phone english blogB1 – Intermediate
Many people drink caffeinated drinks to stay awake. A new study conducted by American and British researchers reveals the effect of caffeine on sleeping pattern.
Watch the video below to find out more.
Discussion Questions:
1. What is the video (research) about?
2. Do you like drinking caffeinated drinks?
3. How often and how much coffee or tea do you drink?
4. What is circadian rhythm? How important is it?
B2 – Upper intermediate
For the longest time China has sat tight with the law of one child per family. But, in 2015, the country announced its plan of lifting the old law and moving forward with two children per family.
Read the article below then express your thoughts about the topic.
Discuss:
1. What do you know of China’s previous one-child policy?
2. Is it good for the government to pass such laws?
3. How would you describe the population in your country?
B2 – Upper intermediate
The say that the clothes make a man. But do clothing really matter? Is the way you dress significant to who you are?
Listen to the podcast and be ready to answer some discussion questions. Be prepared to also study and explain some vocabulary words.
Discuss:
1. According to the podcast, explain what a sari is. How is it worn?
2. How would you describe your style when it comes to clothes? What are your preferences?
3. How do you usually dress for work? Do you have a dress code at the office?
4. What is your opinion of the clothes that we have now in this generation?
B2 – Upper intermediate
As one Yiddish proverb goes, “What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul“. What do you make of this expression?
Listen to Alice and Neil’s conversation in this BBC 6 Minute English episode entitled, “What makes us laugh?”
Discuss:
1. Do you think there is a connection between depression and comedy?
2. What kind of comedy do you prefer?
3. When was the last time you laughed so hard that it made you cry?
4. Please share some funny/famous Spanish jokes or stories.
B2 – Upper intermediate
Humans have always been curious about things – almost everything. Our curiosity has brought us beyond planet Earth, searching for the answers of unending questions about life. Is there life somewhere outside our beautiful planet?
Watch the video then read the article to know more.
Discuss:
1. Is it really worth the enormous expense to search for any life outside planet Earth while poverty, crime, diseases and death are still left unsolved?
2. Do you think there is life existence in other planets?
B2 – Upper Intermediate
Because of various researches and studies, we have become aware of the consequences of smoking. In China, alarming results of a report exposes the dangers of smoking among young Chinese men.
Read the article below and be ready to talk about health.
http://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/smoking-will-kill-one-in-three-young-men-in-china/3013944.html
Discussion Questions:
1. Explain the graph (The Price of Smoking Around the World) featured in the article.
2. Do you think that increasing the price of cigarettes will help reduce the number of smokers or cigarette-related deaths?
3. What are other good ways to discourage people from smoking?
B2 – Upper intermediate
There is a strange correlation between the United States and school shootings. Debates on gun control have emerged since but people are still awaiting conclusions.
Read the article and watch the video, then share your thoughts about the topic.
Discuss:
1. What is your reaction to the whole issue of gun control in the US?
2. Does your country have very good laws when it comes to owning and purchasing firearms?
3. In the US, what do you think is the root cause for their increased gun violence?
B2 – Upper intermediate
According to entertainment magazine People, Sandra Bullock is the most beautiful person in the world. Whether you agree or not, the magazine surely stirred up people’s interest. Our take on beauty is very individual and is shaped by our environment and experiences.
Discuss:
1. Our View on Beauty: Personal or Genetic? What does the new study suggest?
2. What do you find beautiful in a face?
3. What does “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” mean?
4. How many different adjectives can you think of to describe a beautiful woman or a handsome man?
C1 – Advanced
Listen to the news clip about ecotourism then be ready to answer some discussion questions.
Choose the speed that you prefer to practice your listening and comprehension. You may also listen and read along using the transcript below the audio clip.
Discuss:
1. What is ‘ecotourism’? What do you think of it?
2. What are its benefits? How about the possible dangers?
3. How can we best help animals in the wild?
4. What parts of the world should be off limits to humans?
B2 – Upper intermediate
Martin Shkreli just made hundreds of people hate him by making an outrageous decision of raising the price of his company’s products.
Read the article below to know more about the effects of his detested choice.
Discuss:
1. Is it fair that companies have the right to hike the price of their product as much as they desire?
2. How do you think consumers should be protected from any price hike of commodities?
3. Are pharmaceutical products in Spain affordable?