Tag: business and business english

Brand Name vs. Generic

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Strolling through the grocery aisles, we tend to see millions of different products, all with different brands. Most of us tend to trust in the more well-known brands like Coca-Cola, Pringles, Oreos, and so much more, perceiving these products as high-quality and worth their price. However, all across the aisles are dozens upon dozens of rip-off brands, emulating their well-known counterparts but at a much cheaper price.

Could there be a difference between the two types of brands?

To find out more, watch the video below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to give someone a sense of something” mean?  “Even if they aren’t identical, which they sometimes are, it will give you a sense of how similar they can be.” Use this idiom in a sentence and give a synonym.
  2. What does “bioequivalence” mean?  “The generic drugs go through a series of stringent regulatory testing to prove their bioequivalence to the brand name.” Use this term in a sentence and give a synonym.
  3. What is the meaning of “counterpart”? “
    Next time you are at the grocery store, try and compare the ingredient list and nutritional information of a generic item with its brand counterpart.”     Use this word to make your own sentence and give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. In your opinion, is there a quality difference between store brand and name brand products?
  2. What makes a product stand out to you in the grocery? Is it the brand or something else?
  3. Has your perception of product brands influenced your decision-making before? If yes, how so?

ChatGPT to Carry Adverts

B2 – Upper Intermediate

AI tools are becoming central to daily life, and companies are exploring new ways to keep them accessible and sustainable. One approach is adding advertising, which raises important questions about user experience, business models, and the future of digital interaction.

Let’s read the article together to explore this new approach in AI services.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgjn012k3do

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrase “subscription tier” mean? “In addition to the new Go subscription tier, it already has Plus and Pro tiers, which cost $20 and $200 respectively per month in the US.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. Define the phrase “last resort“. “OpenAI isn’t the only AI firm considering this business model, despite boss Sam Altman once saying he hated ads and describing them as “a last resort“.” Use it in your own sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of the phrase “synthetic media“. “Henry Ajder, an expert in AI, Deepfakes and synthetic media, said OpenAI’s decision to explore ad revenue was not a surprise.” Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you feel about advertisements appearing in ChatGPT?
  2. Share your insights on this, “AI sector has been over-valued by keen investors and hype, and has yet to actually demonstrate much in the way of profit.“
  3. What is your opinion on this, “OpenAI says they [the ads] will not influence ChatGPT’s responses and the firm will not share data about conversations with advertisers.“?
  4. Are you currently using ChatGPT, and if so, what subscription tier do you have?
  5. If given the option, would you consider paying extra to use ChatGPT without ads? Why or why not?
  6. In your opinion, will other tech companies adopt a similar approach to ads in AI tools?

Spain’s First Quantum Computers

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Telefonica (TEF) has teamed up with IQM and CESGA to bring Spain its first quantum computers, including a 54‑qubit system for advanced research and a 5‑qubit system for education and training. This marks a major step for Spain in joining the global quantum computing landscape.

The partnership aims to provide researchers and industry with access to hybrid quantum‑classical computing, accelerating innovation in science, technology, and AI. It also positions Spain as a growing hub for quantum technology development in Europe.

Read the article to know more.

https://www.tradingview.com/news/zacks:e2a292356094b:0-tef-ties-up-with-iqm-cesga-to-deploy-spain-s-first-quantum-computers

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to underscore” mean? “Telefonica’s involvement underscores the growing importance of quantum computing beyond academia.” Give a synonym. Use ‘underscore’ in a sentence.
  2. What is “free cash flow (FCF)”? “Financial goals include 1.5–2.5% revenue and EBITDA CAGR through 2028, accelerating to 2.5–3.5% from 2028–2030, alongside stronger, de-risked free cash flow and continued investment-grade strength.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What is “dividend”? “The company has confirmed a dividend of €0.30 per share for 2025, set a dividend of €0.15 per share for 2026, and plans to allocate 40–60% of free cash flow to dividends for 2027–2028.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your thoughts and reaction to this, “Scheduled for delivery by June 2026, the deployment positions CESGA among Europe’s most advanced high-performance computing (HPC) centres and significantly strengthens Spain’s role in next-generation computing technologies.“
  2. How do you think quantum computing could change the way companies like Telefónica operate in the next 5–10 years, and do you think Europe can become a global leader in this technology?
  3. Why is it important for Europe to achieve technological autonomy in telecom and computing?
  4. How might combining quantum computing with AI and high-performance computing change research or everyday life?
  5. “IQM Spark system for education” Should schools and universities focus on teaching emerging technologies like quantum computing?

iCloud Costs Too Much

B1 – Intermediate 

If you own any Apple device, then you are familiar with iCloud. iCloud is Apple’s cloud-based storage service where your data like photos, files, notes, and passwords are stored and synced across all your devices.

