Tag: B2 – Upper intermediate

Dad Designs Jacket for Neurodivergent Children

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Some children face sensory challenges that make everyday clothing uncomfortable.

To help with this, a father of a neurodivergent child created special clothing designed for comfort and support. His design includes features like soft fabrics, weighted elements, and sensory-friendly additions, helping children feel more at ease in their daily lives.

Let’s read the article and explore how this innovative sensory coat is making a difference for neurodivergent children and their families.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy8em4gggvxo

Vocabullary Questions:

  1. What does the idiom “in a bid to (do something)” mean? “In a bid to help his son and other children, Mr Rudd decided to design a coat, an idea that his wife Amanda at first thought was a joke.” Use it in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  2. What does “high vis stripes” mean? “It also has high vis stripes to enhance safety in public spaces.” Use it in your own sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of the word “meltdown“? “He said Charlie’s sensory issues would cause him to have meltdowns, an intense response to an overwhelming situation, common for people with autism.” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms or similar expressions.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What’s your take on John Rudd’s Chammo coats?
  2. How would you assess the current awareness and support for neurodiverse individuals where you live?
  3. Why do some children need special clothing for comfort and focus?
  4. Do you think more companies should design clothes for people with special needs? Why or why not?
  5. Share about a time when you had something specially made for you.

AI Therapists Alternative to Human Help

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Many people use AI chatbots for mental health support while waiting for therapy. These chatbots offer 24/7 help and coping strategies, which some find comforting during tough times.

However, experts warn chatbots can give biased or harmful advice and cannot replace human therapists. Despite this, NHS services use chatbots to help with long waiting lists.

Let’s read the article learn more about how AI chatbots support mental health.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ced2ywg7246o

Listen to the article here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0lc755g

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to clutch at straws” mean? “There is not a lot of help out there at the moment, so you clutch at straws.“ Use it in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  2. What is a “stopgap”? “[It] is a stop gap to these huge waiting lists… to get people a tool while they are waiting to talk to a healthcare professional.” Use it in your own sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What is an “escalation pathway”? “It has in-built crisis and escalation pathways whereby users are signposted to helplines or can send for help directly if they show signs of self-harm or suicidal ideation.” Use this term in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to the idea of using AI chatbots as mental health support tools? Do you think they can genuinely help people?
  2. . What are the pros and cons of relying on chatbots like Wysa or Character.ai during a mental health crisis?
  3. Have you or someone you know ever used an AI chatbot for emotional or psychological support? What was the experience like?
  4. Do you agree with the article’s view that chatbots may work as a stopgap but cannot replace real therapists? Why or why not?
  5. What safeguards do you think should be in place to protect users who turn to AI for mental health support?
  6. Share your thoughts on this, “The fact that this is not a real person is so much easier to handle.“.

Shein EU Consumer Laws Breach

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

Shein is a very popular Chinese fast-fashion website. 

Recently, it is being investigated for several questionable business practices that include “misleading information, deceptive product labels, misleading sustainability claims, and hidden contact details”. 

They also make it look like they offer better deals by showing a reduced price that were not actually based on the previous original prices. In addition, they set fake deadlines for consumers to check-out in order to pressure them to buy the product.

Read the article about Shein’s practices that breach EU consumer laws. Be ready to answer the questions that follow. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62vq1mnndno

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Explain “willful ignorance”. “That same month, Shein was accused of “willful ignorance” by MPs in the UK after its lawyer repeatedly refused to answer questions about where the retailer sources its cotton.” Use this term in a sentence. 
  2. What does “to come under fire” mean? “Shein has come under fire for its business practices before, with a January BBC report revealing some staff were working 75-hour weeks, in breach of Chinese labour laws.“ Use this phrase in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  3. What does “to be in line with something” mean? “It’s now for Shein to step up, respect the rules and bring its practices fully in line with EU consumer standards.” Use this idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What comes to your mind when you hear the term “fast-fashion”?
  2. From a consumer standpoint, share your reaction to and opinion about Shein’s consumer laws breaches.
  3. What are your thoughts on businesses like Shein?
  4. Share your opinion on EU justice commissioner Michael McGrath’s statement, “All companies reaching out to EU consumers must play by our rules. Today’s action sends a clear message: we will not shy away from holding e-commerce platforms to account, regardless of where they are based.”.
  5. Talk about another company you know of that has breached consumer laws.

