Tag: business and business english

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?

E-commerce is Changing People’s Shopping Habits

B2 – Upper Intermediate

E-commerce has gained so much popularity ever since the peak of the pandemic when most people were unable to go out to shop. There has been an increasing number of online shops or platforms emerging nowadays. Most people prefer online shopping to going to physical stores.

Read the article to know how e-commerce is changing people’s shopping habits.

https://www.english-online.at/news-articles/business-economy/ecommerce-is-changing-peoples-shopping-habits.htm

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “break into” mean, “It is breaking into traditional markets more than ever before.“? Use this phrase in your own sentence.
  2. What does “driving force” mean, “Today, Facebook and other social media networks are the driving force behind online shopping.“? Use this phrase in your own sentence.
  3. What does “on sale” mean, “There are even apps which show you if there is a certain product on sale within a short distance of your location.“? Use this phrase in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is online shopping popular in your country? Why/why not?
  2. When do you think e-commerce started gaining popularity in your country?
  3. What are the most used e-commerce platforms in your country?
  4. Do you agree that e-commerce is changing people’s shopping habits? If yes, how so?
  5. Do you think physical stores will not exist in the future anymore? Why/why not?
  6. Why do you think some people prefer shopping online to shopping in physical stores?

Market Boom for Fake Tanks

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The Russia-Ukraine War has boosted the need for heavy military weapons and vehicles. Such military supplies cost an arm and a leg, though. This most probably the reason fake army equipment makers have seen a rise in demand for their products.

These equipment are more cost-effective, yet still pretty much gets the job done when it comes to tricking and intimidating the enemy.

Read the article about the rise in demand for inflatable military decoys worldwide.

https://www.voanews.com/a/czech-company-sees-boom-in-market-for-fake-tanks-himars/6992819.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does ”decoy” mean, “The company has added HIMARS to its fleet of over 30 types of inflatable real-size decoys it sells to customers worldwide, Chief Executive Vojtech Fresser said Monday.”? Use this word in your own sentence.
  2. What does the expression “to find one’s way somewhere” mean, “Inflatech would not confirm Ukraine is among the destinations, but Fresser said he would expect them to find their way there.“? Use this idiom in your own sentence.
  3. What does the word “reconnaissance” mean, “The decoys are made from synthetic silk and, apart from misleading the adversary visually, have a thermal footprint and appear on radars to fool enemy reconnaissance.”? Use this word in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on placing life-size inflatable decoys on the front lines to deceive the enemy?
  2. What are the pros and cons of using fake military equipment?
  3. Share your opinion on this: “Inflatech would not confirm Ukraine is among the destinations, but Fresser said he would expect them to find their way there.”

Supermarkets Ration Fruits and Vegetables

B1 – Intermediate

In the UK, there have been a shortage in the supply of fruits and vegetables. Customers are having difficulties finding places to buy fruits and vegetables from. The big supermarkets said there are many reasons for this shortage in their supplies. As a result, most of their shelves are left almost empty.

Due to this, supermarkets have no choice but to ration some produces in the middle of this problem with low fruits and vegetables supply in the country.

Read the article about the fruits and vegetables shortage in the UK and how the supermarkets started rationing the supply to their customers.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2303/230306-uk-vegetable-rationing-5.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does ”bare” mean here, “The big chains have given various reasons for the shortfall in supply and why shelves are bare in supermarket aisles.”? Give 2 synonyms of the word ‘bare’ in this context and use them in sentences.
  2. What does the expression “to play a part” mean, “An industry analyst said Brexit has also played a part.”? Use this idiom in your own sentence.
  3. What does “war-torn” mean, “Many shoppers are shocked at seeing photos on social media of supermarket shelves in Europe, and in war-torn Ukraine, full of fresh produce.”? Use this word in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this news? Has something similar happened in your country too?
  2. What are the reasons for the lack of supply in fruits and vegetables in the UK?
  3. Is it a good solution to limit how much fruits and veggies each customer can buy? Explain your opinion.
  4. Do you agree or disagree to this, “If there are shortfalls in production in the EU, then it makes sense for EU producers to serve their local demand first.”? Share your thoughts.
  5. Talk about some products or produces that became low in supply in your country. How did that shortage affect you?

Inflation

B1 – Intermediate

Inflation is one of the most important economic issues in the world. It can be defined as the price of goods and services rising over monthly or yearly. Inflation leads to a decline in the value of money, it means that we cannot buy something at a price that same as before. This situation will increase our cost of living.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about inflation.

https://listenaminute.com/i/inflation.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is “inflation rate“? “Zimbabwe once had an inflation rate of trillions of percent.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  2. What does the phrase “to keep something under control” mean, “Many countries around the world are fighting to keep inflation under control.”? Use this in a sentence.
  3. What does “to lose the battle against something” mean, “Sometimes you read about countries that lose the battle against inflation.” Use this in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why is inflation important to economists?
  2. Have you changed your spending or your habits because of the rising prices?
  3. Do you think your government should do more to help people manage in the middle of this problem with inflation? Share your opinion.
  4. What will happen to the world if prices keep rising?
  5. What will happen to your lifestyle if prices keep rising?
  6. What hurts you more, increase in fuel prices or food prices? Why?

