Tag: B2 – Upper intermediate

Can You Stop a Disaster?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In a world where both natural and human-caused catastrophes seem to be becoming more prevalent, the issue of whether we are able to prevent or decrease these disastrous events becomes critical. “Can you stop a disaster?” reflects our common search for answers, resilience, and readiness in the face of impending disasters.

Watch the video or read the transcript to learn whether it’s possible to prevent a disaster.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2023/ep-230803

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “within one’s grasp” mean? “Fortunately, ways to limit the damage are within our grasp.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  2. Define “act of God”. “But Roy isn’t the only victim of an unpredictable natural event, sometimes called an act of God.” Make a sentence with this phrase.
  3. What does “hundredfold” mean? “Bangladesh has seen a hundred fold decrease in cyclone deaths since the introduction of its new monitoring and alert system.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you ever faced a natural disaster, and what impact did it have on you and your community?
  2. Do you believe we can prevent or reduce the effects of natural disasters, or do some events remain beyond human control, like Roy Sullivan’s lightning strikes?
  3. How do you see technology’s role in disaster management? Do you think advanced or simpler solutions are more effective?.
  4. Can you share how your community prepared for or responded to natural disasters, and how well did these efforts work?

Work Love Bombing

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the dynamic world of employment, companies are embracing fresh methods to attract and keep top talent. This includes the coined concept of “workplace love bombing,” where organizations go all out to woo potential hires and shower current employees with affection and rewards.

Read the article to learn about workplace love bombing.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20230705-work-love-bombing-when-companies-come-on-too-strong

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “a knot in one’s stomach” mean? “The experience sat like a knot in my stomach the whole time, and I couldn’t bring myself to accept the offer, worried I was being sold a position that wouldn’t materialize and didn’t quite fit my skill set.” Use this idiom in a sentence.
  2. Define “wind up”. “Too much pressure can set up workers to fail if they hold out for roles that never materialize or wind up in jobs where promises don’t match the reality.” Make a sentence with this phrase.
  3. What does “in the fold” mean? “When I had reservations about the role and questions about the corporate culture, she was dismissive, only returning to how much the managers wanted me in the fold as soon as possible.”

Discussion Questions:

  1. What’s your take on workplace love bombing?
  2. How should employees handle overwhelming or skeptical feelings when faced with a company’s love bombing?
  3. Have you ever felt a company was overly aggressive in trying to hire or keep you? How did that impact you?
  4. How can companies balance making their workplace appealing while keeping expectations realistic?
  5. Have recruitment tactics affected your job acceptance or rejection, and what factors were crucial in your decision?

Hard and Soft Skills to Place Your Bets On

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We all need to upskill because nowadays, recruiters pay attention not only to our hard skills, but also our soft skills.

Read the article to know the top skills you’ll need to get your desired job and to know the differences between hard and soft skills.


https://www.siliconrepublic.com/careers/skills-for-2021-hard-soft-zety

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Explain the meaning of the idiom “to place one’s bet on someone/something“. “What are the hard and soft skills to place your bets on this year?” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of the word “upheaval“? “Again, these soft skills have become crucial to working life in the upheaval of 2020.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. Differentiate “soft skills” and “hard skills”. “Recruiters and hiring managers showed a preference for soft skills over hard skills, with 61pc of respondents saying they were more important.” Use them in sentences.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your top 3 hard and soft skills that you most often use at work?
  2. What are some hard and soft skills that you lack? How do you intend to gain them?
  3. What is one skill you have that sets you apart from others?
  4. Recruiters and hiring managers think soft skills are more important and they prefer people with better soft skills than with a lot of hard skills. What are your thoughts on this?
  5. Why are soft skills important in one’s career?

Do Opposites Really Attract?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the world of relationships, the the timeless concept of “opposites attract” has long been a source of fascination and debate. Recent scientific research, however, has helped shed new light on this idea, and is encouraging us to take a look at some of our assumptions when it comes to the nature of romantic relationships.

The topic of this article goes deep into some of the results of an innovative research study that assesses the question of whether partners are more likely to be similar or different, debunking common belief and offering fresh perspectives into the intricate interaction of personalities in intimate relationships.

