Tag: Business

Public Relations

B1 – Intermediate

Public relations or PR is all about building and maintaining the positive image of a company, organization, or client. It is an important part of many sectors such as business, politics, and even sports and the entertainment world.

In PR, loads of money is spent in order to be sure that the client always does and says the right things.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about public relations.

https://listenaminute.com/p/public_relations.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to get one’s name out there” mean? “People in PR have to work hard in getting the company’s name out there.” Use this idiom in your own sentence.
  2. Define “image” in this context, “They must always say the right thing and have the perfect image.” Use this word in a sentence.
  3. What does it mean when “something goes wrong”, “When something goes wrong, it’s called a public relations disaster.”? Use this phrase in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why is public relations important to companies? How about celebrities? How about politicians?
  2. Bad publicity is still publicity. What is your opinion on this?
  3. To make a company or celebrity famous and relevant, PR staff sometimes have to lie. What is your opinion on this?
  4. Talk about a public relations disaster you know of.
  5. Talk about your company’s PR.

Switzerland Imports More Cheese 

B1 – Intermediate

Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind when you hear ‘Switzerland’ is cheese. The country is very famous for making cheese. It is a very important product from this nation.

However, for the first time, Switzerland is importing cheese more than exporting it.

Read the article about the Swiss cheese import-export trade.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2307/230713-swiss-cheese-2.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “open up” mean, “The reason is that Switzerland opened up its milk market.”? Use this phrase in your own sentence.
  2. What does “compete” mean,  “This means it is difficult for Swiss farmers to compete with cheaper, imported milk.”? Use this word in your own sentence.
  3. What does “a big part of one’s life” mean, “Cheese is a big part of life in Switzerland.”? Use this phrase in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What was your reaction to this news about Switzerland importing cheese more than exporting it?
  2. Why are dairy farms disappearing in Switzerland?
  3. What products does your country import and export?
  4. Are there any industries that are disappearing in your country? What are they and why is it happening?
  5. Do people in your country eat a lot of cheese? Why or why not?

Traded-In Apple iPhone Refurbished

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the world of technology, smartphones have become an essential part of our daily lives, and one of the most popular brands in the market is Apple. With each new release, millions of people eagerly anticipate getting their hands on the latest iPhone model, leading to a growing number of previously owned devices that are traded in or sold. But have you ever wondered what happens to these traded-in iPhones?

In this video, we will explore the fascinating journey of how a traded-in Apple iPhone gets refurbished, giving it a new lease on life before finding its way into the hands of a new owner.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of “trade in”? “Many iPhone users choose to trade in their old devices for credit towards a new purchase.” Make one sentence using the word.
  2. What does the word “refurbished” mean? “In 2022, 73.5 million used and refurbished phones were shipped in North America alone.” Use the word in a sentence.
  3. What does “triage” mean? “The first stop for our iPhone 11: data erasure and triage.” Use the word in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. From an environmental perspective, do you believe refurbishing traded-in Apple iPhones is a more sustainable practice compared to manufacturing new devices? Why or why not?
  2. In your opinion, what are the key advantages of purchasing a refurbished iPhone over a brand-new one? Are there any potential drawbacks to consider?
  3. Do you think the refurbished iPhones market poses a significant threat to Apple’s sales of new devices? Why or why not?

Factory Decorates 8 Cakes a Minute

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Baking a single-tiered cake at home takes about 25-30 minutes. However, decorating it is another story. It usually takes about 4 hours or longer to make one cake. However, one factory manages to decorate eight cakes in a minute.

Here’s a full video and watch how the workers do it.

Vocabulary Discussions

Explain the meaning of the highlighted words below and make some sentences.

1. Start by scraping the icing to make sure that the icing goes into the holes of the stencil.

2. My handmade snowflakes are finally getting their starring role.

3. 480 cakes are boxed and conveyed towards the end of the line.

Discussion Questions

1. How does the video make you feel?

2. Discuss how the cake assembly lines in the video make it possible to decorate eight cakes a minute.

3. The workers use stencils to decorate cakes at a fast pace. Can you think of other tools or methods that help to speed up tasks?

4. Do you like decorating things? Talk about the best decoration you have ever made.

5. Have you ever witnessed a high-speed production process like the cake assembly lines in the video? If so, share your experience and impressions.

The Mini Cooper

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The Mini Cooper, a car that is not longer than 10 feet but can fit four people. This quirky piece of machine has its interesting history.

Discover how Mini Cooper came to be in a short video below.

Vocabulary Discussions:

Explain the meaning of the highlighted words below and make some sentences.

1. The Mini Cooper is a quirky machine that’s unapologetically British.

2. However, in 1956, Egypt nationalized the canal.

3. Its distinct British sensibility still sets it apart from other cars.

Discussion Questions:

1. What does the video say about the Mini Cooper’s design?

2. “The Mini Cooper is a quirky machine that’s unapologetically British.” Talk about something from your country and what makes it distinctively from your country.

3. The Mini Cooper was invented in response to the oil crisis. Think of other products that have emerged as solutions to address social issues.

