Tag: B2 – Upper intermediate

How False Information Spreads

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Today, almost everything we do has something to do online; may it be our pastime or our jobs. Sometimes, we feel the need to be connected online for fear of missing out on a lot of things.

As a result, different industries have adapted to this trend and have increased their online presence. This includes news media. Now, it’s more common to see people reading news articles online than in a newspaper. With so much information available at our fingertips, we need to be careful about the things we read online.

Click the link and listen to the audio to learn more about how quickly false information can be spread online.

https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/listening/advanced-c1-listening/how-false-information-spreads

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the reasons false information spread so easily with the help of technology?
  2. How can false information be prevented from being spread on the internet?
  3. Share a hoax you have heard of before that many people believed right away.
  4. Do you read the news online? Which websites do you get your news from? Why do you get info from these websites?
  5. Do you use Wikipedia? What is your opinion about it or the information on it?

Professionals Want To Go Back To the Office

B2 – Upper Intermediate

COVID-19 has lead to more and more employees working from home. 98% of people surveyed said they would like the option to work remotely for the rest of their careers. With workers finding some challenges in this new work setup, not everything is positive.

Let’s read the article to find out what these 6 professionals shared about their experiences working from home and why they want to go back to working in the office again.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/return-to-office-work_l_60818168e4b01e14f06eb30a

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are you currently working from home? What’s your daily routine like for working?
  2. What’s your biggest struggle with working remotely?
  3. How can companies with remote workforce benefit from implementing flexible/remote working?
  4. What do you do when taking breaks and to recharge throughout the day?
  5. Are remote workers happier than office employees? Explain your point.

The Ideal Woman

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Although there are times when it is not easy to know the reasons why we fall in love, the reasons why we stay in love are easier to recognize. Perhaps looking for a perfect partner is unrealistic that is why we must settle with the next best thing — an ideal partner.

Let’s listen to Ed and Rocky as they talk about Rocky’s ideal woman.

The Ideal Woman

Discussion Questions:

  1. What kind of woman does Rocky like?
  2. What do you think of his ideal woman? Do you agree with his thoughts on household responsibilities?
  3. What is your idea of the perfect man/woman?
  4. Is it good to have high expectations in a relationship?

Divorce Lawyers

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Marriage is a commitment. It’s a commitment to do whatever is necessary to make the marriage work. There are times when it just won’t work despite the compromise the couples make. When is it right to surrender?

Let’s listen to Phil’s potential divorce story.

Divorce Lawyers

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is going on between Sharon and Phil?
  2. What reasons does Phil have to justify his divorce? What does Tonya think about them?
  3. What does “call it quits” mean?
  4. Do you think Phil is ready for a married life?
  5. Do you have high divorce rate in your country? What are the common reasons couple get divorced?
  6. What do you think of divorce lawyers? Are they in demand and highly paid in your country?

Why Do We Cringe?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Now more than ever, we feel the urge to cringe, especially about things we see online. It could be a verb, noun, and an adjective which means recoil of embarrassment or shrink. We cringe because we witness something funny or pleasurable or something disgusting or awkward.

Watch the video below about the cringe theory, empathetic embarrassment, why we cringe, etc.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What makes you cringe? Share a moment when you feel embarrassed or awkward or something hilarious that you cried your heart out due to fondness.
  2. Why do we cringe more recently?
  3. Do you tend to cringe more if someone close to you or someone you do not personally know did something embarrassing? Why do you think that is?
  4. Have you ever made someone cringe? Share your story.
  5. Is cringing bad or good or could be an insult? Explain.
  6. How do you deal with a cringey/cringe-worthy person or situation?

Video Games Are Good for You

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Research has shown that more people are playing video games since the pandemic. Because of the drastic limitation on outdoor activities, people find themselves stuck at home with nothing much to do. As a result, more people turn to video gaming.

However, video games have always had mixed reception from parents. Some say they make their kids more aggressive and less healthy. On the other hand, some parents say that with moderation, video games are a good way for kids to spend their time at home.

Research shows that video games are actually beneficial in many ways.

Click the link and read the article to learn the benefits of playing video games.

https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/reading/upper-intermediate-b2-reading/video-games-are-good-you

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the article, how can games help develop physical skills?
  2. What are the other benefits of playing games that were mentioned in the article?
  3. Do you play video games? Why or why not?
  4. What are some negative effects of playing video games?
  5. Do you think the benefits outweigh the negative effects of playing video games? Why or why not?

Domino’s Will Deliver Pizzas Using Robot

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Pizza is the perfect comfort food — not too messy, hard to mess up, good whether it’s hot or cold, and no silverware necessary. It’s just a perfect guaranteed meal to have during such uncertain times. 

The largest pizza company in the world by sales — Domino’s — had the biggest slice of the U.S. market coming into the pandemic. Now pizza lovers in Houston are going to see a new kind of delivery driver — a robot.

Let’s find out more about this autonomous pizza delivery robot.

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/369394

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about his autonomous pizza delivery car/robot?
  2. What could be the advantages and disadvantages of this technology?
  3. Overall, what are your thoughts on allocating efforts and resources in the development of autonomous vehicles?
  4. Where else could such technology be useful?
  5. Have you ever called for pizza delivery? If yes, how often do you order pizza to your home?

No More Pain in Your Life

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Pain and stress are the usual feelings that we encounter whenever we have problems. These are inevitable feelings that humans experience.

Stress is the garbage of the modern life. All of us will suffer from it, but if you don’t cope with it properly, it will pile up and overtake your life.

Stress and confusion come from being busy. Sometime the most productive thing to do is to let go and relax.

Watch this video on how to let go of our stress and pains.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How often do you feel stressed or in (emotional) pain?
  2. What are the things that make you stressed? How do you deal with it?
  3. How does the speaker compare the glass of water to a person’s stress or pain? Do you agree with him?
  4. What are your stress relievers?

Three Laughing Monks Story

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Laughter has a lot of benefits not only to our health but also to people around us. There’s a saying that laughter is and will always be, the best therapy.

According to John Cleese, laughter connects us to people. It’s almost impossible to maintain any kind of distance or any sense of social hierarchy when you’re just always howling with laughter.

In this video, you’ll know the story of the three laughing monks and how they connect and affect other people’s lives.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the summary of the story?
  2. Are you a serious person or a jolly one?
  3. What was the funniest moment that ever happened in your life? Can you tell the story?
  4. How often do you meet and laugh with your family and friends?
  5. What usually makes you laugh?

Get Rid of Anger Issues

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It is in people’s nature to get angry if there’s something that others did that we don’t really like and didn’t pass our standards. However, each person has different attitudes and way to handle their anger. Some just keep silent and some are try to release their anger by shouting or sometimes even harming others physically.

This video showed a story that somehow will help us know how to handle and get rid our anger issues. Remember that anger doesn’t solve anything. It builds nothing, but it can destroy everything.

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the video, what is the law of a garbage truck?
  2. How does the taxi driver compare people to garbage trucks?
  3. How can anger issues be managed?
  4. What are the things that make you angry?
  5. What can you say about the taxi driver’s attitude?