Tag: First Certificate FCE

South Korea Bans Child Monitoring App

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Our lives are now very much dependent on smartphones. They have become a need. They enable us to multitask.

Coupled with the power of the Internet, kids and teens are able to explore the world and do more using these. As children start to own smartphones at an earlier age, parents are getting more wary of the risks involved.

In South Korea, the government has passed a law to help ensure the safety of children and teens’ smartphone use through an app. However, problems arose along the way.

Read the article to learn more about the banning of the use of a mobile phone app that monitors social media activities of parents’ children in South Korea.

https://www.english-online.at/news-articles/living/south-korea-bans-child-monitoring-app.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree or disagree with the South Korean government’s prohibiting this app? Explain your position.
  2. Is this monitoring software a good idea? Please explain.
  3. What are some famous apps that promise the same concept?
  4. How effective are these apps?
  5. Are you concerned about your online presence? Why or why not?
  6. What are other effective means to monitor the online activities of our children?
  7. What is your opinion on children owning smartphones?
  8. Has your government also approved and banned certain apps in your country? Why did they do so?

How Lucid Dreaming Works

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Blurring the line between waking and sleeping is something that takes time and practice. There are others who experience distressing visions while in a state of sleep paralysis: when you’re awake but can’t move or do anything about it. So you should work your way up to lucid dreaming instead of diving in headfirst.

Watch the video to explore the possible effects lucid dreams may have on people who experience them.

Discussion Questions

  1. Have you ever had lucid dreams? Do you find lucid dreaming to be more beneficial or harmful?
  2. What are the benefits and concerns about lucid dreaming?
  3. Have people always been able to experience lucid dreams?
  4. Do you agree that some lucid dreamers could become reluctant to face reality? Why?
  5. What is the importance of the results of studies about lucid dreaming?

Managing Conflict in the Workplace

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Conflict can happen anywhere. Even more so in a competitive environment such as the workplace. It could stem from different employee backgrounds and personalities. When left unresolved, it could lead to more serious problems at work.

Let’s listen to the podcast about managing conflict in the workplace.

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/business-english/podcasts-for-professionals/managing-conflict

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are common causes of workplace conflict?
  2. Have you ever experienced or witnessed workplace conflict? How was it resolved?
  3. How can workplace conflict be avoided?
  4. In your company, what are the conflict management strategies being implemented when workplace tension arises?
  5. How is good, constructive working atmosphere achieved/maintained in your workplace?

Toddlers Running Errands

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It’s understandable that some parents view young children doing errands as risky. The world is so complex, unpredictable, and full of risks. Our children may be exposed to when they are outside for extended periods of time without parental supervision.

A show that has been on Japanese television for more than three decades is fresh to an American audience. Children ages 2 to 4 are tasked with performing chores for their parents on the show.

Watch this video about the Japanese reality show that makes toddlers/very small children run errands by themselves.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of letting small kids run errands alone?
  2. In your culture, do parents let their very young kids do things on their own?
  3. How do you think would introducing this in your country be received?
  4. What were some of the errands you used to run as a kid? At what age did you start doing them?
  5. What do you think is the proper age to let a small kid be on their own out on the streets?

Why Some People Are Always Late

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Punctuality matters. It benefits us in all aspects of life. When we are punctual, we show others that we are dependable and that we respect their time. But today, we fail to recognize its value. We have so many excuses for being late. The lack of punctuality has become the blatant hallmark of our culture.

Let’s watch the video to find out why some people struggle so much with their punctuality.

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0br5sll/why-some-people-are-always-late

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you consider yourself a “timekeeper” or a “timebender”? Why is this?
  2. What might be a few reasons some people are always tardy?
  3. Is it considered rude in your country to be late? Explain your answer.
  4. Have you ever been late late for an important event? What happened?
  5. How do you feel when you are late for a class/appointment/date?
  6. To what events/situations is it important to arrive on time?

Ethical Fading

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We have all have different ways to rationalize our behaviour. We tend to believe that the ethically-questionable decisions we make are fair and justified, which in fact is quite the opposite. Ethical fading is when we engage in unethical behaviour without perceiving it as such.

Watch the video to learn more about ethical fading and be able to answer the questions that follow.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What’s your take on ethical fading and moral disengagement?
  2. Cite some examples in which these situations happen.
  3. Why do some people engage in ethical fading?
  4. What are some ways to prevent it?

Shrinkflation

B2 – Upper Intermediate

During times of inflation, companies usually increase the price of their products, but some don’t. They choose to sell the product at the same price, but with less contents inside of their containers or packaging. This is colloquially known as “shrinkflation”.

This might sound like a normal thing for companies to do, but after the periods of inflation are over, companies typically don’t go back to their old ways.

To find out more, let’s watch this video about shrinkflation.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on shrinkflation?
  2. In the long run, do you think that this practice would be a problem? If so, how could we spread awareness?
  3. Have you personally experienced shrinkflation? How did you feel about it?
  4. Are you meticulous/savvy when it comes to the products you buy? What are some things you do to make sure you are getting value for your money?
  5. Now that you have heard of this practice, would you be a bit more mindful about buying products, their prices and contents? Why or why not?
  6. What are other ways to help companies deal with inflation without passing the burden to their customers too much?
  7. How did companies you have worked for in the past try saving money?

How to Avoid Being Starstruck

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Most people have idols. These are people they look up to and admire greatly. Most of them are popular people such as movie stars, athletes, musicians and even social media personalities. How do you think fans would react when they encounter their idols face to face?

Let’s read the article and learn some tips on how to avoid being starstruck.

Seven Tips on How to Avoid Being Starstruck

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does to be “starstruck” mean?
  2. Do you agree with the tips mentioned in the article?
  3. Is there anyone you’ve been really star-struck about meeting?
  4. Are people from your country very fond of celebrities?
  5. Who are the biggest celebrities in your country and why do you think they are very popular and well-liked?

The Sky-High Cost of Returning to the Office

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The pandemic enforced the idea of working from home for a huge number of companies. Many have realized that this setup is possible for their roles and have gotten used to it. However, with eased restrictions, companies are now requiring most of their employees to return to the office.

The transition back to the old ways has not been so easy. The increasing prices of fares, petrol, food, and clothing, which are related to an employee’s daily work-related activities, have placed a burden on their finances. Even with salary increases, these were still inadequate to meet their spending demands.

Read this article below to learn more about the impact of transitioning back to the office.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220420-the-sky-high-cost-of-returning-to-the-office

Discussion Questions:

1. What was your work setup before and during the pandemic?
2. What is your current work setup?
3. What would be a preferable alternative work setup for your current role?
4. What are the pros and cons of working from home?
5. What are the pros and cons of working in the office?
6. Has your company introduced a hybrid work setup? What would that be like?
7. What are some work-related costs you shell out daily and monthly?
8. How else can companies help employees with the transition and these increasing work-related costs?

Myths about Food Bloggers

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A food blogger has already become a popular job nowadays, but some people still don’t understand how to earn money by just posting food photos, recipes, or pretty much anything that’s food-related. That’s why there are a lot of myths about this job.

Read the article to check if your vision of food blogging was correct.

What do Bloggers Really Do?: 7 Myths About Food Bloggers

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is there any information that surprised you about food blogging?  What was it?
  2. If you decided to become a food blogger, what direction would you choose? Why?
  3. What ideas for food blogs can you think of?
  4. What food blogs, if any, do you follow? What attracts you about these blogs?
  5. Share your thoughts on this statement: “Food Bloggers can’t be trusted because their food is free.”