Tag: Business English

Themed Restaurants

B1 – Intermediate

Themed restaurants have become increasingly popular in recent years, providing diners with a unique and immersive dining experience that goes beyond simply enjoying a meal. They are designed around a particular concept or theme, ranging from historical eras to popular movies or television shows.

Themed restaurants can be a fun and engaging dining experience for diners of all ages. They offer a break from the mundane dining experiences and transport diners to a different time and place.

Let’s read the article below.

http://headsupenglish.com/index.php/lower-intermediate-students/lower-intermediate-mini-lessons/202-themed-restaurants

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. “Successful restaurants not only rely on great food and superior service, but they also rely on the atmosphere.” What does “rely on/upon” mean? Use it in a sentence.
  2. “Other such restaurants may look like a prison. Customers are locked in cell-like rooms with “guards” serving as waiters.” What does “look like someone/something” mean? Use it in a sentence.
  3.  What does “tie together” mean in this sentence, “The decoration, music, and food all tie together to create a unique and unusual dining experience.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does the décor in a themed restaurant contribute to the dining experience?
  2. Do you think themed restaurants are popular in your country? Why / Why not?
  3. Have you ever been to a themed restaurant? If so, what was the theme and what was your experience like?
  4. What do you think are the benefits of going to a themed restaurant?
  5. Are themed restaurants more expensive than regular restaurants? Why / Why not?
  6. What are some challenges that themed restaurants may face?

Coca-Cola

B1 – Intermediate

Coca-Cola is a well-known and loved beverage all over the world. Their mission, as stated, is to refresh the world in mind, body, and spirit, inspire moments of optimism and happiness through their brands and actions, and to create value and make a difference.

Coca-Cola takes pride in their product and it is shown through their values: leadership, collaboration, integrity, diversity, and quality.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the company Coca-Cola.

https://businessenglishmaterials.com/coca-cola.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the word “catchy” mean in this sentence, “Another is its catchy advertising slogans, such as “Coke Is It”.” Give 2 synonyms for this word and use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “phenomenal success” mean in this sentence, “One secret to the company’s phenomenal success is what it calls the ‘Coca-Cola system’ – the more than 300 worldwide bottling partners that work together to distribute its products.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does the word “strive” mean in this sentence, “Its mission is to strive to refresh the world, inspire moments of optimism and happiness, create value and make a difference.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Can you tell me about the history of Coca-Cola and how it came to be such a popular brand?
  2. How has Coca-Cola’s marketing strategy evolved over time?
  3. What do you think about the Coca-Cola system?
  4. What is your company’s mission and what do you think about it?
  5. Which beverages do you think are the most popular in the world and in your country? And what makes them so well-known?

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?

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?