Tag: B2 – Upper intermediate

Ethical Problems with Human-Monkey Chimeras

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Netflix’s new sci-fi series entitled “Sweet Tooth” is a story about a world where crossbreeding between humans and animals is possible. In real-life, it is a lot more complicated.

Although the development of the first ever human-monkey embryos proves to be a massive achievement in science, it might be cause for some ethical issues in the long run.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript about chimeras and the ethical issues surrounding their development.

https://theconversation.com/first-human-monkey-embryos-created-a-small-step-towards-a-huge-ethical-problem-159355

Discussion Questions:

  1. Does it make sense to make chimeras? Elaborate on your opinion.
  2. Do you think it was a good idea to destroy the produced human-monkey hybrid? Support your stand.
  3. Why is it important to continue researches on chimeras in the future? 
  4. How do you feel about chimeras? 

Wellness Retreat for the Rich at a Swiss Alps Resort

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The pandemic has put most of us in some very challenging circumstances. It hasn’t been at all easy for any of us. 

Wouldn’t it be nice to be spending the government-mandated lockdowns in a luxurious suite that costs $46,000 per night while enjoying panoramic views of the Swiss Alps?

Read the article about Bürgenstock Resort in Switzerland.

https://www.insider.com/swiss-alps-luxury-resort-burgenstock-ambanis-2020-12

Discussion Questions:

  1. How would you feel about staying at The Bürgenstock Resort?
  2. Any thoughts on how the rich lived through the pandemic?
  3. Where and how have you been spending the pandemic? 
  4. How/Where would you have liked to have spent the lockdown?
  5. Have you been to the Alps? Talk about your experience.

Boy Band Diplomacy

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The South Korean boy band BTS has become phenomenal global sensation. There is no doubt, they have taken the world by storm. They have brought their country a lot of honor, putting South Korea on the map.

Read the article on South Korean government delegating public diplomacy roles for the world-famous boy band members.

https://www.insider.com/south-koreas-president-taps-bts-presidential-envoys-for-un-meetings-2021-7

Discussion Questions:

  1. What can you say about SK government’s decision to delegate a boy band as presidential envoys to international meetings?
  2. Should celebrities be given such roles? Why or why not?
  3. The SK government plans to hold various activities with BTS to help promote international cooperation in tackling global issues. What do you think of this idea?
  4. How would you feel if your government decided to do the same? And if they really did, who’d be the best bet for such a role?
  5. How can celebrities help in addressing global problems?
  6. Who are some celebrities in your country that are known to be putting huge efforts in certain causes? How are they contributing to your country?

Tobacco Company CEO on Cigarette Bans

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Isn’t it a bit ironic to hear the chief executive of a tobacco company speaking against the very product that they sell? Philip Morris International CEO Jacek Olczak has said that cigarettes should be banned and that he can see his company ending decades of selling cigarettes.

Read the article about Olczak’s statements on cigarette bans and smoke-free world.

https://www.businessinsider.com/philip-morris-international-ceo-said-cigarettes-should-be-banned-2021-7

Discussion Questions:

  1. What can you say about Olczak’s statements against cigarettes, given that he is the CEO of a tobacco company?
  2. “We can see the world without cigarettes”. Do you think this is possible or not? Why?
  3. Imagine a world where cigarettes were obsolete. What would it be like?
  4. What do you think about Philip Morris International’s plans to buy Vectura Group, a pharmaceutical company that manufactures asthma inhalers?
  5. What are your thoughts on some tobacco companies of trying to position themselves as anti-smoking while still selling tobacco products?

New Inventions

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We live in a fast-paced world where technology is speeding up exponentially. For example, communication has significantly improved in just a few years. People could still vividly remember the time when they had to wait for ages for a webpage to load. Now, the internet speed is so fast that it allows you to download a full-length movie in just a few seconds.

Aside from the internet, many other innovations changed history significantly. Innovation will not stop and people will continue to create things as long as there is a need for it. As the saying goes, “Necessity is the mother of invention.”

