Tag: B1 – Intermediate

Voluntourism: Volunteering and Tourism

B1 – Intermediate

Imagine traveling to a foreign country and helping people in need. How about doing both at the same time? There’s a new trend in the travel industry and it is called “voluntourism”.

Click on the link below and find out more about “voluntourism”.

https://www.english-online.at/news-articles/travel/voluntourism-new-trend-in-travel.htm

Discussion Questions:
1. Have you ever done voluntourism? If yes, talk about your experience. If not, Would you be interested to do it? Why/why not?
2. Where would you like to travel and do volunteer works? Why?
3. What do you think are the benefits one can get from this experience?

Speed Limit on Germany’s Autobahn

B1 – Intermediate

The Autobahn is the federal motorway system in Germany. For some types of vehicles, no speed limit is set when traveling through this expressway.

Read the article to know why Germany is thinking to put a limit on vehicle speed on this highway system.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1901/190125-autobahn-speed-limit-2.html

Discussion Questions:
1. Why does Germany want to put speed limits on the Autobahn?
2. What are your thoughts on putting speed limits on the Autobahn?
3. They say the idea of a speed limit on the autobahn is impractical. Do you agree or disagree?

 

Free Public Transport

B1 – Intermediate

How do people usually go to school or work in your city? Often, taking public transportation such as bus or train is one of them.

What if they make bus or train rides free in your city? Some German cities have tried giving free public transport.

Read the article and find out why they want to do this.

https://www.english-online.at/news-articles/travel/german-cities-plan-free-public-transport.htm

Discussion Questions:
1. Why are some German cities giving free transport services?
2. What are the pros and cons of this measure?
3. What is your opinion on this?

Polar Vortex

B1 – Intermediate

Some parts of America are experiencing freezing cold weather due to a polar vortex or the Arctic blast.

Find out more about polar vortex, a few of its consequences and health officials’ advise on what to do to survive this extreme winter weather.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1902/190202-polar-vortex-1.html

Discussion Questions:
1. What is a polar vortex? What are some of its consequences?
2. What are the dos and don’ts during a polar vortex?
3. Talk about the coldest day / winter you’ve ever experienced.

Ninja Tourism

B1 – Intermediate

We probably know ninjas from movies, animations, comics and the likes. But in Japan, ninjas have been an important country symbol since the 15th century.

Find out how ninjas will help Japan increase tourism in their country.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1812/181215-ninja-tourism-1.html

Discussion Questions:
1. What are your thoughts on ninjas?
2. What do you think about using ninjas to increase tourism in Japan?
3. Talk about some of Spain’s country symbols.
4. How is tourism in Spain promoted to the world?
5. What are ways to attract tourists to a country?

Toyota to Save Money

B1 – Intermediate

When companies go through hard financial times, they find ways to lower their expenses. In Toyota’s case, they thought of shutting down some elevators in their main office in Tokyo.

Read the full article to find out more about Toyota’s ways to cut costs.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1607/160710-elevators-1.html

Discussion Questions:
1. Why is Toyota shutting down elevators in their headquarters?
2. What are others ways they are saving money?
3. What cost-cutting measures has your company ever implemented?

Quitting UNESCO

B1 – Intermediate

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a special part of the United Nations (UN). Its mandate is to promote peace and security through the promotion of collaboration among its member nations.

On the first day of this new year, USA and Israel have pulled out its membership of UNESCO.

Read more about this news through the link below:

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1901/190104-unesco-2.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your opinion on US and Israel quitting UNESCO?
2. What do you think are its consequences on these countries and UNESCO itself?
3. Talk about some UNESCO World Heritage Sites in your city/country.

Japan Wants More Foreign Workers

B1 – Intermediate

Japan has a problem with its aging population. Japanese are getting older but less children are being born. They need a lot of workers but there are not enough people.

The government wants to get workers from other countries.

Find out more about this problem in Japan and the government’s solution to it. Read the article below.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1812/181211-foreign-workers-1.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the expression “to continue along the same path” mean? Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What does “low-skilled” mean? Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:
1. Why did Japan decide to open the country to more foreign workers?
2. What do you think would be the positive and negative effects of this new policy on Japan?
3. Would you be interested to move to this country?
4. If you were to live in another country, where would it be?
5. What do you think are the good and bad things about moving to a foreign country?

Tariffs and Trade War

B1 – Intermediate

A tariff is a tax on imported goods and services from foreign countries. US plans to add tariffs on Chinese products. If this happens, China will answer by doing the same on US goods.

Read the article below and find out about trade wars.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1803/180325-trade-war-1.html

Discussion Questions:
1. What are the effects of US’s plans to put trade tariffs on Chinese goods?
2. How will this affect trade in the whole world?
3. Which countries does your country buy goods from and which countries buy goods from your country?

Working Many Hours

B1 – Intermediate

Tesla founder Elon Musk believes people should work more than the typical 35-40 hours a week in order to change the world. In fact, many CEOs of multi-billion-dollar companies work about 70 hours per week.

Read the article and be ready to talk about working very long hours.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1811/181129-working-week-1.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “workaholic” mean? “He is a workaholic but he loves working.” Use this word in your own sentence.
  2. What is a “founder“? “He is the founder, CEO, and lead designer of SpaceX.” Use this word in your own sentence.
  3. What is a “co-founder“? “He is the co-founder of PayPal.” Use this word in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on Mr. Musk’s idea?
  2. What might be the good and bad things about being a workaholic?
  3. Talk about your own experience working long hours.