Tag: B1 – Intermediate

Why Does Society Value Beauty Over Brains?

B1 – Intermediate

The ideal for beauty includes flawless skin, shiny, healthy hair, big eyes, even features and a proportioned body shape. This ideal has remained true throughout our history.

People seem so obsessed with beauty that a pertinent question might not be what it is, but why it is so important to us?

Click the link below to have a better understanding why most of us value beauty more than intelligence.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/quora/2014/01/11/women_and_beauty_why_does_society_value_looks_over_intelligence.html

Talking Points

  1. Do you think beauty affects self-esteem?
  2. How do you define beauty, using your own words?
  3. How popular is plastic surgery in your country?
  4. What are some of the negatives about being beautiful?
  5. Do you think beauty is related to power?

11 Ways to Tell If You’re an Annoying Neighbor

B1 – Intermediate

From apartments to tiny houses, noisy neighbors can be a terrible nuisance to deal with.  Noisy neighbors can really be irritating at times, disturbing your sleep and regular activities.  However, we too, are neighbors to other people and sometimes, we may not know we’re bothering others.

Read the article below to see if you fall into the category of nice or annoying and be able to discuss the questions that follow:

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-corbett/are-you-an-annoying-neigh_b_6016682.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the most common neighbor complaints?
  2. Do you get on well with your neighbors?
  3. What kind of neighbor are you?
  4. Have you ever had problems with your neighbors? Explain.
  5. What is it that neighbors do that peeves you the most?
  6. Have you ever considered suing your neighbor? Why?
  7. Do you treat others as you’d like to be treated?
  8. How do you keep your neighbors from complaining?

How to Improve your English Speaking Skills

B1 – Lower Intermediate

Have you tried almost every technique to study English? Are they effective? Do you want to try another technique that will help you improve your English speaking skills? Then, let’s watch the video below. We can practice or start a discussion later.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What kind of techniques or methods have you tried to improve your speaking skills?
  2. Which is the most effective method?
  3. What do you think about the technique in the video?
  4. What are your weaknesses and strengths in English?

Headaches

B1 – Intermediate

Almost everyone suffers from a headache at least once a year. In most cases, they are not dangerous and the person suffering it can still function normally. 

Headache is usually described as pain anywhere in the region of the head or neck. Headaches are very common and their effect can range from mild to worst.

Read on to know about the types of headaches, their causes, and ways to treat them.

https://www.english-online.at/health_medicine/headache/headache-disorder-of-nervous-system.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you often suffer from headaches? What type of headache do you often suffer from? What usually cause them?
  2. What do you do when you have a headache?
  3. Do you think people should see a doctor immediately when they have a headache? Why/why not?
  4. Some say that physical activities such as exercise can help with relieving headaches. Do you agree or disagree with this? Explain.

Snow in Spain Traps Thousands

B1 – Lower Intermediate

Spain has experienced drought last year but at the beginning of this year there was a huge amount of snow fall which trapped thousands of people on the road for more than 13 hours.

Let us read the full story of the article from the link below and let’s start a discussion.

Snow in Spain traps thousands of people in cars overnight

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of the drastic changes of the weather?
  2. Have you ever experienced being stranded in a place because of snow?
  3. Do you think this incident could have been avoided? How?

Having a Sister Makes Us More Optimistic

B1 – Lower Intermediate

Siblings play a unique role in one another’s lives. Because siblings often grow up in the same household, they have a large amount of exposure to one another. Only, people with sisters are said to be more optimistic than those with brothers or without any siblings. What’s your opinion?

People with sisters are happier and more optimistic, study shows

Discussion questions:

1. Do you agree with the study?

2. Tell me about your brother/sister. How has your relationship changed since childhood?

3. What kind of a sibling are you?

4. Who always teaches you to be positive and kinder?

5. As a parent/future parent, how can you encourage and promote a healthy sibling relationship with your children?

Help for People in Debts

B1 – Intermediate

We need money for spending on various thing like house rent or a mortgage, cars, bills, travels, and a lot more. Some people owe huge amounts of money. Many of them can’t get out of the red.

Read more on how the South Korean government would try to assist those under a pile of debts.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1712/171202-debt.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “scheme” mean? ” “The scheme was a big promise of a former South Korean president.”  Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “debt” mean? “The Korea Times newspaper said the government is, “preventing numerous working families from going bankrupt under a mountain of debt.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does the phrase “write off” mean here, “South Korea is going to write off the debts of as many as 1.6 million people.” Make your own sentence using this phrase.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are your thoughts on what the South Korean government is doing?
2. What do you think of how people are spending money in your country?
3. What is your government doing to help people with a lot of debts?
4. What comes to your mind when you hear the word ‘debt’?
5. What advice can you give someone who is in debt?

Online Forever

B1 – Intermediate

Posting our personal activities online has become the norm over the last decade that some companies use this as their way of checking one’s background when one is applying for a job. This can be really critical for some people who post very personal things on social media such as embarrassing photos or perhaps a strongly worded status update. So next time you click post or send, you might want to think twice.

Read the article below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

The past can return and haunt you. In today’s age of social networking and electronic communication, that statement seems truer than ever. A comment on a forum here or a blog post there, or even photos of some raucous party can all return and undermine education and career prospects.

An increasing number of universities and employers use the Internet to vet possible candidates. After all, institutions and companies spend so much money on lessons, training, and facilities, the more they know about the person, the more accurate their decision. If what pops up on sites and blogs doesn’t pass muster, let’s say lots of photos and comments about drunken weekends and hangovers, then it’s into the circular filing cabinet your application goes.

