Tag: First Certificate FCE

Beijing Bikini

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Every summer inevitably leads men to roll their shirts up and expose their bellies in public places like parks and alleyways.  This “fashion trend” is commonly known as “Beijing Bikini” and it is now under threat. The city of Jinan in northeastern Shandong Province has announced that the exposing of bellies is one of its key targets in what they’re calling a “civilizing campaign”. The moves are supposedly part of improving the city’s overall image.

Read the article here:

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/04/asia/china-jinan-beijing-bikini-intl-hnk/index.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your opinion about Beijing Bikini and the end of it in this Chinese city?

2. Should we show decency when we are in public places?

3.“If their bodies are good then fine; if they’re not in shape then no way.” What is your reaction to this statement?

4. How does being shirtless affect the overall image of a city/country?

 

Smart Speakers

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Smart speakers have been gaining popularity all over the world. We find convenience in using these devices as they listen to all our commands.

But how can we be sure that this mere ‘listening’ by these gadgets isn’t ‘spying’?

Listen to the discussion on smart speakers.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-190509

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you make of smart speakers?
  2. What are your thoughts on the possibility of you being spied on through your smart devices?
  3. Talk about your experience using a smart speaker or any smart device. If you aren’t using one yet, what are your reasons for not doing so?
  4. Tell us your experience eavesdropping.

Vampire Shopping

B2 – Upper Intermediate

One of the many things we can do on our laptops and smartphones is shopping. We can do it any moment of the day, even in the dead of the night. But is this a good thing to do?

Listen to this episode as the hosts talk about their shopping habits and vampire shopping.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-190530

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on very late night shopping?
  2. What are the pros and cons of shopping online?
  3. Talk about your online shopping habits, experiences, and online shopping’s effects on you.
  4. Have you ever bought things you regretted or were ashamed of?
  5. Have you ever gotten sucked into something?

Why Appraisals Are Pointless?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In so many ways, whether the company would thrive or fail relies on employee quality. Hence, many companies resort to appraisals in order to sort the good apples from the bad ones.

Read the full article and discover why the dreaded appraisals just don’t work and what might be the better way to boost employee productivity.

http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20190501-why-appraisals-are-pointless-for-most-people

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the pros and cons of employee performance ratings?
  2. What are your thoughts on performance reviews?
  3. Talk about the performance review process of your company.

The Ship of Theseus

B2 – Upper Intermediate

“To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly.”

Are you the same person seven years ago? If not, who is the real you: the person you were before, or the person you are now? Here’s philosophy’s one big question.

Discussion Questions:

1. What is The Ship of Theseus about?

2. How would you answer the hanging questions about The Ship of Theseus?

3. Cite some notable changes in your life over the years.

4. In your opinion, what gives us our identity?

Venezuelans Adopt Recycling to Make Ends Meet

B2 – Upper Intermediate

This man sits at a marketplace stall in Caracas and repairs broken light bulbs for people who do not have money to buy new ones. Venezuela’s severe economic crisis has led to food and other basic commodities shortages. Hyperinflation has left people’s salaries almost with no value at all anymore in this country.

Watch the video and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

 

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your opinion about the topic in the video?

2. What can be the solution to Venezuela’s problem?

3. Is recycling truly beneficial for people and the environment?

4. What are the most common items that you can put into recycling?

5. Do you recycle or not? Is recycling commonly done in your city or country?

How IKEA Gets You to Impulsively Buy More?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

According to researchers, approximately 50 percent of purchases is unplanned. These purchases, especially from impulse buying, gives an opportunity for retailers to entice consumers to deviate from their shopping lists. One of the most effective ways to influence this is through a store’s architecture.

Architect Victor Gruen pioneered the first American shopping malls. He used light and space to dramatically stage goods in storefront windows. His designs were meant to capture the attention of passersby and convert them into customers. This conversion became known as the “Gruen effect.”

Watch the video below to learn how IKEA has mastered the “Gruen effect” and be able to answer the discussion questions:

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you ever been to IKEA? How often do you go there?
  2. What are some products or items have you bought from IKEA?
  3. What do you think of IKEA? How do you feel when you are in their store?
  4. What impulse buys did you regret?
  5. What are ways to prevent impulse buys?

Can You Really Trust Online Reviews?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Nowadays, everyone plasters their opinions over the internet. No longer do we have to wait for experts to give their stamp of approval on hotels, online stores (Amazon), |Trip Advisor and so many others as it had literally millions of reviews of anything we could think of because anybody could write what they think online. The big question is, how reliable could these reviews be in influencing our decision-making process in purchasing products online.

Watch the video and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

 

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your opinion on online reviews?
2. Do you read reviews online to help you make decisions?
3. Have you ever made a fantastic discovery out of a review online?
4. What kind of reviews do you trust and those that make you skeptical?
5. Share your good/bad experience with online reviews.

Why People Fake Serious Illness?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

For some people, being ill means being special. They crave for the attention and care that others willingly provide them. The feeling is so intense that they would like to stay in that condition. However, unfortunately for them, some illnesses just simply go away and ironically therein lies the rub.

Watch the video and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

 

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the difference between Munchausen syndrome and Munchausen syndrome by proxy?
  2. Why do people fake serious illness?
  3. Do you feel like you are given special treatment when you are sick? Does it make you linger to it a bit more?

Why are We Attracted to People Who Look Like Us?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We have heard the phrase: “opposites attract” before. Is it always the case though? When choosing our life/romantic partner, do we tend to abide by this idea or do we look for someone who we have more similarities with?

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

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is assortative mating? Do you agree with this study?
  2. What do you look for in a partner?
  3. Explain the experiment conducted discussed in the video. Were you surprised with the result of the said experiment?