Tag: B2 – Upper intermediate

Why I Gave Up a $95,000 Job

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There comes a point when a vacation is just what we need. We need to relax and have a breather to be able to come back recharged and sharper. But, as the author adds, “If you’re constantly thinking you need a vacation, maybe what you really need is a new life.”

The article below is a story of a journalist who gave up her job to move to an island to simplify her life. Express your thoughts after reading.

http://www.marieclaire.com/career-advice/a14268/why-i-gave-up-a-95k-job-to-move-to-an-island/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is you reaction to the article?
  2. What are your thoughts on living in a competitive city where you have to spend most of your time working to afford to live?
  3. What are your thoughts on this statement: “ambitious people are often overscheduled”?
  4. Share your opinion on this statement: “If you’re constantly thinking you need a vacation, maybe what you really need is a new life.”
  5. Where and how would you most likely spend it in case you want a change in your life and why that place?

Italian Prisoners Play Rugby

B2 – Upper intermediate

They say, sports helps the soul. This rugby team is nothing like any other. The team is consist of prisoners in an Italian jail. They compete but not outside of prison walls.

Watch this video and talk about how rugby is helping these prisoners lead a better life.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the mission of this sports project/initiative?
  2. Who leads the initiative?
  3. Describe how the players are able to have their matches within the facility.
  4. What are the positive effects of this project?
  5. What are some of the sports you enjoy practicing?
  6. What are the advantages of playing a sport?
  7. Are there other activities you would like to try?

 

He Made His Guitar Sing

B2 – Upper intermediate

B.B. King is one the music legends that has touched the lives of so many people.

Watch the video carefully and prepare to talk about music and musicians.

Comprehension:

1. Describe B.B. King’s lifestyle as a musician. Why did people like him?
2. What were some of his nicknames?
3. Why is his guitar named “Lucille”?

Discussion:

1. Are you familiar with the music of B.B. King?
2. Who are some of the musicians you listen to?
3. What are your preferences in music?

Words/phrases to discuss:

Vibrato
On the road
Finesse

Best Minimum Wage in the World

B2 – Upper Intermediate

People around the world work with minimum wage. A minimum wage is the lowest daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Which country has the best minimum wage in the world? Let’s take a look!

http://money.cnn.com/2015/05/14/pf/minimum-wage-countries-australia/index.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What is the minimum wage in your country?
2. What do you think should be the ideal minimum wage in your country?
3. How does salary affect the performance of an individual at work?

Trafficked into Prostitution

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Human trafficking, by definition, is the trade of humans, mostly for the purpose of sexual slavery, forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation for the trafficker or others. Millions of people are being trafficked at any given time.  Prostitution is akin to trafficking and is a social problem difficult to abolish.

Watch the video to know about Ope’s story then read the article for extra information.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-32235112

Discussion Questions:

  1. It is said that “Prostitution is the world’s oldest profession.” Would you agree or disagree?
  2. What are your thoughts on human trafficking and prostitution?
  3. How big a problem is prostitution for a country?
  4. Should prostitution be legalized? Explain your stance.

Treadmills Linked with Fatalities

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Dave Goldberg was a very successful entrepreneur who died of a severe head trauma after falling off a treadmill. The cause of the fall isn’t clear yet. Some people would call Goldberg’s death a freak accident.

Read the article below to have more information on how dangerous some exercise equipment can be.

http://www.livescience.com/50744-dave-goldberg-treadmill-accidents.html

Discussion Questions:

1. After reading the article, do you think using a treadmill is that dangerous?
2. What other considerations do we need to take before we use any exercise machine?
3. Do you know of any other gym-related accidents?

Vocabulary: Phrasal Verbs with COME

B2 – Upper intermediate

Read the list of phrasal verbs with the word “come” and be ready to discuss them with your teacher. You’ll be using them in sentences as well.

Vocabulary: phrasal verbs with “come”

Discuss:

1. What are some of the interesting things (facts, food or culture) that you’ve come across with?
2. When was the last time you came down with something? How serious was it? What do you do stay healthy?
3. Have you ever cancelled an event or a meeting because something came up?
4. Who comes up with vacation ideas in your family?

Vocabulary: Phrasal Verbs with PUT

B2 – Upper intermediate

Read the list of phrasal verbs with the word “put” and be ready to discuss them with your teacher. You’ll be using them in sentences as well.

Vocabulary: phrasal verbs with “put”

Discuss:

1. Have you ever put something off because of an emergency?
2. What are some of the reason you’d be put off by something like a film or a topic?
3. What commodity prices have been put up recently?
4. Have you ever put someone up during their vacation? Has anyone done the same for you?
5. What are some of the things that you can put up with and some things that you can’t?

Are You a Shopaholic?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Shopping is fun. For women, mostly, it is a time to bond with friends and family members. On the other hand, if you let your impulse get the best of you, your love for purchase can do you more harm than good.

Read the article below to know more about the facts of being a shopaholic.

The lives of some people revolve around shopping, as they repeatedly make purchases regardless of need or available money. Some of these people make impromptu purchases. Some of these people have closets with unopened purchases. Some of these people have racked up overwhelming amounts of credit card debt. If this sounds like you, then you may be a shopaholic.

A recently administered test to determine the predilection towards compulsive buying reveals that 9% of people fall into this category. Another recent test revealed a slightly smaller percentage of 6%. This new data concludes an increase in the number of shopaholics from just fifteen years ago, as well as determines that men remain just as prone to the shopping urge as women. The test consisted of six statements which people answered on a 7-point scale, from strongly agree to strongly disagree. Some statements included:

* Much of my life centers around buying things.

* I buy things I didn’t plan to buy.

* Others might consider me a shopaholic.

Compulsive buying obviously leads to financial problems such as an empty bank account and maxed out credit cards. Yet these unneeded and unwanted purchases may be the manifestation of more serious problems, namely depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. What’s more, relationships and family harmony also deteriorate because of disagreements over the purchases. Shopaholics may then hide their purchases, as well as the accompanying costs, and thus add to the strain. It’s a problem that affects people of all income brackets.

Researchers suggest that shopaholics felt better when they were shopping, even when they realized the associated harm.

Source: headsupenglish.com

Discussion Questions:

1. Based on the information in the article, would you consider yourself a shopaholic?
2. Do you know anyone who might be a shopaholic?
3. Do you agree that women and men suffer from the problem equally?
4. Do you agree that anxiety and low self-esteem cause compulsive buying? Why/not?
5. What solutions are there for people who are shopaholics? How can they be helped?

Venice – City of Canals

rialto-bridge-canale-grande-venice

B2 – Upper intermediate

Some say that Venice is the romance capital of the world.

Read the article below to know more about the city itself and the life and history of this tourist spot.

Venice – City of Canals

Discuss:

1. Describe some of the beautiful places that you’ve visited in the past.
2. Do you often travel? What do you like most about travelling?
3. Have you been to Venice? If you have, describe your trip. If you haven’t, is this city on your bucket list of places to visit?