Tag: B2 – Upper intermediate

Who Does the Housework?

B2 — Upper Intermediate 

Household chores are a necessary evil. Though they can sometimes be boring or unpleasant, they need to be done. Doing household chores is an important part of daily life. We clean our rooms, wash dishes, do laundry, and take out the trash. Chores keep our homes clean and comfortable. 

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the division of labour when it comes to household chores.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260813

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to pull one’s weight“ mean? ”Anamarija also thinks women appreciate it when their husbands pull their weight.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  2. What does “to take a breather” mean? “Mothers have more space for their careers, or hobbies, or just simply totake a breather when dads and sons take some of the pressure off mums.” Use the expression in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “fair share” mean? “Do you do your fair share of household chores?” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. In the UK, the most hated chore is cleaning the windows. What do you think will be the people’s answer to the same question in your country? Why do you think many people hate this chore?
  2. What are your thoughts on this: “Women in wealthy countries also spend much more time on unpaid care work than men.”?
  3. Which chore do you like doing the least? Why?
  4. What happens when one person does most of the chores?
  5. How can family members share the housework more fairly?

Making Cities Feel Quieter

B2 — Upper Intermediate 

Some people enjoy the peace of the countryside, while others prefer the noise of city. 

However, studies show that too much noise can increase stress and anxiety.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about making the cities feel quieter.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260521

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to dress loud“ mean? “Indians talk loud, celebrate loud and dress loud.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  2. What does “soundscape” mean? “Similar soundscapes are now helping city dwellers relax in other cities too, including Tokyo and Barcelona.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “counterintuitive” mean? “So, the art installation was really to make this park a little quieter by adding some quiet noises. So, it’s counterintuitive, but you can make a park less noisy by adding some calmer sounds.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on this: “Too much noise can increase stress and anxiety.”?
  2. Should the noise be limited in cities? Share your thoughts.
  3. What can be done to tackle the noise pollution problem in cities?
  4. How do sounds/noises around you affect you?
  5. Do you prefer a quiet town or a busy city? Why?

Canada Flight Cancelled After Child Refuses to Wear Seat Belt

B2 — Upper Intermediate 

A flight in Canada was cancelled after a child refused to wear a seat belt. The situation caused a delay and affected all the passengers on the plane.

This story shows how important it is to follow safety rules on flights. Passengers, especially children, should listen to the crew to help keep everyone safe.

It has also raised new questions about safety rules and children’s behavior while flying.

Read the article about the cancellation of a flight in Canada after a child refused to wear a seat belt.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj6307x3wdgo

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “reignite” mean? “The cancellation of a flight in Canada after a child refused to wear a seat belt has reignited a debate about the etiquette and safety procedures relating to children travelling on planes.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “to split opinion“ mean? ”The incident has split opinion about how children should be treated in such situations and how airlines should respond.” Use the expression in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  3. What does “to be beyond the pale” mean? “We’ve all been those parents,” he said. “But this is beyond the pale.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think the flight was right to be cancelled? Why or why not?
  2. Who should be responsible when a child refuses to follow safety rules—the child, the parents, or the airline?
  3. What should parents do if their child refuses to wear a seat belt on a plane?
  4. Should airlines have stricter rules for children traveling by plane? Share your thoughts.
  5. Have you ever experienced a difficult situation while traveling? What happened?

EU Commends Spain’s Swift Response to Ceuta Migrant Crisis

B2 — Upper Intermediate 

About 72,000 migrants entered the Spanish territory in North Africa. Unfortunately, at least 75 people died on the Spanish side of the border, while Morocco reported 11 deaths.

Many European member states have expressed their concern over the Ceuta migrant crisis in Spain.

Since then, Spain has responded to the large number of migrants arriving in Ceuta by placing a 500-meter floating barrier near the Tarajal breakwater.

It also worked with Morocco to return thousands of migrants, provided emergency aid, and approved €25 million to help unaccompanied children.

Read the article about Spain’s response to the Ceuta migrant crisis.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c80n3j55g0do

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to stand in solidarity with someone” mean? ”Irish Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan, who chaired Tuesday’s meeting, said the EU stood in solidarity with Spain and that migration required “a united European response”.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “to draw tension“ mean? ”The meeting had been expected to draw some tension, following earlier criticism of Spain from some EU nations.” Use the expression in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  3. What does “exclave” mean? ”The crossings came after Spain’s Supreme Court ruled that migrants stopped at sea while trying to reach Ceuta or Melilla, another Spanish exclave, cannot be summarily returned to Morocco.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on how Spain dealt with the Ceuta crisis?
  2. “It is thought that the influx was fuelled by criminal networks and social media disinformation.” What is your view on this?
  3. Share your opinion on the other European nations expressing their concerns over the Ceuta migrant crisis.
  4. What is your opinion on Italy suspending its Schengen zone agreement with Spain on free movement in response to the Ceuta crisis?
  5. Share your views on this, “Finland and Denmark backed Italy’s move, while Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš urged a temporary suspension of Spain’s Schengen membership.”
  6. How can countries work together to solve migration problems? 

