Tag: First Certificate FCE

Investors Buy Up Metaverse Real Estate

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The metaverse describes a vision of a connected 3D virtual world where real and digital worlds are integrated using technologies such as virtual reality and augmented reality. It is now possible to buy and trade things in the metaverse like plots of land or even virtual houses.

Watch the video to know what owning a virtual land has to offer.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do you think investors are paying real money to buy virtual lands?
  2. Would you invest in the Metaverse real estate? Why/why not?
  3. Do you think investors are playing a risky game and winning in cryptocurrency? Elaborate.

When Is a Pandemic Over?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There’s no clear-cut definition for when a pandemic starts and ends, but according to Dr. Michael Ryan, the World Health Organization’s emergencies chief, “It’s somewhat a subjective judgment because it’s not just about the number of cases. It’s about the severity and it’s about the impact”.

Watch the video to know how the world decides when the pandemic is over.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How have people and societies lived through this current pandemic?
  2. With so much misinformation out there, how can we know what to believe during a pandemic?
  3. When do you think the pandemic will be over?
  4. What are your thoughts on the big possibility of another pandemic?
  5. What are you most looking forward to when the pandemic ends?
  6. What is your unique experience during the pandemic?

Tips for Giving a Great Presentation

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Business presentations are one of the most vital parts of closing in business deals. They’re conducted to present and express the idea of your products and/or services.

Usually, visual materials are being used to convey the important information to the prospective clients or buyers.

Here are some tips on how to have a great Business Presentation

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you experienced to do a Business Presentation? If yes, what’s the product/service you present?
  2. What are the tips to have a great Business Presentation according to the video?
  3. Can you give other tips?
  4. Why is it important to know you audience first?
  5. Can you explain the importance of visuals in business presentation?

Can Stereotypes Ever Be Good?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Stereotypes often have negative connotations attached to them for good reason. Because of stereotypes, certain people and groups are limited in their actions and opportunities and are pre-judged before they can even prove themselves or disprove others.

Nowadays, we are all challenged to let go of stereotypes. Even if some sound positive, stereotypes can still impact groups in a negative way.

Watch the video below on how stereotypes affect the lives of certain groups.

Discussion Questions:
1. Why do stereotypes exist?
2. Who are the most stereotyped communities? Why?
3. What are some stereotypes that you have heard of or encountered?
4. Have you ever had any stereotypes against a certain group or have you experienced being stereotyped? Explain.
5. How can stereotypes be challenged and ended?

Inventing Languages

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Language is a tool for connecting people. Throughout history, words have come and gone, evolving with the times.

Pop culture has invented and introduced some interesting new words or new languages. We see them created and distorted for cinematic effect much to the enjoyment of the audience. Language construction started a long time ago and has since then been practiced by people either to communicate more effectively, as part of the changing times, or as an artistic expression.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript in the link below to learn more about inventing languages.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2022/ep-220113

Discussion Questions:

1. What are some other reasons people invent new languages or new words in a language?
2. Would you be interested in learning an unusual, fictional language? Why or why not?
3. How can we keep a language from dying or disappearing?
4. What are other languages that you would want to learn?
5. Why can learning languages be difficult to do?
6. What are some effective ways to easily learn a language?

Health Checks at Certain Age

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the past years, people only used to go the doctor when they were sick or dying. It is necessary to go for a regular medical check-up as it can identify early signs of health issues and can result in a healthier life. “Prevention is better than cure” could not be any truer.

Let’s read the article below about the importance of health checks depending on our life age.

https://theconversation.com/im-approaching-a-milestone-birthday-what-health-checks-should-i-have-at-my-age-172047

Discussion Questions:

  1. How often do you get a medical check-up? How often should people get a check-up?
  2. What might be reasons people do not get checked up as regularly as they should?
  3. Are you a healthy person? How often do you get sick?
  4. What health changes have you noticed as you’ve begun to age?
  5. Do you consider yourself a hypochondriac? Do you know anybody who might be considered one?
  6. What steps are you taking to ensure you prevent chronic disease down the track?

Making a Business Proposal

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Identifying your business’ goals and objectives is very important in order to properly present them to a prospective customer or client. It will help you persuade your prospects to have a solution to any business problems they might have.

Here is the video showing some tips on how to make a business proposal.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you tried presenting or doing a business proposal? How did it go?
  2. What products or services did you offer?
  3. What are the things that we have to keep in mind when drumming up business proposals?
  4. What are the usual problems/difficulties that can be encountered when making business proposals?
  5. Why is business proposal important? Explain your thoughts.

Pope Francis on Opting for Pets over Children

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Pope Francis has made comments that couples who opt for animals instead of children are selfish. According to him, there are a lot of people nowadays who prefers to have one child or none at all but has cats or dogs that take the place of children. He also said that this denial of fatherhood or motherhood takes away our humanity. He encourages people to adopt children or make children naturally.

Learn more by reading the article on the website below.

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/01/05/europe/pope-dogs-cats-kids-intl/index.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree with Pope Francis? Why or why not?
  2. Would you prefer having pets, children, both, or none?
  3. What are the pros and cons of having pets?
  4. What are the pros and cons of having children?
  5. What can happen in the future if more people choose to have pets instead of children?

Pig-to-human Heart Transplant

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Studies show that pig hearts are close to the human heart. However, due to certain factors, the patient surviving after, would most likely not happen.

Thanks to genetically modified pigs, it has been made possible.

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

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/heart-transplant-pig-human-patient/

Discussion Questions:

  1. In your opinion, is this a game changer for people who need organ transplants? Share your views on this medical breakthrough.
  2. Without science, do you think this would have been possible? Explain.
  3. If there were other animals this procedure could be possible with, which ones would it be and why?

Macron Vows to ‘Piss Off’ Unvaccinated

B2 – Upper Intermediate

President Emmanuel Macron promised to make the lives of the unvaccinated population in France difficult and inconvenient. He did so using what some people say, unfit language. This did not sit well with everyone in the country.

Read about the reactions to Macron’s statements about his strategy with the unvaxxed citizens of France.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59873833

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to Macron’s statements on making unvaccinated people’s lives “in the shit”?
  2. Some people think that what he did and the things he said were divisive. Do you agree or disagree?
  3. What is it like being unvaxxed in your country?
  4. What do you think of unvaccinated people?
  5. What might be reasons people refuse to get vaxxed?