Tag: B2 – Upper intermediate

The Life of a Child Star

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Fame can either make or break individuals. So what if fame comes way too early in life? This could be a struggle of a child celebrity on how to cope with the limelight and tackle the adolescent dilemmas at the same time. The constant harassment of the media, parties, wanting a photograph or an autograph, the pressure to stand out are just some of the dark side to it. Would they go down the pit or successfully be able to make a way back to normal life?

Click the link below to know some reasons why child stars go off the deep end.

https://www.medicalbag.com/home/specialties/pediatrics/the-life-of-a-child-star-why-some-go-crazy-and-others-dont/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of a young kid becoming a child star?
  2. If your son/daughter wanted to be a celebrity, would you allow them?
  3. Why do most former child stars hit rock bottom eventually?
  4. What should be done to protect child celebrities from being abused/exploited?
  5. Talk about some famous child stars that you know of.

Embracing Physical Imperfections on Social Media

B2- Upper Intermediate

An Instagram influencer from Russia has asked people to post photos of themselves not wearing any make-up. She believes in the idea of body positivity and is trying to spread it in Russia.

Men and women have found themselves battling identity issues due to the unrealistic beauty standards set by what they see on social media. It is used to promote ourselves, tons of celebrities, influencers, models and brands, also use it to sell themselves by creating an image of perfection. What exactly is the perfect beauty? How do we even define beautiful?

Read the article about how a young Russian Instagram influencer is advocating to push back against the pressure to display physical perfection on social media.

https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-49877327

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think social media promotes body positivity? Share your insights.
  2. What are your thoughts on this campaign?
  3. How does social media impact one’s self -image?
  4. Should we be comfortable to bare our physical imperfections? Why or why not?
  5. How can we promote body positivity even more?

Eating at the Worst Buffet

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Every time something ignites or excites our curiosity, whether it’s a movie or a newly released video game, our expectation is usually high. Sadly, there are times, although not all the time those expectations are not met and of course, it devastates you as an avid spectator and the usual reaction is to share or convince others not to patronize it.

The video below is an example.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is there something that you read, watched, listened to, visited, or played, or otherwise experienced that you think is bad and you wish others could avoid? What are those and why would you want people to stay away from them?
  2. How would you convince others to avoid these experiences?
  3. Is it worth your time convincing others?

A Culture of Rivalry

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Rivalry as defined by the Cambridge dictionary as a serious and often continuing competition has been evident in and been affecting many events such as sports and music. Even world leaders have their own slice of rivalry. Arguments and speculations of who wins and who loses in a match seems to be deeply ingrained in our cultures.

Please take time in reading about this topic further. To access the link, right click on the image, then “open in new tab”.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/18/learning/what-is-your-favorite-rivalry.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Does rivalry capture your attention?
  2. Do you have your own favorite type of rivalry? Is it in sports? In pop culture? Explain why?
  3. Is rivalry ever healthy?
  4. Are there qualities that make a good rivalry?
  5. Talk about your thoughts on winning and losing.
  6. Have you ever had a rival? Share your experience.

Aviation Industry to Oppose Flight Shaming

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The aviation industry has taken an increasing amount of flak from environment advocates because of carbon emissions from commercial flights.

Read the transcript and listen to the accompanying audio to weigh in on this issue.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/aviation-industry-to-oppose-flight-shaming-movement/5155504.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of the “flight shaming” movement?
  2. Should travelers find alternative means to reach their destinations and abandon taking flights altogether?
  3. What steps are being taken by the airline industry to ensure that travel by plane will become more eco-friendly?
  4. Would you ever avoid air travels?
  5. Talk about your experiences traveling by plane.

Photos Ended Child Labor in the US

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The Industrial Revolution had led to a need for workers and in the pursuit of cheap labor, many companies hired children. This, in turn, had put them in dangerous conditions for long hours and low pay. As the outcry against this practice grew, the National Child Labor Committee hired Lewis Wickes Hine to travel the country and photograph and interview child laborers. His images are powerful, and his careful documentary work gave them more context and helped spur the passage of legislation.

Check out the video below on his outstanding work and be able to answer the questions that follow:

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do feel about what’s discussed in the video?
  2. What are your thoughts on how Hine carefully shot his photos to shine a light on the problem in child labor?
  3. What do you think of Child Labor? Do you think it still exists today?
  4. Do you like taking pictures? What is your purpose in taking them?
  5. What do you think is the importance of photography in our life? How powerful is it?

The Decluttering Trend

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Do you have a lot of things that you no longer need or use? Perhaps now’s the time to start decluttering.

Click the link below and find out all about this current trend of decluttering.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-190411

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you need to declutter? Why or why not?
  2. What are the ways to get rid of clutters?
  3. Why do you think people keep on buying things they don’t need?
  4. What do you do with or what do you think happens to things that you no longer need?
  5. What do you think led to the rise of decluttering’s popularity?

Why’s It Called ‘Mother Tongue’?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Mother tongue is a language a person learns from birth and it plays a significant role in one’s life. It is also called home language, native tongue and a first language.

Let’s listen to the podcast and learn more about the term ‘mother tongue’ and the relationship between language and gender.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-191031

Discussion Questions:

  1. What’s the subconscious difference in attitude towards words that are gendered?
  2. How many languages can you speak, read, and write?
  3. Why is your first language termed ‘mother tongue’?
  4. Do you think that the mother tongue should only be used as a medium in higher education?

The Rise of Virtual Restaurants

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Much commerce is being done through the Web these days. This is particularly evident in the food industry. The Internet is offering exciting new possibilities for sellers and foodies alike.

The following audio and text will deepen our understanding of this matter.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/online-food-ordering-gives-rise-to-virtual-restaurants/5137728.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Nowadays, people either order in or eat out. What makes either option appealing?
  2. Which apps have you already used to have food delivered? Was it a convenient or cumbersome means of ordering food?
  3. Why have some restaurateurs decided to take the “virtual” route in doing business? What keeps some of them from fully embracing the idea?

What Really Happens to the Plastic You Throw Away

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The plastic bottle. By the time you read this, you would have probably gone through hundreds of these ubiquitous yet nondescript items. Where did they come from? Where are they headed?

Watch this informative video and find out the fate of three such bottles.

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the narrator, how is plastic made?
  2. Explain what happens to each of the three plastic bottles in the story. Which scenario does the video state is the best outcome?
  3. In your city, what usually happens to discarded plastic bottles? How do you feel about this after watching the video?
  4. Enumerate all the plastic items you can see from where you’re sitting or standing at the moment. How many are there in total? What is your reaction to this tally?
  5. What concrete steps can we take to ensure less plastic harms the global ecosystem?