To find out more, click on the link provided.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/do-opposites-attract-a-new-study-may-have-given-us-the-answer_l_65037cabe4b045a142a48f2c

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the idiom “birds of the same feather, flock together” mean, “Our findings demonstrate that birds of a feather are indeed more likely to flock together.”? Use this in your own sentence.
  2. What does “nitty gritty” mean, “82% and 89% of traits examined were similar among partners, ranging from political leanings and the age you lost your virginity to nitty gritty physical traits like whether people needed to wear glasses or their waist circumference.”? Use this in your own sentence.
  3. What does “high strung” mean in the sentence, “For example, there was little evidence of partner correlations for irritability, nervousness, or being ‘high strung’ — characteristics which potentially could play an important role when deciding whether you want to enter into a relationship with somebody else.”? Use this in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What’s your take on this subject?
  2. What is the basis for the idea that people with different personalities are attracted to one another?
  3. How has this traditional belief been challenged in recent times?
  4. In what ways can partners with shared values build a solid foundation for their relationship? Explain.
  5. Does the latest study on relationship similarity suggests that partners must be completely similar to one another? Why or why not?

Friendships Change After Parenthood

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Friendship is an essential part of human connection, offering support, mutual understanding, and shared memories that lead to one’s personal development and a sense of well-being. Even so, the nature of friendships tends to shift significantly after one becomes a parent. While it is generally believed that the biggest drive to this sudden change is the all-consuming demands of parenthood, there are more complex psychological and societal factors at work.

Through the provided link, you can learn more about how friendships and shifting priorities become more complicated after having children.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/friendships-parents-child-free_l_65031c76e4b008b66733cd20

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “succumb to a slow fizzle” mean in the sentence, “When a new parent and their child-free friend have unrealistic expectations for what’s to come, it’s a perfect recipe for the relationship to succumb to a slow fizzle.”? Use this expression in your own sentence.
  2. What does “in the picture” mean in the sentence, “It’s hard to make plans once kids are in the picture, but structural issues in our society compound the problem. ”? Use this expression in your own sentence.
  3. What does “both sides of the fence” mean in the sentence, “Chris Choy Bush, a mother of one in Minneapolis, feels that for her and her partner, having a child later in their lives was an advantage, as they got to experience this challenge from both sides of the fence: first as the child-free couple and then as the new parents.”? Use this in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does the arrival of a child impact the dynamics of friendships?
  2. What are the potential challenges in bridging the gap between parents and childless friends?
  3. Why is it important to recognize and address these changes in friendships for parents?
  4. Why is it helpful for parents to have a support system that includes both other parents and friends without children? Tell me more.
  5. Are there people in your circle who are at a similar life stage? Please share.

The Birth of Food Politics

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Nutrition professor Marion Nestle learned that some food companies do things that might not be good for us, such as advertising unhealthy food to children. She also observed that some food scientists, who receive money from these companies, may exhibit bias in their statements.

The professor wanted to let people know about all of this. Marion believes that knowing the truth empowers consumers to make wiser choices regarding food. Consequently, she composed this article to share the details of her work with us.

https://www.bluezones.com/2022/10/the-birth-of-food-politics/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the idiom “up in arms” mean? “Nutritionists were not up in arms about the products being marketed.” Use this idiom in a sentence.
  2. What does “lobbying” mean here, “I looked for evidence of lobbying and campaign contributions and ways in which companies protected their business interests.“? Use this word in this context in a sentence.
  3. What does “beholden” mean? “I did not have to be beholden to funding agencies or private donors.” Give two (2) synonyms and use “beholden” in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. In your opinion, why is it important to know about the food industry’s practices and their impact on our food choices?
  2. Have you ever noticed any advertisements that promote unhealthy foods, especially to children? How did you feel about them?
  3. Do you think it’s common for scientists or experts to receive money from companies? How might this influence their work?
  4. Have you ever been surprised by something you learned about the food industry or the products you eat? What was it?
  5. In your own words, how can knowing the truth about the food industry help us make better decisions about what we eat?

Moai Tradition Makes Okinawan People Live Longer

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Elderly people in Okinawa, Japan, live longer and healthier than others worldwide. They focus on a tradition called moai. It is a practice that has been in place for a long time.

In Okinawa’s small neighborhoods, friends gather regularly, sometimes daily or a few times a week. During each meeting, they chat, share life experiences, and help each other. They call these gatherings their moai groups.

