Tag: audio

Multiculturalism

B1 – Intermediate

Every culture has something interesting about it. When people from different cultures live in one place, the city becomes a melting pot or multicultural. The world has become smaller because of multiculturalism. It is now very common to see cities that are melting pots of different cultures.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript about multiculturalism.

https://listenaminute.com/m/multiculturalism.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about multiculturalism?
  2. What are the good and bad things about a multicultural city?
  3. Do you live in a multicultural city? Have you ever been to a multicultural city? Talk about your experience.
  4. Which culture do you find most interesting? Why?
  5. What is most interesting about your culture?

Leader’s Health

B1 – Intermediate

Depending on the type of government, countries use different titles to address their leader. They go by different titles such as president, prime minister, chief executive, chancellor, and many more. These leaders play very vital roles in all aspects of nation building. Hence, any issue on their health is a topic their people could not just shrug off.

Read the transcript and listen to the audio from the link below.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/leaders-health-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the speculations about North Korea’s leader’s health?
  2. Why is it difficult to verify these speculations?
  3. Do you agree that leaders should make frequent public appearances?
  4. Do you think that country leaders should release their medical records regularly? Why or why not?
  5. Should good state of health be an important qualification for aspiring politicians too?

Hotel Guests Information Hacked

B1 – Intermediate

Hotels are your home away from home. You book hotels when you are on holiday or business trip. To do that, you need to give them your personal information including your credit card information. But what if those information were stolen from them?

Read the transcript and listen to the audio about a hotel chain’s hacking incident.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/hotel-guests-information-level-2/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this news?
  2. What can businesses do to protect themselves from hacking?
  3. Talk about other people or companies whose accounts/systems have been hacked.
  4. When is hacking good and bad?
  5. If you were to hack a person or company’s account or system, who or which would it be and why? What information would you like to see?

Fathers Are Too Old

B1 – Intermediate

Some men would say that becoming a father is the best thing that ever happened to them. They claim that the best thing about it is the fulfillment you get in raising someone and seeing them grow up to be great people. But is there a perfect age to become a dad?

Click the link below to read the transcript and listen to the audio about being a father when you are older.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/fathers-are-too-old-level-2/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do men delay having children?
  2. What is your opinion on sperm freezing? Is it popularly done by men in your country?
  3. Do you agree or disagree that earlier fatherhood should be promoted among young men?
  4. What are the good and bad things about having children when you are older?
  5. Do you think men in your country are having children when they are younger or older? Why do you think this is the case?
  6. Talk about your father or being a father yourself.

Housewives

B1 – Intermediate

Many decades ago, women were expected to stay at home after they got married. They had to take care of the children and maintain their homes. Nowadays, more women are working. There are still a few who are housewives.

Listen to the audio about being a housewife.

https://listenaminute.com/h/housewives.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree that a housewife’s job is very demanding?
  2. How does the speaker describe a day in the life of a housewife?
  3. In your country, are there more stay-at-home wives or working mothers? Why do you think that is the case?
  4. What is your ideal family set-up?
  5. How can working mothers do both their domestic and professional duties efficiently?

How Would You Like to Pay?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There are a lot of different options to pay for the things we need now. One must wonder which really is the best way.

Listen to the audio to figure out which method best suits your circumstances.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-160211

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the easiest way to pay? Which one do you prefer most?
  2. What are the risks of using debit cards or credit cards in shopping?
  3. What are your thoughts on mobile phones, contactless cards, and fingerprinting as payment methods?
  4. Are credit/debit card frauds common in your country? Have you or anyone you know ever been a victim of credit/debit card fraud? Share your story.
  5. Do you agree or disagree that the days of paying by cash is nearly history?

Line Management

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Managers are the ones responsible for controlling damages, creating new tactics, trainings, and administering new procedures to make sure the company runs smoothly.

Most of the time, the manager is the go-to person of old and new employees when they need assistance at work.

Listen to the audio and let’s see how managers handle different staff.

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/business-english/podcasts-for-professionals/line-management#

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you ever managed staff? Talk about your experience.
  2. Explain why line management matters.
  3. What makes a good line manager?
  4. What are some management strategies you know of?
  5. What are the aspects of managing that could be difficult?
  6. What are the positive things about managing staff?

Tips for Parents Coping with Kids at Home

B2 – Upper Intermediate

How can we turn self-isolation into family bonding time? During this difficult time of quarantine, we have learned how to adapt to living, working, and educating from home. What are some of the important things parent should know to stay creative as a family during a lock down?

Listen to the conversation and learn some tips to cope with kids at home.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-200430

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the country described in the audio that has the longest school summer holidays?
  2. Did your daily routines change when lock down started? What are your normal routines during isolation?
  3. Explain how you help your kids cope with the lock down.
  4. How do you keep your kids happy during the lock down?
  5. What advice can you give other parents so they can survive this unprecedented situation?

Are Bucket Lists Always a Good Thing?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The term “bucket list” is a list of all the goals and dreams we want to achieve in our lives before we kick the bucket. It can be in a duration of a month, a year, or even a lifetime; depending on the person. Almost everyone makes a bucket list. Some are doable but others are just unachievable. More or less, people make one for some sort of self-fulfillment.

Hear more information about it from the audio below.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-200416

Discussion Questions:

  1. How can having a bucket list be good for you?
  2. How can having a bucket list be bad for yourself and/or others?
  3. What items are on your bucket list?
  4. Do you like planning activities or are you the spontaneous type?
  5. What really excites you the most in life?

The Power of Crying

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Everyone had shed tears in our lifetime. Starting from the day we were born until we aged. There are countless reasons why people cry – from irritations in our eyes to different emotions we feel. Crying is part of human nature that can actually benefit us somehow.

Hear more information about it through the audio below.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-200423

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are reasons people cry?
  2. Why do women cry more than men?
  3. Why is it embarrassing for a man to be seen crying?
  4. Do you often cry? What makes you cry?
  5. How can crying help people?