Tag: B2 – Upper intermediate

The Power of Crying

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Everyone had shed tears in our lifetime. Starting from the day we were born until we aged. There are countless reasons why people cry – from irritations in our eyes to different emotions we feel. Crying is part of human nature that can actually benefit us somehow.

Hear more information about it through the audio below.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-200423

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are reasons people cry?
  2. Why do women cry more than men?
  3. Why is it embarrassing for a man to be seen crying?
  4. Do you often cry? What makes you cry?
  5. How can crying help people?

Man Raises Millions for Health Service

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A war veteran started a fundraiser in order to gather funds for UK’s health service. While his act of altruism has been highly praised by many, some are quick to comment that this is nothing but a mere reflection of how poor the state of their country’s health service currently is.

Read the full lesson from the link below and be ready to answer the discussion questions.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2004/200419-fundraising.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Talk about Captain Tom Moore’s fundraising efforts and where the funds would go.
  2. What are your thoughts on this statement that Moore’s ‘altruism is a damning reflection on the state of UK’s NHS’?
  3. Have you ever been involved in a fundraising activity before? What kind of fundraiser was it and who were the beneficiaries of the money collected?
  4. Talk about the state of health service in your country.
  5. Would you consider doing the same thing Moore did?

Hand Sanitiser by Louis Vuitton

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Events all over the world have been cancelled in order to avoid the spread of COVID-19 virus. Life seems to have stopped and the same can be said for the business of luxury brand companies. Fortunately, some of these luxury brands are stepping in to help fight this pandemic.

Read the full lesson for more information on this brands’ plans in producing anti-viral products.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2003/200318-hand-sanitiser.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What will the luxury goods maker Louis Vuitton do to help fight the COVID-19 virus? How will they do it?
  2. Do you think it is a social responsibility for these companies to provide their services and products for free?
  3. Did local companies in your country do the same thing? Give examples.

Sleep Better To Be Better

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Although there are habits and techniques to sleeping properly that we can all follow, everyone’s needs are different. If we’re serious about preventive health, we need to pay more attention to our sleep.

Poor sleep is a major risk factor for conditions such as obesity, diabetes, mood disorders, and immune impairment. Poor sleep can shorten life too.

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

https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23030753-400-sleep-better-be-better/

Discussion Questions:

  1. How many hours do you sleep?
  2. How important is sleep for you?
  3. Do you notice any difference in your performance when you lacked sleep?
  4. How do you deal with sleep issues?
  5. What’s the importance of getting proper sleep?

Teenagers and Saturday Jobs

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The conventional Saturday job is vanishing as teenagers are now more focused on their school and college work rather than “earning while learning”, a report suggests.

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

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/saturday-jobs-teenagers-school-work-students-resolution-foundation-report-a9270206.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is it common for teenagers to work while studying in your country?
  2. How is/was your teenage life like?
  3. If you would be given a chance, would you work and study?
  4. What are the possible advantages and disadvantages of juggling work and studies?
  5. Did you have a job when you were a teenager? What lessons did that experience teach you?
  6. Do you agree or disagree that Saturday jobs for teens should disappear?

Teenagers Banned From Using Mobiles In School

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The head of a prestigious boarding school said that teenagers should be stopped from using mobile phones in school because they are not mature enough to practice self-control.

Read the article below and find out more about this phone ban at a school.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/mobile-phone-ban-school-headteacher-lisa-kerr-gordonstoun-prince-charles-a9276756.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of the idea?
  2. Are children in your country allowed to bring mobile phones at school?
  3. At what age do you think a person should start using mobile phones/gadgets?
  4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of letting children bring their mobile phones to school?

Being Ridiculously Forgetful

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you been feeling forgetful lately? Your memory problems likely stem from a lack of focus and lack of paying attention. As we get older, chances are, we sometimes forget a word, where we left our car keys, or the name of a neighbor. These small memory lapses happen and they are normal.

Read the article and be able to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.thedailystar.net/shout/life/news/being-ridiculously-forgetful-1798447

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think you are forgetful? What do you think are reasons for this?
  2. What are the usual things that slip your mind and how often does it happen?
  3. What are some of the problems that arise from being forgetful?
  4. Are there any benefits of being forgetful?
  5. What do you do to in order to avoid forgetting important tasks and responsibilities?

Pros and Cons of Having a Part-time Job

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Is it possible for students to focus on their studies when they have a part-time job? Some people say it is a major distracting factor. However, a job can also have a positive influence on the studying process. If one prioritizes his studies, he will get the results that he wants. On the other hand, working too hard can lead to wearing oneself out and therefore getting bad grades.

There are many things to consider before making the decision to get a job while studying in college. Click the link to read the pros and cons of having a part-time job and be able to answer the discussion questions.

https://www.thedailystar.net/shout/life/pros-and-cons-having-part-time-job-1453216

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you ever experienced doing a part-time job when you were in college? If yes, how was it? What do you think are the up/downsides of doing it?
  2. Which of the pros and cons stated in the article do you agree and disagree with?
  3. Would you allow your child/children to get a part-time job while they are in college? Why or why not?

How to Embrace Emotions at Work

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Workplace is a challenging place and managing your emotions at work is very important. Do you feel weak or are you able to manage your emotions pretty well to have a healthy work environment?

Let us watch the video to learn some tips on how we can overcome overwhelming or sometimes unnecessary emotions at work.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to let sth/sb run wild” mean, “If you suddenly let your feelings run wild at work and give people far more information than they bargained for, you make everyone around you uncomfortable and you also undermine yourself.”? Use this expression in a sentence.
  2. What does “lurid” mean, “[ It’s ] great to say you weren’t feeling well last night — you don’t need to go into every lurid detail about how you got reacquainted with your half-digested dinner.”? Use this word in a sentence.
  3. What does “read the room” mean, “And finally, read the room and provide a path forward.”? Use this expression in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is selective vulnerability? Talk about the four ways on how to practice this.
  2. Do you agree or disagree that “emotions don’t belong at work”?
  3. Are you an under-emoter or an over-emoter? Cite reasons why.
  4. Talk about some relatable stories about when your emotions (both good and bad) got the best of you at work.

How the Progress Bars Keep You Sane?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Progress bars started out as something that provided an update on a given task, to know where you stand, and what exactly you are doing. Does its presence on the screen make people feel better or worse during long-running tasks?

Let’s watch the video to learn more about it.

Discussion Questions:

1. Are progress bars a good way to measure the amount of work that is being done? Do we need it? Why or Why not?

2. Can software influence your emotions?

3. Do progress bars cause anxiety on people?

4. In a daily workday, do you constantly need the validation of your tasks to know your progress?

5. What devices or applications do you use which makes you feel that they are driving you towards a goal?

6. The speaker says, “The progress bar gives you the vision of a beginning and an end and that you’re working towards a goal and in some ways, mitigates the fear of death”. What are your thoughts on this statement?