Tag: B2 – Upper intermediate

Jantelagen: Why Swedes Won’t Talk about Wealth

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In a lot of countries around the world, wealth and everything that comes with it are shiny badges that show everyone that you have made it. However, in Sweden, there’s a cultural code known as jantelagen that prevents people from flaunting their wealth, success, and everything else most people would commonly brag about. 

Read the article and also watch the video to know more about jantelagen and be ready to express your thoughts on this.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20191008-jantelagen-why-swedes-wont-talk-about-wealth

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on jantelagen? Do you think it should be kept or should it disappear? 
  2. Is this principle upheld in your country? How would you compare Spain and Sweden when it comes to this subject?
  3. Is high income a badge of success in your country? In general, do people feel comfortable or even proud about talking about their salaries or material possessions? 
  4. What are things that people often brag about in your country?
  5. Who is the most humble and the most ostentatious person you know?

Creating a Dream Team

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Do you ever wonder why a team consisting of very talented employees usually do not perform to their maximum capacity? Is there really a way to create a ‘dream team’ in the workplace? If so, how is it done?

Read the article and find out more about the up and coming science of collective intelligence and learn some tips on how to boost team performance — dream team or not.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20190807-the-science-of-creating-a-dream-team

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are factors affecting a team’s success?
  2. Do you agree or disagree that team members’ IQ have something to do with their success/excellent performance?
  3. Do you agree or disagree that too much talent can be counterproductive?
  4. Describe your team at work, your team dynamics, and talk about how each member contributes in making the team perform to its best potential.
  5. What was the biggest challenge that your team ever had to face and how did you overcome it?

Nepotism in the Workplace

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Nepotism is defined as the act of providing or receiving opportunities due to a family relationship or friendship. Dealing with this practice in the workplace can be tough, especially if you’re the one on the short end of the stick. Therefore, dealing with it professionally and personally is a must for anyone who experiences it.

Peruse today’s text to learn new insights and ways of handling nepotism at work.

https://www.inhersight.com/blog/insight-commentary/nepotism-at-work?_n=68250395#

Discussion Questions:

  1. How prevalent is nepotism in your country?
  2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of nepotism?
  3. On the whole, is nepotism more good or bad?
  4. Cite some examples of nepotism that you observe in your workplace.
  5. Can you give other ways to deal with nepotism in the workplace?

The 5S System

B2 – Upper Intermediate

5S is a workplace organization method that uses a list of five Japanese words: seiri, seiton, seisō, seiketsu, and shitsuke. Translated into English roughly as ‘Sort’, ‘Set in Order’, ‘Shine’, ‘Standardize’, and ‘Sustain’, this methodology has been widely used by some of the biggest companies such as Boeing, Hewlett-Packard, and Harley-Davidson Motor Company.

Follow the principles of 5S closely in the article below.

Principles of 5S and lean management which can benefit every manufacturer

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the main purpose of 5S?
  2. Can you name other companies that apply this method?
  3. Explain about your company methodologies and principles.
  4. What do you think are the disadvantages of 5S?
  5. How can 5S be relevant in your daily life?

Homeschooling

B2 – Upper Intermediate

According to BBC, the number of children in UK being homeschooled has risen by about 40% over the past three years. Parents have some reasons why they homeschool their children, though. It has its own share of pros and cons just like conventional schools. In reality, there are students who learn better in homeschool environment rather than in a public or private school environment and vice versa. Parents just have to find the best approach for their children to learn depending on their ability, personality, and condition.

Read the article and be able to answer the questions below:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-42624220

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of homeschooling?
  2. What are some reasons parents homeschool their children?
  3. What are its drawbacks?
  4. Is homeschooling gaining popularity in your country?
  5. Would you be different today if you were homeschooled? Why/Why not?

A Good Time to Improve Your Health

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The Coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, China, has become a global phenomenon with over 70,000 confirmed cases and more than 2,000 deaths as of this writing.

This health emergency has highlighted the need to improve hygiene standards and practice proper cold and flu etiquette.

Read the article that follows to learn why the current virus threat is a good time to improve your health and discover some practical ways to achieve this.

https://www.thetimesinplainenglish.com/coronavirus-threat-is-a-good-time-to-improve-your-health/

Discussion Questions:

  1. How often do you catch a cold or get the flu? What could be the possible causes for these?
  2. What are some of the things you do to safeaguard your health?
  3. What is the recommended way to wash one’s hands as stated in the article?
  4. What are examples of etiquette to observe during the flu and cold season?

Ways to Live Longer

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Live healthy and live longer, right? There are many ways to live longer and I think it’s about time we re-asses our life to live better and longer. 

Let’s read the article below and consider the simple steps to live longer. 

https://www.health.com/mind-body/9-ways-to-live-longer

Discussion Questions:

  1. Talk about your lifestyle.
  2. What are the habits you want to change?
  3. What are the habits you want to have?
  4. How do you intend to achieve longevity?
  5. Do you want to live a very long life? Why or why not?

Would You Return a Lost Wallet Full of Cash?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

At some point of our life we lost something that is valuable to us. One good example is losing a wallet. Isn’t it puzzling to imagine what will likely to happen if one day someone would find a lost wallet? Well, most of us would predict that it wouldn’t be returned as we assume it is normal to our human nature, but recently there is an intriguing yet very interesting social experiment of losing their wallets filled with cash to be likely returned.

Lost wallets are more likely to be returned if they hold cash

Discussion Questions:

  1. What will you do if you found a lost wallet? Will you return it?
  2. What if it has 10,000 Euros?
  3. Is it stealing if you won’t return it?
  4. What factors would influence your decision whether to return or keep it?
  5. What does this tell us about humanity?

Being Breadcrumbed At Work

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Breadcrumbing refers to leaving small pieces of bread for someone. It’s what happens when you lead someone on. It’s when your company gives you “just enough” to string you along. You can tell when you are being breadcrumbed when your manager gives hints about new projects, pay increase or promotions that may – or may not – ever happen.

Read the article below and learn more about breadcrumbing at work.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20190723-how-to-tell-if-youre-being-breadcrumbed-at-work

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you ever been breadcrumbed at work? Who did it to you and why do you think they did that? How did it affect you?
  2. What can an employee do so that they won’t be lead on/strung along?
  3. What do you think are reasons employers employ such practice?

Samsung’s New Foldable Phone

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Tech giant Samsung has once again created buzz around one of its new releases with the launch of the Galaxy Z Flip. Unorthodox in design, it resembles a flip phone when folded.

One Samsung executive hailed the phone’s innovative build, going so far as to say that “it changes everything.”

Listen to the audio and read the transcript to decide whether the Galaxy Z Flip truly deserves such high praise and if its features merit a hefty price tag.

Samsung Launches New Foldable ‘Flip’ Phone

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think the Galaxy Z Flip is a good buy?
  2. How often do you change your phone? What have been your reasons for switching?
  3. What features do you look for in a smartphone?