Tag: economy

Open-Plan Offices

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In recent years, companies have opted for open-plan offices to encourage employee interaction and collaboration. In a new study, however, having an open floor plan may in fact have the opposite effect and be counterproductive.

Read the article to find out more.

https://theconversation.com/a-new-study-should-be-the-final-nail-for-open-plan-offices-99756

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the article all about? Explain in your own words.
  2. What are the pros and cons of having an open floor plan? What about a closed one?
  3. Talk about the layout or floor plan of your own company/office. How do you think can communication and teamwork be improved in your company?

Speaking Activity: It’s a Smaller World, After All

What pops in your head when you hear the the term “globalization”? Does it give out a positive vibe or more of a negative connotation?

Express your thoughts about globalization and other topics related to it. Be ready to practice your sentence construction during the activity. Be ready to support your answers with an explanation.

  • Would you support a one-world government? Why/not?
  • Would you support English as the official language of Earth? Why/not?
  • Would you support an international standard of laws with only one system of courts?
  • Will humankind be better off because of globalization? If yes, how so? What negatives might result?
  • What does “globalization” mean to you? Please explain.
  • How does globalization affect the different cultures of the world? Why do you think so?
  • How will globalization affect different cultures of the world in the future? Please explain.
  • How will globalization affect your country in 25 years? 50 years? 100 years? Please explain.
  • What will happen to the tribes in Africa and the Amazon, as well as other indigenous people around the world, in the next 25 year? 50 years? 100 years? Why?
  • Some people say that the world is getting smaller and smaller. What do you think this actually suggests, and is it true? Why/not?
  • What would happen if the world had one government, one language, and one culture?
  • How will globalization affect business and economics in the future? Please explain.
  • Because of globalization, will the rich get richer and the poor get poorer? Why/not?
  • Many of the world’s economies are tied together, so that any financial problems in one country affect the people elsewhere. Is this a good or bad thing? Why do you think so?
  • Should young people live abroad for a year as part of their education? Why/not?
  • At present, English is the world’s lingua franca. What will be the common language in 25 years? How about in 50 years? Why do you think so?
  • With English as the lingua franca now, how does it affect globalization? Why do you think so?
  • What events or disasters could halt globalization? Do you think any of these disasters/events could happen? Why/not?
  • Which invention of the 20th century has had the greatest impact on humankind? Is it the airplane, the automobile, or the Internet? Why do you think so?
  • How will the Internet and instant access to information affect the lives of our children? Please explain.

Source: headsupenglish.com

India to be a Cashless Society

B2 – Upper intermediate

“A cashless economy is secure.” This is according to India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Below is an interesting article on how India is working on becoming  a cashless country. Read the article then answer some discussion questions.

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1611/161129-cashless-society.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think about a cashless society?
2. What are the pros and cons of cash?
3. Is having a cashless society an assurance that one country’s economy will be stable?
4. What are the effects of the digital world in your society?

UK Leaving Europe is Bad for Science

B2 – Upper intermediate

One of the main principles of EU membership is “free movement”. Which means you don’t need to get a visa to go and live in another EU country. But, some British citizens don’t agree with this idea.

On the other hand, there are those campaigning for Britain to stay in the EU, as it makes selling things to other EU countries easier. And the flow of immigrants fuel economic growth and help pay for public services.

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1606/160614-brexit.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you know about Brexit?
2. Do you think it is better for the UK to leave or stay in the EU?
3. What are the good things about being in the European Union?
4. Is it better for a country to be part of a union or be totally independent?
5. How important is the European Union?

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.

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1511/151110-working.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. At what age do you want to stop working and why?
  2. Is it wrong for people in their 70s to work? Explain.
  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?