Tag: First Certificate FCE

Reasons Brands Matter to Consumers

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Brands go way beyond just a logo or graphic element. They are a way for companies to communicate with their customers in a simple way – to reach customers looking for what they are aiming to provide.  However, do brands really matter? How does a customer perceive them?

Read the article and be able to discuss the questions that follow.

https://www.articlecube.com/5-reasons-why-brands-matter-consumers

Discussion Questions:

  1. Which among the reasons in the article do you agree/disagree with?
  2. Are you brand-conscious?
  3. In your own opinion, are brands important? Why or why not?
  4. Are all branded products really better?

 

 

Going Through Your Spouse’s Phone

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Honesty in a marriage is so important. You can’t build a strong relationship on half-truths and half-lies. However, is it necessary to have your phone checked or you checking on your spouse’s phone?

Watch this video and weigh in on whether or not it is okay to go through your spouse’s phone.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is it okay to go through your partner/spouse’s phone? Why or why not?
  2. What reasons does the speaker put out why women check their husband’s phone? Do you think they are justifiable reasons? Explain your thoughts.
  3. How do you get your better half to open up to you?
  4. How can privacy exist in a marriage?

Effects of Growing a Beard

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Beards are in.  Beards have fascinating history that evolved into something more socially acceptable.

Find out about the scientific effects when men grow a beard.

Discussion Questions:
1. What are the 7 scientific effects that happen when a man grows a beard?
2. Is growing a beard good or bad?
3. How is growing a beard viewed in your country? In workplaces?
4. Do you agree that men with beards are generally regarded as more masculine, dominant, and socially mature?

Packageless Beauty Products

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Humanity has created 6.3 billion metric tons of plastic waste and only 9% of that has been recycled. Cosmetic company LUSH recognized how much of that waste comes from packaging within the cosmetic industry and vowed to make a change. The company now features a wide variety of products that come without packaging—also known by their terms as “naked. Some of these products include shampoo bars and shower gels.

Watch the video and be able to discuss the questions that follow:

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of packageless beauty products?
  2. With the arrival of zero waste products, what will happen to label information and brand communication of the products?
  3. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of using “naked” products?

To Pull the Wool Over Someone’s Eyes

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the 17th century, people used to put on these detailed wigs that looked woolly. Put them on the wrong way and that would obscure the person’s vision hence the inability to see if a trick is being played on them.

Listen to the audio below and find out how pulling one’s woolly hat over someone’s eyes explains deception and trickery.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak/ep-190318

Discussion Questions:

1. What does ‘to pull the wool over someone’s eyes’ mean?

2. Has anyone pulled the wool over your eyes?

3. How do feel when you find out you have been tricked into doing something?

4. Do you blame yourself for falling victim to deception/trickery?

 

 

Best Street Food

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Let’s try to imagine someone wanted to visit your country one day and asks if you could recommend the best street foods you have. Foods that perhaps best represent your country’s people and culture.

Watch the video below to find out the best street food from different countries.

 

Discussion Questions:

1. Where would you recommend them to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner?
2. What Spanish street foods would suggest them to eat?
3. What do you wish they learn and appreciate about your country?
4. Have you traveled before and tried popular but for you, somehow unfamiliar food? If, so please share your experience.

Spanish Taxman Investigates Ronaldo Revelations

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Some high-profile personalities have been implicated in tax-dodging activities after documents gathered by German weekly Der Spiegel were leaked. Cristiano Ronaldo, among others, is one of them.

Read the article to know more about this tax controversy involving high-profile footballers.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-40260517

Discussion Questions:

1. What are your thoughts on this news?

2. What can be done in order to prevent high-profile personalities from committing tax fraud?

3. What changes would you like to see in your country’s tax system?

Apple’s New Apple TV+

B2- Upper Intermediate

Apple is introducing Apple TV+ . It will be streaming original content videos similar to biggest and successful streaming companies like Netflix and Amazon. Many people subscribe to these streaming services and Apple has predicted that it will gain a huge  number of subscribers in the future as well.

Read the article:

 

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/26/tech/apple-streaming/index.html

 

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think about Apple’s  TV + ? Will the price be affordable for consumers?

2. Apple has succeeded at selling subscriptions, apps, movies and other services to iPhone customers, do you think this new service will be successful too?

3. Would you pay for another streaming company? Why or why not?

4. What kinds of streaming video contents do you think will be appealing to the public?

 

Viral Video

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We see it everyday; people sharing, retweeting, reposting images, videos or even just texts on social media. Most would do it for humour and entertainment. How does an online material get viral? What drives netizens to share them?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-170817

Discussion Questions:

1. Why do people share materials on social media?

2. What are high arousal emotions?

3. What kinds of videos or links do you usually share on social media?

Three-Parent Baby

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The joy of having a child is immeasurable and it is what most couples look forward to. However, there are situations when couples could not possibly have a normal and healthy offspring due to the genetic disorder of one of the would-be parents. Science has found the answer, but are parents willing to replace their genes with another person’s to conceive a healthy child?

Let’s learn more about the three-parent baby.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-150402

Discussion Questions:

1. How does the three-parent baby work?

2. Why is there a need for a three-parent baby technique?

3. What is your stand on this issue? Do you think it is morally acceptable to undergo this process?