Tag: B1 – Intermediate

Be Safe Around Trains

B1 – Intermediate

Trains are very convenient way to travel from one place to another. However, without proper caution, train stations could be a dangerous place too.

British Transport Police and Network Rail started a campaign on safety at train or railway stations.

Read the transcript and listen to the audio from the link below.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/be-safe-around-trains-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are some of the examples of safety campaigns around trains mentioned on the audio?
  2. What safety campaigns around train stations do you know of?
  3. What rules should you follow at a train station?
  4. How safe are train stations in your country? Give details.
  5. Talk about an accident that has happened at a train station.

11-year-old’s Ballet Video Goes Viral

B1 – Intermediate

Dancing is the art of moving the body to the rhythm of music. It is both an art and a form of recreation. Most people dance to have fun or to entertain others but dancing can also be used for communicating. Dancers express feelings of joy without saying a word.

Let’s read the article below and learn more about an 11-year-old boy whose video went viral.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2007/200714-ballet-dancer-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. How important is dance and what is your favorite form of dance?
  2. What do you think of male ballet dancers?
  3. What do you like to create? What things do you find joy in doing?
  4. What do you have a passion for?
  5. How do you deal with obstacles in front of you?

Man Spent Five Years Too Long in Prison

B1 – Intermediate

A huge mistake caused a man to spend longer in prison than his supposed sentence. Instead of being released in 2015, Sio Agafili ended up being imprisoned for another five years.

The mistake was spotted and Sio Agafili is now free and fighting for his rights after suffering from this injustice.

Read about this news and find out more about this wrongful jail sentence in Samoa. 

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2007/200710-jail-sentence-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on this error?
  2. What should be the compensation for people who suffer this kind of injustice?
  3. How would you feel if you were Agafili and you were imprisoned unlawfully?
  4. Has anything like this happened in Spain? What happened to person who experienced it and what happened after the mistake was discovered?
  5. What do you think of when you hear the word “prison”?

Twitter Employees Can Work at Home Forever

B1 – Intermediate

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey emailed all his employees that most of them can continue working from home for as long as they want.

A Twitter spokesperson said, “Opening offices will be our decision. When and if our employees come back, will be theirs.” Even after the coronavirus pandemic, the employees can still have the freedom to choose where they want to work.

Twitter is an online company so almost all of the employees can just converse on chats and video calls. The past few months have proven that working online is possible.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about Twitter’s decision to let their employees work at their homes forever.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2005/200515-working-at-home-1.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Give 1-2 synonym/s of the phrase “work from home“. “Twitter has told many of it employees they can work from home forever.” Use them in your own sentences.
  2. What does the expression “to be in a good position” mean? “Twitter is in a good position for workers to work at home.” Make your own sentence using the phrase.
  3. What does the expression “to make something happen” mean? “If they want to continue to do so forever, we will make that happen.” Make your own sentence using the phrase.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What was your reaction towards Twitter letting their employees work from home forever?
  2. Do you think that this set up of working from home can still be productive for workers and the company?
  3. What are the advantages of working form home for the employees and the company?
  4. What are the disadvantages of working form home for the employees and the company?
  5. Given a chance, would you want to work from home for the rest of your life? Why?

Black Lives Matter Protests Take Place Worldwide

B1 – Intermediate

The Black Lives Matter protests started again when someone took a video of a police kneeling on George Floyd’s neck that later on, caused his death. The video went viral all around the world reigniting the BLM movement.

People protested on the streets and even on the social media. BLM is now an organized movement in the USA. It advocates for non-violent civil disobedience against African-American people.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2006/200608-black-lives-matter-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the story behind the protests lead by the Black Lives Matter Movement?
  2. What is the purpose of this protest? Do you think it could make a difference?
  3. Were there such protests in your country? How did they go? Would you like to take part in this protest?
  4. How were people of color treated in the USA before? Is there any difference now?
  5. What are some ways to help support advocacies for justice and equality for all?

Huge Financial Rescue Package for UK Arts

B1 – Intermediate

Art is a form of human expression. It is a way not only for everyday people but also artists to show their feelings and true passions. People can be affected in many, different ways through art.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about how the UK has helped support the country’s arts industry post-quarantine and amidst the pandemic.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2007/200708-the%20arts-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What images are in your mind when you hear the word ‘arts’?
  2. What parts of the UK’s culture do you like and know of?
  3. How has corona virus affected the arts in your country?
  4. What do you think of museums? What is your favorite museum and why?
  5. How important is heritage and culture?
  6. What is the “beating heart” of your country?

Ice Cream Business

B1 – Intermediate

Nestlé is one of the biggest food companies in the world. One of their products is ice cream. However, it has not been successful in the US so they decided to sell the business to another company.

Read the transcript and listen to the audio about Nestlé’s ice cream business from the link below.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/ice-cream-business-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you know about the companies Nestlé and Froneri?
  2. Are you a fan of ice cream? What is/are your favorite flavor/s?
  3. How popular is ice cream in your country? What are other popular desserts there?
  4. Is the ice cream business doing well in your country? Why or why not?
  5. What is your opinion on Nestle’s decision to sell their ice cream business to another company?

Bus in Forest

B1 – Intermediate

Some of us want to live an adventurous life. In 1992, a man decided to live in the forest in Alaska. He found an abandoned bus. He lived in that bus but the conditions in this forest were extremely difficult.

After the life of this man was made into a novel and movie, this bus where the man lived became very famous.

Read the transcript and listen to the audio from the link below.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/bus-in-forest-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you know about Alaska?
  2. Would you have wanted to see this bus and experience the hard life in the forest?
  3. How do you think this bus got there?
  4. Why do you think the bus was removed? 
  5. What was your reaction to the removal of the famous bus from the forest?
  6. Have you read the novel or watch the film “Into the Wild”? What do you think of it? If not, just talk about a similar story.

Circus Has Problems

B1 – Intermediate

Cirque du Soleil was founded in 1984 and it has become very famous all over the world since then. They’ve had very successful shows in many different countries. 

However, due to the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the company had faced a lot of money problems.

Read the transcript and listen to the audio from the link below.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/circus-has-problems-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What comes to your mind when you hear ‘circus’?
  2. Have you ever seen any Cirque du Soleil performances? Talk about it.
  3. Now that they might never see them perform again, would you have liked to watch their show or would you like to get the chance to see their show again?
  4. What was your reaction to this news?
  5. Do you think there is still a possibility for this circus group to have shows again in the future? Why or why not?

Reggae a World Cultural Treasure

B1 – Intermediate

Music is an important part of a nation’s culture and heritage. The United Nations has recognized reggae as a cultural treasure that needs to be preserved and passed on to the next generation.

Read this lesson and find out more about reggae as a global cultural heritage.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1812/181201-reggae-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of when you hear ‘reggae’?
  2. What do you think about reggae music? How popular is it in your country?
  3. Do you agree or disagree that reggae should be protected and promoted?
  4. What is the traditional music like in your country? Is it considered cultural treasure by the UN?
  5. How is the traditional music in your country preserved and promoted?