The Start-ups Working on Cheap Innovation

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

Some start-ups are so focused on developing frugal innovations. The main idea behind this kind of grassroots entrepreneurship is to make affordable, accessible, and available solutions for real-world problems despite their founders not having big capitals not formal education or training. 

Read the article about start-ups that are working on cheap innovations. Be ready to answer the questions that follow. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20xlqn0e5po

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “grassroots entrepreneurship” mean? “Mr Prajapati’s innovation is part of a growing wave of grassroots entrepreneurship in India, driven by necessity.“ Use this term in a sentence.
  2. What does “to scale up” mean? “Like many small business owners, she wants to scale-up and find new markets, perhaps overseas.” Use this phrase in a sentence. Give some synonyms.
  3. What does “to get stuck in one’s head” mean. “Clay pots keep water cool in the summer, so they are just like a fridge. The thought got stuck in my head. So, I decided to make a fridge out of clay that doesn’t need electricity.” Use this idiom in a sentence. Give some synonyms.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What comes to your mind when you hear the term “frugal innovation”?
  2. Share your opinion about grassroots entrepreneurship.
  3. What are the good things about this kind of start-ups?
  4. What challenges might these start-ups face?
  5. Talk about a similar innovation that you know of.

Public Schools Are Going Broke

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Public schools across the U.S. are facing a major funding crisis—driven by declining student enrollment and the end of pandemic-era ESSER funds. Districts that used temporary relief money to hire staff are now scrambling to make painful cuts, putting thousands of education jobs at risk. Critics say poor planning and long-standing financial mismanagement are making things worse, leaving students and communities caught in the fallout.

Watch the video to learn how this “fiscal cliff” could reshape public education and what it means for the future of schools, teachers, and families.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Explain the term “fiscal cliff“. “But since the pandemic, many schools added staff and are now experiencing what experts call a ‘fiscal cliff‘.” Use this term in a sentence.
  2. Define the idiom “slash and burn approach”. “
    Pasadena decided to take the slash and burn approach. It’s obviously having devastating impact on the morale of our schools.”     Use this phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym or a similar expression.
  3. What does “to move the needle” mean? “You need to pause every once in a while. Evaluate all these things that you’re spending money on and determine which one’s moving the needle in the right direction for kids.” Give a synonym and use this idiom in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the main reasons public school enrollment has been declining in the U.S. over the past few years?
  2. How might declining enrollment and the end of federal pandemic funds affect teachers, students, and local communities?
  3. Could these budget cuts and staff layoffs lead to long-term changes in how public education operates? Explain.
  4. Can you describe the current status of the education system in your country? How does it compare to the situation described in the video?
  5. If you were in charge of a school district facing budget cuts, what would you prioritize—staff, programs, or services? Explain your choice.
  6. What could be the future of education, the economy, and the workforce if these trends of declining enrollment and budget cuts continue?

The Profit in Nonprofits

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Nonprofit organizations help many people by offering food, education, and support. They are started by people in local communities to improve lives. Sometimes, nonprofits help when governments do not. They provide important services like food banks, free legal help, and care for children with special needs.

Watch the full video:

Vocabulary Discussions

  1. What does “to give back to” mean? “I was able to start a non-profit and give back to my community.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “to stand up for” mean? “I get to stand up for issues and speak out on things that interest us the most.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “to come together” mean? “People in your community that you don’t even know but who have come together in a non-profit to do good.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions

1. What are some ways nonprofits help people in local communities?

2. Why might nonprofits be needed when governments can’t help?

3. What feelings do you think the speaker had while waiting in line for free cheese?

4. How can helping others through nonprofits change the life of a community?

5. After reading this blog, why do you think the speaker says “there is profit in nonprofits”?

International Organizations: Governmental and NGOs

B2 – Upper Intermediate

International organizations help countries work together to solve global problems. Some are created by governments to promote peace, trade, or public health. Others are started by private citizens and focus on things like human rights or disaster relief. These groups play an important role in making the world more stable, fair, and safe.

