Tag: First Certificate FCE

Food Superstitions

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Do you ever believe in bad or good luck? Well, perhaps most of us do and the food culture is no exception as we have different beliefs on how it brings good or bad luck, in other words, superstitions.

Listen to the podcast about food superstitions and learn more.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are you superstitious? Are most people in your country superstitious?
  2. What are food superstitions you know of?
  3. Can you share any food superstitions you have in your country?
  4. Do you believe in any food superstitions? Why or why not? What are examples of food superstitions do you believe?
  5. Could traditions lead to superstitions? Explain your thoughts.

Larks Are Happier than Night Owls

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Being a lark means waking up early and going to bed early. Whereas, the opposite night owl, is someone who tends to stay up until late at night. Being a lark is usually associated with being a go-getter.

Studies have shown that people who are more active at night face greater health risks such as diabetes and low muscle mass.

But is staying up late really as bad as some people make it out to be?

Let’s read the article below about advantages of being an early riser.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/jun/08/the-lark-advantage-why-naturally-early-risers-are-happier-than-night-owls

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are you the type of person who is active during the day or at night? Why?
  2. What are your thoughts on this statement: “People who get up earlier in the morning tend to be happier and better protected against depression.”?
  3. Do you tend to sleep through the night without waking? If not, what usually wakes you up?
  4. In your opinion, what is the main function of sleep? Why do some people need more sleep than others?
  5. Which do you enjoy more: the silence of night or the calmness of morning? Why?
  6. Have you ever suffered from insomnia? Share your experience.

21st Century Education

B2 – Upper Intermediate

“The children are our future.” This is a sentence we often hear from the generations ahead of us. With this vision in mind, society, through collaborative work, strive to value, respect, and train them for the future. The goal is to help them realize their full potential.

One aspect of such training is education. In the 21st century, we are experiencing a technological revolution. It dramatically changed the way children learn and interact with each other. For example, online learning is becoming the norm. Kids can stay at home and still be “present” at school. They can even take their exams in the comfort of their homes!

But how does 21st-century education benefit the children and in turn, society? Watch the video about 21st century education.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are some ways technology is utilized in learning?
  2. What do you think of distance learning?
  3. How does the fast-developing technology affect the way children learn and communicate?
  4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using technology in educating children?
  5. What are some examples of jobs that are recently invented?

Credit Card Rewards

B2 – Upper Intermediate

When we use credit card rewards, we think it’s our banks that shoulders our bills. How very thoughtful and generous of them, right? What most of us do not realize, though, is that businesses have got to find a way to compensate for that.

Find out about the ugly truth behind who really foots these credit card rewards.

https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22454885/who-pays-for-credit-card-rewards

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you use credit card rewards to purchase things? Talk about your experience.
  2. What do you thing about this: “Credit card perks reward rich Americans to the detriment of the poor.”?
  3. Would you say that the payment system in your country has also evolved into a reverse Robin Hood? Explain.
  4. Has knowing that every time you use a rewards card to pay for something you buy at some shop, some others paying in cash is footing some part of your tab changed your thoughts about (using) rewards cards? Support your stand.

Limited Fiscal Sponsorship: A New Tool Of Social Enterprise

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The main goal of social enterprises is not only to maximize profits but to also catalyze social change. The profits they make are often allocated to funding social programs.

These social enterprises try various structures and challenge traditional approaches to being a for-profit and non-profit business.

Learn about a new tool in social enterprise called limited fiscal sponsorship.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/annefield/2015/09/30/limited-fiscal-sponsorship-a-new-tool-in-the-arsenal-of-social-enterprise/?sh=595ba71425a3

Discussion Questions:

  1. Explain limited fiscal sponsorship. What do you see are the advantages and disadvantages of this approach?
  2. Name other approaches that are used to fund and structure social enterprise ventures.
  3. What do you think about social entrepreneurship?
  4. Would you consider putting up your own company with the same business approach? Why or why not?
  5. Name successful social enterprises or entrepreneurs you know of. What are they well-known for?

Building Blocks to a New Social Economy

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Perhaps the goal now is to create an economy that is not only sustainable and resilient but also human-centric. One that will enable us to achieve economic objectives of growth, inclusion, and equity. 

