Tag: B2 – Upper intermediate

The Law You Won’t Be Told

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Did you know there’s more to the legal system than just guilty or non-guilty verdicts? Have you ever heard of ‘jury nullification’? In the thought-provoking video ‘The Law You Won’t Be Told,’ you’ll gain insights into this intriguing concept.

Take a moment to watch the video and contemplate whether some of the cases you’ve come across might fall into this category. Join us on this exploration of an often-overlooked aspect of the law.

Vocabulary Questions:

Explain the meaning of the highlighted words below and make some sentences.

  1. Be warned: Simply watching the video may prevent you from ever serving on a jury.
  2. When the defendant is 100% beyond-a-reasonable-doubt guilty, but the jurors also think he shouldn’t be punished, then the jury can nullify the law and let him go.
  3. Jury nullification usually refers to the non-guilty version but juries can convict without evidence just as easily as they can acquit in spite of it.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What thoughts do you have about jury nullification?
  2. What are some potential benefits and drawbacks of jury nullification within the legal system? Discuss both sides of the argument.
  3. In your understanding, how can discussing jury nullification in the wrong circumstances can lead to arrest?
  4. Have you ever encountered a case where you believe jury nullification may have been at play? If so, what were your thoughts on the outcome?
  5. Is the legal system fair? Why or why not?

Things That Harm Your Happiness

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Individuals frequently face various challenges and obstacles in their pursuit of happiness. While each person’s path to happiness is distinctive, medical professionals and mental health experts have pointed out a common factor that drastically impairs one’s happiness.

Click on the link to learn more about the specific thing that therapists consistently identify as the most hazardous to our happiness and its consequences in every aspect of our lives.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/worst-things-for-happiness-therapists_l_6491badbe4b025003ee6dbe3

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “hostage to something” mean in the sentence, “When you’re experiencing one of these feelings, you’re holding yourself hostage to past life experiences or worrying about the future.”? Use this expression in your own sentence.
  2. What does “fill your cup” mean in the sentence, “And when you have a stronger connection with yourself, you can learn what you need to fill your cup, such as setting healthy boundaries.”? Use this expression in your own sentence.
  3. What does “a glass half-full” mean in the sentence, “It can feel hard to be honest and vulnerable in a society that encourages a glass half-full mentality.”? Use this phrase in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the one thing therapists commonly identify as the most harmful to our happiness?
  2. How does happiness contribute to our overall well-being and quality of life?
  3. In what ways does social media contribute to the problem of comparison and its negative effects on happiness?
  4. How does cultivating gratitude and practicing mindfulness impact our happiness levels?
  5. How do you prioritize self-care and ensure that your own happiness is not neglected? Please share.

Change Jobs Without Fear

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Changing jobs when you are unhappy seems like a good idea, but not everyone has the guts to do so. Going out of your comfort zone and the fear of the unknown makes it really scary for others to change jobs.

Watch the video to learn how to change jobs without fear.

https://edition.cnn.com/videos/business/2023/06/15/nightcap-changing-jobs-clip-orig-jc.cnn

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “upheaval” mean? “Changing jobs can feel like this dramatic major upheaval.” Use this word in a sentence.
  2. What is a “grumbler“? “The people who are chronically dissatisfied, the grumblers, they keep on being unhappier and unhappier.” Use this in a sentence.
  3. What does “perch” mean? “People who are really looking for a new perch, a new place that’s going to be good for them, they start getting happier again.” Use this word in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why are some individuals afraid or hesitant to change jobs?
  2. What are the potential advantages of changing jobs for someone who is dissatisfied with their job?
  3. How can people overcome the anxiety or uncertainty that comes with changing jobs?
  4. Have you ever experienced dissatisfaction or unhappiness in your current job? If so, what were the main reasons?
  5. How do you typically handle fear or uncertainty when faced with major decisions or changes in your life?

Titanic Wreck Lucrative Tourism Industry

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Off the isolated coast of Newfoundland, more than two miles under the water, lies the rusting, decaying skeleton of a ship that has fascinated the public for more than a century. Discovering its tragic past is still appealing to scholars, adventurers, and common people.

