Tag: business and business english

The Cost of Fast Fashion

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The throwaway culture has meant an unprecedented number of people purchase clothes, wear them just once, and then discard them. It leads to fast fashion, where consumers seek less expensive clothing, which drives up sales globally, but has a significant negative impact on the environment.

Watch the video below to learn more about the true cost of fast fashion.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define the word “castoff“. “This is where wardrobe castoffs end up.” Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What does the word “swanky” mean, “Today she’s looking for a new outfit for a swanky industry event.” Could you think of an antonym and construct a sentence using the word “swanky”.
  3. What does “to get mileage out of” mean? “Rent the Runway is getting more mileage out of items of clothes, it’s also helping tackle an increasing number of throwaway culture.” Think and make your own sentence using the idiom.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is fast fashion a trend in your country? Talk about it.
  2. What effects do you anticipate it will have on the environment and the economy?
  3. Would it be preferable to stop this expanding industry? Explain your stance.
  4. How else can the throwaway culture be tackled?
  5. What do you think of Patagonia’s philosophy, “To buy once, buy well, and mend clothing”? Share your thoughts on this.
  6. What are your thoughts on Rent the Runway’s business model?

Chinese Airliner’s First Commercial Flight

B1 – Intermediate

Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) is a state-owned aerospace company in China. It has recently made history with their first commercial airplane C919’s first flight. C919 was built in hopes to compete with other aerospace manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus.

Its first commercial flight is said to be China’s “symbol of industrial skill and national pride”.

Read this article about the Chinese-made airplane C919’s first commercial flight.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2306/230601-comac-china-airline-1.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Explain the definition of the phrase “national pride”. “Newspapers called it “a symbol of skill and national pride“.”. Use this phrase in your own sentence.
  2. What does “triumph” mean? “China’s president called the C919 aircraft a “triumph of Chinese innovation”.” Give a synonym and use “triumph” in your own sentence.
  3. What does “fondly” mean? “I’ll remember it fondly for some time to come.” Give a synonym and use “fondly” in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction now that China is also manufacturing planes?
  2. What is your opinion on this, “COMAC hopes to compete with airline industry giants, like Boeing and Airbus.”?
  3. Do you think COMAC will get a lot of international orders soon? Why or why not?
  4. Talk about any recent milestone in any industry in your country.
  5. Talk about one of your country’s national pride.

Chile’s Lithium Industry 

B1 – Intermediate

Chile is a country that is known for its rich mineral deposits. It has become a key player in the global lithium industry.

With increasing demand for lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, and portable electronics, Chile’s lithium reserves have become a very important asset for a greener and more sustainable world.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the lithium industry in Chile.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/chiles-lithium-industry-level-1/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to take control of” mean in this sentence, “Chile’s president Gabriel Boric wants to take control of the country’s lithium industry. Lithium is a metal used in electric car batteries.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “take over” mean in this sentence, “The government will take over their lithium factories and run a new company. This will make it harder for electric car makers to get the materials which they need.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. “Other countries are also trying to protect their resources. Mexico, Argentina, and Bolivia are working together to use lithium and other minerals well.” What does “resources” mean? Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does the global demand for electric vehicles impact Chile’s lithium production and exportation?
  2. What are some future developments or opportunities for Chile’s lithium industry?
  3. What are some common uses of lithium in everyday life apart from batteries?
  4. What are other materials or technologies being developed that could potentially replace lithium in batteries? Talk about them.

Manuka Honey Trademark Battle

B1 – Intermediate

Manuka honey is premium quality honey made from bees that only pollinate manuka or tea trees which are native in Australia and New Zealand. 

For years, the two countries have had some disputes on who owns the right to manuka honey’s trademark.

