Tag: Business

B1 – Intermediate

In Africa, elephants are being illegally hunted for their tusks. These tusks contain ivory that are used in making expensive ornaments. Hunting elephants is illegal in Africa but sadly, this illegal activity is still ongoing. 

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the illegal ivory business.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/illegal-ivory-business-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you agree that hunting elephant for ivory should be illegal? Why or why not?
2. What illegal businesses do you know exist in your country? How do they operate?
3. Who do you think should get a harder punishment – those who hunt elephants for ivory or those who buy the tusks/ivory? Why?
4. Do you also think that if people who buy the tusks go to prison, the killings of elephants will stop? Explain.
5. What are other ways to stop this illegal business?

B1 – Intermediate

In the US, schools may no longer be one hundred percent safe. Due to some shooting incidents in the past decade, there have been a couple of additional trainings and protocols for students in case such things happen in their schools.

In Israel, a company has created a special backpack to help with this situation. It is easy to use and offers protection from bullets.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript about this bulletproof backpack.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/bulletproof-backpack-level-3/

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you think this backpack would be effective? Why or why not?
2. What would be some other good uses for this bag?
3. What should be some other measures that schools and the government take to prevent school shootings?
4. Are there similar inventions that you know of? What are they? Where are they used?
5. What does your city/country do to make sure schools are safe?

B1 – Intermediate

Undoubtedly, one of McDonald’s most important products is their french fries. But nowadays, they are having problems getting enough supply of potatoes in Japan.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about McDonald’s Japan’s potato shortage and how they managed.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/mcdonalds-does-not-have-enough-potatoes-level-2

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your opinion on McDonald’s solution to their problem?
2. What do you think would happen if you had the same potato shortage problem in your country? 
3. Have you ever gone to a restaurant and they unfortunately do not have the dish you wanted? How was your experience then?
4. Has there ever been a shortage of any produce or product in your city/country? What product was it and how long did it last? What did you do at the moment?
5. How much do you like potatoes? How important are potatoes in your country’s cuisine?

B1 – Intermediate

Evergrande Group is a big Chinese real estate company. They have built many buildings in Danzhou City, China including properties in a man-made resort island. 

However, there is a big problem. The government says the company does not have building permits so these buildings are illegal and they need to be demolished.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the Evergrande Group’s building permit problems.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/hainan-towers-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think will happen to the company?
2. How can they resolve this problem?
3. Would you buy a house in a man-made island? Why/why not?
4. What problems do real estate companies have in your country?
5. Do you know any buildings that had to be demolished? Why was it torn down?

B1 – Intermediate

Even the biggest and most successful brands make mistakes. They do things or create products that offend people. The Spanish clothing retailer Zara has been in the middle of such controversy recently. They have produced kids’ shirts with design that looks a lot like the uniform Jewish prisoners wore in Nazi concentration camps.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about Zara’s and some other fashion brands’ faux pas.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/fashion-faux-pas-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your reaction to Zara’s faux pas?
2. What was your reaction to the other brands like HM, Gucci, and Adidas’ faux pas?
3. Why do you think these mistakes happen? How could companies let such thing occur?
4. Do you think it is for marketing so people would talk about their brands? Share your opinion.
5. Talk about other companies/brands that you know committed a faux pas.

B1 – Intermediate

A Michelin Star is awarded to outstanding restaurants. As a result, restaurants around the world strive to earn this. They take into account the quality of the ingredients, the mastery of flavor and cooking techniques, the personality of the chef as represented in the dining experience, value for money, and the consistency between inspector’s visit.

The origins of the Michelin Guide trace back to the turn of the 20th century. Surprisingly, its inspiration has very little to do with cuisines.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript on the history of the Michelin Star.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/the-history-of-the-michelin-star-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think about the origin of the Michelin Star?
2. What do you think about how getting or losing of a star affects a restaurant dramatically?
3. Have you been to any Michelin Star restaurants? How was your experience? Would you recommend this restaurant? Why or why not?
4. If you haven’t been to such restaurants, would you consider going there? Why or why not?
5. What do you think should be considered when giving or taking a star away?
6. What’s your opinion on a Michelin inspector’s job?

B1 – Intermediate

Facebook has been in the middle of controversies recently. In order to save the company, they have decided to change its name. 

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about Facebook’s name change.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/facebook-changes-name-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your opinion about Facebook changing its name?
2. Do you think this could help save their company?
3. What advice can you give Mark Zuckerberg?
4. What business moves can a company do to save their company if their situation is getting bad?
5. Are you a Facebook user? Why or why not?

B1 – Intermediate

For almost two years now, the world has been living through the Covid-19 pandemic. This means there have been many restrictions in the activities that we could do.

However, with the progress we have made to end the pandemic, the restrictions have been relaxed more and more. And because of this, people can go out again and do things almost as normally as before, including going out and dressing up again. Now, we go shopping for nice clothes again. This made the sales of clothing companies like Levi’s to increase again.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript on Levi Strauss & Co.’s sales going up again.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/people-buy-jeans-again-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your reaction to this news?
2. Have you shopped more after the pandemic restrictions have been relaxed? Why or why not?
3. Do you think that businesses in your city/country are recovering now? Elaborate.
4. What businesses suffered the impact of the pandemic? How have they been affected?
5. Do you like wearing jeans? Why or why not?