Tag: B2 – Upper intermediate

Limited Fiscal Sponsorship: A New Tool Of Social Enterprise

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The main goal of social enterprises is not only to maximize profits but to also catalyze social change. The profits they make are often allocated to funding social programs.

These social enterprises try various structures and challenge traditional approaches to being a for-profit and non-profit business.

Learn about a new tool in social enterprise called limited fiscal sponsorship.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/annefield/2015/09/30/limited-fiscal-sponsorship-a-new-tool-in-the-arsenal-of-social-enterprise/?sh=595ba71425a3

Discussion Questions:

  1. Explain limited fiscal sponsorship. What do you see are the advantages and disadvantages of this approach?
  2. Name other approaches that are used to fund and structure social enterprise ventures.
  3. What do you think about social entrepreneurship?
  4. Would you consider putting up your own company with the same business approach? Why or why not?
  5. Name successful social enterprises or entrepreneurs you know of. What are they well-known for?

Building Blocks to a New Social Economy

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Perhaps the goal now is to create an economy that is not only sustainable and resilient but also human-centric. One that will enable us to achieve economic objectives of growth, inclusion, and equity. 

Is it possible for the industry to provide economic boom from only flourishing jobs and economic upturn while having the societal well-being as the one that will point to the information on producing goods and providing services?

Read the article about the building blocks of a new social economy.

https://ssir.org/articles/entry/social_tech_entrepreneurs_building_blocks_of_a_new_social_economy

Discussion Questions:

  1. How is technology pivotal in supporting a new purpose-driven economy?
  2. What do you know about social entrepreneurship?
  3. What are other ways to create integrated and inclusive social and industrial policies?

Spain’s New Electricity Billing System

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A new billing system has been introduced in Spain in June 2021. It is supposed to allow consumers track when they save on their bills. However, there have been many issues seen on this new system.

Read the article to have a better understanding of this new electricity billing system in Spain.

https://english.elpais.com/economy_and_business/2021-06-01/consumer-associations-slam-spains-new-electricity-billing-system.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why was this new billing system implemented?
  2. What are the problems with this new system?
  3. As a consumer, what are your thoughts on this new billing system?
  4. Do you try and conserve electricity? Why or why not? If you do, what are the practices you observe?
  5. In general, what other issues do you have with your electricity service and/or provider?

Holiday Traditions

B2 – Upper Intermediate

New Year and Christmas are the most celebrated holidays in the world. However, each country celebrates them differently. For example, Japan celebrates the New Year in silence while many other countries celebrate it by lighting fireworks and blowing horns. It’s the same with Christmas. In most parts of the world, we have Santa. He delivers gifts to children during Christmas. However, in Austria, an unusual figure called Krampus, comes during Christmas to punish naughty children.

Click the link and let’s listen to how every family celebrate their holidays differently.

Holiday Traditions

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do the children in the audio celebrate Christmas?
  2. Do you celebrate Christmas? If yes, how did you celebrate Christmas as a kid? How about now?
  3. What are the biggest holidays in your country? How do you celebrate them?
  4. Why are holidays important?
  5. Do you think holiday traditions will live on for the next hundreds of years to come? Why or why not?

Marriage Preparation

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Weddings are major celebrations that require a lot of time, energy, and money from the would-be couples and their families. Most of the time, people are so absorbed in the wedding preparation that they forget the more important preparation, the marriage preparation. After all the bliss and glamour of the wedding, couples have to endure the challenges of the married life. For future brides and grooms, better be ready for the marriage life too.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript on this conversation about wedding preparations.

Marriage Preparation

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on marriage prep classes?
  2. What is Randall’s big news? How does his sister find out about it?
  3. Who is Jasmine? How does his sister describe her?
  4. What pieces of advice does she have for them about the marriage preparation? Do you agree with these?
  5. How do would-be couples in your country usually prepare for marriage?

Cancel Culture

B2 – Upper Intermediate

They say that the only constant thing in life is change. Being adaptable to change is a big part of what makes us grow as individuals and collectively, as a society. For years on end, we’ve been witness to a lot of things that had to be changed. Some to our advantage, while others, to our demise. Now, these changes could often be about our views on different social issues or matters. As our opinions change, they too, become polarized.