Read this lesson about the manuka honey trademark battle between Australia and New Zealand.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2305/230525-manuka-honey-trademark-2.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Explain the definition of the word “trademark”. “The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand decided that no one could trademark the word “manuka”.”. Use this word in a sentence.
  2. What does “treasured” mean here, “They said manuka was a “treasured” NZ species.”? Give 1-2 synonym/s of ‘treasured’ and use the word in your own sentence.
  3. What does “long history” mean, “Our product has a long history of being recognized as manuka honey.”? Use this idiom in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand’s decision to not let anyone trademark the word “manuka”?
  2. Are there any products from your country that became controversial due to its trademark? Talk about them.
  3. What are some products that your country is well-known for? Why are they world-famous?

Companies Control Everything You Buy

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever stopped to consider who’s behind the brands you purchase?

Well, it turns out, they are the ten biggest global players in the food and beverage industry. Nestlé, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, and Unilever, to name a few, have thousands of people they employ. They generate billions annually.

Oxfam’s infographic in the article below attempts for said companies to strive in creating positive impact and show consumers how closely these corporations interact with each other.

In this article, you’ll learn more about the companies behind the brands and products.

https://www.businessinsider.com/10-companies-control-food-industry-2017-3

Vocabulary Questions

  1. What is the meaning of the idiom “mind-boggling”? “In an effort to push these companies to make positive changes — and for customers to realize who controls the brands they’re buying — Oxfam created a mind-boggling infographic that shows how interconnected consumer brands really are.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the phrase “move beyond” mean in the sentence “Coca-Cola is moving beyond soda, with beverage brands including Dasani, Fuze, and Honest Tea.”? Use it in a sentence.
  3. Explain the meaning of the adjective “____-centric” in the sentence “This snack-centric company’s brands include Oreo, Trident gum, and Sour Patch Kids.”. Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. After reading the article, are you surprised by the companies’ high level of interconnectedness?
  2. Why is it crucial for consumers to know which companies own the brands they buy? How can this knowledge affect the way we shop?
  3. How can these food and beverage companies improve their impact on society and the environment?
  4. Do you think these companies should focus more on ethical and sustainable practices than on profit? Why or why not?
  5. How can we ensure these companies are doing the right thing, and what can we do if they’re not?

Sneaky Ways Fast Food Restaurants Get You To Spend More

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Fast food restaurants are a popular choice for a quick and affordable meal on-the-go. However, these establishments have become experts at getting customers to spend more money than they intended. From upselling and limited-time offers to product placement and loyalty programs, fast food restaurants employ a variety of sneaky tactics to increase the total cost of your order. In this age of convenience, it’s important to be aware of these tactics and make informed decisions when ordering at fast food restaurants.

Watch this video to learn more about how fast food restaurants get you to spend more. Be ready to able to answer the questions that follow.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of the word “playbook“? Use it in a sentence. Ex. The fast food menu playbook has been around since the ’80s which has been centered on simplicity, cheap, and bold and bright.
  2. What does the expression “grab one’s attention” mean? Make one sentence. Ex. Fast food restaurants grab your attention with bright reds or oranges along with big appetizing photos of their food.
  3. What does “the pressure is mounting” mean? Ex. When it’s time to order, the pressure is mounting. Use this expression in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are some psychological tricks mentioned in the video that get customers to spend more?
  2. Have you ever fallen for one of these psychological tricks? Share your experience.
  3. Do you enjoy eating fast food? How often do you eat it? What type of fast food menus do you usually buy?

Companies Spend in Research and Development

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The role of the Research and Development (R&D) department is to keep a business competitive by researching the market and the customer needs and developing new and improved products and services to fit these needs.

Read the article to know more about how businesses gather knowledge to create new products or discover new ways to improve their existing products.

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/which-companies-spend-the-most-in-research-and-development-rd-2021-06-21

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define “line item” here, “Amazon is among the top R&D spenders even though its financial statements do not mention R&D as a separate line item.” Use this word in your own sentence.
  2. Define “set forth” here, “The company’s R&D expenses continue to be set forth within “technology and content” in its financial statements.” Use this word in your own sentence.
  3. What does “world leader” mean here, “However, in terms of cumulative patent holdings, Samsung is the world leader with 80,577 active patent families.” Use the word withstand in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How useful is R&D for a business?
  2. Do you have an R&D department in your company? What does it do?
  3. “Our business environment changes rapidly and needs long-term investment. We will not hesitate to place major bets on promising new opportunities. We will not shy away from high-risk, high-reward projects because of short-term earnings pressure.” Do you agree with this statement? Explain.
  4. What are some examples of investment risks?
  5. In your opinion, which is the better approach: Working quickly to develop a good solution or taking more time to craft an excellent solution? Elaborate.