The article below explores why these groups are essential in Okinawa’s communities.

https://www.bluezones.com/2018/08/moai-this-tradition-is-why-okinawan-people-live-longer-better/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What are “blue zones“? “Okinawa, Japan is one of the original blue zones longevity hotspots.” Use this term in a sentence.
  2. What does “safety net” mean? “It’s much easier to go through life knowing there is a safety net.” Use this term in a sentence.
  3. What does “tight-knit” mean? “Whether it was a spousal relationship or a tight-knit friend group, all that mattered was the bond the group shared.” Use this word in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What makes elderly people in Okinawa live longer and healthier lives than others globally?
  2. How does the ‘moai’ tradition in Okinawa impact the well-being of its residents?
  3. Can lessons from Okinawa’s elderly population be applied in your country to promote healthier aging? Why or why not?
  4. Do social connections still matter when people live independently today? If yes, how?
  5. How do your close friends and social connections affect your stress levels, happiness, and overall health?

The Benefit of Single-Tasking

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Do you find yourself frequently multitasking? It might be worth reevaluating this habit. ‘The One Thing’ by Gary Keller discusses the advantages of concentrating on a single task at a time.

To learn more about the benefits of single-tasking, please read the article below.

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/07/the-benefit-of-single-tasking-and-how-to-get-yourself-to-do-it.html

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “to turn the tide” mean? “What helped me turn the tide and just start single-tasking?” Use this phrase in a sentence.

2. What does “to make all the difference” mean? “Basically, I chose to look at my time like money, and though I’ve only been doing it for a little while, it has made all the difference.” Use this expression in a sentence.

3. What does “to get one’s arms around something” mean? “As anyone familiar with budgets will tell you, before you can effectively budget, you need to get your arms around your spending habits.” Use this idiom in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you find multitasking useful? Why or why not?

2. How does the article view multitasking and do you agree with this perspective?

3. According to the article, practicing single-tasking can help rebuild your focus and attention span. What are your thoughts on this statement?

4. Among the benefits of single-tasking, which ones would you like to attain?

5. How valuable is it for you to achieve a state of flow?

Presidential Children and the White House Reputation

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It is common for voters to feel a personal connection to the highest leader of their country. This personal connection is comparable to that of a close family member. This is why when voters choose their candidate, they also take into account the parenting skills of their chosen president-to-be. The public image of the candidate’s children could be as significant as theirs in the voters’ eyes.

Let’s read the article and know more about some notable presidential children and how their image affected their presidential parent’s political image.

https://theconversation.com/hunter-biden-is-the-latest-presidential-child-to-stain-a-white-house-reputation-but-others-have-shined-it-up-212233

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “reviled” mean? “As a historian of the American presidency, I see the case of Hunter Biden as a revealing indicator of the ways that presidential children have figured in American public life, whether they were beloved or reviled.” Give 2 synonyms and use “reviled” in a sentence.
  2. Define “rough-and-tumble“. “The assumption that young children should be free from the political rough-and-tumble has recently made them highly effective symbols for presidential image-making.” Use this idiom in your own sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of the phrasal verb “harken back“? “His approach harkened back to the 19th century, when presidents appointed their adult sons to office while young children rarely appeared in public. ” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Who is Hunter Biden and what are his legal troubles?
  2. How do presidential children affect their parent’s likelihood of winning/losing in an election?
  3. In your opinion, is it fair for the immediate family members of politicians to have their private lives on public display? Why or why not?
  4. How can this relationship result to nepotism? Is nepotism at this level common in your country?
  5. Talk about a controversial presidential child that you know of.

Being Unhappy at Work

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It is a fact that most of us dedicate majority of our time to working.

So, it is rather imperative that we make sure that we hold a job that does not bring us sorrow.

Being happy at our work is so much more than high compensation and great benefits.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about being happy at work.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2023/ep-230817

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to be on one’s feet” mean? “When I waitressed in cafes I was on my feet ten hours a day – it was exhausting!” Use this idiom in your own sentence.
  2. Define “presenteeism”. “In the work that we’ve done within the construction industry, we have trialled what we would call an ‘output-based’ way of working, which means we shift away from this sense of presenteeism.” Use this word in a sentence.
  3. What does “to breathe down one’s neck” mean, “The pressure to work quickly means you might have your boss breathing down your neck.”? Use this idiom in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What makes a workplace horrible? On the other hand, what is a good job/workplace?
  2. What should someone do if they had a terrible job/workplace? Give them some pieces of advice on how to handle this ordeal.
  3. Share your thoughts on shifting away from presenteeism and instead, heading toward an output-based way of working.
  4. What’s the worst job you’ve ever held? How did you go through with it?
  5. How can burnout be prevented?
  6. According to a Forbes magazine survey done in the UK, being a call center agent is voted the worst job. What is your reaction to this?