Source: headsupenglish.com

Discussion Questions:

  1. How often do you post things on social media? What kind of content do you often post?
  2. What do you think about employers and schools using this kind of method for background checks?
  3. After reading this article, will you consider refraining from posting on social media? Why or why not?

Goosebumps with Music, a Sign of Special Brain

B1 – Intermediate

Have you ever listened to a song that sent shivers down your spine?  A research shows that if music gives you the chills or goosebumps, then something in your brain might be unique.

Discover more by reading the article below.

https://www.classicfm.com/music-news/music-gives-goosebumps/

Discussion Questions:

1. What type of music do you like?

2. What is your favorite song? What emotions do you have when you listen to it?

3. What one song makes you emotional? What memory does it remind you of?

4. What gives you goosebumps?

5. How do you deal with your life’s sad moments?

Successful Family Life and Career

B1 – Intermediate

When you are an adult with a family, balance is something hard to find. A balance between your work and family seems impossible to do when you work 40 hours a week not to mention the time you spend on commuting from your house to work and vice versa.

Let’s read the article below and discuss how to have a successful career and a happy family.

Balancing a career and family is a common concern for most individuals. However, it’s important to realize the smallest of changes can produce the strongest of impacts.

I’ve often worked jobs that required evening and weekend hours. The question is: What can we do?

1. Morning Gratitude Moment

When you wake up in the morning, don’t jump out of bed for your workout immediately, or drag yourself to the washroom. Sit up straight, relax, and close your eyes. Say to yourself, “I am grateful for those who support me, believe in me, and are always there for me.” Say this with a deep breath in between each time you say it, and I recommend saying it for a full five minutes. When you open your eyes and look at everything around you—keep that moment of gratitude with you, throughout your day, reminding yourself how you can’t wait to get home to your loving family.

2. Workout Partners

Begin your day by stretching with your family and doing some physical activity together. All you need is 10 minutes. You’ve accomplished a two-for-one: physical activity and family time!

3. Family Playlist

On your shared streaming service, make a playlist of your family’s favorite music. When you take a break at work or feel a negative moment getting the best of you, listen to that music, think about your family, and regain your focus. Music is a powerful voice and has the ability to affect our mindset. Your family playlist will energize you and improve your mood.

4. Daily Phone Call

At least once a day, call or text your significant other or your kids and repeat Stevie Wonder: “I just called to say I love you, I just called to say how much I care.” Let your family know they are always in your thoughts. Even in the face of a big deadline or an important meeting, that moment will relax you and make your family smile!

5. Clarify Your Work Hours & Expectations

Discuss with your boss his/her expectations of you in regards to your time and your position to foster a mutual and clear understanding of your role. Should your role involve evening/weekend hours, and tasks such as answering emails, working from home, or extra time needed for special projects, establish a strategy and discuss with your boss how to meet these expectations so you don’t feel overwhelmed and pulled between your family and your job. If you are a new parent, have family members who require special needs, or have personal circumstances which require attention, bring these up as necessary, so if you have to leave early, there is an understanding of why this is the case.

6. Socializing At Work

It’s common for colleagues to hang out after work. Say yes when your significant other and/or kids are also busy. This will balance things out more. There are times to have beers with colleagues, but there are also times to go home, relax, watch a movie, and simply have fun with your family.

7. Buffer Moment

We all deal with a lot at work and at times might get irritated or annoyed. Remember you are a human being, not a robot, and thus it’s acceptable to have a buffer moment for these feelings. Take a deep breath, zone into your happy place that involves your family, think about how your energy can be used towards something else, and move on.

8. Yoda Philosophy

s Yoda put it, “Do or do not, there is no try.” Don’t try to leave at 6:00 p.m. or 5:30 p.m.; just do it. Allocate the last half-hour of your day to do the following and leave at 5:30/6:00 p.m.:

  • For two minutes, take deep breaths, in and out, looking away from your desk, feeling the moment of gratitude you felt in the morning. Turn back to focus on leaving to see your family at home.
  • Organize your emails based on what is to be reviewed, what requires follow-up, and what needs a response after your breakfast/snack/meal. Your emails are emails, not a to-do list.
  • Write out your to-do list, priorities, goals, and key items for the next day.
  • Double-check that you have a water bottle and healthy desk snacks.
  • Organize your desk so that your to-do list is in front of you, papers for review are next to your list, and keep a pen ready with blank paper to jot down extra notes. Don’t always rely on your computer; rely on yourself and your mind.

9. Phone And TV-Free Dinner

At the dinner table, leave your phone and turn off the TV. Focus on your family, not on work, and use this as a time to bring all your energy, your aura, and your being in the moment with the people who support and believe in what you do, and love you for the ability to do what you do.

10. Your Work Journal

Keep a two-week work diary: try to track every fifteen minutes of your work time. After that, analyze for, and attack, any inefficiencies! This will import balance in your day and yield a well-deserved coffee break, a breath of fresh air, and time to make your daily family phone call!

Does email control you and take you away from your priority list, and thus your work-life balance? Organizational skills are an important factor in how you balance your day, affecting your work-life balance. Get organized and get happy! You’ll find that work-life balance sooner than you think

Discussion Questions:

  1. In your opinion, out of the 10, which tip is the most important?
  2. What are your personal ways to ensure a successful career and family life?
  3. What activities do you enjoy doing with your family?