Tag: business and business english

Payless’ Fake Luxury Shoe Store

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Payless, the affordable shoe retailer, played a clever prank by opening a fake luxury shoe store. They set up a high-end atmosphere, complete with sleek designs and fancy displays, tricking customers into thinking they were shopping for expensive designer shoes. Little did they know, the shoes were actually affordable Payless ones. It was a humorous way to challenge perceptions of value and brand prestige.

Watch the video to know more about this effective PR stunt and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “markup” mean? “$35 shoe going for $645, an 1800% markup.” Use this word in a sentence.
  2. What does the idiom “sit on one’s heels” mean? “Store owners sat on their heels as fashion influencers emptied their wallets.” Use this expression in a sentence.
  3. What does the phrase “let on” mean? “Then, they’re letting on the prank.” Make a sentence using the expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on Payless’s prank of opening a fake luxury shoe store? Do you find it humorous or do you think it might have crossed any boundaries?
  2. In your opinion, does this prank challenge your perception of brand value and the psychology behind luxury purchases? Why or why not?
  3. Do you think experiments like Payless’s fake luxury store are effective in highlighting the influence of branding on consumer choices? Why or why not?
  4. How do you believe the participants in the prank felt when they discovered the true nature of the shoes they were admiring? Would you have a similar reaction?

Increasing Your Business Vocabulary

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Increasing your business vocabulary holds significant value in the professional world for several reasons:

  1. Clear Communications
  2. Professional Image
  3. Enhanced Collaboration
  4. Career Advancement
  5. Global Communication
  6. Negotiation Skills
  7. Adaptability
  8. Confidence in Communication
  9. Improved Writing Skills
  10. Networking Opportunities

In essence, expanding your business vocabulary is an investment in your professional development, offering tangible benefits in terms of effective communication, career advancement, and overall success in the business world.

Read the article below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/business-vocabulary

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Explain the phrase “corporate jargon”. “Having an extensive business vocabulary can help you navigate the corporate jargons used in business environment.” Cite a similar expression or a similar word and use ‘corporate jargon’ in a sentence.
  2. Define “accrued expense”. “Liabilities include mortgages, outstanding loans and accrued expenses.” Use the phrase in your own sentence.
  3. What does “opportunity cost” mean? “If you can choose only one option, calculating the opportunity cost of each can help you determine the best course of action.”. Use the phrase in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Which of the listed business words do you find particularly crucial in discussions related to marketing, finance, production, and business management?
  2. Have you ever taken a business course, and if so, what benefits did you gain from it?
  3. In what way might an improved business vocabulary positively impact professional networking and career advancement?
  4. How can an individual leverage a strong business vocabulary when crafting a resume or participating in a job interview?
  5. In what ways do you continue to enhance your business vocabulary?

Conscious Consumerism

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Conscious consumerism is a mindful approach to shopping and spending, emphasizing awareness of the social, environmental, and ethical implications of one’s purchases.

It’s about making intentional choices that align with personal values, supporting products and companies that prioritize sustainability, ethics, and social responsibility.

By being a conscious consumer, individuals play a role in fostering positive change and influencing businesses to adopt more ethical and sustainable practices.

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

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the expression “to jump on the trend” mean, “A lot of people are jumping on the trend right now.” Make one sentence.
  2. What does the phrase “a sense of community” mean, “The greatest benefit for the women we help employ is that they get to work in an environment that promotes dignity, pays them a wage that is a livable wage that can provide for their families, and give them a sense of community and access to healthcare and education for their children.” Use the phrase in a sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of “cycle of poverty“, “It’s a holistic approach that really will break a cycle of poverty and be sustainable for those women.” Make one sentence using this phrase.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you prioritize conscious consumerism in your daily shopping habits?
  2. What factors influence your decision to support a particular brand or product from a conscious consumer perspective?
  3. In your opinion, how can conscious consumerism contribute to positive societal and environmental change?
  4. Do you believe that businesses have a responsibility to adopt more sustainable and ethical practices, and how does this impact your purchasing choices?
  5. How do you handle situations where there’s a conflict between a product you want and the ethical considerations associated with its production or sourcing?

Young Successful Spanish Entrepreneurs

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Being in the business world is a huge feat these days. Many young people have taken their million dollar idea and turn it into a prolific business.

These young Spanish entrepreneurs didn’t waste any more minute and became successful in their chosen fields.

