Tag: B2 – Upper intermediate

Poor Diet Creates 20cm Height Gap in Children

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Human growth is affected by complex interactions among various factors, including gene, race, birth weight, hormone, nutrition, and environment.
Eating behaviours evolve during the first years of life; children learn what, when, and how much to eat through direct experiences with food and observing the eating behaviours of others.

But how can poor diet and nutrition affect a child’s health?

Let’s read the article below to learn more about diet and height.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2011/201111-diet-and-height.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What two things did the article see were behind the height gap?
  2. What did the article warn people against?
  3. What is the average height of children and also men and women in your country?
  4. Do you think you had a healthy lifestyle when you were a child? Is it possible to have a healthy lifestyle in this modern world?
  5. How could we improve the eating habits of children?

Advice If You Should Quit Your Job

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There are times when we feel tired and listless in doing our job. There are many reasons why, including toxic work environment, bosses from hell, and sometimes, the work itself is just so tiring.

In this video, it will help you realize why and how to continue even if you’re tired of your chosen profession. You will somehow think of the reasons why you need to continue or otherwise.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the problem of the two men? What did the sage tell them?
  2. How did the two men solve their problems?
  3. How do you explain these two expressions “Only a bowl of rice” and “Only a difference of thought”?
  4. What are some reasons you quit your previous jobs?
  5. What makes you stay in your current job?

A Tale About Honesty

B2 – Upper Intermediate

“Honesty is the best policy” this is one of the most popular sayings that we often hear. Though, it’s a popular one, most of us fail to be honest not because we want to but because we don’t want to hurt other people. But some do this plainly to deceive others to make money and skyrocket to fame.

This story teaches us a lesson that honesty is not more than lying. It is truth-telling, truth-speaking, truth-living and truth-loving.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you define honesty?
  2. What are white lies?
  3. Is there a time that you lie to someone?
  4. Do you know a person who lied so much?
  5. How do you deal with a liar person?

Awake at 3 a.m.? What to Do

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We’ve all had to burn the midnight oil at some point. Perhaps it was for that all-important presentation at work, or maybe we’ve had to pore over notes for that university examination that loomed the next day.

However, it’s a different thing altogether when we have the opportunity to get a full night’s sleep, but our body clock seemingly refuses to cooperate.

The following article has some nifty tips to have you snoozing your way to dreamland sooner and brimming with energy when the alarm clock finally rings.

https://www.thetimesinplainenglish.com/awake-at-3-a-m-what-to-do/

Discussion Questions:

  1. On an average evening, what time do you usually find yourself tucked up in bed? Do you sleep soon after or much later? What do you see as the ideal sleep schedule for you?
  2. Having read the article, what would you say are the things that keep you from falling asleep? How can you manage these factors to enjoy blissful slumber?
  3. Which of the tips do you find most useful? Which tips can you implement immediately to improve the quality of your sleep? Which would be difficult to put into practice?

Taking a Look At Extreme Exercise

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Eating a healthy diet and getting sufficient exercise have long been considered the power tandem of habits to reach a ripe, old age.

In this short segment from CNN10, we are given some key ideas on how to break a sweat effectively and maximize our workouts.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the benefits of regular physical exercise?
  2. On average, how many hours do you exercise in a week? Would you describe the intensity as mild, moderate, or vigorous?
  3. How do you squeeze in your fitness routine into your daily grind?
  4. What activities comprise your workouts? Why do you prefer these forms of exercise over others?
  5. If you don’t get much exercise, what are the obstacles to your fitness goals? What changes can you make to accommodate this vital habit?
  6. What is your opinion about High Intensity Interval Training?

New Device Puts Music in Your Head

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Move over, ear pods! Get out of the way, headsets!

Noveto Systems invented a device that sends sound directly to listeners. With this new technology, there is no need for headphones.

Are we soon going to bid ear pods and headsets farewell?

Watch the video, listen to the audio, and/or read the transcript about the new technology known as “sound beaming”.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/new-device-puts-music-in-your-head-/5659759.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this new technology?
  2. How do you like listening to your music? What device do you use in listening?
  3. Do you think that with this technology, we would eventually no longer have the need for headsets and such listening devices?
  4. What technology related to music do you want to see in the future?
  5. What gadgets / technology for music are popular in your country these days?

How to Figure Out What You Really Want

B2 – Upper Intermediate

When life throws us curveballs, we suddenly learn to stop taking risks and start being afraid. We become afraid of failures and scared of criticism.

We are scared to put ourselves out there and do what we really want. Oftentimes, we get frustrated that we can’t leave our toxic jobs because we don’t know what we truly want yet.

Watch Ashley Stahl as she shares her 3 key steps to help you connect to your ideal career path.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRtBHF-WPpM&fbclid=IwAR0_ZrrTyCdvsCppfzqYvB8acDBzdXpKcSjlEvmbJ79j57dQtH8g6McFHKw

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on this statement: “People who call themselves realists are often just dreamers, who got their hearts broken somewhere along the way”?
  2. Do you follow your gut feeling?
  3. What is a joy journal?
  4. What skill set are you using when you’re inspired?
  5. What do you know that you wish you didn’t know?

The Secret to Being a Successful Freelancer

B2 – Upper Intermediate

You are your own business when you start being a freelancer.
You have to market yourself and you have to know how to run your business on your own. It could be tough but it’ll give you the freedom to choose and do what you want the most.

Watch as Paco De Leon talk about the secrets to becoming a successful freelancer.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think that artists are way too underpaid these days?

2. When starting a freelancing career, why is it important to know your target customers?

3. Explain: “When you earn enough working with clients that value your work, you don’t have to compromise by working with clients who don’t. “

4. Do you want to be a freelancer? If yes, what kind of business would you want to start?

5. Are the tips mentioned above helpful? Which one is your favorite?

A Secret to Success

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Victory, triumph, accomplishment — these are other terms of success. But what really is success to you? Success depends on each individual and what their targets are.

Some people define success if they get rich, some define it if they get promoted from work, and some define it if they have peace of mind.

But one thing is for sure, in order to achieve success, you should have a goal and you need to set your priorities straight. And then work for and focus on it. And if you achieve it, hold on to it and do not be so confident that you’ll never lose it.

Let’s check this eye-opening video about the secret to success.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is success for you?
  2. Do you think the mentor gave him a good advice?
  3. What would be your advice to the man?
  4. What is your goal?
  5. Do you consider yourself successful at this point in your life?

Plastic Bag Ban

B2 – Upper Intermediate

San Francisco is one of the first cities in the U.S. to ban the use of plastic shopping bags to reduce the environmental impact caused by plastic waste. The ban is not only on the use of plastic bags but also use of paper as their goal is to “bring your own” in promotion of reusable bags.

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

http://www.manythings.org/b/e/234/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of banning plastic and paper bags in promotion of reusable bags?
  2. What are the advantages and drawbacks of this ban?
  3. In your country, what bags do shops and grocery stores provide to customers when they buy products and goods from their stores?