Tag: audio

China Moves to Ban Use of Uyghur Language in Schools

B2 – Upper intermediate

National language drives national unity in any country, even if there are hundreds of other languages and dialects present in the state. Apart from a name, boundary, currency, or flag, a national language makes a country respectable. National language clearly indicates the national character of a country. If you want to profoundly understand and penetrate into a society, you must know how to speak and write their language.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript:

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/china-moves-to-ban-uyghur-language-in-schools/3969575.html

Discussion Questions:
1. Do you think this measure is an act of ethnic discrimination or a measure to educate everyone in the country to speak one common language?
2. Is it important to have one national language known and used by everyone in the country?
3. How many languages are spoken in your country?

 

 

Avoiding the Post-Vacation Blues

C1 – Advanced

After few weeks or a month-long holiday some employees feel sad and depress of the workload that they left.  This sensation is called post-vacation syndrome (PVS) or post-vacation blues it is a type of mood that persons returning home from a long trip (usually a vacation) may experience.

In this video, we will tackle how to overcome Post-Vacation Blues and bounce back immediately after your summer vacation. Watch the video below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are the symptoms of post-vacation syndrome?
2. What are the ways to prevent PVS according to the video?
3. Do you sometimes spend time working for few hours during your vacation?
4. Do you have a lot of work load after your vacation?
5. What do you think are the pros and cons of “Workcation” (working from a vacation destination)?

The Healing Power of Nature

B2 – Upper intermediate

Have you ever felt stressed out because of your busy life? Are you sick and tired of the pollution in the city?  Then you might want to recharge and reconnect yourself with nature.

Watch the video below and talk about how immersing yourself in nature will heal you.

Discussion questions:

1. Do you feel stress out living in the city?
2. What do you do to relieve your stress?
3. Do you like doing outdoor activities?
4. Do you agree that nature has an incredible healing power?

Blind Cambridge Law Degree Holder

B1 – Intermediate

You really don’t have to subscribe to the life that was written for you.
– Allan Hennessy

He is not your ordinary guy. Mediocrity is not the way to describe him. Disability did not overtake his life.

Watch the video to get a glimpse of Allan Hennessy’s life.

http://www.bbc.com/news/av/education-40710025/the-disabled-refugee-with-a-first-class-cambridge-law-degree

Discussion Questions:

1. Describe Allan Hennessy.
2. What are his challenges and how did he overcome them?
3. What is his life story about?
4. What lessons did you learn from his life?
5. Have you ever broken free from labels and stereotypes?

Finding Your Passion

B2 – Upper Intermediate

You know exactly what you’re passionate about, and you can recite your elevator pitch in your sleep, but no one would know it based on your job title.

Maybe you don’t yet have the necessary skills or experience to land your dream job. Maybe you’re about to make a big career change. Or maybe what you’re passionate about just isn’t a financially viable option. (After all, “Follow your passion” may make a great commencement speech theme, but it’s certainly not a career plan. Some argue it’s not even great advice.)

Watch the vide below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are you passionate about?
2. How did you find out what your passion was?
3. Do you agree with the statement: “Finding your passion means you’ll never have a job.”?
4. Do you think finding your dream job is unrealistic?
5. What stops people from following their passions in life?

Clearing Up Confusions

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Rumors in the workplace can lead to hurt feelings and may mean employees have to work in a hostile environment. Whether a rumor is true or not, the outcome of spreading it can be damaging. Employers have a responsibility to try to control the spread of workplace rumors to ensure that the work environment is a positive place for all employees.

Watch the video and read the transcript about clearing up confusions.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/english-at-work/47-language-to-clear-up-confusion

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you and your colleagues chit chat with each other? Why or why not?
  2. Talk about a situation where it was necessary for you to clear up a confusion at work.
  3. What are some common topics do coworkers speak about?
  4. What are things employees shouldn’t be talking about among themselves in the office?
  5. How damaging is it to spread rumors in the workplace? Explain and cite examples as well.

Google to Stop Searching Email to Sell Advertisements

 

© user: photo-mix / Pixabay / Public Domain
© user: photo-mix / Pixabay / Public Domain

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Do you ever wonder why the right products show up on the side of your screen whenever you open the Google website? They are secretly scanning and searching for our activities and match it with the products we would likely buy. For some, the thought of it is scary. No wonder human rights activists are concerned about it for years.

Read more about it here:

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/google-stop-scanning-ads-gmail/3916800.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What email service do you use? Why?
2. Do you find online ads useful or annoying? Why?
3. Why do you think Google is the most popular search engine?
4. Do you worry about your privacy when you browse the internet? Why? Why not?
5. Do you think that email scanning is an invasion of privacy? Why? Why not?

Banning Smartphones for Children Under 13

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© User: 3dman_eu / pixabay / CC0

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Kids born in the late 1990s and early 2000s are born in the digital age. Some kids as young as 2 years old already knows how to turn on a phone and use some apps. Young children learn how to use devices or gadgets such as mobile phones very easily these days but is it beneficial for them to start using cell phones at a young age?

Let us read the article below first and then answer the questions that follow.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/colorado-moves-to-ban-smartphones-for-children-under-13/3906933.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think about the proposal?
2. Why do you think the proposal only targets phones with internet access?
3. What “mental effects” might constant smartphone use have on children?
4. Would you agree that a child’s smartphone usage is a “family matter?” Why? Why not?
5. Do you agree that children under the age of 6 should only watch an hour of videos a day? Why? Why not?
6. Do you think that the children of today will be completely dependent on digital devices by the time they grow up? Why? Why not?

Boy Beats Disability

B1 – Intermediate

Everyday, thousands of people with disabilities are challenged. Disability need not be an obstacle for this boy to succeed.

Read the transcript and/or watch the video to find out more about an incredible 10-year old boy who faced up to challenges of being disabled.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/boy-beats-disability-level-3/

Discussion Questions:
1. What kinds of disability do you know of?

2. What kinds of discrimination do people with disabilities face?

3. What can you do to help handicapped people?

4. Does your country have special training facilities for handicapped people?

5. Can a physical disability prevent a person from succeeding?

No Wi-Fi, No Problem

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever imagined a world without internet? Can you live or work in such an environment? Well, there’s a place in the US where they don’t have any wi-fi or even an internet connection.

Let’s read more about the lifestyle of the people living in this place and start a discussion.

https://www.voanews.com/a/no-wi-fi-no-internet-no-problem/3784710.html

Discussion Questions:

1. How would you feel about living in a town with no internet service? Why?
2. What do you imagine the lifestyle of Green Bank residents is like?
3. Do you think it is difficult for Green Bank residents to stay informed? Why? Why not?
4. How do you think the priorities of people living with and without the internet differ?
5. Are there any populated areas in your country with no internet access?