Sushi Terrorism

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Sushi is one of the most popular Japanese dishes all around the world. Recently, some pranks have become viral on social media where some pranksters are seen meddling with the food at some conveyor belt sushi restaurants. 

This lead to customers rethinking about going to this kind of restaurants, police conducting investigations, and restaurants’ shares plummeting.

Read the article about a series of pranks at conveyor belt sushi restaurants that is dubbed as “sushi terrorism”. 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/03/wave-of-sushi-terrorism-grips-japans-restaurant-world

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “meddle” mean, “Signature cuisine is at the centre of a police investigation after customers at revolving sushi restaurants posted video clips of themselves meddling with dishes.”? Use this word in your own sentence.
  2. What does ”egregious” mean, ”A clip of the most egregious culinary crime, which has been viewed almost 40m times on Twitter, shows what appears to be a teenager licking the open top of a communal soy sauce bottle and the entire rim of a teacup, which he then places back on a shelf.”? Give at least one (1) synonym of this word and use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “outpouring” mean? “The firm’s president, Kohei Nii, said he had been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support.”  Use this word in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this news? How does this affect your interest in going to a conveyor belt sushi restaurant?
  2. How can the restaurants bounce back from this controversy?
  3. What are your thoughts on the action by some conveyor belt sushi restaurants to install cameras above conveyor belts to monitor customers?
  4. How should these pranksters be punished?

Hong Kong Needs Tourists

B1 – Intermediate

Countries all over the world have been affected by the pandemic. One of the countries that suffered the consequences is Hong Kong.

Now, the government needs to think of ways to boost tourism again.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about what Hong Kong is doing to attract more tourists into their country.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/hong-kong-needs-tourists-level-3/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “lure” mean, “Hong Kong will give 500,000 air tickets to lure tourists and businesses back to the city.” Use this word in your own sentence.
  2. What does ”revive” mean here, ”The government is seeking to revive the economy and repair Hong Kong’s global image after 2019’s violent protests and three years of self-imposed isolation during the pandemic.”? Give at least one (1) other definition of this word and use it in a sentence.
  3. What is a “giveaway”? “The giveaway will begin at the start of March and will last six months.” Use this word in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why does Hong Kong have problems with low tourism?
  2. What is your opinion on their campaign to get more tourists to visit their country? Do you think it will work? Explain.
  3. What would you do if you won a free flight to Hong Kong?
  4. What does your local and/or national government do to attract tourists to visit?
  5. What are some interesting activities/events in your city/country?

Spot a Phone Scammer

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Phone scams are quite prevalent these days. Although this may seem like a little problem, it has had a large-scale impact and made the fraudsters very wealthy and their victims forever scarred.

Check out this video to learn how to spot a phone scammer.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is a “cold-call“, “Cold-call scammers pretending to be from the HMRC are targeting households threatening legal action unless you call them back.“? Use this word in your own sentence.
  2. What does the idiom “out of the blue” mean, “The HMRC will never contact you out of the blue and threaten you with arrest.“? Use this expression in your own sentence.
  3. What does the phrase “at hand” mean, “The issue at hand is extremely time-sensitive.“? Use this phrase in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about cold-calls?
  2. Talk about some kind of calls such as this that you have received and how you handle it.
  3. If you had the ability to help stop these scam call centers, what would you do?
  4. How can you and others close to you prevent being phone scammed?
  5. Do you believe that law enforcement could do a better job in this type of situations? How so?

Google’s Digital Ad Business Dominance

B2 – Upper Intermediate

No doubt, Google has dominated the world of technology and business. However, the U.S. government has alleged the company of abusing its digital advertising business dominance.

They claim that Google has anticompetitive, exclusionary, and unlawful ways to thwart their competitions.

Read the article to know more about the U.S. Justice Department’s antitrust lawsuit against Google.

https://www.voanews.com/a/us-eight-states-sue-google-on-digital-ad-business-dominance/6932101.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “thwart” mean, “The lawsuit says “Google has thwarted meaningful competition and deterred innovation in the digital advertising industry…” Use this word in your own sentence.
  2. Explain ”antitrust”. ”The lawsuit is the second federal antitrust complaint filed against Google, alleging violations of antitrust law in how the company acquires or maintains its dominance.” Use this word in your own sentence.
  3. What does the expression “by a long shot” mean, “While Google remains the market leader by a long shot, its share of the U.S. digital ad revenue has been eroding, falling to 28.8% last year from 36.7% in 2016. Use this idiom in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on this antitrust complaint against Google?
  2. In your own opinion, are antitrust laws good or bad? Explain your point.
  3. How can antitrust practices be prevented?
  4. Why is competition important in business?
  5. What are some antitrust laws in your country? Explain each of them.