As of 2025, the price plan on iCloud is somewhere around € 0.99 for 50 GB of cloud storage to € 59.99 for 12 TB. 

In 2024, the UK consumer group, Which? filed a £3 billion class-action lawsuit against Apple accusing the company of making it difficult for its customers to use other third-party cloud storage services. They get trapped in Apple’s ecosystem  and continuously have to pay for additional storage every time.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about Which?’s collective claim against Apple, alleging that the company overcharges for iCloud storage.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/icloud-costs-too-much-level-3

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “payout” mean? “Which? estimates the claim could lead to a 3-billion-pound payout, with individuals possibly receiving around 70 pounds each.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “discourage” mean? “The consumer group ’Which?’ argues that Apple’s actions violate competition laws by limiting customer choices and discouraging alternatives.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “collective claim” mean?  “This lawsuit, along with others targeting tech giants like Facebook and Google, uses a newer legal mechanism allowing collective claims.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about this lawsuit?
  2. Do you think Apple’s actions violate competition laws? Explain.
  3. What do you think about iCloud’s prices?
  4. Share your opinion about having to pay for cloud storage every month.
  5. Talk about your devices’ storage.

Denmark Welcomes Return of Banned South Korean Noodles

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Spicy South Korean ramen noodles are back on Danish supermarket shelves, delighting fans who had missed the fiery instant noodles. The popular Buldak line from Samyang Foods was pulled from stores in June after authorities warned that its high capsaicin levels could pose health risks. Following a partial reversal of the ban, shoppers in central Copenhagen were able to get their hands on the hot noodles once again.

Read the article or watch the video to learn more.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/denmark-welcomes-return-banned-south-korean-noodles-rcna166391

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “contested” mean in this context? “Samyang, which sells the products worldwide, had contested the ban, and on Thursday celebrated the reversal by feeding its noodles to social media influencers, gathered on a ferry adorned in the firm’s bright-red colors on Copenhagen’s harbor.” Make a sentence with this. Give a synonym.
  2. What’s the meaning of “to exceed critical level“? “But the ban was lifted last month for two of the three variants after further examination of the spicy noodles showed that they did not exceed the critical capsaicin level.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  3. What’s the meaning of “to pose risk“? “Stores in Denmark in June removed three variants of South Korean Samyang Foods’ Buldak instant ramen line after the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration found the noodles’ high capsaicin level posed a serious health risk.” Create a sentence and give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think the partial reversal of the ban was a good decision? Why or why not?
  2. How might cultural differences influence the popularity of spicy foods in different countries?
  3. What might be reasons foods and drinks could be prohibited in a country?
  4. Do you think Europe is an untapped market for spicy food products? Explain.
  5. How do you think food regulations should balance public safety and consumer choice?
  6. Talk about other food bans that you know of.
  7. What would you do if a food you loved was temporarily banned—would you wait for it to return or switch to alternatives?

Porsche Makes Little Money

B1 – Intermediate 

Porsche is a German luxury car maker that specialize in high-performance sports cars, SUVs and sedans. Its parent company is Volkswagen.

Porsche reports a sharp decrease in their profits by almost 96% in the first three quarters of 2025.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about Porsche’s low profits.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/porsche-makes-little-money-level-3

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “restructuring” mean? “This restructuring cost billions of euros, and parent company Volkswagen took a 5-billion-euro hit to support the changes.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “to take a hit” mean in this context: “This restructuring cost billions of euros, and parent company Volkswagen took a 5-billion-euro hit to support the changes.”? Use this idiom in a sentence in this context. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “top-end” mean? “A new CEO, Michael Leiters, will take over in January to help rebuild sales, focus on top-end products, and regain investor confidence.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the causes of very low profits of Porsche in 2025?
  2. What do you think Porsche/Volkswagen can do to improve its situation?
  3. Share your opinion about this: The fall in profits is due to their new strategy to focus on producing more petrol and hybrid vehicles instead of electric cars. 
  4. Do you think car makers should produce electric cars more now? Explain your thoughts.
  5. Talk about a moment where a/your company took a hit? What caused those losses? What did the company do to recover? 

Heineken Sells Less Beer 

B1 – Intermediate 

Heineken, is one of the biggest brewing companies in the world. Due to the continuing lower demands for beers in Latin America and Europe, the brewer foresees a significant decrease in their sales for 2025.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about lower sales of Heineken beers.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/heineken-sells-less-beer-level-3

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Explain “market share gain”. “Despite facing challenges such as lower beer consumption, competition from alcohol alternatives, and growing health awareness, Heineken reported market share gains in Brazil, Mexico, and Vietnam.” Use the term in a sentence. 
  2. What does “revenue” mean? “The company’s revenue fell 0.3% in the third quarter, but that was still above expectations.” Give a synonym and use ‘revenue’ in a sentence.  
  3. What does “to struggle with something” mean? “Overall, the results show that while Heineken continues to struggle with slow sales, investors remain cautiously optimistic about future recovery.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym or similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the reasons Heineken’s sales is decreasing?
  2. How can Heineken recover from this?
  3. Do you think Heineken’s situation will improve once economic conditions stabilize? Share your insights.
  4. Why do you think there is lower demand for beer in Latin America and Europe?
  5. How popular is beer in your country and why is this?

