Tag: audio

Top Cities to Visit

B1 – Intermediate

There are many cities in the world that most people like to visit. Perhaps you’ve been to one of them.

It is very important to know some information you can use if you’re planning your next out-of-the-country trip.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript about the top 25 cities to visit.

http://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/top-25-cities-to-visit-in-the-world/2760339.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Which of the cities in the article have you been to? Talk about your experiences there.
  2. Which ones do you want to visit one day and why?
  3. Which cities are the easiest and hardest for you to visit and why?
  4. What is your ultimate dream destination? Why do you want to visit this country so much?
  5. What are some of the best things to do when someone visits your city/country?

Fast Japanese Train

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It is known that transportation in Japan is modern and highly developed.

Let’s look at this fast Japanese train. Be ready to talk about the different modes of transportation you have in your country.

Read the article then watch the video included.

http://www.newsinlevels.com/products/fast-japanese-train-level-3/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on these fast trains in Japan?
  2. What is the most common form of transportation in your country?
  3. Do you think your country needs a fast train like Japan’s maglev train? Why or why not?
  4. Talk about how you normally get to work.

South Korean Government Made K-Pop a Thing

B2 – Upper Intermediate

K-pop or Korean pop music is big in Asia and is now spreading to some European countries. But, in South Korea, K-pop is more than just music. Read the article below and discover how the government of South Korea treats their music industry.

This resource includes an audio clip so feel free to listen to the audio as well.

https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2015/04/13/399414351/how-the-south-korean-government-made-k-pop-a-thing

Discussion Questions:

1. Are you familiar with K-pop? Describe the music industry in your country.
2. Who are some of the very famous musicians in your country? Talk about your preferences in music.
3. Talk about some of the industries in your country that are doing very well or are being taken care of by the government.

Genetically Engineered Rice

0928A876-35C7-41DD-855D-E3543D2B0C37_cx0_cy12_cw0_w987_r1_s_r1

B2 – Upper intermediate

The crisis in food has been foreseen by experts and through this a scientific innovation was developed. This is called GM or Genetically Modified food which resulted in a serious discussion and deliberation whether it will make us healthy or will harm the health of many.

Dispute About Genetically Engineered Rice

Discuss:

1. What is your thought on GM food? Does it contribute to a healthier society?
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this gene modification?
3. Are you now more particular when it comes to buying your food as compared to before?

Smoking: Cause of Preventable Death

C58444FF-337F-469C-A632-F01637D3B567_cx0_cy8_cw0_w987_r1_s_r1

B2 – Upper intermediate

Smoking is linked to preventable deadly diseases like cancer and heart disease. In America the percentage of smokers has dwindled. How about in your country? Anti-smoking measures help a great deal in educating people about this vice and, in the process, reduces the number of smokers.

Smoking is the Leading Cause of Preventable Death

 Discuss:

1. Do you think that graphic warnings on cigarette packages help in educating people?
2. Are there a lot of smokers in your country?
3. What do you think are good ways to quit smoking?

Human Microchips

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Office ID cards are a thing of the past. With this futuristic office in Sweden, you wouldn’t have to worry about forgetting your ID at home ever again. You won’t even need some cash to buy coffee in the cafeteria.

Listen and read as Neil and Harry of BBC’s 6 Minute English talk about this ultramodern identification system.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/persian/features/6-minute-english/ep-150319

*Click the title to watch a video of similar topic: Microchip Implants for Employees

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are we on our way to being part human, part machine?
  2. Would you be interested to try this ID system in this office?
  3. How can we benefit from this kind of technology?
  4. What are the dangers of this technology?
  5. How do you remember all your passwords?

Is changing the clock a waste of time?

large

C1 – Advanced

Daylight Saving Time is the practice of advancing standard time by one hour in the spring of each year and of setting it back by one hour in the fall in order to gain an extra period of daylight during the early evening. Many countries observe this change.

Let’s try to know more about its history and significance. Watch the videos and listen to the audio clips with the transcript.

What is daylight saving time?

Every year billions of us around the world observe the familiar ritual of winding our clocks forward in the spring and turning them back again in the autumn.

To the joy of some and the annoyance of others, this biannual time-tampering first steals 60 minutes of our sleep, then gives us all an ‘extra’ hour in bed. Of course, in reality we are neither losing nor gaining time. By shifting an hour of sunlight during the summer months we’re merely making better use of the daylight temporarily available to us in the evenings.