Rude Emails

B2 — Upper Intermediate 

Sometimes, people write emails in a hurry and forget to use polite language. A short reply or an unclear message can easily be misunderstood and hurt someone’s feelings. 

On the other hand, a kind greeting, clear explanation, and respectful tone can make communication much more pleasant. 

Taking a few extra minutes to review an email before sending it can help avoid misunderstandings and maintain good relationships.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about rude emails.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260702

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to belittle someone“ mean? ”The fight response can make us belittle someone.” Use the expression in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  2. What does “to get something off one’s plate” mean? ”Then the flight response is when people try to protect themselves by withdrawing or avoiding. They won’t reply, or if they do reply, maybe they don’t answer all of the points in the email. They’re just trying to get it off their plate.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “to put someone in their place” mean? ”Emails that are hostile in tone and language, or even cc’ing senior personnel in on the message in order to elevate an issue and put someone in their place.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you ever received an email that you thought was rude? What happened? What should you do if you receive a rude email?
  2. Why do you think some people write rude emails?
  3. How can people write professional and respectful emails?
  4. How does the tone of an email affect the reader?
  5. Why is it important to proofread an email before sending it?
  6. Do you think emails are more likely to cause misunderstandings than face-to-face conversations? Why?

Career Rust-Out

B2 — Upper Intermediate 

Have you ever gone to work feeling bored and wondering if what you do really matters? That feeling may be career rust-out.

As a result, you may experience lower productivity, frustration, and reduced job satisfaction. 

To prevent or overcome career rust-out, individuals can develop new skills, seek greater responsibilities, set meaningful goals, or consider new career paths.

Watch the video about career rust-out.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. How does “rust-out” differ from “burn-out”? ”Gabriela Flax experienced rust-out working in tech doing repetitive tasks each day.” Use “rust-out” in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “to suck the life out of someone” mean? ”The lack of inspiration is sucking the life out of you.” Use the expression in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  3. What is a “stretch assignment”? ”You should go to your manager with a solution instead of asking them to solve the problem, like asking for that new stretch assignment, the option to attend a conference, maybe a workshop to learn a new skill.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do some employees lose motivation at work?
  2. What responsibilities do employers have in preventing career rust-out?
  3. Can having too little work be as stressful as having too much work? Why or why not?
  4. Do you think changing jobs is always the best solution to career rust-out? Why or why not?
  5. Would you rather have a challenging job or an easy but repetitive job? Explain your answer.
  6. Have you ever felt bored or demotivated in the middle of your professional life? What helped you regain your motivation?
  7. Have you ever taken a stretch assignment at work? Talk about it.

Benefits of Boosting Data Sharing in the EU

B2 — Upper Intermediate 

Boosting data sharing in the European Union can bring many benefits. 

It allows governments, businesses, and researchers to work together more effectively by sharing useful information. Better data sharing can improve healthcare, support scientific research, and help create smarter public services. It can also make businesses more innovative and competitive by giving them access to valuable data. At the same time, the EU aims to protect people’s privacy by using strong data protection rules. With secure and responsible data sharing, the EU can promote economic growth, improve public services, and encourage innovation.

Read this article about the benefits of boosting data sharing in the EU.

* You may also watch the videos embedded throughout the article for more information.

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20220331STO26411/boosting-data-sharing-in-the-eu-what-are-the-benefits

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “aftermarket service” mean? ”Providers of aftermarket services will be able to compete on an equal footing with comparable services offered by manufacturers, which may reduce prices and boost innovation.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What is “data pooling”? ”This will be achieved through a range of tools, from technical solutions such as anonymisation and data pooling to legally binding agreements by the reusers.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What is “retro-engineering“? ”In order to prevent competitors from retro-engineering services or devices thanks to increased access to data, MEPs strengthened provisions to protect trade secrets.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. While boosting data sharing in the European Union has many benefits, it also has some disadvantages. What might be some of them?
  2. Do the benefits of data sharing outweigh the risks? Why or why not?
  3. Do you think that the EU privacy laws can really protect the citizens and their personal information? Share your views.
  4. What is your opinion on this, “With immense possibilities in areas from farming to health, big data can play a key role in the EU’s digital transformation. However, data sharing is essential to unlock this potential.”?
  5. Do you think small businesses and large companies benefit equally from data sharing? Explain.
  6. What improvements would you suggest to make data sharing safer and more effective in the EU?
  7. How do you think data sharing will affect people’s lives in the future?

