Tag: B1 – Intermediate

104-Year-Old Woman Learns to Read and Write

B1 – Intermediate

Reading and writing helps us analyze, understand, and communicate well with others. These skills are useful for school, work, and in our daily lives. Literacy is important. No matter what your age is, it’s never too late to learn to read and write.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about the old woman who learns to read and write at the age of 104.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2112/211206-learning-to-read-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about Kuttiyamma and her achievement?
  2. How important is literacy?
  3. What advice do you have to improve your reading and writing skills?
  4. We can do anything if we put our minds to it. Do you agree or disagree? Explain.
  5. Do you think you would start learning something you do not know about when you are very very old? Why or why not?

Ten-Minute TikTok Videos

B1 – Intermediate

TikTok is a social media platform where one can create, share, discover new and short videos. This app is used to express ones thoughts and opinions, knowledge and facts, and even get entertained by others singing, dancing, and also lip-syncing.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about it.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2203/220303-10-minute-tiktok-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about this change on TikTok?
  2. Which is better – TikTok or YouTube? Why?
  3. Which are better – movies or social media videos? Why?
  4. What social media platforms do you like and dislike?
  5. What do you use social media for?
  6. Why are longer videos more popular with older people? Explain.

World’s Largest Cruise Ship

B1 – Intermediate

A cruise ship is a large ship that stops at different ports and takes people to different destinations for means of travel and leisure.

The Royal Caribbean’s “Wonder of the Seas” is the largest cruise ship ever and it had set sail.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about the largest cruise ship ever.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2203/220317-cruise-ship-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about the Wonder of the Seas? Would you like to go on a cruise on this ship? Why or why not?
  2. Have you ever gone on a cruise? Talk about your experience. If not, would you like to and where would you like to go?
  3. What do you think of the movie ‘Titanic’?
  4. What are the good and bad things about cruises?
  5. How environmentally-friendly are cruise ships? Explain.

Smartphone You Can Repair

B1 – Intermediate

Smartphones are now part of our young generation’s lives. By using it most of the time, it can easily get drained and damaged. Getting them fixed by repairing experts may cost so much money that’s why others prefer to fix it themselves. Luckily, there’s a company who lets us do this.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about smartphones that you can repair yourself.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2203/220321-smartphone-repairs-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you feel when your smartphone gets broken/damaged?
  2. Do you think it’s a good idea to repair your own mobile phone? Explain.
  3. How can the electronics industry reduce its waste?
  4. How can we reduce our e-wastes?
  5. How durable and long-lasting should smartphones be? Why?

Electric Scooter Speaker

B1 – Intermediate

Electric scooters have become very trendy nowadays. They are safe, eco-friendly, and most of all, very convenient to park. It’s fun, easy to ride, and takes little storage space. They are much more cheaper than cars and people can afford to buy and use them.

The electric scooter maker Segway made a speaker that could warn others about a scooter coming their way.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about Segway’s Engine Speaker.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2204/220418-electric-scooters-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about this speaker? In your opinion, how useful is it?
  2. What are the good and bad things about electric scooters?
  3. Should people be required a driving license to use an electric scooter? Why or why not?
  4. What do you think of being able to use a V12 engine sound?
  5. What causes noise pollution in your town?

Family

B1 – Intermediate

In today’s generation where everything has lost its value, the essence of family is more significant than ever. Even when the world gets more technological and developed, societies should try to put importance on family and what it represents.

Let’s read the transcript and listen to the audio about family.

https://listenaminute.com/f/family.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Family is the basic unit of society. Explain this statement.
  2. How important is your family to you and how important do you think you are to your family?
  3. Do you prefer spending time with your family or friends?
  4. There is much talk recently of increased social problems due to family breakdown. Is this true in your country?
  5. How to maintain a harmonious relationship within the family?

Fortune Tellers Work Online

B1 – Intermediate

Fortune telling is a curious thing. Many people try it out just to see how it works, while others fully believe in the power of these predictions. Others are also very vocal about this practice as being a hoax. Despite these opposing views, a lot still seek them out as a way to secure their future.

In Thailand, people became innovative when the pandemic hit. They found a way to still avail of fortune-telling services even with limited movement.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about online fortune-telling services.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/fortune-tellers-work-online-level-2/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you believe in fortune telling? Why or why not?
  2. How popular is fortune telling in your culture?
  3. Why do some people trust fortune tellers?
  4. How has fortune telling affected people’s decisions in positive or negative ways?
  5. What are some jobs that have resorted to online platforms due to the pandemic?

Scientists Make Skin Look Younger

B1 – Intermediate

Beautiful skin is a healthy skin. Taking good care of your skin and protecting it is very important. As the largest organ you have, your skin is essential to your general health. If the skin is unable to function well, it will affect the other parts of the body.

One obvious signs of ageing is how our skin changes as we grow older. It is important to take care of your skin if you want keep looking young.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about new technique that can slow down the ageing process.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2204/220414-younger-looking-skin-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about this technique?
  2. Would you rather look younger or feel younger? Why?
  3. How do you take care of your skin?
  4. How can we slow down the ageing process?
  5. What problems do people have as they age?

Elon Musk Buys Twitter

B1 – Intermediate

Elon Musk is one of the most intelligent people alive as well as one of the richest with a net worth of around 20 billion dollars. Many know this man by his three highly successful companies; SolarCity, Tesla, and SpaceX.

Let us read the article below and learn more about Elon Musk buying Twitter.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2204/220428-twitter.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about Elon Musk’s decision to buy Twitter?
  2. Musk thinks Twitter has a lot of potential. Do you agree with him? Why or why not?
  3. What do you know about Elon Musk?
  4. What are the good and bad things about social media websites?
  5. How important is free speech? Explain.

Problems with Bottled Water

B1 – Intermediate

Water isn’t a luxury. It is a basic need. Unfortunately, many people do not have access to safe drinking water. This is why bottled water is very important. All over the world, people drink bottled water.

However, there are many problems with producing this drink.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the problem with water bottles.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/problems-with-bottled-water-level-2/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the problems with bottled water?
  2. What should be done to lessen these problems?
  3. Is drinking bottled water also very common in your country? Why is that? 
  4. How often do you buy bottled water? 
  5. Now that you know the problems bottled water bring, would you change your habits in consuming them? Why or why not?