Tourists have been paying for years to have a chance to see the Titanic shipwreck from below. Five individuals boarded the underwater vehicle Titan on Sunday to undertake the trip.

Let’s read the article below to know more about it.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/titanic-tourism

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “insatiable” mean in this sentence, “More than a century after the ship’s sinking, interest in the Titanic remains insatiable.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “pretty penny” mean in this sentence, “And for a pretty penny, tourists have been able to go too.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “to catch a glimpse” mean, “For decades, tourists have been paying for a chance to catch an undersea glimpse at the wreck of the Titanic.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on this style of tourism and the impacts of the submersibles on the deteriorating site?
  2. Should the site be left undisturbed in memory of the more than 1,500 people who died there? Explain.
  3. What do you think happened to the explorers?
  4. Would you be willing to give this type of tourism a try? Why or why not?

Creating An Effective Ad

B2 – Upper Intermediate

“A good advertisement is one which sells the product without drawing attention to itself.” – David Ogilvy, known as the “Father of Advertising”.

We can see advertisements on television, on trains, and they are constantly popping up on our computer screens. We are so used to ads that we hardly pay them any attention anymore. 

Read the article and find out 11 simple tips on how to create an effective ad.

https://targetpublic.com/11-simple-tips-creating-effective-ad/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “puffery” mean? “Each advertisement must make a proposition to the consumer-not just words, product puffery, or show-window advertising.” Use this word in a sentence.
  2. What does the idiom “right off the bat” mean? “Get out a pad of paper and some pens and have fun with this. I am sure you will start coming up with brilliant ideas right off the bat!” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “eye-catching” mean? “You will be able to make eye-catching ads that will get people excited about what you have to offer.”. Give a synonym and use ‘eye-catching’ in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Talk about the 11 tips mentioned in the article on how to have an effective advertisement. Which ones do you think your company employs in their advertising campaigns?
  2. What is your company’s Unique Selling Proposition (USP)?
  3. Do you think that there are advertisements that do not draw attention to themselves? If so, can you think of some examples?
  4. Do you remember any advertisements that made you buy something? What kind of advertising was it?

Neuromarketing

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Neuromarketing is a fascinating field that combines neuroscience, psychology, and marketing to understand and influence consumer behavior. By studying the brain’s responses and subconscious processes, neuromarketers aim to uncover the underlying motivations and decision-making mechanisms that drive consumer choices.

Watch the video to know more about it and be able to discuss the questions that follow.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the expression “take (someone) back to” mean? Ex.The subtle smell of grass near the dairy aisle could take consumers back to a simpler, more care-free time, and subconsciously remind them of the fields the products come from. Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the word “suffice” mean?. Ex. In clothing stores, the invigorating scent of the sea or romantic mix of roses and violets suffices the experience and makes purchasing a product associated with those memories powerful. Make one sentence using this word.
  3. What does “call to mind” mean? Ex. The rich, deep scents of polished leather calls to mind luxury, relaxation, and reward. Make one sentence using this idiom.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does neuromarketing contribute to the development of more effective advertising campaigns?
  2. In your opinion, do you think neuromarketing is an ethical practice or does it manipulate consumers’ decision-making processes?
  3. How important do you believe neuromarketing is in gaining a competitive edge in today’s saturated market?
  4. Do you think businesses should invest more in understanding consumer neuroscience through neuromarketing, or are traditional market research methods sufficient?
  5. What kind of neuromarketing have you been exposed to?

Apple and Nike Branded Your Brain

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Apple and Nike have successfully established powerful brands that evoke strong emotional connections with consumers. It delves into the psychological aspects of branding, highlighting the use of storytelling, symbolism, and association to create a sense of identity and loyalty among customers.

Watch the video to learn more and be able to answer the questions below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrase “wreak havoc” mean? “So to what degree can the influence of brands wreak havoc on our ability to make rational spending decisions.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the word “underdog” mean? “The Nike thing is about performance. The Under Armour thing is about the underdog.” Use the word in a sentence.
  3. Explain “reverse empathy“. “The only evidence that Samsung users showed was reverse empathy for Apple news.” Make one sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the video, what are some of the techniques used by Apple and Nike to create a sense of identity and loyalty among consumers?
  2. In your opinion, how effective do you think Apple and Nike’s branding strategies have been in establishing a strong emotional connection with consumers?
  3. Do you believe that branding plays a significant role in shaping consumer preferences and loyalty? Why or why not?
  4. Share your thoughts on this: “We relate to brands the same way we relate to people.“.
  5. What is your reaction to the results of the brain scans of Apple and Samsung users?