Brain Fog and How to Fix it

B2 — Upper Intermediate 

Brain fog is a feeling of mental tiredness that makes it hard to think clearly. People with mental mist may have trouble concentrating, remembering things, or making decisions. It can be caused by stress, lack of sleep, illness, or poor nutrition. 

Although it is not a medical condition by itself, it can affect daily life and productivity. It is important to know what can help reduce brain fog.

Read this article about mental cloudiness and how to fix it.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c87ydw7xdxvo

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to lose one’s train of thought mean? ”When life gets busy and stress levels rise, it’s not uncommon to find yourself walking into a room and forgetting why you went there, losing your train of thought mid-sentence or struggling to stay focused on simple tasks.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “overstretched” mean here: ”Often, it’s simply your brain’s way of saying it’s tired, stressed or overstretched.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What is “decision fatigue“? ”Reduce decision fatigue by having a set rhythm to your days – a predictable structure can take pressure off your working memory.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. How can brain fog affect daily life?
  2. Share your thoughts on this tip, “Remind yourself that brain fog is usually temporary and it’s okay to slow down, delegate tasks or ask for help when you need it.”
  3. What are your thoughts about creating routines to reduce decision fatigue?
  4. Do you think using calendars and reminders helps free up your mental space?
  5. Have you ever experienced brain fog? What were you doing when it happened? How did you deal with it?
  6. What habits help you improve focus and mental clarity?
  7. Do you think technology and excessive screen time can cause brain fog? Why or why not?

China’s New Challenge: Natural Disasters and Fake AI Videos

B2 — Upper Intermediate 

China is dealing with both the effects of Typhoon Noul and a wave of AI-generated misinformation. Fake videos and images showing false disasters and emergency situations have spread online, causing panic. 

While some people create this content for attention or profit, experts warn that AI makes it easier than ever to produce convincing fake media, highlighting the need for better verification and detection methods.

Read this article about how as natural disasters strike, China needs to face another challenge involving dangerously misleading videos created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx27mjvxgg1o

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “fabricated content” mean? ”By simply prompting AI tools, they can rapidly generate convincing text, images, audio and video which is highly realistic but entirely fabricated content, manufactured on a large scale.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “traffic” mean here: “The motivation for the publishing of such false content ranges from those who do it to create something amusing without thinking about the consequences, to those who want to generate traffic for personal gain or those who wish to deliberately cause panic or social unrest.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “cat-and-mouse game“ mean? “We’re in a constant cat-and-mouse game. So we should not assume that technology alone can identify AI-generated content with the click of a button.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. How can AI-generated fake content affect people during emergencies like typhoons or floods?
  2. Why do you think some people create and share false information online?
  3. What is your opinion about making all AI-generated contents clearly stamped/labeled? 
  4. What steps should individuals take before sharing news about disasters on social media?
  5. What responsibilities do social media platforms and governments have in preventing the spread of fake content? 
  6. Have you ever encountered fake news or AI-generated content online? How did you know it was false?

The Country Where It’s Illegal To Be Fat

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Korean culture is defined by its vibrancy and beauty, influencing many parts of the globe in the modern world. However, despite its positive aspects, it also has many flaws. The societal emphasis on thinness and beauty has influenced many aspects of Korean society, from children’s playgrounds and fashion to the way people think.

To learn more, watch the video below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “gamify” mean? “They really just said, “Let’s gamify emotional damage.” So, whatever I get seconds here is going to dictate how I feel about myself today and probably how I eat.” Use this word in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  2. What does “Nailed it” mean? “I kind of feel bad. I want to fit through that tree. Nailed it. Just a chubby boy in Korea enjoying a muffin.”  Use this phrase in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  3. What does “subcutaneous” mean? “Yeah, it’s tough because nowadays Korean women like they are also conscious of like their breast size, but because like naturally Korean women just don’t have a lot of like subcutaneous fat.”  Use this term in a sentence. Give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are some possible positive and negative effects of placing a high value on physical appearance?
  2. Why do you think beauty standards have such a strong influence on our society?
  3. Are strict beauty standards unique to Korea, or do they exist in other cultures as well? Give examples.
  4. How might societal pressure to be thin or attractive affect children’s self-esteem and mental health?
  5. How can individuals and society promote healthier and more inclusive standards of beauty?