Tag: B2 – Upper intermediate

Why Printed Books Are Still Popular

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Despite the proliferation of the internet and social media, in one industry paper continues to trump electronic.

Watch this short video to better comprehend why paper books remain the medium of choice of many millennial parents and young netizens.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhbMp2CCq6s

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the video, why do paper books continue to thrive despite competition from e-books?
  2. Which book do you remember most from your childhood? What was it about? Did you read it, or was it read to you by family or a teacher? Why does it remain a vivid memory? Was it an electronic or printed book?
  3. What is the role of libraries in today’s world of Google search results and Wikipedia entries?

Undo

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Some people say that we should look at mistakes with a positive mindset. That rather than feeling let down by ourselves and others, we should see errors as opportunities for learning and growth. But what if there was a way to undo things that have gone wrong with a simple keystroke?

Watch the following short film to see what one man did when fate seemingly smiled down on him.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree with the choices Stu made when he discovered what “Ctrl Z” on his keyboard could do?
  2. Given a one-time “Ctrl Z”, what personal decision would you undo to change the outcome of?
  3. How do you handle mistakes? What thoughts fill your head after committing an error? What emotions do you feel?
  4. In your opinion, what is the proper way to correct a workmate? A subordinate? Your boss?
  5. Describe the attitude toward correction that can lead to positive results.

Spain’s Unfinished Cities

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Valdeluz, an unfinished development housing project near Guadalajara was constructed to house aspiring middle-class homeowners. It has become a paragon of the consequences of the housing bubble burst and the country’s confounded economic decline.

Read more about this ghost town, its implications on Spain’s housing and economic state.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/spain-empty-cities_n_56ba6221e4b0b40245c47dff

Discussion Questions:

  1. Talk about the construction boom in Spain, the current situation and your thoughts on this issue.
  2. Do you know any urbanization development projects that were abandoned midway? What do you think of when you see such sights?
  3. Has the housing crisis waned in your country now?
  4. What do you think went wrong with these housing projects?
  5. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of living in urbanizations?

Cover Your Camera

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Netizens noticed something about Mark Zuckerberg’s laptop when he posted a picture on Instagram: there was a tape covering the camera and the microphone to protect against hackers.

Is the multi-billionaire being paranoid? Or, is it a call for everyone not to trust his or her own webcam?

Watch the video below:

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you find webcam hacking as a serious issue?
  2. Can you share some tips or insights on how we can keep our cameras and privacy secure?
  3. What actions should every government do to protect its citizens from webcam hacking?

Plastic Surgery Boom in South Korea

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Over 20 million cosmetic procedures are done worldwide and nearly a million of them are from South Korea. Seoul is the heart of the $5 billion dollar industry.

Watch the video and be able to answer the questions below.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why does South Korea have the highest rate of cosmetic surgery?
  2. What are the reasons it is very common in their country?
  3. What’s your opinion on cosmetic surgery?
  4. Would you go under the knife if you were not satisfied with your looks?

School for Tired Teens

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It is always a struggle for parents to get their teenage children out of bed in the morning to get them to school on time. An English school decided to delay the start of classes until the afternoon for older students so they can sleep in and begin school in the afternoons.

Watch the video and be able to express your thoughts by answering the questions below.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of this kind of school? What are its benefits? Are there any drawbacks?
  2. Is later school time a solution for tired teens? If not, what are some ways to avoid sleep deprivation among teenagers?
  3. In your country, how many hours of sleep do most teenagers have?
  4. Did you use to have this problem when you were a teenager? How did you cope with it?


Van Gogh’s Real Mental Illness

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Van Gogh is no doubt a legendary man and one of the most influential, if not the most influential artists of all time. He is perceived though by many as the ‘mad’ artist as accounts told of him showing an unusual personality and losing his sanity. But, what mental disorder did Van Gogh really go through? Schizophrenia, bipolarism, or even depression?

Let’s think big and discover in the video below for it may change our perspectives about the poor man.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is temporal lobe epilepsy? Do you know anyone who has or might have this condition?
  2. How are mental illnesses viewed in Spain?
  3. Which one artist do you admire the most?
  4. If Vincent Van Gogh were alive, how do you think his life would be different at the present time?
  5. What one question would you ask Van Gogh?

Shocking Cultural Norms from Around the World

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A big part of traveling is to gasp at breathtaking sights, taste different kinds of cuisines, and admire traditions and customs. Each culture has its own set of rules that makes it unique. However, some countries have unbelievable, bizarre, and more shocking norms than others.

So if you are planning to go to Croatia, Ireland, Lebanon, and the rest, then you had better watch the video to prepare yourself.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Which cultural norm did you find the most shocking, and why?
  2. Have you visited any of the countries in the video? If so, did you observe or experience the said customs?
  3. Do you know other strange practices and traditions in any country? In Spain?
  4. What is a common misconception about the Spanish culture?

Why Don’t Young People Read the News

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A number of surveys found that people age 18-34 are consistently less knowledgeable about current events than older people.

Let’s read the article below and find out why a lot of young people do not watch the news anymore.

https://www.thoughtco.com/why-dont-young-people-read-the-news-2074000

Discussion Questions:

1. What might be reasons young people aren’t interested in reading or learning period?

2. What are the reasons young people are not interested in the news?

3. Why is it important for young people to be abreast with current events?

4. How can news be made appealing to the younger audience?

Connectivity Improved the Way We Bring Up Children

B2 – Upper Intermediate

For most families, it can be difficult to keep up with the rapid development in technological devices, mobile applications, and the ways young people use them.

Digital parents play a crucial role in molding how their children use digital media. It’s important for parents to have conversations with their children about the digital world – so families can make the best use of it and enable children to navigate it safely.

Read the article on connectivity and raising children.

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/digital-parents-how-connectivity-has-improved-the-way-we-bring-up-children_uk_5cc3060ee4b05f4d35ff4a7b

Discussion Questions:

1. Is technology a good or a bad thing?
2. How has technology changed parenting?
3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using gadgets for children?
4. From what age do you think children should have a mobile phone?