Tag: economy

Swiss Vote No to Free Monthly Income for All

B2 – Upper Intermediate

These days it seems that every country has problems regarding its economy, employment rate and social welfare. Swiss nationals made a life-changing decision regarding it’s social welfare policy.

Read the article below and express your opinions about it.

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1606/160608-basic-income.html

Discussion Questions:

1. Why do you think voters rejected the proposal?
2. Is a guaranteed monthly state income a good idea? How happy would you be at getting a $2,500 monthly salary for free?
3. Is it better to give people a salary or give them welfare payments?
4. What’s the best way to deal with income inequality?

Food Theft ‘Not a Crime’

B2 – Upper Intermediate

An Italian court has ruled that stealing a small amount of food due to starvation is not a crime. A man’s sentence was overturned because his lawyer argued that he only committed the crime out of desperation.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36190557

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree with this Italian court ruling? Why or why not?
  2. What are the good things and consequences of the said ruling?
  3. What should be done with people who are caught stealing food?
  4. What do people in your country do when they are starving and don’t have any money to buy food?

More and More 70-year-olds Working

B2 – Upper intermediate

Around 10 per cent of British people in their early 70s are now working. It is the highest figure since records began. How do you feel about this? Do you think that the government should do something about this?

Read the article below and answer some discussion questions.

More and more 70-year-olds working

Discuss:

1. At what age do you want to stop working?
2. Is it wrong for people in their 70s to work?
3. What are the difficulties for people when they retire?
4. How important is a pension?

Will New Two-Child Policy Lift China’s Economy?

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B2 – Upper intermediate

For the longest time China has sat tight with the law of one child per family. But, in 2015, the country announced its plan of lifting the old law and moving forward with two children per family.

Read the article below then express your thoughts about the topic.

Will New Two-Child Policy Lift China’s Economy?

Discuss:

1. What do you know of China’s previous one-child policy?
2. Is it good for the government to pass such laws?
3. How would you describe the population in your country?

Spaniards Resort to Self-employment

B2 – Upper intermediate

Having one’s own business used to be something people did post-retirement. But with the long-drawn out unemployment crisis in Spain, it has become the only option left for many. The real issue however, is how to convert these people ‘s talents and skills into a regular source of income.

Watch the video and find out if  self-employment is the key to the unemployment problem in Spain.

Discuss:

1. What do you think of self-employment as a source of income? Would you consider it yourself?
2. Do you think the Spanish government is doing enough to support self-employed individuals?
3. What qualities should a self-employed individual have in order to succeed?
4. What are the pros and cons of being self-employed?

Poverty In a Rich World

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We are living in a wealthier world. The number of people living in extreme poverty has halved in recent decades. More people own cars and mobile phones. But why do we still see poverty?

Listen to the podcast then be ready to answer some discussion questions.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/features/6-minute-english/ep-150305

Discussion Questions:

  1. How big is the problem of poverty in your country?
  2. Would you say that there is a big gap between the rich and the poor where you are from?
  3. Are you able to see your taxes at work? Why or why not?
  4. What are ways for government to solve poverty?

Rent a Foreigner in China

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In China, being Caucasian can open doors to a Hollywood style career. With thousands of high-rise apartment units to sell, housing developers have turned to talent agencies that specialize in renting out foreigners to clients. A white face is supposed to make a place “truly international”  which should then translate into sales.

Read more and see how the Chinese use image to solve the real estate glut and in the process transform the average Joe into a celebrity of sorts.

https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-chinas-rent-a-foreigner-industry-2017-6

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you think foreigners being made to pretend to be people they are not is acceptable?
2. Can you think of an experience you’ve had whereby you were treated in a special way because of the color of your skin?
3. Why do you think the Chinese associate white people with prestige?
4. Would you agree to be a foreigner for rent in China? Why or why not?

Tourist Spending in Spain Sets New Record

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In Spain, tourists have been spending billions of Euros from January to July alone.

This is said to be helping the country recover from the economic crisis. However, some top Spanish vacation destinations have experienced drawbacks from the heavy influx of tourists in the recent years, forcing authorities to impose stern measures to control the situation.

http://www.thelocal.es/20150827/tourists-blowing-through-more-dough-at-spanish-hotpots

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think leads to more tourists coming to your country?
2. Do you think tourism helped a lot in improving Spain’s economic condition?
3. What are the benefits and drawbacks of tourism?
4. What other places in Spain should be developed for tourism?

Video: America’s Shrinking Homes

C1 – Advanced

America is the place where everything is big – from food portions to super skyscrapers and warehouse stores. “Small” is the last word one associates with the US. Surprisingly, however, it was in this very land of everything mega that the tiny house movement was born.

Watch the video and learn more about the minimalist lifestyle that has made some people move from big houses to whimsical dollhouse-type homes.

America’s shrinking homes

Discuss:

1. According to the video, why are there more and more people joining the tiny house movement?
2. In your country, what did people do to adjust when the economic crisis hit? Did people start selling their homes?
3. Is it usual for people to live in big houses in your country?
4. Describe your ideal house.

EU Enlargement – What Comes Next?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The European Union is a politico-economic union of 28 member states that are located primarily in Europe. It has grown from the six founding states to the current 28. Joining the European community has become a primary goal for most European politicians.

Read the article below and express your thoughts about EU enlargement.

http://www.english-online.at/current_affairs/eu-enlargement/eu-candidate-countries.htm

Discussion Questions:

1. As a citizen of the EU, what is your opinion of further expanding the union or adding more countries?
2. Do you remember the time when your country joined the EU? Do you think it was a good idea for your country to join the EU?
3. How do you think Europe would be like if the EU weren’t ?