Tag: First Certificate FCE

Little Things That Affect Our Work Relationships

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The workplace is a professional environment so no matter who you work with, you want to maintain a certain level of professionalism.

Coworker relationships involve a series of “micromoves” which are “small actions or behaviors that seem inconsequential at the moment but affect how we relate to one another”.

In this article, we look at how we can preserve our working relationship.

The Little Things That Affect Our Work Relationships

Discussion Questions:

  1. Describe your relationships at work.
  2. How do you fix a bad working relationship?
  3. What are the factors to having good relationships at work?

Forever 21’s Downfall and Bankruptcy

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Forever 21 made billions in revenue and was one of the fastest-growing fashion empires. Now, the owners have filed for bankruptcy after struggling to keep up with the rise of e-commerce. As one of the largest occupants of American shopping centers, a massive shutdown of Forever 21’s stores could aggravate the ongoing retail apocalypse.

Watch the video about how Forever 21’s success and downfall.

Discussion Questions:

1. In your opinion, where did Forever 21 go wrong?

2. What can filing for bankruptcy do to a company? What are the advantages and disadvantages?

3. In your opinion, what can the retailers do to save Forever 21?

4. What can Forever 21’s bankruptcy mean for the future of fast fashion?

5. Talk about some of the most popular fashion companies in your country?

Children’s Allowances

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Some parents now take a different tack when giving their children an allowance, making it an early form of financial literacy. They hope their kids will use the money they’ve been given responsibly and set aside a fair sum for the rainy days.

Let’s take a closer look at how parents get their money’s worth by reading the article below.

https://www.thetimesinplainenglish.com/childrens-allowances-getting-your-moneys-worth/

Discussion Questions:

  1. When you were a child, what was considered a reasonable allowance? How did you spend this amount and did you have some amount left for savings?
  2. What is the average allowance given to children in your country nowadays? What factors do parents consider in figuring out the right amount?
  3. How are children expected to spend their allowances?
  4. What values do parents hope their children will exhibit in terms of how they use the money entrusted to them?
  5. Imagine explaining financial management to a child. How would you go about it?

Are You Good at Complaining?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It has been said that complaining, to a certain degree, has some stress-relieving benefits. Being able to voice out your frustrations in small doses can appease one’s anger. For some, complaining comes naturally. For others, complaining just isn’t their nature.

Listen to this podcast and be ready to talk about people’s willingness to air displeasure.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-191003

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you often complain when you feel that you were wronged or you did not get your money’s worth? Talk about your experiences filing complaints.

2. What good does complaining do?

3. According to the podcast, what are the most used methods for complaining?

4. Why do people resort to modern methods such as social media platforms to voice out their complaints?

5. What do you usually to get what you want?

Consumerism

B2 – Upper intermediate

Have you ever wondered how we’ve been consuming so much or wanting to buy more than our bare necessities? This contributes too much to environmental destruction like pollution, degradation, etc. We are at an alarming rate of consuming resources in which our planet isn’t able to replenish.

Please see the video below:

Discussion Questions:

  1. Describe the video.
  2. What is consumerism and how did the consumerist culture start?
  3. How do commercials influence people’s buying behavior?
  4. How does consumerism affect society? How does it affect you?
  5. What can we do to reduce our consumption?

Alpha Male

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There is no shortage of definitions of alpha males. Film and book protagonists are usually alpha male inspired. They are the strong, smart, confident, charming, kindhearted and good-looking men. But can one man really have it all? Do alpha males really exist?

Discussion Questions:

1. How are alpha males defined in the video?

2. Do you agree that alpha males are context-based? Please give an example.

3. Why are most women attracted to alpha males?

4. Do you agree that humans are susceptible to social dominance?

5. What do you think of alpha males or very dominant people?



Cities With the Best Quality of Life

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Living in a wonderful city and enjoying the best quality life there. Sounds good, doesn’t it?

Find out which cities have the best quality of life.

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/05/these-cities-have-the-best-quality-of-life/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are some of the measures used to determine the cities with the best quality of life?
  2. In your opinion, what’s the quality of life like in the city you live in?
  3. How can the quality of life be improved in your city?
  4. Describe your experience being in a city with good and bad quality of life.
  5. Which among the top 10 cities with the best quality of life would you want to live in and why?

Why Printed Books Are Still Popular

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Despite the proliferation of the internet and social media, in one industry paper continues to trump electronic.

Watch this short video to better comprehend why paper books remain the medium of choice of many millennial parents and young netizens.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhbMp2CCq6s

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the video, why do paper books continue to thrive despite competition from e-books?
  2. Which book do you remember most from your childhood? What was it about? Did you read it, or was it read to you by family or a teacher? Why does it remain a vivid memory? Was it an electronic or printed book?
  3. What is the role of libraries in today’s world of Google search results and Wikipedia entries?

Undo

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Some people say that we should look at mistakes with a positive mindset. That rather than feeling let down by ourselves and others, we should see errors as opportunities for learning and growth. But what if there was a way to undo things that have gone wrong with a simple keystroke?

Watch the following short film to see what one man did when fate seemingly smiled down on him.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree with the choices Stu made when he discovered what “Ctrl Z” on his keyboard could do?
  2. Given a one-time “Ctrl Z”, what personal decision would you undo to change the outcome of?
  3. How do you handle mistakes? What thoughts fill your head after committing an error? What emotions do you feel?
  4. In your opinion, what is the proper way to correct a workmate? A subordinate? Your boss?
  5. Describe the attitude toward correction that can lead to positive results.

Spain’s Unfinished Cities

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Valdeluz, an unfinished development housing project near Guadalajara was constructed to house aspiring middle-class homeowners. It has become a paragon of the consequences of the housing bubble burst and the country’s confounded economic decline.

Read more about this ghost town, its implications on Spain’s housing and economic state.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/spain-empty-cities_n_56ba6221e4b0b40245c47dff

Discussion Questions:

  1. Talk about the construction boom in Spain, the current situation and your thoughts on this issue.
  2. Do you know any urbanization development projects that were abandoned midway? What do you think of when you see such sights?
  3. Has the housing crisis waned in your country now?
  4. What do you think went wrong with these housing projects?
  5. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of living in urbanizations?