Tag: First Certificate FCE

Navigating the Dating World: Know What You Want

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Researchers at McGill University found that having a clear sense of what you’re seeking in a relationship what they call “relationship clarity” is linked to lower loneliness and higher life satisfaction among young adults who date. The study, involving over 180 single adults, suggests that going into dating without clear goals or boundaries can lead to confusion and emotional strain.

Read the article to know why knowing your relationship expectations helps you navigate romantic connections with more confidence and emotional health.

https://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/channels/news/navigating-dating-world-its-important-know-what-you-want-researchers-say-369522?

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “relationship clarity” mean? “People low in relationship clarity may be less selective in dating contexts, which could lead to unfulfilling dating experiences with incompatible partners.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “construct” mean here, The team also validated the concept of relationship clarity through additional studies, which allowed them to compare it to related constructs, such as satisfaction with singlehood.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “ambiguous cue” mean? “Lacking relationship clarity may also lead people to interpret ambiguous cues as negative during their dates.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do you think some people start dating without being clear about what they want?
  2. Do you believe knowing your relationship goals reduces confusion and heartbreak? Why or why not?
  3. How can unclear expectations affect both people in a dating situation?
  4. Is it possible to discover what you want while dating, or should you know it beforehand?
  5. How does setting boundaries early change the quality of a relationship?

Stop Letting AI Run Your Social Life

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A recent Time article discusses how generative AI tools (like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude) are increasingly being used not just for convenience, but to draft personal texts, resolve disputes, and even shape dating profiles. While some people use these tools to help with social anxiety or communication, experts warn that overreliance can weaken emotional skills like patience, listening, and authenticity in real relationships.

Read the article to know more about why they caution that outsourcing emotional labor to AI might distort how we connect with others, and they advocate for technology that supports human agency rather than replaces it.

https://time.com/7357217/ai-social-life-texting-chat-gpt-clause-gemini/?

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “the bedrock of something” mean? “I wholeheartedly believe that AI is shifting the relational bedrock of society.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “someone to seem checked out” mean? “They might also ask: Does the LLM think the person they’re corresponding with is a narcissist? Does he seem checked out?” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “airtight argument” mean? “They use AI to try to create these airtight arguments where they can analyze a friend’s statements or a boyfriend’s statements, or they especially like to use it with their parents.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think using AI to write messages or replies makes communication easier or less genuine? Why?
  2. Where do you personally draw the line between “AI helping” and “AI replacing” real emotional effort in relationships?
  3. Have you ever felt misunderstood because a message lacked tone or emotion? Would AI make that better or worse?
  4. Do you think relying on AI for dating profiles or conflict messages could affect trust between people?
  5. In the future, do you see AI strengthening human relationships or slowly weakening our social skills?

World Is Short of Nearly a Million Midwives

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A new global report reveals a shortfall of nearly 1 million midwives, severely affecting maternal and newborn care worldwide. Around 90% of this shortage is in low- and middle-income countries, especially across Africa.

Read the article to know why experts warn that increasing training and deploying more midwives could prevent 4.3 million deaths annually by 2035, but this requires urgent investment and policy action.

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/jan/20/world-shortage-million-midwives-icm-healthcare-mothers-babies-intervention?

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “antenatal care” mean? ” The tasks included counselling on contraception, antenatal care and screening, and care during childbirth.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “stillbirth” mean? “According to previous research, universal access to midwife-delivered care could prevent two-thirds of maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths, saving 4.3 million lives annually by 2035.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “shortfall” mean? “Shortfalls were much smaller, although still present, in other regions including south-east Asia and Europe.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do you think there is a global shortage of midwives?
  2. How can the lack of midwives affect mothers during pregnancy and childbirth?
  3. Which countries or regions do you think are most affected by this problem, and why?
  4. What should governments do to encourage more people to become midwives?
  5. Do you think international support is necessary to solve this issue? Why or why not?

US Officially Leaves World Health Organization

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The United States has officially withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO), ending almost 80 years of membership. Health experts warn this decision could weaken global disease surveillance and pandemic preparedness, disrupt funding, and reduce U.S. influence in critical health data sharing with potential global impacts on vaccine coordination and future outbreak responses.

