Tag: Business & Business English

People Have Zoom Fatigue

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Before the COVID-19 pandemic happened, only very few people have heard about Zoom. According to its executives, Zoom’s downloads rose more than 1000% from 10 million in December 2019 to up to 200 million in March 2020. The sudden increase in the number of users also happened to other video conferencing software as more and more people started telecommuting.

As good as it may sound, telecommuting is not for everybody. As more and more people are dreading the routine of looking at the screen in order to interact with colleagues, ‘zoom fatigue’, or the overuse of video conferencing, is becoming a bitter pill to swallow for some.

Click the link and read the article to know more about zoom fatigue.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-55320156

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you use any video conferencing software for work? Tell us more about its upsides and downsides.
  2. Are you currently telecommuting? If yes, how is it going for you?
  3. Do you think telecommuting is here to stay? Why or why not?
  4. Have you experienced zoom fatigue? If yes, how did you deal with it?
  5. Is there any feature that you wish video conferencing software has that is not available at the moment?

Game Console Keeps Chicken Warm

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Fast food restaurant KFC has introduced a gaming console in partnership with Cooler Master. This machine is capable of running games at top-level specifications and features that you can heat your chicken pieces or keep it warm while you play intense gaming sessions.

Let’s read more about this gaming console in this article.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/23/tech/kfc-games-console-chicken-scli-intl/index.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about this device?
  2. Do you think this gaming console is useful to gamers? What could possibly go wrong with using it?
  3. What do you think of the idea of KFC collaborating with Cooler Master? Is this some sort of a clever business gimmick?

The Secret to Being a Successful Freelancer

B2 – Upper Intermediate

You are your own business when you start being a freelancer.
You have to market yourself and you have to know how to run your business on your own. It could be tough but it’ll give you the freedom to choose and do what you want the most.

Watch as Paco De Leon talk about the secrets to becoming a successful freelancer.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think that artists are way too underpaid these days?

2. When starting a freelancing career, why is it important to know your target customers?

3. Explain: “When you earn enough working with clients that value your work, you don’t have to compromise by working with clients who don’t. “

4. Do you want to be a freelancer? If yes, what kind of business would you want to start?

5. Are the tips mentioned above helpful? Which one is your favorite?

US-China Tech Firms Tension

B2 – Upper Intermediate

China claims that its tech companies have been victims of “naked bullying” by the US. The American government has taken restrictions measures on Chinese applications such as TikTok and WeChat. The hindering of the said apps was a result of issues with data security. Who are affected by these two largest economies’ trade war?

Let’s read more about China’s claim of naked bullying and USA’s The Clean Network through this article:

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-54052765

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is naked bullying?
  2. What do you think of USA’s data privacy efforts? Do you have such policies in your country?
  3. Do you use any Chinese applications? Describe their use in your daily life.
  4. How is the trade war between US and China affecting the world?
  5. Do you think Chinese applications are danger to any country?
  6. How important is data security and privacy?

Digital Marketing Trends for 2020

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We have fully immersed ourselves in all things digital these days. Internet is the best place to reach out to millions of people using different strategies. Let us familiarize ourselves with the current online marketing trends in 2020.

Read the article below.

5 Digital Marketing Trends for 2020?

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the different marketing trends mentioned in the article? Explain.

2. Do you have other marketing tactics that you use?

3. Have you embraced a more digital-minded business or digital strategies? What digital tools do you use?

4. How would you rate your skills and resources in digital marketing?

5. What other digital marketing trends or strategies do you foresee or would like to see in the coming days?

Accusing Business Rival of Stealing Staff and Trade Secrets

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The world’s top electric-vehicle manufacturer Tesla claims that its rival Rivian Automotive Inc. has repeatedly poached their employees and stolen some of their intellectual property.

Read more about this news on business rivalry and stealing talents and trade secrets from the link below:

https://www.aljazeera.com/ajimpact/tesla-lawsuit-accuses-rival-stealing-staff-trade-secrets-200723051819087.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to Rivian’s alleged pattern of poaching its employees and stealing trade secrets from Tesla?
  2. Talk about your experience being poached by other companies. How did it happen?
  3. Do you think it is ethical to divulge information/knowledge you have acquired from your former company to your present employer?
  4. How does your company protect itself from poaching and intellectual property theft?
  5. What is your direct competitor/s like? Do you think your company has the same problem as Tesla with them?

Things Selling Out This Summer

After months of quarantine, things would change this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Many people have now adapted to the “new normal” and families are looking for alternative solutions to enjoy this summer season.

More and more people are opting to enjoy their time in comfort of their own backyards or to take up outdoor recreation.

This gave rise to the popularity of inflatable pools, bicycles, and roller skates. It might be difficult to find and buy these items now. The same way hand sanitizers and toilet papers were sold out at the beginning of the quarantine.

Read this article and be able to answer the questions that follow:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/reviewedcom/2020/07/07/10-things-selling-out-everywhere-summer-pools-floats-bikes-and-more/53v88942002/

Discussion Questions:

  1. During this pandemic, what are some of the recreational items/toys/products that are selling out nowadays in your country?
  2. What have you bought recently that you think is useful? What about something that is recreational? Explain why.
  3. Do you agree with the things that are mentioned in the article?
  4. What new recreational activities have you started doing during and after the pandemic?
  5. How did you cope with living the “new normal”?

Millennials and Business

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It seems the millennials are attracted to starting their own businesses and it’s not just about making money, but also about passion and doing good. A lot of people think supporting young people to become business leaders should start at home and they should be educated to be independent for a better life.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript to learn more about the young entrepreneurs.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-200625

Discussion Questions:

  1. What can you say about millennials who start their own business?
  2. Are there a lot of young entrepreneurs in your country? If so, what are the common startup businesses?
  3. Does your government offer any support to startup businesses especially to young entrepreneurs?
  4. What can you say about crowdfunding? Do you think it’s appropriate to do?

Dear Sir or Hey, Folks?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Email is used in many different settings and it is widely used in the workplace as the formal tool of communication among people within the business. It is important to know how the recipient understood your message and just as important is the impression you leave on them especially if it is the first correspondence with them.

Read the article on whether to open emails with Dear, Hi, or Hey.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/course/lower-intermediate/unit-1/session-4/activity-2

Discussion Questions:

  1. How often do you use email in the workplace?
  2. How do usually start your work emails? What salutations do you use?
  3. According to the article, what are the preferences for email salutations?
  4. Do you agree with Giselle Barry on her opinion on using ‘Dear’ to start the work email?
  5. Share some interesting email correspondences you’ve had at and for work.

Store Sells Only Expired Food

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A nonprofit community grocery store called The Daily Table, founded by Doug Rauch, sells discounted food past its sell-by date. It aims to provide food to communities most in need at prices that are affordable to everyone thereby finding solutions to food waste and hunger.

Watch the video and be able to answer the questions that follow:

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of stores selling out-of-date food?
  2. Do you think this is a solution to reduce food waste and hunger?
  3. Do you think expired food is edible and safe to consume?
  4. What do you usually do with food past its expiration date?