Tag: Business

Spain’s New Electricity Billing System

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A new billing system has been introduced in Spain in June 2021. It is supposed to allow consumers track when they save on their bills. However, there have been many issues seen on this new system.

Read the article to have a better understanding of this new electricity billing system in Spain.

https://english.elpais.com/economy_and_business/2021-06-01/consumer-associations-slam-spains-new-electricity-billing-system.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why was this new billing system implemented?
  2. What are the problems with this new system?
  3. As a consumer, what are your thoughts on this new billing system?
  4. Do you try and conserve electricity? Why or why not? If you do, what are the practices you observe?
  5. In general, what other issues do you have with your electricity service and/or provider?

Store Returns

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Store return policy is considered one of the most important factors in customer’s purchasing decision. Customers want the guarantee that they can return the product they bought with no hassles. Therefore, it is necessary for companies to set reasonable return policies. However, do customers really take the time to understand them?

Listen to this audio and read the transcript on store returns.

Store Returns

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is wrong with the sweater according to the customer?
  2. Why isn’t the customer allowed to return the product?
  3. Have you returned a product before? How did it go?
  4. What is the usual return policy in your country? Do you carefully read the terms and conditions in a return policy?
  5. Have you ever had any other problems returning products and getting a refund?

Pre-Loved Fashion from Niche to Mainstream

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Fashion-conscious consumers are turning towards pre-loved or secondhand clothes. As a result of this craze, big brands like Asos and Marks & Spencer are joining in. They believe that this trend could go into the mainstream.

Buying pre-loved clothes allows shoppers to keep up with trends without drying up their budgets. Aside from that, it is also good for the environment. Using and reusing clothes help reduce overall carbon emissions. Hence, it’s is hitting two birds with one stone.

Click the link and read the article to know more about how pre-loved fashion is turning from niche to mainstream.

https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2021/may/01/pre-loved-fashion-moves-from-niche-to-mainstream-as-retailers-join-the-fray

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are pre-loved items? Have you ever owned any? Why or why not?
  2. What are your thoughts on this emerging trend in business and in the fashion industry?
  3. Do you agree or disagree that well-know retail brands should join in on this? Explain your point.
  4. What are the benefits and disadvantages of buying pre-loved items?
  5. How do you normally dispose of your old stuff?

Levi’s Baggier Balloon Jeans

B1 – Intermediate

Levi’s Jeans spoke about the latest trend in baggier jeans. Consumers are now looking for a more comfortable, more relaxing denim during this pandemic.

Let’s read about the baggier ‘balloon’ jeans trend according to Levi’s.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2104/210412-levis-jeans-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of jeans?
  2. Are baggy or skinny jeans better?
  3. Will jeans ever go out of fashion?
  4. What was your best ever pair of jeans?
  5. How important is it to be fashionable?

Insect Ice Cream

B1 – Intermediate

Ice cream is a popular dessert among kids and adults. It has many flavors. But have you heard of an insect ice cream?

Despite a long tradition of eating insects in some countries, the image of eating insects is not for everyone.

However, a restaurant in South Africa is becoming popular because of an interesting dessert on their menu: maggot ice cream!

Listen to the audio and read the transcript about insect ice cream.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/insect-ice-cream-level-1

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of this ice cream? Would you like to try it?
  2. What is your favorite dessert? Do you like ice cream?
  3. Have you tried any exotic ice cream flavors before?
  4. Have you eaten insects before? What did it taste like?
  5. In general, what is your opinion on extremely strange flavors/food?

Jeff Bezos Stepping Down as Amazon CEO

B1 – Intermediate

Amazon is the first online bookseller and the largest internet-based store in the world based in Seattle, Washington. It is known for selling virtually anything online and its lightning-fast shipping.

Amazon was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 and after 27 years, he has decided to step down as the CEO of the company.

Let’s read the article below to know more about it.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2102/210205-jeff-bezos-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of Bezos’s decision to step down as Amazon CEO?
  2. What do you think would happen to Amazon after this?
  3. What should Amazon do in the future?
  4. What does it take to make an Internet business successful?
  5. What is the impact when important people in the company leave their job?

London’s Thinnest House

B1 – Intermediate

London is a pretty amazing city. It is one of the most multicultural cities in the world. There are too many places to go to and restaurants to dine in but it can be also be the most expensive city in the UK due to housing costs.

Let’s read the article below to know more about it.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2102/210211-london-property-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in a five-storey house? Would you like to live in a house like that?
  2. How would you describe your house?
  3. Is it better to have a spacious house or a tiny house? Why?
  4. What is your ideal house?
  5. How are the prices of properties in your city? Are they low, average, or too high? Why do you think this is the case?

British Pubs and Coronavirus

B1 – Intermediate

Pubs are probably one of the first things you think of when you hear “the UK”. Going to pubs is a big part of not only the British culture but their day-to-day life.

However, due to the pandemic in 2020, restaurants and pubs had to be closed to prevent the virus from spreading among people.

The life that British knew was never the same.

Read the transcript and listen to this audio about British pubs and Coronavirus.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/british-pubs-and-the-coronavirus-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this news? What about Lamb and Flag closing?
  2. How important are pubs in the UK?
  3. Do you have the same culture in your country? Talk more about it.
  4. Have there been many restaurants and pubs that had to close because they haven’t been able to recover financially in your country too? How does that make you feel?
  5. Talk about one favorite place you used to go to before but now has closed because of the pandemic. 
  6. Do you think we will go back to our old ways after the pandemic is ended or would some things change?

Signal App

B1 – Intermediate

Messaging apps are applications that we can use for instant messaging. Many of such apps have been developed and are used by many around the world. The popularity of these apps greatly differs between countries.

Just like other messaging apps, Signal lets users send messages, make audio and video calls with their friends, and share photos, videos, and links. But how different is it from the leading apps like WhatsApp and Skype?

Listen to the audio and read the transcript about this new messaging app.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/signal-app-level-1

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you heard of this app? What do you think about it?
  2. Why do you think Signal app is becoming popular?
  3. What is the most popular messaging app in your country? What are its features? Why is it popular?
  4. What feature is important for you in a messaging app?
  5. Why are this kind of apps necessary?

People Eat Less Chocolate

B1 – Intermediate

Chocolate is the most popular sweet treat in the world, thanks to its delicious and sweet taste. People around the world consume a lot of cocoa beans a year.

Although it has many health benefits, chocolate still has a bad reputation for causing weight gain and other illnesses.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript about people consuming less and less chocolates.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/people-eat-less-chocolate-level-1

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you like chocolates? Why or why not? Which kind of chocolate is your favorite?
  2. Do you think chocolate is healthy or not? Support your answer.
  3. Is the Spanish society affected by this issue? If so, what are the reasons?
  4. How will the change of people’s mindset affect the chocolate business, especially the chocolate farmers?