Tag: B2 – Upper intermediate

The Egg – A Short Story On Reincarnation

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever heard or seen someone saying that they are someone in their past life and puzzled you at some point as to what they are really trying to say? It is believed that this kind of phenomenon is called reincarnation when someone is reborn and have already experienced or had vision of their past life. The idea or possibility conveys both mystic and exotic sense.

Watch the video and learn more about reincarnation.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you heard of reincarnation? How does reincarnation occur?
  2. How is reincarnation viewed in your culture?
  3. Do you believe it could be true or not? Would you like to experience this phenomenon?
  4. If you were to be reincarnated, how would you like your new life to be?
  5. Can someone who experienced it be credible in claiming it to have happened? How could someone justify such mystic occurrence?

How Eating Out Keeps You Poor

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A lot of people are struggling with money because of different reasons; they may have student loans, health insurance, cost of housing, and many more. These are the costs that are already fixed but there is a way to lessen our expenses by cost-cutting on our luxurious habits like eating out in restaurants or drinking in bars. Although these are our ways to unwind from our busy day from work, we can also wind up with less money.

Let’s watch the video below to learn how eating out keeps you poor.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you bring brown-bagged lunches at work or eat out?
  2. How often do you eat out? How much do you usually spend?
  3. What are the pros and cons of eating in a restaurant?
  4. According to the video, what are the strategies to lessen eating out?
  5. How do you lessen your expenses or save more money?

Flagging Productivity at Work? Tricks to Get Your Mojo Back

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We all have those days when completing our assigned tasks seems beyond reach. With the temptation of social media, mobile games, and the internet in general—not to mention the constant bustle of people in the office—it’s easy to fall prey to disruptions and distractions at work.

So, what can we do about it? How to be productive at work?

Let’s read the article about the 5 simple tricks to be more productive at work.

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/364586

Discussion Questions:

  1. How can people improve their productivity?
  2. Are you a very motivated person or do you wait until the last minute to do things?
  3. What technology helps you to be productive?
  4. Do you think that some people are more productive because of genetics or how they were raised?
  5. What are some things you want to do but don’t have time for?

Panic-Buying Events and How Supply Chains Have Adapted

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Attributed to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, panic buying is now a frequent occurrence in many countries, leading to stock-outs and supply chain disruptions.

Let us learn more about how supply chains have adapted to this situation.

https://theconversation.com/panic-buying-events-are-the-new-normal-heres-how-supply-chains-have-adapted-154362

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of the panic buying? Is there any need to panic buy?
  2. Do you agree or disagree that official warnings against panic buying might even do more harm than good?
  3. What are the most important things to buy at the moment?
  4. Are you worried about not having masks, sanitizer, food, etc.? What is the worst thing to run out of for you?
  5. Should stores limit the amount of things shoppers can buy?
  6. What advice do you have for people who are stockpiling things?

Scotland Ends “Period Poverty”

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In November 2020, the Scottish Parliament unanimously voted to pass a bill that would conclusively put an end to what has been termed “period poverty.” It refers to the inability of a lot of Scottish women to afford sanitary products.

The trailblazing legislation took into account not just the cost of this staple problem in women’s health, but also the indignity associated with not being able to afford such essentials.

Learn more about this law and its impact by reading the article below. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.thetimesinplainenglish.com/ending-period-poverty-scotland-is-first-nation-to-make-sanitary-products-free/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think is the significance of the “Period Products (Free Provision) Bill” in Scotland?
  2. What were the circumstances that led to the creation of the bill?
  3. Does period poverty also exist in Spain or are sanitary products easily afforded by all women? Are these items subject to tax?
  4. Are there similar or related legislation in your country that safeguards aspects of women’s health?
  5. What more can be done to raise awareness about women’s health issues?

Black Death

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Terrified of COVID-19? Did you know that there was a far worse disease that bedeviled the lands during the middle of the 13th century. This catastrophic plague is known as the Black Death. This fatal disease wiped out almost one-third of Europe’s population.

Read the article below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.english-online.at/history/black-death/black-death-in-the-middle-ages.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. How clueless were the medical experts on the cause of Black Death? What perceptions and speculations did people have back then?
  2. What were the symptoms of Black Death?
  3. What strange methods did people use to fight against this plague?
  4. How would you compare the situation then and now with the COVID-19 pandemic?
  5. Throughout the history of your country, have there been other diseases that afflicted many people? Talk about it and that moment.

Air Force One – A Special Plane for the American President

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It is the most notable plane in the world and probably the most secure one too. It’s called the ‘Air Force One’. It is actually just a call sign for any Air Force where the president of the United States of America is aboard.

Read the article below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.english-online.at/technology/air-force-one/air-force-one-plane-american-president.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the ‘Air Force One’? What special features does it have?
  2. Does the leader of your country have something similar to this? Is there a special name for it? Who uses it? Is it strictly for the president or the head of the state?
  3. Is this kind of transport means necessary or merely a special privilege? Support your stand.
  4. Do you think country leaders should fly commercially too? Why/why not?

Movie Theaters Are Reopening

B2 – Upper Intermediate

After five months of lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a popular chain of movie theaters, AMC Theatres, reopened its doors in certain locations. The chain said it would take all measures to enforce social distancing between seats, will mandate wearing masks and upgrade the theater air filters. However, is it worth the risk?

Watch the video and be able to answer the questions that follow:

Discussion Questions:

  1. Were you a moviegoer before the Covid-19 pandemic? How often did you use to see a movie?
  2. How do you feel about the reopening of movie theaters amidst the pandemic?
  3. If the movie theater provides adequate safeguards against the coronavirus, would you likely visit the cinema to see a movie again soon? Why or why not?

Why Fake Meat Is the Future

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Plant-based meat are becoming a more popular choice for many consumers even for the non-vegetarians. Over the last few years, the number of meat alternatives available on the market has been increasing with the rise in vegetarian and vegan eaters. As a result, the sales of meat alternatives are growing as well.

Watch the video and be able to answer the discussion questions below.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you tried plant-based meat before? What do you think about these meat alternatives?
  2. What do you think are the reasons why some non-vegetarians or non- vegan consume plant-based meat?
  3. What do you think is the impact of consuming plant-based meat on our health and our world?
  4. Do you think fake meat will be the future food of the world? Why or why not?

Face To Replace Bank Card

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Face recognition is a technology capable of identifying or verifying a subject through an image, video, or any audiovisual element of his face. It simply requires any device that has digital photographic technology to generate and obtain the images and data necessary to create and record the biometric facial pattern of the person that needs to be identified.

Unlike other identification solutions such as passwords, verification by email, selfies or images, or fingerprint identification, Biometric facial recognition uses unique mathematical and dynamic patterns that make this system one of the safest and most effective. But are there data security and privacy issues that we should be worried about?

Let’s read the article to know more about facial recognition payment.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-55748964

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about this new technology?
  2. Would you use facial recognition when making payments?
  3. What is your preferred way of paying for things?
  4. How important are notes and coins?
  5. What are the benefits of cashless payments? How about its dangers?
  6. How will facial recognition affect our data security and privacy?