Tag: B2 – Upper intermediate

Bitcoin just passed $8,000

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin provide people around the world new and innovative ways of engaging in legitimate commerce.The price of Bitcoin just passed $8,000 for the first time.

 

Click on the link to read the article and be ready to answer the questions that follow:

https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/20/bitcoin-just-passed-8000/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is Bitcoin? What do you know about it?

2. Have you invested in Bitcoin? What are the advantages and disadvantages of Bitcoin currency?

3. Is Bitcoin the future or is just a gamble?

Competition Is Ruining Childhood

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Competition is considered as an implicit part of education. Many of today’s children have lived their whole life competing with peers. It’s often believed that the more we work on enhancing our job skills, the more successful we will be in the future.

*Right click on the photo and open link in new tab to read the full article.

 

Discussion Questions:

1.What is the role of education in our future?

2.Should education be a form of competition?

3.Do you think we are tricked in the idea that sacrificing our mental health now in school for security in adulthood?

4.How can we make education fair for every child?

 

 

Coping With Death and Grief

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Death is part of life. Passing of a loved one makes us feel a lot of different emotions. When such tragic thing happens, we end up trying to do everything we can to avoid the pain.

Read more about the “five stages of grief” and be able to discuss the questions below:

https://www.focusonthefamily.com/lifechallenges/emotional-health/coping-with-death-and-grief/coping-with-death-and-grief

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are there special rites or ceremonies performed when a person dies in your country?
  2. How do you view death?
  3. Is there any person you would die for in order to save? Who is it?
  4. How do your national customs surrounding death reflect the values of your country?
  5. What are funerals like in your country? What are some funeral customs in your country?

Spain’s Strangest Laws

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The Spanish city of Palma de Mallorca approved fines of €600 ($820) for people daring to go shirtless in the city centre. To honour the occasion, The Local has rounded up some of the strangest laws in Spain. Read on to find out more.

 

https://www.thelocal.es/galleries/culture/top-10-spains-weirdest-laws/1Spain’s strangest laws

 

Discussion Questions:

1. What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘law’?

2. What laws in your country do you hate?

3. What’s the craziest law you know of?

4. Are there any laws in your country that you think should be made tighter?

5. Have you ever broken any laws?

Who was John Titor?

B2 – Upper Intemediate

What would be your reaction if you talked to a person who claimed that he had time traveled and lived in 2036? Scientists attest to the possibility of time traveling, though there is no official announcement of an existence or creation of a time machine.

Find out more about John Titor’s story of taking a leap into the future.

WHO WAS JOHN TITOR?

Discussion questions:
1. What do you think of Titor’s claim of time traveling?

2. Why do you think he said that his goal was not to be believed? If you could meet Titor, what are the things that you would like to know about his experience?

3. Would you try time-traveling? At what point in the past would you like to go back to? How do you visualize the future would be like?

Companies and Motivation

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Talents are the backbone of any company. However, a lot of companies seem to miss exploring the area where they provide their employees what they need and want.

Read more about companies and motivating employees from the article below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

Far too many companies get it backwards. As opposed to motivating and instilling their staff with a desire to strive towards success, they sap any motivation that exists. The company becomes rotten, unable to meet changes in the marketplace, filled with staff who does the minimum, and filled with a heavy, oppressive atmosphere.

Companies succeed when employees get what they need and want, namely opportunities to contribute, a sense of achievement, and the feeling of camaraderie. In addition, other important factors include managers who immediately provide both negative and positive feedback, continued training, equity in all decisions and company endeavors, and a sense that teamwork is beneficial and important. For any company moving in the wrong direction, it takes a monumental effort to once again motivate employees. However, it can be done.

Source: headsupenglish.com

Discussion Questions:

1. What does it take for a company or business to succeed?
2. Do you agree or disagree that all companies should motivate their staff?
3. How does your company make sure the employees are well-motivated?
4. What suggestions can you give your employers to ensure employees’ satisfaction at work?
5. What are the things that keep you motivated to do your job?

Introverts vs Extroverts

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Do you get energized when in an outer world or inner world? Are you outgoing or inward? Do you prefer a wide range of friends or are you reflective? Or maybe, you could do both things and be one and the other at the same time. Watch the video to get down pat.

Discussion questions:

1. What are the differences of extroverts and introverts?

2. Do you think one personality is better than the other? Give the advantages and disadvantages of the two types of personalities.

3. Do you consider yourself an extrovert, introvert, or ambivert?
Try this personality test with the student: https://www.quietrev.com/the-introvert-test/

4. What do you think the world would be like if extroverts were the only ones living in it? Only introverts?

Untrue Myths

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Myth, in everyday language, means a fiction or a fabrication. A few or even most of them are total lies. But admit it or not, they can sometimes have a compelling influence on us and a society as a whole.

The article below tries to explain why it is time to put an end to the most alluring everyday myths, mistaken beliefs, and exaggerations passed down from generation to generation.

https://thoughtcatalog.com/nico-lang/2013/09/13- everyday-myths-you-wont-believe-arent-true/

Discussion questions:

1. Which of these myths did you use to believe or do you still believe now?

2. How do you think these myths started?

3. Can you think of an everyday myth that turns out to be real?

4. Do you know if any of these 13 myths can more likely be real?

5. Think of another example of an everyday myth that is not really true.

Go Beyond the Female Stereotypes

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Advertisements can subtlely convey a message to the viewers. A veteran South African politician said, “Adverts create a role model that people look up to, even mimic and try to be like.”  Do you think the government should do something to regulate ads?

Let’s read the article below and talk about female stereotypes in ads.

https://www.voanews.com/a/un-advertisers-female-stereotypes/3912630.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think that advertisements are more influential than movies, books, or online content? Why? Why not?
  2. Why do you think stereotyping is such a common practice?
  3. Would you agree that “adverts create a role model that people look up to?” Why or why not?
  4. Do you think that ads can influence how kids and young adults think about their body? Explain.

Is Binge Watching Bad?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Binge watching wrecks your sleep.

You’re almost certainly guilty of binge watching: market research indicates about two-thirds of us regularly spend several hours inhaling a TV show. But watching just one more episode… just one more… just one more isn’t without consequence.

Watch the video explaining why binge watching is bad for us.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Explain the term “binge watching“. “Is binge watching bad for your brain and body?” Use this term in a sentence.
  2. What does “in one sitting” mean? “Whether you are watching and entire Netflix series in one sitting or playing the newest Zelda from start to finish, most of us spend a significant time in front of screens.” Use this idiom in a sentence.
  3. What does “at the root of” mean? “At the root of many of these claims is the physical inactivity associated with prolonged TV watching.” Use this idiom in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What might be reasons people binge watch?
  2. How is binge watching bad for our brain and body?
  3. What could be some benefits of binge watching?
  4. Have you ever watched multiple movies/series episodes or an entire series in one sitting? Talk about this experience. What effects did it have on your body?
  5. What can one do to avoid a sedentary lifestyle?
  6. What are your thought on this, “The more you move, the more you live.“?