Is it possible for the industry to provide economic boom from only flourishing jobs and economic upturn while having the societal well-being as the one that will point to the information on producing goods and providing services?

Read the article about the building blocks of a new social economy.

https://ssir.org/articles/entry/social_tech_entrepreneurs_building_blocks_of_a_new_social_economy

Discussion Questions:

  1. How is technology pivotal in supporting a new purpose-driven economy?
  2. What do you know about social entrepreneurship?
  3. What are other ways to create integrated and inclusive social and industrial policies?

Spain’s New Electricity Billing System

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A new billing system has been introduced in Spain in June 2021. It is supposed to allow consumers track when they save on their bills. However, there have been many issues seen on this new system.

Read the article to have a better understanding of this new electricity billing system in Spain.

https://english.elpais.com/economy_and_business/2021-06-01/consumer-associations-slam-spains-new-electricity-billing-system.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why was this new billing system implemented?
  2. What are the problems with this new system?
  3. As a consumer, what are your thoughts on this new billing system?
  4. Do you try and conserve electricity? Why or why not? If you do, what are the practices you observe?
  5. In general, what other issues do you have with your electricity service and/or provider?

Holiday Traditions

B2 – Upper Intermediate

New Year and Christmas are the most celebrated holidays in the world. However, each country celebrates them differently. For example, Japan celebrates the New Year in silence while many other countries celebrate it by lighting fireworks and blowing horns. It’s the same with Christmas. In most parts of the world, we have Santa. He delivers gifts to children during Christmas. However, in Austria, an unusual figure called Krampus, comes during Christmas to punish naughty children.

Click the link and let’s listen to how every family celebrate their holidays differently.

Holiday Traditions

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do the children in the audio celebrate Christmas?
  2. Do you celebrate Christmas? If yes, how did you celebrate Christmas as a kid? How about now?
  3. What are the biggest holidays in your country? How do you celebrate them?
  4. Why are holidays important?
  5. Do you think holiday traditions will live on for the next hundreds of years to come? Why or why not?

Marriage Preparation

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Weddings are major celebrations that require a lot of time, energy, and money from the would-be couples and their families. Most of the time, people are so absorbed in the wedding preparation that they forget the more important preparation, the marriage preparation. After all the bliss and glamour of the wedding, couples have to endure the challenges of the married life. For future brides and grooms, better be ready for the marriage life too.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript on this conversation about wedding preparations.

Marriage Preparation

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on marriage prep classes?
  2. What is Randall’s big news? How does his sister find out about it?
  3. Who is Jasmine? How does his sister describe her?
  4. What pieces of advice does she have for them about the marriage preparation? Do you agree with these?
  5. How do would-be couples in your country usually prepare for marriage?

Cancel Culture

B2 – Upper Intermediate

They say that the only constant thing in life is change. Being adaptable to change is a big part of what makes us grow as individuals and collectively, as a society. For years on end, we’ve been witness to a lot of things that had to be changed. Some to our advantage, while others, to our demise. Now, these changes could often be about our views on different social issues or matters. As our opinions change, they too, become polarized.

In the recent years, we’ve seen a pattern of having the thought that someone can be “canceled” or culturally prevented from staying relevant or famous, has been a topic of debate.

Our growing inclination toward “cancel culture” and “canceling someone” seems to have become a formula.

It starts when someone does or says something offensive. It is then followed by a public outrage on social media. The last stage involves the unfortunate backlash on that person’s career, sometimes ending up in destroyed careers or dismissal from jobs.

Read the article and join in on the cancel culture debate.

https://www.vox.com/culture/2019/12/30/20879720/what-is-cancel-culture-explained-history-debate

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on cancel culture? Do you view it as an important tool of social justice or a new form of merciless mob intimidation? Should it be stopped or continued?
  2. What are the good and bad things about it?
  3. What might the effects of being canceled be on a person/group/organization? 
  4. Which people, celebrities, or public figures you know suffered from the backlash of this emerging social culture? What offensive thing did they do and how did being ‘canceled’ affect them?
  5. Do you agree or disagree that “The view that a traditional approach — apology, atonement, and forgiveness — is no longer enough might be startling.”?