4. How have cars influenced our daily lives and transportation options in modern society?

5. Talk about a product or service your company sells or offers and what sets it apart from others.

Upcycle Leftover Food

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Food waste is an all too common problem in households and among food establishments. Leftover food at home are more often thrown away after some time. Fortunately, more and more people and businesses are using leftover food in another dish in the name of environmental sustainability and additional profits.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript about the ways some US companies are upcycling their leftover food.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/us-restaurants-companies-upcycle-leftover-food-/7150515.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of the word “upcycling“. “Malek’s ice cream company is among those at the start of a movement called upcycling.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the word “seal” mean in this sentence, “The Upcycled Food Association gives out an official “Upcycling Certified” seal to qualifying products.”? Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.
  3. Define the idiom “to gain ground“. “The movement is gaining ground as buyers want to know what is in their food, where their food comes from, and how it affects the environment.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is upcycling?
  2. What leftover food can be upcycled?
  3. How do you feel about restaurants upcycling their food? Would you buy them?
  4. Do you think upcycled food should cost less? Why or why not?
  5. What are other ways to fight food wastage?

Creating An Effective Ad

B2 – Upper Intermediate

“A good advertisement is one which sells the product without drawing attention to itself.” – David Ogilvy, known as the “Father of Advertising”.

We can see advertisements on television, on trains, and they are constantly popping up on our computer screens. We are so used to ads that we hardly pay them any attention anymore. 

Read the article and find out 11 simple tips on how to create an effective ad.

https://targetpublic.com/11-simple-tips-creating-effective-ad/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “puffery” mean? “Each advertisement must make a proposition to the consumer-not just words, product puffery, or show-window advertising.” Use this word in a sentence.
  2. What does the idiom “right off the bat” mean? “Get out a pad of paper and some pens and have fun with this. I am sure you will start coming up with brilliant ideas right off the bat!” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “eye-catching” mean? “You will be able to make eye-catching ads that will get people excited about what you have to offer.”. Give a synonym and use ‘eye-catching’ in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Talk about the 11 tips mentioned in the article on how to have an effective advertisement. Which ones do you think your company employs in their advertising campaigns?
  2. What is your company’s Unique Selling Proposition (USP)?
  3. Do you think that there are advertisements that do not draw attention to themselves? If so, can you think of some examples?
  4. Do you remember any advertisements that made you buy something? What kind of advertising was it?

The Cost of Fast Fashion

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The throwaway culture has meant an unprecedented number of people purchase clothes, wear them just once, and then discard them. It leads to fast fashion, where consumers seek less expensive clothing, which drives up sales globally, but has a significant negative impact on the environment.

Watch the video below to learn more about the true cost of fast fashion.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define the word “castoff“. “This is where wardrobe castoffs end up.” Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What does the word “swanky” mean, “Today she’s looking for a new outfit for a swanky industry event.” Could you think of an antonym and construct a sentence using the word “swanky”.
  3. What does “to get mileage out of” mean? “Rent the Runway is getting more mileage out of items of clothes, it’s also helping tackle an increasing number of throwaway culture.” Think and make your own sentence using the idiom.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is fast fashion a trend in your country? Talk about it.
  2. What effects do you anticipate it will have on the environment and the economy?
  3. Would it be preferable to stop this expanding industry? Explain your stance.
  4. How else can the throwaway culture be tackled?
  5. What do you think of Patagonia’s philosophy, “To buy once, buy well, and mend clothing”? Share your thoughts on this.
  6. What are your thoughts on Rent the Runway’s business model?

Chinese Airliner’s First Commercial Flight

B1 – Intermediate

Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) is a state-owned aerospace company in China. It has recently made history with their first commercial airplane C919’s first flight. C919 was built in hopes to compete with other aerospace manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus.

Its first commercial flight is said to be China’s “symbol of industrial skill and national pride”.

Read this article about the Chinese-made airplane C919’s first commercial flight.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2306/230601-comac-china-airline-1.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Explain the definition of the phrase “national pride”. “Newspapers called it “a symbol of skill and national pride“.”. Use this phrase in your own sentence.
  2. What does “triumph” mean? “China’s president called the C919 aircraft a “triumph of Chinese innovation”.” Give a synonym and use “triumph” in your own sentence.
  3. What does “fondly” mean? “I’ll remember it fondly for some time to come.” Give a synonym and use “fondly” in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction now that China is also manufacturing planes?
  2. What is your opinion on this, “COMAC hopes to compete with airline industry giants, like Boeing and Airbus.”?
  3. Do you think COMAC will get a lot of international orders soon? Why or why not?
  4. Talk about any recent milestone in any industry in your country.
  5. Talk about one of your country’s national pride.

Chile’s Lithium Industry 

B1 – Intermediate

Chile is a country that is known for its rich mineral deposits. It has become a key player in the global lithium industry.

With increasing demand for lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, and portable electronics, Chile’s lithium reserves have become a very important asset for a greener and more sustainable world.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the lithium industry in Chile.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/chiles-lithium-industry-level-1/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to take control of” mean in this sentence, “Chile’s president Gabriel Boric wants to take control of the country’s lithium industry. Lithium is a metal used in electric car batteries.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “take over” mean in this sentence, “The government will take over their lithium factories and run a new company. This will make it harder for electric car makers to get the materials which they need.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. “Other countries are also trying to protect their resources. Mexico, Argentina, and Bolivia are working together to use lithium and other minerals well.” What does “resources” mean? Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does the global demand for electric vehicles impact Chile’s lithium production and exportation?
  2. What are some future developments or opportunities for Chile’s lithium industry?
  3. What are some common uses of lithium in everyday life apart from batteries?
  4. What are other materials or technologies being developed that could potentially replace lithium in batteries? Talk about them.