Read this article about the top young successful Spanish businesspeople. 

https://www.lexington.es/en/blog/young-successful-spanish-entrepreneurs

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does ”prowl around” mean? “After the pandemic and all those months that we had all the time in the world alone with our minds, many young people finally decided to take the plunge and get on board that business idea that had been prowling around their minds for years.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  2. What does “empower” mean? “Andrea is already an inspiration empowering women with her podcast Vostok6, and she has been considered one of the most business-creative women in Spain, no less!” Use this word in a sentence.
  3. What does “to climb one’s way up to do something” mean, “We had to highlight these three names because they have climbed up their way to become part of the TOP20 most promising entrepreneurs in Europe this 2021.”? Use this idiom in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Which among these young entrepreneurs do you find very inspiring? Why?
  2. What might be ways to inspire young people to go into business?
  3. Are you familiar with any of the companies mentioned in the article? Where did you hear them from?
  4. Yaiza Canosa said, “I am not the cleverest woman there is, the thing is that I encounter a problem and I look for a solution.” What do you think about her principle?
  5. Share your thoughts on this, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”.

Best Accounting Skills

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Being an accountant seems to be a challenging job. When accountants report financial data, they have to follow specific rules. These rules are also called accounting principles.

Read the article to know the principles and skills of an accountant. 

https://www.ottawa.edu/online-and-evening/blog/july-2021/10-best-accounting-skills

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of the word “diverse”? ” While they analyze and report on a wide range of data, accountants also interact with diverse clientele and break down financial information into language that the average person can understand.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of the word “tangible” “Employers are also looking for soft skills, or the less tangible abilities that help you excel on the job.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What is the “compliance”? “Other types of software with which the general accountant should have expertise include database reporting, financial reporting and analysis, financial statements, compliance, and project management. ” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What skills do you think are the most important for an accountant?
  2. Which of the mentioned skills do you have?
  3. What skills would you like to gain or develop?

Restaurant Charges Parents Extra for Rowdy Children

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Restaurants always value and prioritize a calm and peaceful dining experience for their diners. As easy as it may seem to achieve this, there are still some factors that hinder them. One of those would be rowdy children. As a result, a restaurant has taken an unusual step of charging parents for misbehaving kids, in order to ensure a pleasant environment for the rest of their patrons.

Read this article to learn about this restaurant’s new policy.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/restaurant-surcharge-bad-parenting_l_6543c278e4b0cde80b8bfd95

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define “at one’s disposal“. “Of course, we all have at our disposal at least one device capable of successfully pacifying our children, whether they’re stuck on an airplane or waiting for their chicken tenders.” Make a sentence with this phrase.
  2. What does “on the verge of” mean? “A kid who hasn’t had a nap and is basically on the verge of meltdown” isn’t going to be able to handle the demands of a restaurant as well as a contentedly well-rested child.” Make a sentence with this.
  3. What does “to mind one’s manners” mean? “Perhaps you remember being instructed as a child to “mind your manners.” Make a sentence with this idiom.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on this restaurant’s idea? If you were a restaurant owner, would you implement a similar policy to maintain a peaceful atmosphere? Why/why not?
  2. How do you think can this policy affect the restaurant?
  3. Share other ridiculous rules that some places of business you know of have.
  4. Do you think the practice of charging extra for unruly children helps or hinders the overall dining experience for families? Explain.
  5. What alternative approaches could restaurants consider to address disruptive behavior by children?
  6. What other solutions can you think of to maintain a peaceful dining experience for all patrons without implementing such a policy?

TV Dinners Changed American Cooking

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the mid-20th century, a culinary revolution quietly unfolded in American homes, transforming the way families approached mealtime. Enter the TV dinner—a convenient, pre-packaged meal that brought together elements of innovation, efficiency, and, well, a dash of nostalgia.

No longer bound to the traditional confines of home-cooked dinners, Americans found themselves embracing the futuristic appeal of neatly compartmentalized trays filled with a medley of flavors. These frozen delights not only saved time, but also mirrored the changing dynamics of American life, where convenience became a key ingredient in the recipe for success. The TV dinner era not only changed the way America cooked, but also left an indelible mark on the cultural menu of the nation.

Watch the video to know how TV dinner changed the American cooking and be able to answer the questions below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is flash frozen meat? “Imagine opening a box of TV dinner and marveling at the flash frozen meat, perfectly preserved to retain its flavor and texture as if it was just prepared in a chef’s kitchen.” Make a sentence using this term.
  2. What does “pitch” mean in this sentence? “Borrowing from the concept of the ‘Strato-Plate’, Swanson salesman Gerry Tomas pitched an idea – preserve the turkey through flash freezing and sell it to consumers as a meal in a box.” Make a sentence using this word.
  3. What does expression “lauded” mean? “The innovation of TV dinners deserves to be lauded with praise for revolutionizing the way we approach mealtime, providing a quick and easy solution for busy households. Make a sentence using this word.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you think the advent of TV dinners impacted family dynamics around mealtime?
  2. In your opinion, do TV dinners represent a positive or negative shift in our approach to cooking and dining as a society? Explain your answer.
  3. What are your thoughts on the cultural significance of TV dinners and their influence on American culinary habits?
  4. How have TV dinners influenced the way we perceive and value traditional cooking skills in contemporary culture?
  5. In your opinion, do TV dinners promote a healthy or unhealthy relationship with food and eating habits?

