Tag: B1 – Intermediate

School Children Strike for Climate

B1 – Intermediate

Some school children are going on strikes because they are unhappy. They think their countries are not doing so much about the problems with climate change.

Read more about student activism below:

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1902/190226-school-strike-for-climate-1.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What are your thoughts on students going on strikes?
2. “Australia’s leader called for more learning in schools and less activism.” What is your opinion on this?
3. Have you ever joined a strike or protest? What were you fighting for?

Satellites for Worldwide Internet

B1 – Intermediate

A company has launched satellites to make Internet accessible in more places in the world. This can change many people’s lives. However, not everyone is happy about this news.

Read on this news for more information on this satellite project.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1903/190304-worldwide-internet-4.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think about this news?
2. Why are some countries not happy with this?
3. Why is it necessary to be connected to the internet?
4. What do you use the internet for?
5. Should everyone be connected to the internet? Why or why not?

Night Vision

B1 – Intermediate

Scientists have given mice the ability to see in the dark. Cells found in mice’s retinas are also found in humans. Researchers hope that one day humans may be able to see in the dark.

Let’s read the article to know how these rodents were able to see better in the dark.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1903/190306-night-vision.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What did scientists inject into the mice’s eyes?
2. How long did the effects of injections last?
3. What do you think of this research?
4. Would you like to be able to see in the dark? Why or why not?
5. What is your opinion on technologies like this that give humans abilities that are beyond what’s normal?

A Job Interview

B1 –  Intermediate

A job interview is an important tool for employee selection. It involves a conversation between a job applicant and an interviewer.

Let’s watch a sample interview and be ready to answer the questions about it.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Talk about a typical interview in your country.
  2. Talk about your last job interview.
  3. What kinds of jobs have you applied for? Have you ever applied for a job you don’t have any experience in? How did it go?
  4. How do you answer this interview question, “How do you describe yourself?”
  5. What advice can you give to someone attending a job interview for the first time?

Dancing Cha-cha

B1 – Intermediate

Dancing is a pleasurable activity that involves a lot of body movements.  As they say, rhythmic body movement is instinctive but learning some steps won’t hurt.

Let’s learn the basics of dancing cha-cha-cha or or simply cha-cha.

Discussion Questions:
1 What are the 4 basic elements of Cha-Cha?
2. Do you like dancing? How often do you do it?
3. What kinds of dancing can we see in your country?
4. What kind of music do you think is good to dance to?
5. Do you think being a professional dancer would be a good job?

Lie Detector Tests at Airports

B1 – Intermediate

When passing immigration at airports, immigration officers ask to see your passport and travel documents. They also ask questions about your trip.

In some European countries, they are trying a computer-generated border officer.

Find out more about the computerized border guards.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1811/181105-lie-detector-tests-1.html

Discussion Questions:
1. What do you think about using a lie detector machine at the airports?
2. What do you think are the good and bad things about using this technology?
3. Talk about your experience/s with immigration at airports.

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.