Tag: First Certificate FCE

Why Do We Cringe?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Now more than ever, we feel the urge to cringe, especially about things we see online. It could be a verb, noun, and an adjective which means recoil of embarrassment or shrink. We cringe because we witness something funny or pleasurable or something disgusting or awkward.

Watch the video below about the cringe theory, empathetic embarrassment, why we cringe, etc.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What makes you cringe? Share a moment when you feel embarrassed or awkward or something hilarious that you cried your heart out due to fondness.
  2. Why do we cringe more recently?
  3. Do you tend to cringe more if someone close to you or someone you do not personally know did something embarrassing? Why do you think that is?
  4. Have you ever made someone cringe? Share your story.
  5. Is cringing bad or good or could be an insult? Explain.
  6. How do you deal with a cringey/cringe-worthy person or situation?

Video Games Are Good for You

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Research has shown that more people are playing video games since the pandemic. Because of the drastic limitation on outdoor activities, people find themselves stuck at home with nothing much to do. As a result, more people turn to video gaming.

However, video games have always had mixed reception from parents. Some say they make their kids more aggressive and less healthy. On the other hand, some parents say that with moderation, video games are a good way for kids to spend their time at home.

Research shows that video games are actually beneficial in many ways.

Click the link and read the article to learn the benefits of playing video games.

https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/reading/upper-intermediate-b2-reading/video-games-are-good-you

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the article, how can games help develop physical skills?
  2. What are the other benefits of playing games that were mentioned in the article?
  3. Do you play video games? Why or why not?
  4. What are some negative effects of playing video games?
  5. Do you think the benefits outweigh the negative effects of playing video games? Why or why not?

Domino’s Will Deliver Pizzas Using Robot

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Pizza is the perfect comfort food — not too messy, hard to mess up, good whether it’s hot or cold, and no silverware necessary. It’s just a perfect guaranteed meal to have during such uncertain times. 

The largest pizza company in the world by sales — Domino’s — had the biggest slice of the U.S. market coming into the pandemic. Now pizza lovers in Houston are going to see a new kind of delivery driver — a robot.

Let’s find out more about this autonomous pizza delivery robot.

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/369394

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about his autonomous pizza delivery car/robot?
  2. What could be the advantages and disadvantages of this technology?
  3. Overall, what are your thoughts on allocating efforts and resources in the development of autonomous vehicles?
  4. Where else could such technology be useful?
  5. Have you ever called for pizza delivery? If yes, how often do you order pizza to your home?

No More Pain in Your Life

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Pain and stress are the usual feelings that we encounter whenever we have problems. These are inevitable feelings that humans experience.

Stress is the garbage of the modern life. All of us will suffer from it, but if you don’t cope with it properly, it will pile up and overtake your life.

Stress and confusion come from being busy. Sometime the most productive thing to do is to let go and relax.

Watch this video on how to let go of our stress and pains.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How often do you feel stressed or in (emotional) pain?
  2. What are the things that make you stressed? How do you deal with it?
  3. How does the speaker compare the glass of water to a person’s stress or pain? Do you agree with him?
  4. What are your stress relievers?

Three Laughing Monks Story

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Laughter has a lot of benefits not only to our health but also to people around us. There’s a saying that laughter is and will always be, the best therapy.

According to John Cleese, laughter connects us to people. It’s almost impossible to maintain any kind of distance or any sense of social hierarchy when you’re just always howling with laughter.

In this video, you’ll know the story of the three laughing monks and how they connect and affect other people’s lives.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the summary of the story?
  2. Are you a serious person or a jolly one?
  3. What was the funniest moment that ever happened in your life? Can you tell the story?
  4. How often do you meet and laugh with your family and friends?
  5. What usually makes you laugh?

Get Rid of Anger Issues

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It is in people’s nature to get angry if there’s something that others did that we don’t really like and didn’t pass our standards. However, each person has different attitudes and way to handle their anger. Some just keep silent and some are try to release their anger by shouting or sometimes even harming others physically.

This video showed a story that somehow will help us know how to handle and get rid our anger issues. Remember that anger doesn’t solve anything. It builds nothing, but it can destroy everything.

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the video, what is the law of a garbage truck?
  2. How does the taxi driver compare people to garbage trucks?
  3. How can anger issues be managed?
  4. What are the things that make you angry?
  5. What can you say about the taxi driver’s attitude?

Why We Shouldn’t Be Afraid of Nightmares

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Did you know that most people dream 3-6 times per night? Dreaming is one of the most mysterious aspects of sleep. They can be fun, romantic, disturbing, frightening, and sometimes bizarre.

A nightmare is a bad dream. It’s normal to have a nightmare fom time to time. However, for some people, they recur frequently disrupting sleep and negatively impacting their waking life as well.

Read the article below to know why we shouldn’t be afraid of nightmares.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210330-why-we-shouldnt-be-afraid-of-nightmares

Discussion Questions:

  1. How often do you remember your dreams?
  2. Have you ever had the same dream many times? Was it a good one or a bad one?
  3. Have you ever woken up screaming in the middle of the night because nightmares?
  4. What is the worst nightmare you have ever had? Were you able to go back to sleep?
  5. Do you think that we can learn anything from our dreams? Some people claim that we can learn things about the future from dreams. What do you think about this idea?
  6. How can you help stop nightmares and get better sleep?

Dating Violence Against Men

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Dating abuse or dating violence is the commission or threat of a violent act by a member of a relationship outside marriage usually during the dating or courtship period. It usually starts when one partner maintains total control over the other by means of violence and constant abuse. Although seldom reported, men can be victims of dating violence too.

Listen to this audio about dating violence against men.

Dating Violence

Discussion Questions:

  1. Who is Brandon? What predicament is he in?
  2. What did he do to get out of this messy situation?
  3. Have you heard of real cases of domestic violence against men?
  4. Why do you think it is hard for men to come forward and talk about abuse?
  5. Since male victims are usually unwilling to seek for help, how do you think the society can encourage them to open up about dating violence?

Honey, Are You Listening?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Communication is probably one of the most difficult parts of any relationship. Meanings get lost in translation because of poor communication or even worse when your partner just isn’t interested in what you have to say.

Let’s listen to this all too familiar couple’s conversation on communication.

Listening Skills

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the main issue the couple is talking about?
  2. What steps do they plan to take to resolve it?
  3. What does ” hold one’s tongue” mean?
  4. What are the qualities of a good listener?
  5. Do you have someone you always talk to to feel better?

Teen Angst

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Many, if not all, do have some issues dealing with teenagers. When we go through puberty, we have some sort of mixed and very complicated emotions or mood swings. It is very hard to figure out where it comes from. Most of the times, you could be so happy and in just a matter of second, you instantly get crabby.

Watch the video below and learn more about teen angst.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is teen angst?
  2. What are the causes of such complicated emotion?
  3. Did it happen to you? Share your experience.
  4. What was your teenage years like?
  5. If you are someone who deals with teens, how do you cope with teen angst?