phone english blogB2 – Upper Intermediate
Organic food and organic products have increased its popularity in the last years.
Click the title below and watch the video. Be ready to share your thoughts and talk about health.
Discussion Questions:
1. What has farming taught Eduardo Rivera?
2. Why is he very interested in organic farming? What is his goal?
3. How does he promote his products?
4. How are organic products fairing in your country?
B2 – Upper intermediate
Has the existence of dinosaurs crossed your mind yet? What if we co-exist with them? Whatever your answer may be, there sure is some discussion on the existence of dinosaurs.
Let’s learn more about this through the research made by a Japanese paleontologist.
Discuss:
1. What evidences prove the existence of dinosaurs in the past?
2. Why do you think the dinosaurs have lost their place on earth?
3. Explain the beliefs of scientists why the dinosaurs became extinct.
4. Have you ever been to a natural museum?
B2 – Upper Intermediate
It is often said that “we eat with our eyes“. Do you agree with this saying?
This article will show you the truth about the relationship between taking a photo of your food and how it can taste better.
http://www.digitaltrends.com/photography/food-porn-instagram-psychology/
Discussion Questions:
B2 – Upper intermediate
Organ transplants have saved many lives. But, an Italian neurosurgeon wants to take a few steps further with his first human head transplant.
Read the article below to learn more about Dr. Canavero and his potential patient.
Discuss:
1. Is Dr. Sergio Canavero’s idea worth a try?
2. Do you believe that the current technology we have is well- equipped for this attempt?
3. Would you volunteer for a medical experiment for greater and good intentions?
B2 – Upper intermediate
Rugby has got to be one of the toughest and testosterone-filled sport out there. There’s beauty and strength in the game, but also danger.
Click on the title below and be ready to express your thoughts about the sport.
Discuss:
1. What are the two sides discussed in this article?
2. How do you feel about contact sports like rugby or American football?
3. Do you agree with what the article is saying?
4. Aside from rugby, what do you think are other sports that can be physically dangerous?
B2 – Upper Intermediate
There is a commonly held view that eating disorders are a lifestyle choice. Eating disorders are considered serious illnesses that can affect a person’s eating behaviors. Some people, mostly young girls, go too far with their aspiration to become slim.
Watch the video and read the article on how Japan is tackling the issue of eating disorders.
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-36095287
Discussion Questions:
B2 – Upper Intermediate
Imagine your head as a chocolate. Now, you can actually have it done and enjoy watching your friends eating a candied version of your head.
Click on the link below and express your thoughts about this start-up company and their sweet idea.
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-35040661
Discussion Questions:
1. Explain the process of making the 3D chocolate heads.
2. What do you think of this start-up company?
3. What is your opinion of 3D printing? Do you think it has its own limitations?
4. If you were throwing a party, would you give out chocolate heads as sweets or souvenirs?
5. Would you like a candy version of yourself on a stick?
B2 – Upper Intermediate
We’ve all seen ads of odd jobs for big bucks. Getting paid to watch videos or to answer surveys. But most of them turn out to be hoaxes. Too good to be true.
Read the article below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.
David Storey of Australia purchased a private island for $26,500. The sum may sound like a ridiculously cheap price. However, the island cannot be reached by any boat or plane because it’s virtual. In other words, the place doesn’t exist in the real world. It’s part of a computer program for players in the role-playing game, Entropia. The island was recently recognized as the priciest virtual object ever purchased with real money by Guinness World Records.
You now may wonder if Storey is a little bit crazy. However, don’t judge him so quickly because the twenty-seven-year-old graduate student currently earns more than $100,000 per year from the game. He is able to mix recreation and work. He runs the island like a rare game preserve, where hunters are taxed to use the land. He then exchanges the virtual money, known as Entropian dollars, for real cash. There are similar businesses online, like an asteroid space resort and a space station. If either of these properties were sold, they could earn hundreds of thousands of dollars!
People who are unfamiliar with online role-playing games may see the whole concept as ridiculous. Yet you have to give kudos to the gamers who have been able to succeed in an often competitive virtual world. David Storey and others like him don’t just live from paycheck to paycheck. If they did so, then the money would suddenly dry up if they quit playing to take a vacation or deal with a personal crisis. Instead, these individuals are making a lot of money. Even the most cynical individual has to respect the money earned. Gamers like Storey are getting paid to play.
Source: headsupenglish.com
Discussion Questions:
1. Would you want to get paid for playing a video game? Why/not?
2. Would you want to get paid for doing something you really love? Why/not?
3. How is buying a virtual object different from buying luxury goods you don’t really need?
4. Are people like Storey just very lucky, or do they have some special quality?
5. If someone you knew wanted to make money online, what sort of advice would you give?
B2 – Upper Intermediate
Flight delays are definitely unpleasant experience when traveling. But how do you react to it? Some people take it too far – causing even bigger problems at the airports, with the airlines and fellow passengers.
It’s time something is done about this. Read on how some Chinese Airlines are trying to address the problem on misbehaving air commuters.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35462707
Discussion Questions:
1. Do you think blacklisting passengers is a good idea?
2. Have you ever been on a flight with an unruly passenger? Talk about this incident.
3. What are other actions/behaviors that should cause someone to be banned from airports or airlines?
4. Should aviation laws in your country be toughened to address problems with trouble-causing passengers?
B2 – Upper intermediate
Bruce Springsteen, a famous rock musician cancelled a concert in North Carolina, because of the state’s laws on transgender issues. He’s one of the many artists who are fighting against discrimination and partiality.
Read the article below and express your thoughts about the issue.
Discussion Questions:
1. Are transgender people socially accepted in your country?
2. Have you heard of any act of discrimination against them?
3. Should transgenders be given equal rights in the society?