There are many countries worldwide that do not observe daylight saving time (DST) – and in those that do it has had a somewhat chequered and quirky history. Are those of us who meddle with our clocks making time or killing time?

In the UK we observe Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in the winter months, and advance an hour during British Summer Time (BST). From time to time Parliament has debated the idea of adopting BST throughout the year, but a permanent change is yet to happen.

A permanent change

The case in favour

Those in favour of year-long BST say it would benefit our health and well-being. A 2014 study of 23,000 children in nine countries suggested their activity levels were 15-20% higher on summer days. The Automobile Association estimates that around 100 lives each year would be saved by avoiding traffic accidents on dark evenings.

Year-round BST would also bring the UK into line with Central European Time, helping us to do business with the continent. In the view of the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions this would increase domestic tourism earnings by £2.5-3.5bn.

Meanwhile, an extra hour of evening sunlight in winter could save £485m a year in electricity bills, as households would require less energy to heat and light their homes.

The argument against

Those against a permanent change to BST say it would delay sunrise in northern Scotland until 10am in the winter months. This would leave children at increased risk of accident walking to school in the dark.

Farmers, postal workers and the construction industry have also traditionally supported lighter mornings.

Some say that even if we did move onto BST all year round, we may still end up changing the clocks twice a year. Proposals have been made to adopt GMT+1 during the winter and introduce GMT+2 in summer.

Discuss:

1. What is the resource saying about Daylight Savings Time?
2. Do you see a drawback to having to adjust your clocks on specific seasons?
3. Do you, personally, think that adjusting is a waste of time? Or is this needed?
4. What is the longest night time you have experienced?

The Widening Aisle Of Interracial Marriages

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Multicultural marriages have been more popular than ever. Many reasons have been attributed in seeking partners from another country.

Let’s know more about real people’s accounts. How are they managing their relationship?

http://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2014/02/13/276516736/walking-down-the-widening-aisle-of-interracial-marriages

Discussion Questions:

1. How are interracial and multicultural marriages viewed in your country?
2. Do you have friends or know anyone who married someone of a different race or culture?
3. In your opinion, what are some of the challenges that couples of mixed marriages face?

Building a ‘Halal’ Internet

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Officials in Iran are planning to build a completely separate Internet called Yooz. Its purpose is to filter objectionable information just like China’s “Great Firewall”, the largest web filtering and censorship operation in the world.

Read the article below to know more about Yooz then express your opinions.

http://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/iran-next-step-in-building-hala-internet/2676579.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. How often do you use the internet?
  2. How important is the internet to your day to day life?
  3. What is your opinion about filtered and censored internet access
  4. Do you think that Yooz will do its job in filtering and securing?

Bizarre Foods Around the World

B1 – Intermediate

When travelling, it is usual for other people to try the country’s popular dish. But sometimes we need to be adventurous to try some of the local food.

Let’s find out some of the strangest food around the world. You may read the article.. Watch the video also at the end of the article.

Have you ever heard the proverb one man’s meat is another man’s poison? It is a proverb that means something one person likes very much can be something that another person does not like at all. Here are five foods that might seem bizarre to some people, but delicious to others. Are they your meat or your poison?

Haggis

This is a Scottish dish that contains the internal organs of a sheep. It includes the liver, the heart, and the lungs. This is mixed with onions, raw fat, salt, and spices.

A Fried Brain Sandwich

A fried-brain sandwich is a sandwich made with sliced calves’ brains. It became a popular dish in St. Louis, Missouri, USA in the late 1880s.

Fugu

Fugu is a Japanese poisonous puffer fish. If you eat the poison of this fish, it can kill you. Only specially-trained chefs can prepare this fish because it is so dangerous.

Fried Spider

Fried spider is a delicacy in some parts of Cambodia. The spiders are fried and usually only the legs are eaten.

Sannakji

Sannakji is a Korean dish. It is made with live nakji (small octopuses) that have been cut into small pieces. They are usually still moving on the plate when this dish is served. They are usually seasoned with sesame and sesame oil.

Discuss Questions:

1. What delicacies have you tried?

2. What delicacies do you want to try and those that you never want to?

3. Have you tried strange food before?