Tag: business and business english

Airbnb Facing Trouble in Spain

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The rise of short-term rental platforms like Airbnb has sparked growing debate across Europe, especially in countries like Spain where tourism plays a major economic role. While these platforms offer convenience for travelers, they are also blamed for driving up housing costs, displacing local residents, and transforming authentic neighborhoods into tourist zones.

As cities like Barcelona and Madrid push back with new rules and license bans, the challenge is balancing tourism with residents’ rights to affordable, livable communities. This reveals an underlying struggle between profit-driven tourism and the long-term well-being of urban life.

Read the article to see how Spain is dealing with the impact of short-term rentals on local housing.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/30/travel/why-airbnb-facing-trouble-spain

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “blight” mean here? “While Airbnb is appealing the move, it can’t come soon enough for some in Spain who say their lives have been blighted by the lack of affordable living accommodation.” Use it in a sentence and give 2 synonyms.
  2. What does the phrase “to tip the balance” mean? “And not everyone is convinced it will tip the balance in favor of those struggling to find long-term accommodation.” Use it in a sentence and give 2 synonyms.
  3. What does the idiom “in the grip of someone/something” mean? “A surge in homes being listed on platforms like Airbnb means Spain’s main urban centers like Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia are now in the grip of a housing rental crisis that has, in recent months, become Spaniards’ primary worry, according to the Spanish Center for Sociological Research.” Use it in a sentence and give 2 synonyms.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does short-term rental tourism (like Airbnb) affect housing availability in major cities like Barcelona or Madrid? What are the pros and cons?
  2. What do you think about Barcelona City Council’s plan to stop renewing licenses for tourist apartments after 2028, forcing more than 10,000 apartments to become available for locals?
  3. Should cities limit the number of Airbnbs to protect local communities, even if it means losing tourist income?
  4. How do you feel about this quote from the article:
    “…cities are turned into theme parks for the excessive profit of a few investment funds”? Do you think profit should ever outweigh community needs?
  5. What would you do if you had to share a flat in your 30s or 40s because of rising rental prices? Would you stay in the city or move away?
  6. Is tourism-based housing making your city or country less livable for residents? Explain why or why not.

Trump-Musk Feud Slams Stocks

B2 – Upper Intermediate

On June 5, 2025, global financial markets reacted sharply to a public dispute between U.S. President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Trump’s threat to cut off government contracts with Musk-owned companies led to a 14% drop in Tesla’s shares, dragging down Wall Street indices. This incident overshadowed positive developments, such as a phone call between Trump and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping aimed at easing trade tensions.

Read the article to know why despite some recovery in stock prices since April, investor sentiment remains fragile amid ongoing economic and geopolitical uncertainties.

https://www.investopedia.com/tesla-stock-sinks-as-trump-musk-relationship-falls-apart-in-public-spat-11748777

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to get one’s teeth into something” mean? “There was plenty of meaty news for investors to get their teeth into on Thursday – U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping’s long-awaited phone call, a rate cut and guidance from the European Central Bank, and more soft U.S. labor market data. “ Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “headwind” mean? “The headwinds haven’t gone away, but the ‘hopium’ rally could still have room to run. More on that below, but first, a roundup of the main market moves.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “thin gruel” mean? “The more optimistic take, which investors initially adopted, is that the talks were constructive and cordial, evidenced by the tone of Trump’s social media post and the fact that the two invited each other to visit. But that’s pretty thin gruel, and it wasn’t enough to support Wall Street’s initial gains.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think political figures should be more cautious when publicly criticizing business leaders, considering how it affects the stock market?
  2. How much influence do you believe Elon Musk has over investor confidence compared to political leaders like Trump?
  3. If you were an investor, would a public feud like this make you sell, hold, or buy more shares of a company like Tesla? Why?
  4. Do you think the market overreacts to high-profile drama, or is it justified given the financial risks involved?
  5. How should companies like Tesla respond when political leaders threaten their government contracts publicly?

Dubai Chocolate Won Over American Businesses

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The Dubai Chocolate craze began as a local treat from Fix Dessert Chocolatier in 2022 and quickly gained international fame, thanks to its rich pistachio-filled flavor and viral exposure on TikTok and Instagram.

Its limited availability only fueled demand, turning it into a status symbol. Major brands like Trader Joe’s, Costco, and Crumbl soon launched their own versions, showing how a regional dessert can influence global food trends and retail strategies.

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


Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “homegrown” mean? “We’re a small homegrown brand. We had just enough chocolate just to serve the community.” Use the word in a sentence and give a synonym.
  2. What does “to shoot at the gut“? “We’re kind of shooting at the gut here and hoping that this works.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  3. What is “price point“? “The price point of the Kataifi and shipping that from another country to the US and with it being so nationally recognized and utilized right now, it was hard to source because we have so many stores across the nation.” Make a sentence using the term.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your thoughts on the global popularity of this product.
  2. Do you think social media has too much influence over what becomes popular in the food industry? Share your thoughts.
  3. Should major retailers create their own versions of viral products like Dubai Chocolate, or is that unfair to the original creators? What is your opinion?
  4. Would you buy a product just because it went viral online, even if it’s expensive or hard to find? Why or why not?
  5. What factors do you think contributed most to the global success of Dubai Chocolate—its flavor, its origin, or its social media presence?
  6. Talk about a global food trend that has become famous in your country and a local dish from your nation that won over the world.

Airline Fees Turned Baggage into Billions

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

Back in the days, check-in luggage, seat selection, and meals were free on commercial flights. That was until the UK low-cost carrier FlyBe started charging for check-in baggage. Then, the other airlines started doing the same thing.

Fast forward to today, Air Canada and Southwest added to the list of airlines that charge passengers for check-in luggage. 

