Tag: B2 – Upper intermediate

Running a Successful Small Business

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Owning a business sounds like a dream: you are your own boss and you get a say on everything from top to bottom of things. A lot of people are enticed by the idea of a business where they own their time, earn their own money, and take charge of where the money goes or how it’s spent, but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.

Starting or owning a business takes a lot of responsibility and sacrifices. So many things happen behind the scenes that are tricky and challenging.

The tips laid out in the article below aims to help budding entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs-to-be in setting up and running a small business successfully.

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/08/make-money-in-business.asp

Discussion Questions:

1. Are you interested in having your own business? Why or why not? If yes, what kind of business would it be?
2. What sacrifices must be made to start a business? Are you willing to take them?
3. What are some challenges faced when starting a business?
4. What are some rewards of owning a business?
5. How do you keep yourself organized at work and in other aspects of your life?
6. What is good customer service?
7. What are other tips that you can add to the list?

Boredom and Sadistic Behavior

B2 – Upper Intermediate

What brings about sadism? A study made by a team of researchers at Aarhus University has found evidence that people who are bored behave more sadistically to reduce the effects of being indifferent.

Read the article below about how boredom leads to setting off sadistic behavior and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-01-boredom-factor-sadistic-behavior.html#:~:text=A%20team%20of%20researchers%20at,in%20setting%20off%20sadistic%20behavior.&text=A%20closer%20look%20showed%20that,others%20more%20often%20when%20bored.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on the results of this study?
  2. What do you think of trolling behavior of people online because they are bored?
  3. What bores you? How does boredom make you feel? What do you do when you get bored?
  4. What was the strangest thing you did out of boredom?
  5. How would you help someone who says they are bored?

Recycling and Reusing COVID Tests and Masks

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The use of face masks is the most important weapon that we have against the COVID-19 virus. Even before the pandemic, wearing of face masks was already customary in some parts of Asia such as China, Japan, and Korea. People wear it to protect themselves from illness, allergies, pollution, and more.

While beneficial, it generates millions tons of plastic wastes and it is causing a lot of environmental problems. So people came up with some recycling initiatives to reduce COVID plastic wastes.

Let’s read the article below to find out more about these recycling initiatives.

https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/01/28/can-covid-tests-and-masks-be-recycled-and-reused-these-people-have-found-a-way

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on COVID tests and masks being recycled and reused? Do you think it is safe to do this?
  2. How do you safely dispose your used masks and test kits?
  3. Do you agree that “hygiene theatre” should be stopped? Is it really effective in providing additional protection against the spread of Covid-19?
  4. Are there recycling points in your city/country? If not, do you think you should have one?
  5. What are other ways to manage all our pandemic wastes?

What is the Metaverse?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Recently, a brand new concept in technology has emerged known as the “Metaverse”. Many believe it to be the next big thing in technology and business.

But what exactly is the “Metaverse”?

To learn more about it, watch this video.

Discussion Questions:

  1. In your opinion, will the “Metaverse” be the next big trend that a lot people would invest in? Why or why not?
  2. What do you think makes Metaverse interesting?
  3. What concerns could we have over it?
  4. Is Facebook making a good decision by switching from a social media platform to a “Metaverse”? Explain your stance.
  5. Do you believe that socializing with people in these “Metaverses” is better than socializing in real life? Share your thoughts on this.

Investors Buy Up Metaverse Real Estate

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The metaverse describes a vision of a connected 3D virtual world where real and digital worlds are integrated using technologies such as virtual reality and augmented reality. It is now possible to buy and trade things in the metaverse like plots of land or even virtual houses.

Watch the video to know what owning a virtual land has to offer.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do you think investors are paying real money to buy virtual lands?
  2. Would you invest in the Metaverse real estate? Why/why not?
  3. Do you think investors are playing a risky game and winning in cryptocurrency? Elaborate.

When Is a Pandemic Over?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There’s no clear-cut definition for when a pandemic starts and ends, but according to Dr. Michael Ryan, the World Health Organization’s emergencies chief, “It’s somewhat a subjective judgment because it’s not just about the number of cases. It’s about the severity and it’s about the impact”.

Watch the video to know how the world decides when the pandemic is over.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How have people and societies lived through this current pandemic?
  2. With so much misinformation out there, how can we know what to believe during a pandemic?
  3. When do you think the pandemic will be over?
  4. What are your thoughts on the big possibility of another pandemic?
  5. What are you most looking forward to when the pandemic ends?
  6. What is your unique experience during the pandemic?

Tips for Giving a Great Presentation

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Business presentations are one of the most vital parts of closing in business deals. They’re conducted to present and express the idea of your products and/or services.

Usually, visual materials are being used to convey the important information to the prospective clients or buyers.

Here are some tips on how to have a great Business Presentation

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you experienced to do a Business Presentation? If yes, what’s the product/service you present?
  2. What are the tips to have a great Business Presentation according to the video?
  3. Can you give other tips?
  4. Why is it important to know you audience first?
  5. Can you explain the importance of visuals in business presentation?

Can Stereotypes Ever Be Good?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Stereotypes often have negative connotations attached to them for good reason. Because of stereotypes, certain people and groups are limited in their actions and opportunities and are pre-judged before they can even prove themselves or disprove others.

Nowadays, we are all challenged to let go of stereotypes. Even if some sound positive, stereotypes can still impact groups in a negative way.

Watch the video below on how stereotypes affect the lives of certain groups.

Discussion Questions:
1. Why do stereotypes exist?
2. Who are the most stereotyped communities? Why?
3. What are some stereotypes that you have heard of or encountered?
4. Have you ever had any stereotypes against a certain group or have you experienced being stereotyped? Explain.
5. How can stereotypes be challenged and ended?

Inventing Languages

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Language is a tool for connecting people. Throughout history, words have come and gone, evolving with the times.

Pop culture has invented and introduced some interesting new words or new languages. We see them created and distorted for cinematic effect much to the enjoyment of the audience. Language construction started a long time ago and has since then been practiced by people either to communicate more effectively, as part of the changing times, or as an artistic expression.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript in the link below to learn more about inventing languages.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2022/ep-220113

Discussion Questions:

1. What are some other reasons people invent new languages or new words in a language?
2. Would you be interested in learning an unusual, fictional language? Why or why not?
3. How can we keep a language from dying or disappearing?
4. What are other languages that you would want to learn?
5. Why can learning languages be difficult to do?
6. What are some effective ways to easily learn a language?

Health Checks at Certain Age

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the past years, people only used to go the doctor when they were sick or dying. It is necessary to go for a regular medical check-up as it can identify early signs of health issues and can result in a healthier life. “Prevention is better than cure” could not be any truer.

Let’s read the article below about the importance of health checks depending on our life age.

https://theconversation.com/im-approaching-a-milestone-birthday-what-health-checks-should-i-have-at-my-age-172047

Discussion Questions:

  1. How often do you get a medical check-up? How often should people get a check-up?
  2. What might be reasons people do not get checked up as regularly as they should?
  3. Are you a healthy person? How often do you get sick?
  4. What health changes have you noticed as you’ve begun to age?
  5. Do you consider yourself a hypochondriac? Do you know anybody who might be considered one?
  6. What steps are you taking to ensure you prevent chronic disease down the track?