To learn more about how these organizations work and the history behind the symbol of the Red Cross, watch the full video:

Vocabulary Questions

  1. What does “at the cost of someone/something” mean? “Their end goal is free trade between each and have received criticism for being single-minded and not worried about the environment at the cost of trade.” Use it in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  2. What does “veto power” mean? “These five countries have the veto power over the other ten members who change every two years.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “to have someone’s voice heard” mean? “This does not mean you have to always agree with the decisions being made, but you do get to have your country’s voice heard.” Use it in a sentence. Give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions

  1. What are some jobs international organizations do?
  2. Why do you think countries create organizations together?
  3. Do you think it’s better for organizations to be run by governments or private citizens? Why?
  4. Have you heard of any international organizations before? What do they do?
  5. If you could join an international organization, which one would you choose and why?

Global Cooperation in a Changing World

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The world is facing many big problems like wars, diseases, and climate change. In this video, Jose Manuel Barroso talks about why countries need to work together to solve these problems. He explains how cooperation between countries and organizations can save millions of lives, especially children, through vaccines and partnerships.

Watch the full video here:

Vocabulary Questions

  1. What does “geopolitical friction” mean in the sentence, “My prediction is that the geopolitical friction will increase not decrease.”? Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “supra national cooperation” mean in the sentence, “Sometimes some forms of supra national cooperation like the European Union is the right way forward.”? Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “private partnership” mean in the sentence, “It is a public private partnership with the governments of rich countries and developing countries”? Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions

  1. Why do you think it is important for countries to cooperate on global problems?
  2. How can partnerships between governments and private companies help solve health problems?
  3. Have you ever worked with others to solve a big problem? What did you learn?
  4. What do you think are some challenges when countries try to work together?
  5. How can people like you help support global health and cooperation?

Passive Scrolling Linked to Increased Anxiety in Teens

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Recent research indicates that adolescents who engage in passive scrolling on screens for more than two hours daily are at a higher risk of experiencing anxiety and emotional or behavioral issues. This suggests that the way teens interact with digital media can significantly impact their mental health.

For a detailed exploration of this study, you can read the full article here:

https://www.psypost.org/passive-scrolling-linked-to-increased-anxiety-in-teens-study-finds/

Vocabulary Questions

  1. What does “coping strategy” mean? “Adolescents’ screen use rose dramatically during the pandemic, both out of necessity and as a coping strategy during periods of social isolation.” Use it in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  2. What does the adjective “pronounced” mean in the sentence, “Although weekend screen use also showed associations with mental health problems, the patterns were less pronounced.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “recall bias” mean? “Because it was based on self-report data collected online, the accuracy of participants’ responses could be influenced by recall bias or social desirability.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions

  1. How might passive scrolling contribute to increased anxiety in teenagers?
  2. What are some strategies adolescents can use to limit passive screen time?
  3. How do you think the quality of screen time (passive vs. active use) affects mental health differently?
  4. What role do parents and educators play in managing teens’ screen time to promote better mental health?
  5. Have you noticed any personal changes in mood or behavior related to your screen time habits? Talk about it.

Branding and the Brain

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Brands shape our brains by tapping into deep, often subconscious parts of our mind. They go beyond just logos or slogans—they create emotional connections, trigger memories, and influence our instincts. Through consistent messaging and sensory cues, brands become familiar signals that our brain learns to recognize and trust. This “branding” of our brains affects how we make decisions, often guiding us toward certain products or experiences without us even realizing it. Essentially, brands embed themselves in our thoughts and feelings, shaping preferences and behaviors at a neurological level.

To understand more about this fascinating process and how it impacts your everyday choices, listen to the audio.

https://hackernoon.com/branding-and-the-brain-the-neuroscience-behind-consumer-decision-making-bd96d6cfcda8

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “brand salience” mean? “Brand salience is critical because it represents the extent to which a brand is thought about or noticed when a consumer is in a buying situation.” Use the phrase in a sentence.
  2. What does the term “emotional resonance? “Brands that create emotional resonance are more likely to build long-lasting relationships with consumers.” Incorporate the phrase into a sentence.
  3. What does the term “behavioral conditioning” mean? “Behavioral conditioning occurs when repeated exposure to a brand influences future purchasing behavior without conscious awareness.” Apply the phrase within a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. In what ways do you think your own purchasing decisions have been influenced by subconscious branding?
  2. Can you think of a brand that you feel particularly loyal to? What do you think causes that loyalty?
  3. Do you think it’s possible to “de-brand” our brains or resist the influence of marketing? How?