Disney’s Magic Spell Wearing Off

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In a world where cinema sales are falling, pay TV subscribers are cancelling their subscriptions, and online streaming are making film companies lose revenues, Disney bases its hopes on their loyal fans who would watch just anything they produce and release.

Read the article about Disney’s struggles to boost its share price.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-64632514

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does ”give something a leg up” mean, “Jessica Reif Ehrlich, an analyst at Bank of America, says the resonance of Disney’s brands give it a leg up on its competitors, but investors have yet to be convinced.”? Use this idiom in your own sentence.
  2. What does “to bank on” mean, “That’s the kind of commitment that Disney is banking on as it tries to forge a profitable path in a world of falling cinema sales, pay TV cancellations and money-losing online streaming.“? Use this phrase in your own sentence.
  3. What does “playbook” mean, “Will the traditional playbook be enough?”? Use this word in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your reasons Disney’s magic is wearing off?
  2. Will the traditional business playbook be enough for Disney to stay afloat?
  3. How has your cinema habits changed after the pandemic?
  4. What do you think about film franchises and spin-offs?
  5. Give your opinion on this: “The rise of streaming has fractured audiences, making it difficult to generate the kind of buzz that propels people to pay for entertainment.”

Entrepreneurs Regret Starting Businesses

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Becoming your own boss might sounds promising. However, this road may not be all that everyone ever dream about because starting your own firm comes with a lot of risks and responsibilities. Some entrepreneurs admit that they would have taken a different route if they could.

Read the article about the regrets some entrepreneurs have with quitting their day jobs to start their own businesses.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20230402-the-entrepreneurs-who-regret-starting-businesses

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does ”to take the plunge” mean, “But if the 54-year-old could go back, he may never have taken the plunge.”? Use this expression in your own sentence.
  2. What does “to hang one’s own shingle” mean, “Of course, there are plenty of success stories, and many people who hang their own shingles would never look back.”? Use this expression in your own sentence.
  3. What does “to follow one’s footstep” mean, “Still, Schreim is cautious about encouraging anyone else to follow in his footsteps.”? Use this expression in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are some benefits of starting your own business?
  2. What are some risks of putting up your own firm?
  3. Being an entrepreneur isn’t an easy lifestyle. Share your thoughts on this.
  4. Do you think starting your own business would equal freedom? Why or why not?
  5. What things one should consider and keep in mind when starting their own business?

Don’t Quit Your Job to Start a Business

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There has never been as much information about personal finance as now. You can easily have passive income sources, for example, selling
online or trading currencies.

Read the article on how to start your own business and tap into your hidden talent while having a regular job.

https://www.entrepreneur.com/starting-a-business/why-you-shouldnt-quit-your-job-to-start-a-business/312133

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define the word “sizeable“. “Having the ability do what you love, when you want and on your own terms is certainly attractive, especially when you could potentially build it into a sizeable income.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. Define the word “maverick“. “”Entrepreneurs” are rarely the modern-day maverick who suddenly decide one day to quit their jobs and pursue their dreams.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. Define the word “to get something off the ground“. “By building your business while working full- or part-time, you will have the cash flow in the short term to get your enterprise off the ground.” Give a synonym of “to get something off the ground” and use this expression in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on starting a business while still keeping a day job?
  2. Have you tried following the advice given? How did it go?
  3. What other tips can you add to the post? Do you know someone who has a corporate full-time job while running a business? Describe his/her lifestyle.
  4. Have you ever considered how you might live without a regular job?
  5. What are the pros and cons of being your own boss?