your favorite season? What do you like about it?
  2. What is the best season to visit your country and why?
  3. Does summer feel hotter than it used to? Is autumn shorter or longer? How have the seasons changed?
  4. Do you always shop for new clothes when the season changes? Why or why not?
  5. If you could eliminate one season so that it no longer existed, which would you choose?
  6. John Steinbeck said, “What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.” Do agree that we need winter so that we appreciate summer? Explain your thoughts.

Should Fast Food Sponsor Sport?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There are millions of sports enthusiasts who are always tuned in to big sporting events in the world such as the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup. For these spectators, it is hard to ignore the large banners of sponsors all throughout the match. Some experts believe that these advertisements are contributing factors that lead to people consuming them.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript on fast food sponsorships in sports.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-211104

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are you a big sports fan? Do you always watch big sporting events? Why or why not?
  2. How important is sponsorship in these events?
  3. How does brand loyalty and unhealthy food and drinks companies sponsorship result to obesity?
  4. Do you agree that these companies should be banned from sponsoring big sporting events?

85-year-old woman finishes college

B1 – Intermediate

Going back to school isn’t just for children. Even parents and grandparents can go back to school too. They say age is not a barrier to education.

In life, things don’t always happen the way we want them to be. We may delay some things like education to prioritize more important things. But it’s definitely never too late to learn and pursue our dreams.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript on how an 85-year old woman was able to finish college.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/85-year-old-woman-finishes-college-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree that it’s never too late to graduate from college? Explain your answer.
  2. Would you do the same as what Jihad Butto did if you were older and need to finish your education? Why or why not?
  3. Why do students drop out of school?
  4. What might be some challenges faced by an elderly person returning to college?
  5. Do you agree or disagree with the saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”?
  6. What advice can you give elderly people so they can manage their anxieties about going back to school?

Vegetarianism

B1 – Intermediate

Vegetarians do not eat meat, fish, and poultry. People of all ages and backgrounds choose to be vegetarians. Among the many reasons for being vegetarian are health, environment, and animal welfare. The decision to adopt a meat-free diet can be a complex choice.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript on vegetarianism.

https://listenaminute.com/v/vegetarianism.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are you a vegetarian? If not, have you ever considered becoming one?
  2. What reasons do people have for becoming vegetarians?
  3. How do people generally react to vegetarians or vegans in your country?
  4. Have you ever visited a vegetarian restaurant? What was the food like?
  5. Would you marry a vegetarian if it meant you could not cook meat at home?
  6. Can you cook any vegetarian dishes? Talk about something you can make.

Where Do Tips Go?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Tipping is about showing appreciation for good service whether it’s food delivery or a haircut by giving extra cash to the person who rendered service to you. It’s a show of gratitude.

However, tipping is not a universal practice. It’s ultimately your choice whether to slip or skip that gratuity.

Let’s listen to the audio to learn more about tipping at restaurants.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-211021

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to some employers not giving the tips to their employees?
  2. Should tips be taxed? Explain your stand.
  3. Is tipping a custom in your country? What are some of the common occasions when you leave a tip?
  4. Can you think of jobs where tipping is important?
  5. What’s the smallest and biggest tip you have ever left? Why was that so?
  6. What alternatives to tipping could you offer if you didn’t have any cash?