Tag: First Certificate FCE

Email Etiquette Rules Professionals Should Follow

B2 – Upper Intermediate

On average, most employees spend almost 1/4 of their workweek going over all their work e-mails. Even though we use e-mails all the time, many workers still have the tendency to commit embarrassing mistakes when using e-mails as a way to communicate at work. 

Read this article to know some of the most essential e-mail etiquette rules every employee must know. 

https://www.inc.com/business-insider/email-etiquette-rules.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Which rules did you not know or follow before?
  2. Do you agree or disagree that “it’s better to leave humor out of emails unless you know the recipient well”?
  3. Talk about your experience when miscommunication via e-mail occurred between you and a colleague or customer/client. What do you think are other ways to avoid misunderstandings when using e-mail as a means of communication?
  4. What do you do when you receive an e-mail that wasn’t meant for you?
  5. What is your reaction to: “Every electronic message leaves a trail.”?

Is Childhood Today Over-Supervised?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Many have observed and compared how childhood evolved and embarked on changes as time goes by. It isn’t as free and wild as before when children used to venture on going to a forest with their buddies without any adult supervision. They could even enjoy some traditional games with their mates in the neighborhood not minding all the mess and stinky smell for as long as they are embracing that liberty to be closer to nature which is significantly different nowadays as we rarely see children running freely in an open space and discovering the outdoors or the world around them these days.

Read the article below for more information on over-supervised childhood.

https://lightlynews.com/2020/02/12/learning/is-childhood-today-over-supervised/

Discussion Questions:

  1. How would you describe your childhood? Would you say you were free?
  2. Did your parents allow you to discover the world around you when you were young or did they supervise your every move and made sure you were alright all the time?
  3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of unsupervised and supervised parenting?
  4. In your opinion, are children of today overly supervised? Why or why not?

Weirdest Phobias People Suffer From

B2 – Upper Intermediate

One of the basic human emotions is fear. It is natural to be fearful in situations we feel unsafe in. However, there is also ‘phobia’ which means an extreme or irrational fear of something. Experts say having a phobia isn’t a sign of weakness.

Let’s watch the video and find out more about phobias you probably never knew existed.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Which of the phobias in the video did you find most outrageous? Why?
  2. Which of the ten phobias do you think is the least weird?
  3. Do you know anyone who has any of these phobias?
  4. Do you agree with the last statement, “all we have to fear is fear itself”?
  5. How would you feel about being without your device?

Growing Roses

B2- Upper Intermediate

Roses are beautiful and fragrant flowers but some people often think they are hard to grow. Most of these rose plants come from Asia and also seen in some parts of Africa, Europe, and the United States.

Let us read few suggestions on how to start growing beautiful roses.

https://www.esolcourses.com/content/reading/intermediate/graded-readers/growing-roses.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you like roses? What are some kinds of flowers and plants do you like?
  2. Do you enjoy growing flowers or other type of plants?
  3. What do you know about planting or gardening?
  4. When is the best time to plant roses?
  5. How do flowers make you feel?

Guide Dogs for the Blind

B2 – Upper Intermediate

For someone who is blind or partially sighted, guide dogs help them move around safely. Because a person’s safety may depend on their dog’s alertness and concentration, not all dogs can be a guide dog.

Let’s read the article about the responsibilities of guide dogs to their owners.

https://www.esolcourses.com/content/reading/intermediate/graded-readers/guide-dogs.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of guide dogs?
  2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having guide dogs?
  3. What are the types of things that guide dogs assist their owners with?
  4. Would you be willing to get a guide dog for someone who is blind or partially sighted?
  5. What other things do you know about service animals?

Things Selling Out This Summer

After months of quarantine, things would change this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Many people have now adapted to the “new normal” and families are looking for alternative solutions to enjoy this summer season.

More and more people are opting to enjoy their time in comfort of their own backyards or to take up outdoor recreation.

This gave rise to the popularity of inflatable pools, bicycles, and roller skates. It might be difficult to find and buy these items now. The same way hand sanitizers and toilet papers were sold out at the beginning of the quarantine.

Read this article and be able to answer the questions that follow:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/reviewedcom/2020/07/07/10-things-selling-out-everywhere-summer-pools-floats-bikes-and-more/53v88942002/

Discussion Questions:

  1. During this pandemic, what are some of the recreational items/toys/products that are selling out nowadays in your country?
  2. What have you bought recently that you think is useful? What about something that is recreational? Explain why.
  3. Do you agree with the things that are mentioned in the article?
  4. What new recreational activities have you started doing during and after the pandemic?
  5. How did you cope with living the “new normal”?

A Leopard Can’t Change Its Spots

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A philosopher once said, “the only constant in life is change”. Change is inevitable that’s why we should be able to adapt to changes in our lives. However, some things never change; such as bad habits.

Let’s watch the video and learn a new expression.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/course/experiment/unit-1/session-1

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does “a leopard can’t change its spots” mean? Do you agree with this?
  2. What are some bad habits that you would like to get rid of?
  3. Do you agree or disagree that people can change for the better? Why or why not?
  4. How do you say the same expression in your language and explain what it means.
  5. Share an experience when a leopard couldn’t change its spots.

Arctic Circle Highest-Ever Temperatures

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We have been seeing different signs of global warming all over the world. There is a new one and it is in the Arctic Circle.

Read the article about rising temperatures in the Arctic Circle from the link below.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2006/200626-arctic-circle.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction that the heatwave in the Arctic Circle is much higher than usual? 
  2. What are the possible effects of this rise in temperature?
  3. Why should we be worried about rising temperatures?
  4. Talk about the changes in temperatures in your country over the past few years?
  5. What is your opinion on this statement “This [ rising temperature ] is a warning message from the Earth itself”?

Where Superstitions Come From

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Superstitions have come a long way in our history. It may be classified roughly as religious, cultural, and personal. Despite the modernization, superstitious beliefs still persist in our society and to some extent, some people believe in such irrational and absurd beliefs.

Watch the video to know its origin and be able to answer the questions that follow:

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on superstitions?
  2. Are you/people in your country superstitious? Why do you think this is?
  3. Why do some people believe in superstitions?
  4. What superstitious beliefs do you know and/or believe?
  5. Talk about some Spanish superstitious beliefs.

Millennials and Business

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It seems the millennials are attracted to starting their own businesses and it’s not just about making money, but also about passion and doing good. A lot of people think supporting young people to become business leaders should start at home and they should be educated to be independent for a better life.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript to learn more about the young entrepreneurs.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-200625

Discussion Questions:

  1. What can you say about millennials who start their own business?
  2. Are there a lot of young entrepreneurs in your country? If so, what are the common startup businesses?
  3. Does your government offer any support to startup businesses especially to young entrepreneurs?
  4. What can you say about crowdfunding? Do you think it’s appropriate to do?