Tag: FCE

Accusing Business Rival of Stealing Staff and Trade Secrets

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The world’s top electric-vehicle manufacturer Tesla claims that its rival Rivian Automotive Inc. has repeatedly poached their employees and stolen some of their intellectual property.

Read more about this news on business rivalry and stealing talents and trade secrets from the link below:

https://www.aljazeera.com/ajimpact/tesla-lawsuit-accuses-rival-stealing-staff-trade-secrets-200723051819087.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to Rivian’s alleged pattern of poaching its employees and stealing trade secrets from Tesla?
  2. Talk about your experience being poached by other companies. How did it happen?
  3. Do you think it is ethical to divulge information/knowledge you have acquired from your former company to your present employer?
  4. How does your company protect itself from poaching and intellectual property theft?
  5. What is your direct competitor/s like? Do you think your company has the same problem as Tesla with them?

EU Forecasts Recession of Historic Proportions

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The European Union’s economy chief Paolo Gentiloni said that Europe is going through a sharp economic downward spiral; something the continent has not experienced since the Great Depression.

As the Coronavirus pandemic continues to affect member countries, the EU gears up for a recession of epic proportions.

Read more about this news on this imminent economic recession from the link below:

https://www.euronews.com/2020/05/06/eu-forecasts-recession-of-historic-proportions-this-year

Discussion Questions:

  1. What conditions and consequences might this deep recession have in different member states?
  2. What economic damages has the spread of Coronavirus done on the economy of your country?
  3. How is your government preparing for this deep recession?
  4. Talk about other times your country was in recession. How did it affect your country and you or your family directly?
  5. Explain your understanding of the V-shape and Nike swoosh recovery.

Catalan Leader Demands Probe Into Phone-Tapping Reports

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Pro-independence speaker Roger Torrent learned that his phone had been tapped. He claims the Spanish government seems complicit or negligent about this issue. 

Read more about this news on phone tapping and political espionage from the link below:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/07/spain-catalan-leader-demands-probe-phone-tapping-reports-200714112106903.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think Torrent had been the target of political espionage?
  2. What is your opinion on his claims about how the Spanish government is tackling this issue?
  3. In general, what are your thoughts on political espionage?
  4. Do you think that Pegasus is operated “solely by authorized government agencies to fight terror and serious crime, and protect public safety”? What is your opinion on this software?
  5. If you were one of the victims of this cyber attack, how would you react/feel?
  6. Share any kind of cyber-related problems you’ve encountered.

Pandemic Changed the Way Americans Spend Money

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a great impact on every aspect of everyone’s life. A survey found the consequences of the pandemic on Americans’ personal finances.

Read the article and find out some of the key findings of this survey.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/28/success/pandemic-spending-saving-changes-feseries/index.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you think the pandemic impacted Spanish people’s finances in terms of their income, stimulus saving, homebuying, buying insurance, investing, and post-pandemic plans?
  2. How has the pandemic changed your financial behavior?
  3. How can one make up income loss?
  4. What is the best way to spend one’s stimulus check?
  5. What do you think will happen to how Spanish think about homebuying, travel insurance, and investing?
  6. What are some of your post-pandemic financial plans?

How Would You Escape North Korea?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

North Korea has an unsavory and sinister reputation. There is a blatant disregard for human rights, very limited freedom of movement, and brutal consequences for minor offenses or even trivial things. It is no wonder that many of its citizens have attempted to escape in order to get a better life.

This video showcases seven ways to escape this country. Success is not guaranteed, though.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you know about North Korea?
  2. Talk about the different possible ways of escaping from North Korea.
  3. If you were a North Korean, would you try to leave? How would you do it?

Japan’s Independent Kids

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Parents all over the world have different values and ways of rearing their children. And most parents want their child to grow into happy, confident, and independent adults. For the Japanese however, some might say that their parenting skills are a step away from the traditional.

Take a look at this video to have some ideas about what parents and children are like in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Talk about the video in your own words.
  2. What are the differences between Japanese and Spanish parenting styles?
  3. Talk about the pros and cons of each.

Why Louboutin Shoes Are So Expensive

B2 – Upper intermediate

Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton are some very famous designer brands. For the average shopper, just an item or two from any of these high-end products can cost an entire month’s salary or even more.

What makes a designer piece different from the rest? And what makes it so desirable that some people are willing to pay ridiculous sums in order to attain one?

Try to learn more from this video, which takes a look at the world of Christian Louboutin, an iconic shoe designer.

Discussion Questions:

1. Explain the video in your own words.

2. Do you think designer pieces are worth their hefty price tags? Why or why not?

3. Talk about your own shopping habits. Where do you shop and what do you like to buy?

4. What are the cheapest and most expensive things you have?

Boarding School at An Early Age is Child Abuse

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A boarding school provides education for pupils who live on the premises. Traditionally, pupils stayed at the school for the length of the term; some schools facilitate returning home every weekend and some welcome day pupils.  The United Kingdom has  a rich history of such schools.

Increasing numbers of children are being educated at boarding schools in the UK.  According to George Monbiot, who still struggles with the emotional impact of being sent away at the age of eight, we must protect children from the damage they can cause. He says if working-class parents did this, there would be an outcry. So why are upper-class parents getting away with what has become a form of acceptable cruelty?

Watch the video and be able to express your position on this topic.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you feel about the video? Do you agree with George Monbiot’s argument?
  2. What do you think about boarding schools? Do you know anyone who was boarded or boarding schooled?
  3. Cite some of the pros and cons of sending a very young child to boarding schools.

Flying Taxi

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The idea of a flying taxi that will keep us from getting late is definitely a dream come true especially for commuters who always get stuck in really bad traffic congestion on a daily basis.

Here’s a video about a self-piloting flying taxi in New Zealand.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think flying taxi is the solution to the traffic problem? Explain.
  2. What are the pros and cons of using flying taxis?
  3. Talk about some traffic problems and the traffic system in your city/country.

The Imposter Syndrome

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever landed a job that you felt you didn’t deserve? How about a score on a term paper that you think you got out of luck despite all the hard work you put in?

Watch the video and find out why we sometimes doubt what we accomplished.

 

 

Discussion Questions:

1. What is the imposter syndrome?

2. How does it hinder one from reaching his full potential?

3. How can one overcome these feelings of inadequacy?

4. Have you ever doubted your capabilities?