Tag: First Certificate FCE

The Benefits of Low Emission Zones

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Many cities worldwide are striving to make the air we breathe cleaner. One initiative is having low emission zones. London, Bath, Leeds and Birmingham are just some UK cities that are adapting Clean Air Zones.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript to know more about low emission zones, their benefits, and other cleaner air initiatives.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-200130

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are low emission zones?
  2. What are the benefits of low emission zones?
  3. What are your thoughts on net zero zones?
  4. What kind of other cleaner-air initiatives does your city/country commit to?
  5. Share your thoughts on this statement: “Low emission zones are only one part of the solution to the problem.”

Where Do Cellular Phones Go to Die?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

With the proliferation of modern technologies like computers, mobile phones, and all manner of gadgets, there has also been an alarming increase in its by-products which are detrimental to the environment. Known as e-waste, electronic waste, or simply electronic junk, some of these myriads of circuit boards, flat screens, and other computer internals end up in China where the disposal of e-waste has become a thriving business in one town.

Watch the video that follows and weigh in on this matter.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Whenever you purchase a new mobile phone, laptop, or television, what do you do with the item it replaced?
  2. According to the video, what happens to electronic junk after it has been sorted?
  3. What is your opinion about the methods of e-waste disposal described in the video?
  4. How does your city, region, or country tackle the issue of electronic waste?

The Circular Economy

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Disposing wastes has environmental consequences and the impact of ineffective waste management often leads to a lot of other problems.

Is circular economy the solution to our problems with waste?

Listen to the audio and be ready to discuss afterwards.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-200305

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is a circular economy?
  2. What are the pros and cons of a circular economy?
  3. Talk about the waste management system in your city.
  4. Is recycling widely practiced in your country? What are your thoughts about recycling?
  5. Do you think manufacturers should be more responsible for disposal of their products?

Will Humans Become Extinct?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

According to the audio, about once every thousand years, an event occurs that destroys about a third of the human population. Nowadays, we are experiencing chaos caused by a pandemic called Covid-19. Everyone has been put on lockdown, a lot of people are infected, and some thousands others have died because of this outbreak.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-200312

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the audio, what are some of the existential risks?
  2. What do you think could happen if human civilization is destroyed?
  3. Which do you think is the most extreme among these – plagues, natural disasters or modern dangers?
  4. Do you think doomsday is possible? How would you spend your last day?

How Do We Cope With Quarantine or Isolation?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The Covid-19 pandemic has put almost the entire world into quarantine, which means not being able to live our normal ways, the way we all were used to before the outbreak. For most of us, this has been a new concept that we have to get used to at this moment. Quarantine or self-isolation is strictly advised by many experts in order to contain the invisible enemy that we are battling at present time. However, are we all prepared for this emotional battle of not being able to socialize for a month or more?

Some people are prepared and had undergone trainings in order to deal with it.

Watch the video below as experts and well-trained people speak about isolation. Let’s discuss what you think and feel about being quarantined or self-isolated.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Were you prepared for quarantine or self-isolation?
  2. How are you coping so far?
  3. What have you learned from the experts who were prepared for isolation?
  4. What are the activities that you do while in isolation?
  5. How long will you be able to withstand isolation?
  6. Is there a vital lesson learned from this pandemic and isolation?

Working From Home

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Just a month ago, working from home was was a far-fetched work setup for most of the global workforce. With the current health crisis the world is facing, however, it has become the norm. As we continue to navigate through the uncertainties and acclimatize to new living conditions, many will have to translate their skill set for use in home-based work through online technologies.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript to weigh in on this matter.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/new-reality-of-working-from-home/5347353.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the differences between office-based and home-based work?
  2. Which professions can easily be done from home? Which will require more effort to relocate?
  3. What are some of the challenging aspects of working from home?
  4. Talk about your thoughts on and/or experience working remotely.

A Heavy-Weight Country

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Obesity does not get as much press as climate change, political dissent, or financial crises. Nonetheless, it is worthy of public attention. It is a growing problem in America today and no doubt, in other parts of the world too. Stateside, it is forecasted to affect half of all American adults by the next decade if left unchecked.

Read the following article to learn more about the state of obesity in the US.

America is Becoming a Heavy-Weight Country

Discussion Questions:

  1. To what extent is obesity a problem in your country?
  2. What factors lead to obesity?
  3. What measures have been taken by your government to curb obesity?
  4. Describe what you consider a healthy lifestyle that reduces the likelihood of obesity.

How to Keep Mentally Healthy During a Quarantine

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the advent of the global pandemic Covid-19, people in many countries were put on lockdown or quarantine in their own homes in order to stop them from passing the virus on to each other. Being restricted to go out of our houses is something no one is accustomed to. Hence, many individuals struggle with this new and hopefully, temporary lifestyle we have.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript of this lesson and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/how-to-keep-mentally-healthy-during-a-quarantine/5338332.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you keep yourself mentally healthy during the quarantine in your country?
  2. Talk about your routine now that you are stuck at home. How is it different from your old routine?
  3. What do you think are some effects of this quarantine on people’s mental health?

Canadians Start ‘Caremongering’ Trend

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the wake of a pandemic in 2020, a new word emerged — Caremongering. No one knows if this word is going to stick around for long for it to be included in dictionaries. Nevertheless, this word is making rounds in Canada.

Read the article to learn about ‘caremongering’ and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51915723

Discussion Questions:

  1. Explain the term ‘caremongering’. Why is this important these days?
  2. What does ‘scaremongering’ mean? What are your thoughts on this?
  3. Talk about some acts of kindness you saw on social media.
  4. Would you like to do or have you done anything to practice ‘caremongering’ amidst the pandemic?
  5. What things do you do or you see other people do to remain hopeful despite these hard times?

Mobile Phones Have Killed Photography

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Photography was meant to capture the moments from the real world. Did mobile phones kill photography or have they made it easier for everyone to take photographs?

Watch the short clip below:

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree or disagree that mobiles have killed photography?
  2. Do you enjoy taking photographs? Give examples of things you like photographing.
  3. What kind of tools do you use for taking pictures? Which is the best for photography? Do you use editing apps/software?
  4. What is your opinion on filters and editing apps?
  5. Do you agree or disagree with some of Wim Wenders statements: “everyone’s a photographer”, “selfies are not photography”, and “the less you have, the more creative you become”?