Tag: First Certificate FCE

New Inventions

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We live in a fast-paced world where technology is speeding up exponentially. For example, communication has significantly improved in just a few years. People could still vividly remember the time when they had to wait for ages for a webpage to load. Now, the internet speed is so fast that it allows you to download a full-length movie in just a few seconds.

Aside from the internet, many other innovations changed history significantly. Innovation will not stop and people will continue to create things as long as there is a need for it. As the saying goes, “Necessity is the mother of invention.”

Click the link and listen to the audio to learn more about some new inventions.

https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/new-inventions

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of the inventions mentioned in the audio? Which one is the most interesting for you and why?
  2. Which among these inventions is the most useful? Which is the least useful?
  3. What need or problem do people have today that is yet to be addressed?
  4. What do you think is the most incredible invention that changed the world?

Saving Money by Going Green

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Why go green? A green lifestyle is important for many reasons. The most obvious benefit is it helps make our planet sustainable and habitable. We focus on reducing, reusing, and recycling whenever possible. We ensure that we reduce the imprint we leave on the environment.

Many people assume that going green means spending more. But actually, it doesn’t have to be difficult. And it can even result in more savings than we might expect.

Let’s watch the video below on how going green can actually help us save more money.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does going green benefit us?
  2. In your opinion, does living a green lifestyle help save us money?
  3. Do you consider yourself a green person? Why or why not?
  4. Are you willing to spend more on eco-friendly products? Why or why not?
  5. Have you ever donated your time or money toward environmental causes? Which organization did you help? What is their focus?

Amazon Go – the First Automated Store

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Nobody likes waiting forever in queues at checkout counters. Long queues cause shopper exhaustion, decrease customer service experience, and may even result in shopping cart abandonment.

In the U.S, a new store was opened featuring the world’s most advanced shopping technology. It uses a combination of artificial intelligence, computer vision, and data gathered from multiple sensors. You walk in, pick out what you want, and walk out. Amazon calls it a ‘just walk out’ shopping experience.

Let’s read the article below to know more about how Amazon Go works.

https://www.english-online.at/news-articles/business-economy/amazon-go-first-automated-store.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of Amazon Go?
  2. What details make the Amazon Go store different from a traditional grocery store?
  3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this kind of shopping technology?
  4. Do you prefer online shopping or shopping in stores?
  5. Why is the competition among convenience stores so tough?
  6. How could going shopping be made a better experience?

What Would You Do with a Million Pounds?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Are you a frugal or a lavish person?

For average Joes like us, a million pounds is a huge amount of money. It is hard to come by. In fact, many of us wouldn’t even get the chance to have that much money lying in our bank accounts.

But if you were to have that kind of money, what would you do?

Click on the link and let’s listen to what some people would do if they were to have a million pounds.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/british_chat/millionpounds

Discussion Questions:

  1. Based on the video, what would the people do if they were to have a million pounds?
  2. What do you think about how those people from the video want to spend their million?
  3. If you were to have a million Euros, what would you do with it?
  4. How would accumulating more wealth affect your life?

Why Start-ups Succeed

C1 – Advanced

Becoming your own boss is what a lot of people aspire for. Having a nine-to-five job just isn’t good enough and is very exhausting and could be unfulfilling for some at times. As more and more people want to stick a toe in the water, the rise of start-ups occurred. But is sheer motivation all that it takes for start-up success?

Watch the video about the single biggest reason start-ups succeed.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the five factors in company success according to the speaker? Do you agree with all of them?
  2. In your own opinion, what makes a company succeed?
  3. Can you give other small start-ups from your country that became successful? How about those that failed?
  4. As a consumer, what new businesses do you think you are likely to patronize?

Child Tax Credit Payment

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A revamped child allowance program will soon be enjoyed by Americans families. The IRS will soon start sending $300 to families with children ages 0-5 and $250 for each child 6 to 17 years old.

This is an effort to combat child poverty in the country. But is it too soon to celebrate the child tax credit payments?

Read the article about child tax credit payments in the US.

https://www.businessinsider.com/irs-child-tax-credit-payment-dates-families-monthly-payments-2021-6

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the child tax credit and who are eligible to receive this payment? What do you think of this incentive?
  2. What are your thoughts on the possibility that some moderate Senate Democrats may push for cuts to the measure?
  3. Compare the child tax credit system or child allowance program of your country and the US.
  4. What benefits from the government do children in your country have?
  5. Share your thoughts on this statement: “Children and families must be able to count on this benefit long after the end of this pandemic.”

Airlines Sell Too Many Tickets

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Airlines usually sell more tickets than what the aircraft can accommodate predicting that there will be enough seats for those who have showed up. But what if there isn’t? It can be very upsetting to be bumped off a flight whether voluntarily or involuntarily.

Watch the video explaining why airlines sell too many tickets.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do airlines profit from overbooking?
  2. Do you agree that overbooking is unethical?
  3. Have you ever been bumped off a flight? Were you compensated highly by the airlines company?
  4. Are you aware of the major rights of an air passenger?

Staying Safe in Hot Temperatures

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Summer is the season that most of us look forward to. Thanks to COVID-19 vaccines, a summer of fun in the sun is looking a lot more possible this year.

But going outside on a hot summer day can be really challenging. The sweat and heat can easily lead to dehydration and make us listless.

Let’s listen to the audio and read the transcript on some helpful tips on how to beat the heat and stay healthy, even as the temperature rises.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/staying-safe-in-hot-temperatures/5947328.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is summer like in your country / in your hometown?
  2. How do you usually spend your summer holidays?
  3. How hot is too hot for you? When was the hottest summer you can remember? Is summer changing for better or worse?
  4. How do you deal with heat in the summer?
  5. Have you ever experienced any heat-related illness before? How did you overcome it?

Federal Trade Commission’s New Rules

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The US administration is cracking down on anticompetitive practices of big tech companies. President Biden has signed a new executive order calling the Federal Trade Commission to adopt new rules. This could give small businesses an edge.

Read about the details on how the executive order could affect small businesses.

https://www.inc.com/amrita-khalid/biden-executive-order-noncompete-hiring-competition.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. How may the order affect startups and small businesses?
  2. What are your thoughts on the new order restricting noncompete clauses?
  3. Do you think it is a good idea to remove some occupational licensing requirements? Why or why not?
  4. What do you think of big online retailers like Amazon not being able to use sales data on third-party-sellers’ goods to launch competing products anymore?
  5. How is the competition in procurement and spending decisions like for small businesses in your country?

Spanish Taxi Drivers Became Millionaires

B2 – Upper Intermediate

This story of success of two Spanish cab drivers who became successful and very wealthy begins with a lot of hardships. There’s the economic crisis, the need to change their line of work, the arrival of ride-hailing apps, among others.

Read about how two Spanish taxi drivers turned themselves into millionaires with a brilliant business idea. 

https://english.elpais.com/economy-and-business/2021-07-13/the-spanish-taxi-drivers-who-became-millionaires-without-leaving-the-house.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on how they started their business and what do you think of their business idea?
  2. What do you think about businesses being done entirely online? Do you think it will become more common in the near future?
  3. In your own experience/observation, how has technology changed the way businesses are set up?
  4. What are some products that you wish are more easily available in your country?
  5. Was there ever a time when you considered changing your line of work? Share about that moment.