Penny Supermarket Charges True Cost of Foods

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Food is an ultimate essential for humans. Perhaps most of us do not pay so much attention to it, but agriculture and food production contribute a great deal to greenhouse emissions.

The German-French discount supermarket chain Penny wants their customers to pay extra for certain food items in order to cover for their true climate/environmental costs. This initiative from Penny also aims to make grocery shoppers aware of the impact of food production on the environment.

Read the article about Penny’s “True Cost” campaign.

https://www.dw.com/en/true-food-prices-germany-penny/a-66422126

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does ”greenwashing” mean? “Bernhard Krüsken, the general secretary of the German Farmers’ Association, called the campaign a “greenwashing project of a discount supermarket that otherwise has little interest in fair pricing.” Use this word in your own sentence.
  2. What does ”markedly” mean? “Almost all of the products that the German discount supermarket Penny is now selling at the “true cost” of their environmental impacts are markedly more expensive.” Give 2 synonyms and use “markedly” in your own sentence.
  3. What does “to be reflected in something” mean, “These impacts are not yet reflected in sales prices, but they cost our society money indirectly.”? Use this idiom in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on Penny’s campaign? Do you believe it is just greenwashing? Why or why not?
  2. How will this campaign affect Penny?
  3. Will this initiative really make consumers consider the environmental consequences of their purchases? Explain.
  4. What are some things you do as a consumer to minimize the impact of your purchases on the environment?
  5. “Germans paid only 11.1% of their household budget for food, less than people in the EU usually pay.” How much do you think a household in your country typically spends on food? Is it a very high or very low budget in your opinion?

China’s Economy a Ticking Time Bomb

B2 – Upper Intermediate

China is considered the world’s second-largest economy. With the recent economic crises that the economic powerhouse is confronted with, US President Joe Biden described its economy as a ‘ticking time bomb’.

On contrary, Chinese President Xi Jinping believes their country’s economy has “strong resilience, tremendous potential, and great vitality”.

Read this article to learn more about China’s economic problems.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-66636403

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “ticking time bomb” mean? “US President Joe Biden described the world’s second-largest economy as “a ticking time bomb, predicting growing discontent in the country.” Use this phrase in your own sentence.
  2. What does “to ride a wave of something” mean? “For two decades, the sector boomed as developers rode a wave of privatization. But crisis struck in 2020.” Use this phrase in your own sentence.
  3. What does “meltdown” mean here, “The government, fearing a US-style 2008 meltdown, then put limits on how much developers could borrow.”? Use this phrase in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. In your own words, discuss China’s economic crisis.
  2. How do you think China’s economic crisis could affect the world economy?
  3. What are some economic crises that your country is facing right now and what do you think caused it.
  4. “A change of economic direction requires a change of political ideology.” Do you think China should consider changing some of its political ideologies? Talk about your opinion.
  5. “There could be a danger that Mr Xi is prioritizing ideology over effective governance, or control over pragmatism.” Share your thoughts on this.

Child-Free Zones on Planes

B2 – Upper Intermediate

For some people, flying on a plane could be a stressful experience by itself. The fear of flying, missing a connecting flight, or misrouted luggages are some of the reasons for this anxiety. Apart from these, another reason a plane experience could be stressful is if you are sitting close to a disruptive child. A few airline companies have taken the initiative to launch child-free zones in their flights.

Let’s read the article and find out more about this “quiet zones” on the plane.

https://thepointsguy.com/news/child-free-flights/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrase “within earshot” mean?”I know how stressful it can be for the parents and how disruptive it can be for passengers within earshot.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. Define the word “shriek“. “One airline, though, has devised a plan to separate silence-seeking adults from the wails and shrieks that so often find their way out of a baby’s surprisingly strong lungs.” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.
  3. What is the meaning of the word “a pretty penny? “I’m kidding (or am I?), but my point is that unless you pay a pretty penny, flying — like life — has its inconveniences.” Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are child-free zones on a plane? Where can they be found and what is the passenger age requirement?
  2. Do you think child-free zones is a win-win solution or a form of alienation? Explain your stand.
  3. Should passengers pay extra to be in these quiet zones? Explain.
  4. Do you think it’s worth the added cost? Why or why not?
  5. Have you ever been disrupted by a child on a plane? If yes, how did you handle it?
  6. In your opinion, should there be child-free zones in other public places and transportation too?