Begpackers – Asia’s Most Disliked Travelers

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Backpacking is a cost-effective way for people to travel to many different places. With a limited budget, they tend to make the most of out of their trip by staying in inexpensive hotels and living like a local.

However, there are also backpackers who do not have enough money to fund their trip. Some of them turn to the kindness of local people by begging, selling, or performing on the street in exchange for money.

Let’s read the article and know more details about the begpacking phenomenon.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/asia-begpackers-intl-hnk/index.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the word “portmanteau” mean in this context? “The term is a portmanteau of “begging” and “backpacking” and is usually used to negatively describe people who are asking the public for money to fund their travels.” Give examples.
  2. Define the verb “pigeonhole“. “A Cantonese-speaking colleague waited nearby to see who interacted with Pratt, then pigeonholed them to ask questions – and, in some cases, return the money they’d given.” Use it in your own sentence.
  3. What does the phrase “if the shoe were on the other foot” mean? “If the shoe were on the other foot, begpacking would be simply called vagrancy.” Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on begpackers? Does it make a difference if they are simply begging, selling or providing entertainment in exchange for money?
  2. Do you agree that much of the hatred for begpackers are from foreigners too?
  3. What is passport privilege? How does it play a part in begpacking?
  4. Do you think Asian countries should set financial requirements to all tourists?

Workers Quitting Digital Nomadism

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Traveling and working in different locations at the same time seems ideal. This working setup feels like a dream for most employees. However, people who have been doing it have found that it is different from what they imagined.

Read the article to learn more about people quitting digital nomadism.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20230531-the-workers-quitting-digital-nomadism

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “ebb” mean, “After five years, however, the excitement of the nomadic lifestyle across the world began to ebb.“? Give two synonyms of this word and use them in sentences.
  2. What does “pin down” mean, “It’s difficult to pin down the exact number of these types of workers.“? Use this phrase in a sentence.
  3. What is an “untethered worker“? “In other countries where data is less available, resources abound to help untethered workers make their way across the globe.” Use this phrase in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on digital nomadism?
  2. Name some challenges or drawbacks associated with being a digital nomad.
  3. What are some of the reasons cited by workers for leaving the digital nomad lifestyle?
  4. Would you like to experience being a digital nomad? Why or why not?
  5. How do you think being a digital nomad could impact your personal relationships and social life? Do you see it as an advantage or a challenge?

Discriminatory Airline Seat Policies

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Traveling by plane is the quickest way to get to your destination. Due to technological advances, it is also considered one of the safest forms of transportation. Another selling point for airline companies is the comfort they provide to their passengers. They offer wider seats, in-flight entertainment, more legroom and many more at additional costs.

However, for plus-size travelers the experience of flying can be daunting.

Let’s read the article and know more about the struggles of plus-size travelers and one particular plus-size traveler’s petition.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/plus-size-travelers-slam-airline-seat-policies/index.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “slippery slope” mean? “It can be a slippery slope.” Give an example scenario.
  2. What does the idiom “to be hit in the pocket” mean? “This ultimately means that more and more passengers are likely to be finding it difficult to fit into airplane seats, and some may be hit in the pocket as a result.” Use it in your own sentence.
  3. Define the word “encroach“. “One of the various demands listed in Chaney’s petition, which had received over 17,000 signatures at the time of writing, is that all airlines “provide accessible additional seats to customers-of-size” who may require more space or “encroach onto another passenger’s space.” Give one synonym and use “encroach” in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on Jae’lynn Chaney’s demand? Is it reasonable or a form of entitlement?
  2. Do you agree that charging more to plus-size passengers is a human rights issue? Why or why not?
  3. What else do you know about airline policies in your country regarding plus-size passengers?
  4. Just as airline companies are charging plus-size travelers more, do you think passengers with smaller bodies should be charged less? Explain your stand.