Tag: FCE

Meeting Singles

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Being asked out on a date isn’t always as flattering as we see in the movies. There are times when you are just not into the person and they have absolutely no clue about it. Do you accept the invitation or do you turn down the person right off the bat?

Listen to the audio about meeting singles.

Meeting Singles

Discussion Questions:

  1. How did Doug find out where Diane lives? What do you think of this action?
  2. Does Diane seem interested in Doug? What excuses did she make up?
  3. How would you describe Doug based on his responses to Diane’s refusal?
  4. Have you ever declined a date invitation? How did you do it?
  5. What tips do you have for letting people down easily?

Career Search

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Assigning a job as “male” or “female” hurts both genders. It lessens the chances of the excluded gender to be considered in the same position regardless of how highly-qualified the person is. There are jobs that are gender-stereotyped such as firefighters, hairdressers, nurses etc. Fortunately, gender lines are blurring in the recent years.

Listen to the audio about career search.

Career Search

Discussion Questions:

  1. What career does the woman want to pursue? How about her boyfriend?
  2. What’s Ryan’s opinion on their career choices?
  3. Do you agree that some jobs are gender-specific? If so, give examples.
  4. How did you decide on your chosen career?
  5. How easy/difficult was it for you to establish yourself in your chose field? Share your experience/s.

False Consensus Effect Drives Environmental Damage

B2 – Upper Intermediate

“I bet everyone else does it too!” Have you experienced justifying a wrongful action by arguing that it is socially acceptable to do so? If your answer is yes, you may have fallen trap to the false consensus effect.

The false consensus effect is a psychological concept which states that people overestimate how acceptable and prevalent their own behavior is. According to research, this psychological thinking has contributed to environmental damage.

Click the link and find out more about the false consensus effect.

https://theconversation.com/everyone-else-does-it-so-i-can-too-how-the-false-consensus-effect-drives-environmental-damage-153305

Discussion Questions:

  1. Can you cite some situations when the false consensus effect can be observed?
  2. How can the false consensus effect contribute to environmental damage?
  3. Have you fallen victim to false consensus effect?
  4. What can we do to prevent ourselves from falling into this kind of psychological thinking?
  5. Based on the article, how can the same psychological concept be used to address the problem of environmental damage?

European Space Agency to Recruit Females and Disabled Astronauts

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A lot of little boys dream of becoming astronauts. It is quite rare to hear little girls express interest in goign into space. But perhaps it’s time to change this. Let the dream of becoming an astronaut more accessible to everyone. 

To date, NASA’s European counterpart The European Space Agency has only commissioned two women to go into space. This year, they want to fix the imbalance and achieve diversity.

Read the article and watch the video about ESA’s plans to recruit more women and disabled people.

https://www.euronews.com/2021/02/16/european-space-agency-in-bid-to-recruit-more-female-and-disabled-astronauts

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are thoughts on/reaction to this: “Only 65 of the more than 560 people who have ever gone into space have been women.”?
  2. What do you think about ESA’s goal to recruit more women astronauts?
  3. Is there diversity in your workplace? Elaborate.
  4. How is diversity achieved in your workplace?

Hitting a Pandemic Wall

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It’s been almost a year after the pandemic hit the world and everyone’s been fighting their own demons since. Safe to say, it’s really been tough on everybody. After nearly a year into this whole ordeal, many people have been suffering from the so-called ‘pandemic fatigue’. 

Read the article below to find out more about how to cope when you hit the pandemic wall.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/coronavirus-pandemic-wall-mental-health_l_601b3c9dc5b6c0af54d09ccb

Discussion Questions:

  1. Discuss your thoughts on the following statements:

a. The pandemic has over-activated my stress system.

         b. Uncertainty also plays a huge role in hitting this wall.

        c. Hitting the pandemic wall is a completely valid response to totally irregular circumstances.

2. Do you think you experience or have experienced the dreaded pandemic fatigue? How is/was this moment for you?

3. What were your ways of coping with stress pre-pandemic and what are new ways that you have learned to cope with everyday stress during the pandemic?

4. What are the good things that came out from your experience of a pandemic?

5. What lessons can you take away from this whole experience?

Coca-Cola Trials Paper Bottle

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Until the last couple of years, the concept of a paper bottle would seem at best an oxymoron, but innovations continue to break barriers in the pursuit of packaging that offers sustainability benefits, ideally aligned with recycling.

Soft drink manufacturers are facing pressure on two fronts: the amount of sugar in their drinks and the amount of plastic waste their products produce. Coca-Cola is attempting to solve that second problem with the development and testing of a paper bottle.

Read the article below to learn more about Coca-Cola’s project on eliminating plastic from its packaging entirely.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-56023723

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are plastic bottles a problem in your country?
  2. Why are paper bottles better?
  3. What might be the technical challenges to the paper bottle?
  4. We rarely bought bottled water 50 years ago. Why do we buy so much today? Is it clever marketing by water companies?
  5. Would your life change much if all bottled water was banned?
  6. What do you do with the plastic bottles at your home?

The Money Talk for Couples

B2 – Upper Intermediate

If you want to strengthen your relationship, you have to talk about everything and that of course, includes your finances. Financial disagreements could sometimes unfortunately lead to break-up so understanding how your partner handles their money is a great way to prevent it from happening.

Watch this video to know the importance of managing your finances well as a couple.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How can couples achieve good financial management?
  2. How can disagreements with your significant other because of money matters be prevented?
  3. Agree or disagree: Not taking on money management roles in a relationship is like forgetting a foreign language. You’ll end up losing some of your ability.
  4. How do you measure financial success?
  5. What’s the one thing you wish your parents would have done differently financially?

Paperless Office

B2 – Upper Intermediate

New technological advances have given us the tools to transition a paperless office. Going paperless has a positive impact on your budget, business efficiency, and brand positioning.

Let’s read some steps on how to go paperless in your small business.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kateharrison/2013/04/19/5-steps-to-a-nearly-paperless-office/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the pros and cons of a paperless office?
  2. Has your company/office transitioned to a fully paperless already? Talk about the transition.
  3. Do you think companies should go totally paperless now? Why or why not?
  4. Do you agree that paper-based document management and business dealings are expensive and inefficient? Why?
  5. How can we manage and organize digital files in our office?

Fascism

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Fascism is generally related to German Nazi and Italian regimes that took control in the aftermath of World War I. This political system centers on national strength and national interest over all other societal needs.

Read the lesson on fascism and living through a fascist regime below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.english-online.at/history/fascism/life-in-a-fascist-regime.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is fascism? Can you name countries with a fascist state?
  2. What factors led to the rise of fascism in Europe?
  3. What are some good and bad things about fascism? 
  4. Have you had a fascist state in the past? How was the situation for ordinary citizens?
  5. What do you think is the most ideal political system?

Aboriginal Children – Australia’s Stolen Generation

B2 – Upper Intermediate

For more than six decades since 1910, many children of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were forcibly taken away from their families as part of the Australian government’s policy of Assimilation. This is a policy based on the misguided belief that these First Nations children would be better raised by a white family.

Read the lesson on Australia’s Stolen Generation below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.english-online.at/history/aborigines/australias-stolen-generation.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the Stolen Generation?
  2. Why were Aboriginal children stolen?
  3. Do you think this government policy is justified and humane? Elaborate.
  4. Do you agree that the Australian government should compensate all families affected by this policy? Elaborate.
  5. Do you think that the government should publicly acknowledge and apologize for this act? Elaborate.