Digital Price Tags Are Changing Food Shopping

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As the world continues developing in this day and age, digital devices and tools become more and more common. Recently, electronic shelf labels have begun spreading more rapidly in North American grocery stores, increasing consumers’ concerns about dynamic pricing.

If companies can change the price of their products easily with digital price tags, will prices of products become higher for certain individuals, or will it be used to lower the prices of products near expiry?

To learn more, watch the video below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “dynamic pricing” mean? “Some lawmakers fear that electronic shelf labels (ESLs) will lead to dynamic pricing that could hurt consumers.” Use this term in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  2. What does “year over year growth” mean? “It’s definitely an industry that is looking at significant double digit year over year growth for the foreseeable future.”  Use this term in a sentence.
  3. What is “a devil’s advocate”? “There’s definitely a strong devil’s advocate argument to be made that having some sort of surge pricing in those kind of contexts would actually be useful because it discourages hoarding.” Use this idiom in a sentence and give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the promises and pitfalls of electronic shelf labels? Do you believe that electronic shelf labels and digital price tags will influence companies to use dynamic pricing?
  2. How is dynamic pricing good and bad? You may cite examples.
  3. Do you think consumers are more likely to benefit or suffer from ESLs? Share your insights.
  4. In your opinion, should more big companies be switching to electronic shelf labels? Why or why not?

Zara Ads Banned for Unhealthily Thin Models

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Fashion giant Zara is facing backlash after several of its advertisements were banned for featuring models described as “unhealthily thin.” The decision, made by advertising regulators, has reignited debates about body image and the fashion industry’s responsibility to promote healthy beauty standards.

Read this article to learn more about the controversy and its impact on fashion advertising.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp941z3nnnxo

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does “gaunt” mean? “The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said shadows and a slick back bun hairstyle made one model appear “gaunt” while the pose and low cut design of a shirt in another image showed the model’s “protruding” collarbones.” Give 2 synonyms and make a sentence with this word.
  2. What is a “focal feature“? “The other banned advert was for a shirt and the model was said to be in a position that made “protruding” collarbones a “focal feature” of the advert.” Use this in a sentence.
  3. Define “carousel of images“. “The two banned adverts previously appeared on the retailer’s app and website in a carousel of images showing clothes on and off models.” Make a sentence with this phrase.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your opinion about these bans on some brands’ adverts with seemingly “unhealthily thin models”.
  2. What impact might these bans on these brands’ adverts have on their business and their image?
  3. How can advertising influence people’s ideas about beauty and body image?
  4. What impact can unrealistic body images have on young people?
  5. Have you ever seen an advertisement that made you feel uncomfortable or unrealistic? Why?
  6. What changes would you like to see in fashion advertising in the future?
  7. Do you think fashion brands should be responsible for promoting healthy body standards? Why or why not?

Labubu Maker Pop Mart Learns from Disney

B1 – Intermediate 

The collectible plush toys Labubu has become a global phenomenon over night. It is interesting how a character could become a viral trend worldwide.

Everyone wants a piece of this toy. It doesn’t matter that they are expensive and sometimes hard to come by. Many have become a fan and wish to collect every piece of Labubu.

Pop Mart, the maker of Labubu, learned a thing or two about their business strategy from Disney.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about what Labubu maker Pop Mart learned from Disney’s business strategy.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/labubu-maker-learns-from-disney-level-3

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define “intellectual property”. “Like Disney’s Mickey Mouse, Labubu is becoming a strong intellectual property with potential for theme parks, entertainment, and merchandise.” Use the term in a sentence. 
  2. What does “one big hit” mean? “Pop Mart doesn’t want only one big hit. Instead, it hopes to create five to ten characters with similar global potential.” Use the idiom in a sentence.  
  3. What does “to enter the market” mean? “Labubu’s success has also increased competition in China’s art toy industry, where many new companies and artists are trying to enter the market.” Use the term in a sentence. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think Pop Mart has what it takes to stay relevant long-term? Share your thoughts on Pop Mart Labubu’s global success.
  2. Pop Mart’s strategy is inspired by Disney, aiming to turn short-term popularity into long-term growth. What is your opinion about this business strategy?
  3. Talk about another company/business/brand that you know used the same strategy.
  4. What is your reaction to this: Pop Mart is now more valuable than major toy makers like Hasbro, Mattel, and Sanrio.
  5. Do you know any famous toy makers from your country? Talk about their business. How well do you think they do in the global market?