Tag: B1 – Intermediate

Children and Electronics

B1 – Intermediate

Internet addiction has been an issue for too long. Using electronics can prevent children from playing sports, studying their lessons, or socializing with others. Parents, on the other hand, still play the biggest role in guiding kids in using devices. However, a recent study shows that children are using electronics more than ever. What are we doing wrong?

Please read the article below and be ready to share your opinions.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/children-and-electronics-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. How can parents strongly make rules for using devices at home?
  2. How else do electronic devices create a negative impact on children and society?
  3. Can you think of a more rational solution to resolve children’s addiction to using electronic devices?

Museumgoers and Concertgoers Could Live Longer

B1 – Intermediate

Museum and concert enthusiasts now have more reasons to stick to their interests. A research shows that visiting museums and watching live concerts could help people live longer.

Please read the article below and be ready to share your opinions.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1912/191223-live-concerts.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Tell me about your experiences going to museums and concerts. Which do you prefer doing between the two?
  2. What other activities do you think could help improve our mental health and could help us live longer lives?
  3. Why do you think some people do not fancy watching concerts or visiting museums?
  4. What things are you doing so you could live longer?

Teenager Sells Bathwater

B1 – Intermediate

An Instagram cosplay model is selling her bath water for $30 per bottle. Though some people think it’s gross, others praised her for her business skills.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1907/190708-bath-water-0.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What can you say about her products?
  2. Would you buy something from someone famous or someone you idolize?
  3. Talk about the time you have bought something because you saw someone famous use it.
  4. Have you tried selling things online? Talk about your experience.
  5. What are the effects of the internet on business?

Modern Humans Came from Botswana

B1 – Intermediate

New research affirms that the origin of modern humans is Botswana. The study is published in the journal ‘Nature’. Researchers in the study used DNA to find out where modern humans came from.

Read the article to find out more.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1911/191101-homeland-0.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on this discovery?
  2. How far back do you know about your family tree? Talk a little bit about your family history.
  3. Talk about the most interesting ancestor you have in your family.
  4. Where do you think most of the people in your country come from? Why do you think they came from there?

Ex-Nissan CEO Escapes Japan

B1 – Intermediate

Japan needs to make its immigration stricter after Nissan ex-CEO Carlos escaped the country.

Read more about this news and be ready to talk about it.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2001/200108-carlos-ghosn-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this news?
  2. What can you say about Ghosn’s great escape?
  3. Talk about other criminals who were able to flee your country.

2019 Person of the Year

B1 – Intermediate

Greta Thunberg is TIME Magazine’s Person of the Year. She is the famous 16-year-old Swedish environmental activist.

Read more about Greta and this award that she recently received.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1912/191215-greta-thunberg-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think Greta deserves this award?
  2. Who is your person of the year and why?
  3. What are your achievements this year?
  4. What do you want to achieve next year?
  5. What do you plan to do in order to become a useful member of society?

Apple Removes Customer Reviews

B1 – Intermediate

Apple has removed its customer reviews and ratings from all products of the Apple website. The company has stayed silent about this matter. It’s still not clear though as to why this has happened.

Read the article to find out more about this news.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1911/191125-customer-reviews.html

Discussion Questions :

  1. Why do you think Apple removed the customer review section?
  2. What is your opinion about Apple removing their customer review section?
  3. If a page/product/service, especially online, does not have any reviews/review section, does it make you less interested in their product or service? Talk about it.
  4. If the product or service has mixed reviews, how do you decide which to believe?
  5. How important are customer reviews for customers and businesses?

The Best Companies to Work For

B1 – Intermediate

A new report ranked companies to find out the best places to work in. It considered workers’ satisfaction with their jobs. Google was on top of this list.

Read more about pay and benefits in companies.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1405/140527-pay-benefit-package-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of the benefits of Google employees?
  2. What are the best companies to work for in your country?
  3. If you were happy working for a company, would you go on holiday less?
  4. What are the important benefits you want to receive from the company you are working for?
  5. What are the good and bad things about your company?

This Device Fights Phone Addiction

B1 – Intermediate

Some students at the University of Indonesia are working on an iteration of a device that monitors signs of smartphone addiction.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript to learn more about “Nettox”.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/indonesians-make-device-to-fight-phone-addiction/5156493.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does Nettox work? What do you think of this device?
  2. Why are smartphones and mobile apps addictive?
  3. Is it possible to live without a smartphone and social media in this day and age? Why or why not?
  4. In your opinion, at what age should a child be given their first smartphone?
  5. What are other ways to avoid phone addiction?

Kurt Cobain’s Sweater Auction

B1 – Intermediate

The singer/songwriter and Nirvana frontman might have left us in 1994, but his name is legendary which makes one of his sweaters he wore during a live appearance on MTV is officially the most expensive sweater ever sold at an auction.

Let’s read the article.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1910/191030-kurt-cobain.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of auctions?
  2. What do you think of the Kurt Cobain’s cardigan being sold at $334,000?
  3. Would you buy famous people’s clothes? Why or why not?
  4. What would you like to buy in an auction? Why?
  5. Why do people spend lots of money on memorabilias?