In the recent years, we’ve seen a pattern of having the thought that someone can be “canceled” or culturally prevented from staying relevant or famous, has been a topic of debate.

Our growing inclination toward “cancel culture” and “canceling someone” seems to have become a formula.

It starts when someone does or says something offensive. It is then followed by a public outrage on social media. The last stage involves the unfortunate backlash on that person’s career, sometimes ending up in destroyed careers or dismissal from jobs.

Read the article and join in on the cancel culture debate.

Cancel culture is a threat to freedom of speech

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on cancel culture? Do you view it as an important tool of social justice or a new form of merciless mob intimidation? Should it be stopped or continued?
  2. What are the good and bad things about it?
  3. What might the effects of being canceled be on a person/group/organization? 
  4. Which people, celebrities, or public figures you know suffered from the backlash of this emerging social culture? What offensive thing did they do and how did being ‘canceled’ affect them?
  5. Do you agree or disagree that “The view that a traditional approach — apology, atonement, and forgiveness — is no longer enough might be startling.”?

Why We May Have To Re-Learn To Socialize

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We’ve been living in a pandemic world for over a year now. We’re already accustomed to our new social routines such as Zoom meetings, FaceTime dates, or ever virtual happy hours.

But with the vaccinations ramping up and restrictions beginning to be loosened in some countries, the new question is: Are we ready? After so much time apart, do we even know how to socialize in person?

Let’s read the article below on how we can re-train ourselves to be with others again.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210218-why-we-may-have-to-re-learn-to-socialise

Discussion Questions:

  1. What has been the impact of COVID-19 on your social life?
  2. Were you able to meet with other people during the COVID-19 pandemic?
  3. Would you feel anxious about returning to ‘normal’ again?
  4. Are you good at socializing? How do you socialize?
  5. How much do you socialize with people from work? What do you usually do to connect with your colleagues?
  6. How do we re-learn how to talk to people and manage the social awkwardness that may result from a year of isolation?

Backyard Squirrel Maze

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever seen a squirrel before? And if so, have you ever thought that small creatures like them could have an advanced brain?

Probably not right? Well, think again. As of recent, squirrels have been proven to be incredibly smart. Want to know how that is?

Let’s watch this video to find out if squirrels are really smart.

Discussion Questions:

  1. After watching the video, do you partially understand the intelligence of squirrels? After watching this video, do you now think that some humans are possibly not as intelligent as squirrels? Explain your thoughts.
  2. Do you believe that squirrels can fall from any height and survive? Explain your stand.
  3. What animal do you know of that possesses such wits? What are they capable of doing?

Live Well with Covid and Chronic Illness

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We all know what it feels like to be sick. It feels unpleasant and distressing. For people suffering from chronic illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, or Covid, there are some things you can do to feel better. While you’ll still have to let the illness run its course, you can at least make things a little more bearable.

Here are ten helpful tips on living well through a chronic illness. Let’s read the article below.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/apr/22/10-ways-live-well-with-long-covid-chronic-illness

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you consider yourself healthy? How can you tell?
  2. How often do you get sick? Talk about the last time you had a serious illness.
  3. What do you think the worst illness to have would be? Why do you say so?
  4. How does chronic illness affect one’s daily life?
  5. How can one stay positive if they have a chronic illness?

The Crazy Starbucks Order

B2 – Upper Intermediate

You are a regular at this cafe. All you want is your customized drink from your favorite cafe. So you order it. 

You are a barista at this coffee shop. All you want is to come in to work and have a normal day.

Watch the video and see the story of the 13-ingredient order at Starbucks that got a barista fired from his job. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of the barista posting something like that?
  2. What are your thoughts on getting fired for your social media posts about things related to work?
  3. What do you think about the customer’s order and stand that his order is okay as long as he tips generously?
  4. What are usual reasons people would want to quit their jobs?
  5. At restaurants or cafes, what kind of customer are you?