Tag: audio

Is Punctuality Important?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Punctuality isn’t universal as it varies from culture to culture. For some countries, it might be fuzzy as time moves in different pace, but it doesn’t mean that if someone is strictly conditioned to be on time that the person would be cultivated that way. It still depends on the individual. For this reason, some are always on time and some are late regardless whether punctuality is observed in their country or not.

Learn more about why punctuality is a struggle for many who couldn’t manage to be on time.

Listen to this audio and learn more about punctuality.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Does being prompt or on time matter to you? Is being on time important in your country? Why or why not?
  2. Do you think people in your country are somehow trained to be on time from when you are young? How can you say so?
  3. How does being punctual impact your personal and professional life?
  4. Why is being late trivial to some?
  5. Do you agree that being on time is a choice? Explain your stand.

PlayStation 5

B1 – Intermediate

Sony’s PlayStation 5 is still in high demand that outlet stores and courier companies have been overwhelmed by the number of purchases people made. The Tokyo-based tech giant anticipated the high volume of sales because of the holiday season and people being confined at home due to the coronavirus.

Read the text and listen to the audio about the new PlayStation 5.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/playstation-5-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are you a fan of gaming consoles?
  2. What do you think are the reasons why there is an increasing number of people buying them?
  3. What forms of entertainment did you enjoy as a child? How would you compare them with gaming consoles?
  4. What is the name of the competitor mentioned in the article?
  5. Why do you think children get hooked on this kind of gadget?

New Device Puts Music in Your Head

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Move over, ear pods! Get out of the way, headsets!

Noveto Systems invented a device that sends sound directly to listeners. With this new technology, there is no need for headphones.

Are we soon going to bid ear pods and headsets farewell?

Watch the video, listen to the audio, and/or read the transcript about the new technology known as “sound beaming”.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/new-device-puts-music-in-your-head-/5659759.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this new technology?
  2. How do you like listening to your music? What device do you use in listening?
  3. Do you think that with this technology, we would eventually no longer have the need for headsets and such listening devices?
  4. What technology related to music do you want to see in the future?
  5. What gadgets / technology for music are popular in your country these days?

New Alzheimer’s Drug

B1 – Intermediate

Are you recently having some senior moments? Hold your horses and keep calm because as it turns out, you are not alone! It is estimated that around 5 million Americans of all ages suffer from Alzheimer’s.

Thankfully, Science is not sleeping. A US company is claiming that they are already close to getting their Alzheimer’s drug approved for use.

Click the link below and listen to the audio to know more about this new development.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/new-alzheimers-drug-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on this new drug?
  2. What are your thoughts on the number of people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease?
  3. How important are your memories to you?
  4. How would you feel if you wake up one day and realize that you have lost all your memories?

Get Out of Bed When You Can’t Sleep

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Sleep is one of the most vital and essential things we need for survival. It is the phase where our awareness and stimuli from the environment are being reduced. Sleep was often neglected though, it is one of the major components of overall health of individuals. One of the reasons why sleep is important is because it helps the body to be fit and have energy for another day of work.

But what should you do if you can’t sleep? Let’s check out this video for more information on what you can do when sleep eludes you.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Can you sleep easily? Why or why not?
  2. What do you do when you can’t sleep?
  3. Why do we need to get out of bed when we can’t sleep?
  4. What is chronic insomnia? Do you know anyone who suffers from it? Describe their condition.
  5. Talk about the least and longest sleep you’ve ever had.

Chatting about a Series

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It’s amazing how there are so many great TV series to watch to entertain and even help us learn. Thus, we can share and talk about these with our family and friends. What series do you enjoy watching?

Let’s listen to this podcast about the TV series.

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/skills/listening/intermediate-b1/chatting-about-a-series

Discussion Questions:

  1. What series do you think this chat is about?

2. What’s your favorite TV show and why? Can you recommend a TV series? Tell us the plot.

3. What streaming platform do you use to watch TV series? Why have you chosen this platform?

4. Are TV series getting better or worse?

5. Why do you think watching series is a popular past-time?

What’s the Point of Blood Types?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

I don’t think we are consciously aware of why we have different types of blood. For some cultures, it could be a determiner of how you possess your personality.

Scientifically, our blood types are most likely to exist to fend off some infectious diseases such as the one that the world is currently facing. They say that the one that defines blood types are the genes that were inherited.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree with the personality type associated with your blood type mentioned in the audio?
  2. How important is it to know our blood types? How does knowing it been helpful to you so far?
  3. Are different blood types related to different personalities? Support your stand.
  4. When did you know your blood type? What was the situation you were in that led to you knowing your blood type?
  5. Talk about the unique beliefs in your country related to blood types?

No More Bosses

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Holacracy is a method of removing job titles and hierarchy. In this system, decision-making is distributed among self-managing teams. In this method, certain positions in the business hierarchy such as managers are dissolved.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the benefits of having a boss/manager? Can you think of any disadvantages in the absence of one?
  2. Do you agree with holacracy? Are there companies in your country that practice holacracy?
  3. Describe your relationship with your former and current bosses. How helpful were they to you?

Coronavirus: Dealing with Mass Unemployment

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A lot of people have been stressing about being permanently or temporarily laid off from their jobs because of the coronavirus pandemic. It has caused financial problems to a lot of people. Some started finding jobs that are not in their fields of expertise and some have been trying to survive by the money that the government has given them. They say that we are not yet in a place where we can talk about recovery and the ripple effect will come in the future.

Let’s listen to the audio below to learn more.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-200924

Discussion Questions:

  1. Has the pandemic caused mass unemployment in your country?
  2. What would be the ripple effect of mass unemployment?
  3. Would upskilling or reskilling be the answer to our problem?
  4. What are your thoughts about not having a job for life?
  5. What do you think are other ways to deal with mass unemployment?

A Man Collects Old Phones

B1 – Intermediate

Hassan al-Tourky has a fascination for old phones. This is his unusual past-time. He and his children have the same passion for old telephones. They even have a small business for it.

Read the transcript and listen to the audio to find out more about Hassan al-Tourky’s unusual hobby.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/a-man-collects-old-phones-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your hobbies? What are your unusual hobbies?
  2. What thing/things do you collect? Why do you love them?
  3. If you could collect any old thing what would it be and why?
  4. What thing do you want to own from a famous person?
  5. Do you want your children to have the same hobby as you? Why or why not?
  6. Why is having a hobby important?