Read the article to know more about this major international health policy shift.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn9zznx8qdno

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “arrear” mean? “Although WHO lawyers suggest the US is obliged to pay the arrears – estimated at $260m (£193m) – Washington said it saw no reason to do so.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “pathogen sharing” mean? “The US department said it would have bilateral relations with other countries to ensure disease surveillance and pathogen sharing, but were unable to provide information about which specific countries they had such links with so far.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “governing body” mean? “It told the BBC that its secretariat will act according to the advice from the governing bodies.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think could be the biggest global impact when a powerful country changes its health policy?
  2. How might this decision affect poorer countries or those with weaker healthcare systems?
  3. How could this policy shift affect future pandemics or global disease control?
  4. Do you think international organizations like the WHO are still important today? Why or why not?
  5. Should health policies be decided nationally or globally? Explain your opinion.

Brand Name vs. Generic

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Strolling through the grocery aisles, we tend to see millions of different products, all with different brands. Most of us tend to trust in the more well-known brands like Coca-Cola, Pringles, Oreos, and so much more, perceiving these products as high-quality and worth their price. However, all across the aisles are dozens upon dozens of rip-off brands, emulating their well-known counterparts but at a much cheaper price.

Could there be a difference between the two types of brands?

To find out more, watch the video below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to give someone a sense of something” mean?  “Even if they aren’t identical, which they sometimes are, it will give you a sense of how similar they can be.” Use this idiom in a sentence and give a synonym.
  2. What does “bioequivalence” mean?  “The generic drugs go through a series of stringent regulatory testing to prove their bioequivalence to the brand name.” Use this term in a sentence and give a synonym.
  3. What is the meaning of “counterpart”? “
    Next time you are at the grocery store, try and compare the ingredient list and nutritional information of a generic item with its brand counterpart.”     Use this word to make your own sentence and give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. In your opinion, is there a quality difference between store brand and name brand products?
  2. What makes a product stand out to you in the grocery? Is it the brand or something else?
  3. Has your perception of product brands influenced your decision-making before? If yes, how so?

Revenge Bedtime Procrastination

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Many people choose to stay up late even when they know it will leave them tired the next day. This habit often reflects a desire to reclaim personal time or control after a busy schedule, highlighting the tension between daily demands, rest, and self‑care.

Let’s read the article and explore how this behavior affects our health, productivity, and daily routines.

https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/revenge-bedtime-procrastination

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Explain the concept “revenge bedtime procrastination“. “After a jam-packed day, do you stay up late for some “me” time rather than go to bed a reasonable hour? If you’re in the habit of doing that, it could be a sign of revenge bedtime procrastination.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the idiom “to raise one’s odds ” mean? “A long-term lack of sleep might also raise your odds of dying early from any cause.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of the phrase “at the expense of”? “Also known as sleep procrastination, it means you get “revenge” for your busy daytime schedule by fitting in leisure time at the expense of shut-eye.” Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do you think some people deliberately stay up late even when they know they’ll be tired the next day?
  2. How might modern lifestyles and technology contribute to revenge bedtime procrastination?
  3. In what ways can delaying sleep affect someone’s work, relationships, or overall well‑being?
  4. Do you see revenge bedtime procrastination as an act of control, rebellion, or simply poor time management?
  5. What strategies could individuals use to resist the urge to stay up late for “me time”?

ChatGPT to Carry Adverts

B2 – Upper Intermediate

AI tools are becoming central to daily life, and companies are exploring new ways to keep them accessible and sustainable. One approach is adding advertising, which raises important questions about user experience, business models, and the future of digital interaction.

Let’s read the article together to explore this new approach in AI services.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgjn012k3do

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrase “subscription tier” mean? “In addition to the new Go subscription tier, it already has Plus and Pro tiers, which cost $20 and $200 respectively per month in the US.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. Define the phrase “last resort“. “OpenAI isn’t the only AI firm considering this business model, despite boss Sam Altman once saying he hated ads and describing them as “a last resort“.” Use it in your own sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of the phrase “synthetic media“. “Henry Ajder, an expert in AI, Deepfakes and synthetic media, said OpenAI’s decision to explore ad revenue was not a surprise.” Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you feel about advertisements appearing in ChatGPT?
  2. Share your insights on this, “AI sector has been over-valued by keen investors and hype, and has yet to actually demonstrate much in the way of profit.“
  3. What is your opinion on this, “OpenAI says they [the ads] will not influence ChatGPT’s responses and the firm will not share data about conversations with advertisers.“?
  4. Are you currently using ChatGPT, and if so, what subscription tier do you have?
  5. If given the option, would you consider paying extra to use ChatGPT without ads? Why or why not?
  6. In your opinion, will other tech companies adopt a similar approach to ads in AI tools?