From extra fees including checked baggage, seat selection, wifi and lounge access, upgrades, and food and drink alone, airlines are expected to generate $145 billion this year. This constitutes to 14% of the sector’s total revenues.

Read the article about how airlines are now making billions from charging passengers for check-in luggage and other ancillary fees.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0qg3ylx2g9o

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “grey area” mean? “However, what determines “reasonable requirements” continues to be a grey area in need of an official ruling.” Use this expression in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  2. What does “ancillary” mean? “With Air Canada and Southwest the latest airlines to charge passengers for check-in luggage, the ballooning cost of such ancillary fees is provoking anger among politicians and consumer groups.” Use this word in a sentence. Give 2 synonyms.
  3. What does “to follow suit” mean? “Other budget carriers then quickly followed suit, with the so-called flag carriers or established airlines then also doing so, at least on shorter flights.” Use this phrase in a sentence. Give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to and opinion to airlines charging passengers for check-in luggage? Also, share your opinion on airlines making billions from check-in baggage and other extra fees.
  2. Are junk fees from airlines also very common in your country? Talk about it.
  3. Share your thoughts on how the rise of the budget airlines contributed to the ballooning of junk fees from airlines.
  4. Do you think checked bags, seat selection, and meals should be for free on commercial flights? Explain.
  5. Share your opinion on the huge boom in the sales of carry-on luggage as a result of passengers’ refusal to pay for check-in bags. 

Watch Out for Summer Events Ticket Traps

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

A warming is being given to festival and concert enthusiasts. As they are usually so desperate to get their hands on much coveted tickets, they fall victims to ticket scams.

Read the article about summer events ticket traps and how to protect yourself from said scams.

https://www.lbc.co.uk/business/9a55a872f7214270a5976562e42541bb

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “coveted” mean? “Music fans desperate to get their hands on coveted tickets could be susceptible to scams.” Use this word in a sentence. Give 2 synonyms.
  2. What does “to get one’s hand on something” mean? “With many events taking place over the summer, fans desperate to get their hands on coveted tickets to see their favourite bands perform live could be susceptible to scams.“ Use this idiom in a sentence. Give 2 similar expressions.
  3. What does “to put right” mean? “Credit reference agencies can help to put right any damage done to reports.” Use this phrase in a sentence. Give 2 synonyms.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to and opinion to this news?
  2. Have you ever been scammed buying tickets online? What happened? Or talk about your experience booking tickets online in general. 
  3. What can be done to avoid falling victims to ticket traps?
  4. Do you agree or disagree with this, “If a seller is offering you a bargain price for a ticket to a popular event, this could be a red flag.”? Why?
  5. Talk about your experience attending summer events. 

Gold is Booming But Investors Could Lose Out

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

Gold has always been regarded as a good investment option or an alternative way to diversify portfolio. 

In the recent years, there has been a gold rush, triggering a massive eagerness among investors.

However, if you are considering to put some of your money into this, it’s crucial to do an extensive research and understand the risks and benefits prior to purchasing gold.

Read the article about the truth behind investing in gold.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5ygyjy7kz5o

Listen to the article here: 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0l9pwd1

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “bric-a-brac” mean? “Emma is the strategies director of Hatton Garden Metals, a family-run gold dealership in London’s Hatton Garden jewellery district, and this unprepossessing tub of bric-a-brac is a small sample of what they buy over the counter each day.” Use this term in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “to conjure something out of thin air” mean? “Gold can’t be printed by central banks, and it can’t be conjured out of thin air.“ Use this phrase in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  3. What does “to owe a great deal to someone/something” mean? “The recent increases appear to owe a great deal to the way markets have responded to the confusion triggered by the Trump administration.” Use this idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Cite and explain the benefits of investing in gold.
  2. Cite and explain the drawbacks of investing in gold.
  3. Now equipped with some knowledge about gold as an investment, do you think it is a good investment or not? Explain.
  4. What is your opinion on billionaire Warren Buffett tagging gold as “lifeless” and “neither of much use nor procreative”?
  5. Share your thoughts on this, “Central banks have collectively bought more than 1,000 tonnes of gold each year. Central banks may themselves have been trying to build up buffers at a time of growing economic and geopolitical uncertainty.”
  6. Do you think your central bank should buy more gold, too? Why or why not?

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.

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?

Restaurants Lie about Food Hygiene

B1 – Intermediate 

Food hygiene ratings ensure that the businesses in the food industry such as restaurants and supermarkets follow the food safety standards. In the UK, these ratings are given by the Food Standards Agency or FSA. 

A BBC undercover investigation discovered that there are many businesses in England and Wales that are not showing their real food hygiene ratings.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about some businesses lying about their food hygiene ratings. Be ready to answer the questions that follow. 

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/restaurants-lie-about-food-hygiene-level-3

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define “undercover”. “An undercover BBC investigation revealed that many businesses in England and Wales have displayed inaccurate food hygiene ratings.“ Use this word in a sentence. Give a synonym or similar expression.
  2. What does “rating” mean? “These food hygiene ratings, provided by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), are meant to ensure customers that food safety standards are met.” Use this word in a sentence. Give a synonym or similar expression.
  3. What does “misleading” mean? “Food safety experts believe this is a widespread problem across the UK, with multiple places misleading the public about their hygiene standards.” Use this word in a sentence. Give a synonym or similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What comes to your mind when you hear the word “rating”?
  2. Share your reaction to and opinion about this news.
  3. Do you have a similar food hygiene rating system in your country? Do you care about this or not? Why?
  4. Why is it important for businesses to meet food safety standards?
  5. What should be the penalty for businesses who lie about their food hygiene ratings displayed outside their stores?