Tag: Culture & Countries

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Some people would rather not talk about death, finding it too morbid to dwell on. However, one community center in Seoul, South Korea has taken mulling over death to a whole new level with its “dying well” program. It has provided more than 25,000 people an experience it calls a “living funeral”.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript to see how thinking about death has actually helped some people lead better lives.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/south-koreans-take-part-in-living-funerals-to-improve-lives/5156961.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What is a “living funeral”?
2. What benefits did the participants say they got out of this event?
3. Do you think talking about death can be healthy?
4. What do you feel when people bring up the topic of death?
5. What are your thoughts on “living funerals”?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Thieves broke into one of the world’s oldest museums stealing nearly 1 billion in treasures from the Green Vault in Dresden, Germany.

Let’s watch the video and learn more about the said heist.

Discussion Questions :

1. How important are those cultural treasures stolen?
2. What can be improved in museum security to prevent future heists?
3. Describe the museums in Spain and how safe the historical artifacts housed there are.
4. Talk about a similar story of a museum being burglarized.

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Over 20 million cosmetic procedures are done worldwide and nearly a million of them are from South Korea. Seoul is the heart of the $5 billion dollar industry.

Watch the video and be able to answer the questions below.

Discussion Questions:

1. Why does South Korea have the highest rate of cosmetic surgery?
2. What are the reasons it is very common in their country?
3. What’s your opinion on cosmetic surgery?
4. Would you go under the knife if you were not satisfied with your looks?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A big part of traveling is to gasp at breathtaking sights, taste different kinds of cuisines, and admire traditions and customs. Each culture has its own set of rules that makes it unique. However, some countries have unbelievable, bizarre, and more shocking norms than others.

So if you are planning to go to Croatia, Ireland, Lebanon, and the rest, then you had better watch the video to prepare yourself.

Discussion Questions:

1. Which cultural norm did you find the most shocking, and why?
2. Have you visited any of the countries in the video? If so, did you observe or experience the said customs?
3. Do you know other strange practices and traditions in any country? In Spain?
4. What is a common misconception about the Spanish culture?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

If you have ever been to Japan, there is probably one thing you quickly noticed and asked yourself was, “Why are there many vending machines everywhere?”. In fact, there is one vending in every 23 Japanese.

Watch the video and find out why in Japan, there are vending machines everywhere.

Discussion Questions:

1. Why are there vending machines everywhere in Japan?
2. Are there a lot of vending machines in your country?
3. What are the things/systems that are automated in your country?
4. How interested are you in automating everything?
5. Do you think vending machines are a lucrative business?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Every summer inevitably leads men to roll their shirts up and expose their bellies in public places like parks and alleyways.  This “fashion trend” is commonly known as “Beijing Bikini” and it is now under threat. The city of Jinan in northeastern Shandong Province has announced that the exposing of bellies is one of its key targets in what they’re calling a “civilizing campaign”. The moves are supposedly part of improving the city’s overall image.

Read the article here:

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/04/asia/china-jinan-beijing-bikini-intl-hnk/index.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your opinion about Beijing Bikini and the end of it in this Chinese city?

2. Should we show decency when we are in public places?

3.“If their bodies are good then fine; if they’re not in shape then no way.” What is your reaction to this statement?

4. How does being shirtless affect the overall image of a city/country?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Spain is not only a country of diverse geography and cultures but one with a relatively strong economy, powerful military, and long history.

But just how powerful is this country?

Watch the video to know more about Spain’s advantage over other countries and some of the issues that the country needs to address head-on in order to regain its former glory as a superpower nation.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are the strong points of Spain?
2. What are some of the problems it is currently facing?
3. How can Spain’s global power be restored?
4. Which do you think is the best moment (economically speaking) in your country? Describe that time.
5. In your opinion, how powerful is your country? Do you want your country to be more powerful than it is now?
6. Which points in this video do you agree and/or disagree with?