Is Social Media Dead?

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

Perhaps, three or four years ago, we were so engrossed in social media platforms. But as generative AI rises, many users feel that their feeds no longer contain contents that they can relate with or reflect their preferences or interests.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the way we use social media has changed over time.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260108

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “downward spiral” mean? “Is social media on a downward spiral?” Use the idiom in a sentence and give a synonym.
  2. What does “behemoth” mean? “We see the large social networks and the tech behemoths leaning into generated content, and I think users don’t actually want that.” Use the word in a sentence and give a synonym.
  3. What does “gravitate towards” mean? “I see people gravitating towards smaller online spaces, connecting more closely with individual voices, like creator types, and just posting less in general.” Use the phrase in a sentence and give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is social media dead? Share your insights regarding this.
  2. Was there a moment for you when you felt like social media changed? In what ways?
  3. Do you think this is really happening nowadays, “People gravitate towards smaller online spaces, connecting more closely with individual voices, like creator types, and just posting less in general.”?
  4. Do you agree or not, “Social media was friendlier before – an online space to make friends, have fun and discuss the latest cultural happenings.”? Share your thoughts.
  5. Imagine a world where people use socmed less or not at all.

The 3-2-1 Speaking Trick 

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

Some people find themselves rambling when they need to make a speech. Do you ever wonder how those people who have excellent communication skills do it? 

There are tricks that you can pull up your sleeves to make you sound like a CEO. 

Watch the video on some mindset shifts that can help change the way you speak.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “neural echo effect” mean? “People mirror your micro-behaviors. This is something called the neural echo effect.” Use the term in a sentence and give a synonym.
  2. What does “” mean? “People judge your intelligence by clarity and not complexity. It’s called the simplicity anchor.” Use the term in a sentence and give a synonym.
  3. What does “curiosity loop” mean? “Questions increase dopamine. They call this the curiosity loop.” Use the term in a sentence and give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your thoughts on the 3-2-1 speaking trick. (1. Pause for 3 seconds. 2. Give only 2 points. 3. End with 1 question.) Can you imagine applying this in some difficult speaking situations/conversations? If you already practice this, share your experience/s.
  2. Have you ever noticed others mirroring your micro-behaviors in a room full of people? Talk about some instances.
  3. One of the things that’s important in speaking in this day and age where we have shorter attention span than ever is “speaking in sprints, not streams”. This trick is especially useful during fights/disagreements. What are your thoughts on this? 
  4. Talk about your experience making a speech. What are your secrets to be able to communicate your ideas effectively?
  5. In your opinion and personal experience, how important is gesture priming or gesturing before you speak?
  6. What do you think about this, “The way you start a conversation matters more than the conversation itself.“?

Parents Saving Millions For Their Children

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

They say that starting your children off right could lead to generational wealth. Many parents save and invest so their kids can do better than them. They believe that saving up for their children could set them up for a better, brighter future.

Watch the video about some parents talking about saving millions for their children.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “generational wealth” mean? “Starting your children off right leads to generational wealth.” Use the term in a sentence and give a synonym.
  2. What does “full-ride scholarship” mean? “I went to South Carolina State University on a full-ride tennis scholarship.” Use the term in a sentence and give a synonym.
  3. What does “back-of-the-envelope calculation” mean? “I did simple back-of-the-envelope calculations in an Excel spreadsheet on how much I needed to be happy and comfortable; and maybe to raise a family.” Use the idiom in a sentence and give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about parents saving all their money for their children and their future? What might be the pros and cons when parents do this?
  2. Is this practice a commonplace in your country/culture? Talk about it.
  3. Do you agree or not, “Starting your children off right leads to generational wealth.”? Share your thoughts.
  4. What would you do if you were born into generational wealth? How different do you think your life would have been?