Click the link and listen to the audio to learn more about some new inventions.

https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/new-inventions

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of the inventions mentioned in the audio? Which one is the most interesting for you and why?
  2. Which among these inventions is the most useful? Which is the least useful?
  3. What need or problem do people have today that is yet to be addressed?
  4. What do you think is the most incredible invention that changed the world?

Saving Money by Going Green

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Why go green? A green lifestyle is important for many reasons. The most obvious benefit is it helps make our planet sustainable and habitable. We focus on reducing, reusing, and recycling whenever possible. We ensure that we reduce the imprint we leave on the environment.

Many people assume that going green means spending more. But actually, it doesn’t have to be difficult. And it can even result in more savings than we might expect.

Let’s watch the video below on how going green can actually help us save more money.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does going green benefit us?
  2. In your opinion, does living a green lifestyle help save us money?
  3. Do you consider yourself a green person? Why or why not?
  4. Are you willing to spend more on eco-friendly products? Why or why not?
  5. Have you ever donated your time or money toward environmental causes? Which organization did you help? What is their focus?

Amazon Go – the First Automated Store

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Nobody likes waiting forever in queues at checkout counters. Long queues cause shopper exhaustion, decrease customer service experience, and may even result in shopping cart abandonment.

In the U.S, a new store was opened featuring the world’s most advanced shopping technology. It uses a combination of artificial intelligence, computer vision, and data gathered from multiple sensors. You walk in, pick out what you want, and walk out. Amazon calls it a ‘just walk out’ shopping experience.

Let’s read the article below to know more about how Amazon Go works.

https://www.english-online.at/news-articles/business-economy/amazon-go-first-automated-store.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of Amazon Go?
  2. What details make the Amazon Go store different from a traditional grocery store?
  3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this kind of shopping technology?
  4. Do you prefer online shopping or shopping in stores?
  5. Why is the competition among convenience stores so tough?
  6. How could going shopping be made a better experience?

What Would You Do with a Million Pounds?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Are you a frugal or a lavish person?

For average Joes like us, a million pounds is a huge amount of money. It is hard to come by. In fact, many of us wouldn’t even get the chance to have that much money lying in our bank accounts.

But if you were to have that kind of money, what would you do?

Click on the link and let’s listen to what some people would do if they were to have a million pounds.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/british_chat/millionpounds

Discussion Questions:

  1. Based on the video, what would the people do if they were to have a million pounds?
  2. What do you think about how those people from the video want to spend their million?
  3. If you were to have a million Euros, what would you do with it?
  4. How would accumulating more wealth affect your life?

Why Start-ups Succeed

C1 – Advanced

Becoming your own boss is what a lot of people aspire for. Having a nine-to-five job just isn’t good enough and is very exhausting and could be unfulfilling for some at times. As more and more people want to stick a toe in the water, the rise of start-ups occurred. But is sheer motivation all that it takes for start-up success?

Watch the video about the single biggest reason start-ups succeed.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the five factors in company success according to the speaker? Do you agree with all of them?
  2. In your own opinion, what makes a company succeed?
  3. Can you give other small start-ups from your country that became successful? How about those that failed?
  4. As a consumer, what new businesses do you think you are likely to patronize?

Child Tax Credit Payment

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A revamped child allowance program will soon be enjoyed by Americans families. The IRS will soon start sending $300 to families with children ages 0-5 and $250 for each child 6 to 17 years old.

This is an effort to combat child poverty in the country. But is it too soon to celebrate the child tax credit payments?

Read the article about child tax credit payments in the US.

https://www.businessinsider.com/irs-child-tax-credit-payment-dates-families-monthly-payments-2021-6

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the child tax credit and who are eligible to receive this payment? What do you think of this incentive?
  2. What are your thoughts on the possibility that some moderate Senate Democrats may push for cuts to the measure?
  3. Compare the child tax credit system or child allowance program of your country and the US.
  4. What benefits from the government do children in your country have?
  5. Share your thoughts on this statement: “Children and families must be able to count on this benefit long after the end of this pandemic.”