Tag: First Certificate FCE

Living Without Plastic

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Whether we like it or not, we feel and see the drastic changes in our environment these days. About 71 percent of our planet is made up of water and most of it is now contaminated with plastics brought about by human consumption and improper disposal.

Let’s discuss how plastics destroy the environment and what we can do to save the planet.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think it is hard to live without plastics? Why or why not?
  2. Should the use of plastics be regulated? Would it be easy or not to to do so? Why or why not?
  3. What are the alternatives to plastics and using them?
  4. What do you do in order to reduce your and your family’s plastic use?
  5. Why is it important to be aware of the effects of using plastics?
  6. Would it be easy for us to nourish and care for our polluted planet?

Binge Drinking

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Binge drinking refers to the excessive consumption of alcohol in a single setting. It is very common among people in several countries worldwide, and is somehow similar with social drinking since it is often done in groups.

Binge drinking is considered a serious public health problem, but can be prevented.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What drive people to binge drink?
  2. What health effects do overindulging in alcohol have?
  3. What can be done to prevent knocking drinks back like it’s an Olympic sport?
  4. What kinds of social problems does alcohol cause in your country?
  5. Talk about the drinking culture in your country.

Prepare Kids for the Future in the Workplace

B2- Upper Intermediate

Having successful children is what most parents aspire for. As much as we should let kids be kids, we should also think about how to raise them in order for them to be workplace-ready.

How do we prepare our children to excel in the workplace in the future?

https://www.inc.com/video/jt-odonnell/how-to-raise-kids-who-will-succeed-in-the-workplace.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What advice did the speaker share? Do you agree or disagree?

2. What are ways to raise successful children?

3. Should children be raised always thinking they should constantly strive for success?

4. How did you prepare for joining the workforce?

5. Talk about a challenge you had at work and how you overcame it.

The Art of the Business Lunch

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the business arena, having a business lunch is important as offers can be made, partnerships can be formed and deals can be closed. How much do you know about having successful lunch meetings?

Let’s learn some tips and be ready to share what you know.

Discussion Questions:
1. What did you learn from the video?
2. Who should order and what should you order? What’s meant by “not scratch-made”?
3. What other business lunch etiquette do you know?
4. Is it good or bad idea to bring a small gift for the host/hostess?
5. Is being punctual important? Why or why not?

What Japanese Prison Food is Like

B2 – Upper intermediate

Prisons all over the world have dark and sinister reputations. Living the life of an inmate is very hard to envision for most people. Just imagine eating prison food every day. What a nightmare it must be.

However, in a prison in Abashiri, Japan, the surroundings and even the food is quite different from what we all know.

Take a look at the video to find out more.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the video all about? Explain it in your own words.
  2. Do you know of anyone who has ever been to prison?
  3. Talk about prisons in your own country. What do you know about them?

What If You Never Ate Meat?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Steak, burgers, chicken, hot dogs… These are just some types of meat to name a few. The question is, is eating meat good or bad? Meat is a staple in many diet and is a great source of protein and other important nutrients needed by our body. However, It’s a highly controversial food because some people believe that eating meat is unhealthy, unnecessary and it may even kill us.

Watch the video and take a look at the health benefits and potential risks of eating meat.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree with the video? Explain your position.
  2. Cite the benefits and consequences of meat on our bodies or health.
  3. Can you live without ever eating meat? Why or why not?
  4. What kinds of meat do you enjoy eating? Do you think it’s healthy? Share.
  5. What do you think of processed meat?

The Gender Pay Gap

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Data show that the majority of medium and large companies pay higher wage rates to men than to women. In spite of all these records, skeptics still do not believe in the existence of the idea. See how the video debunks myths about the gender pay gap.

Discussion Questions:

1. Discuss the six myths about the gender pay gap.
2. Do you experience the pay gap in your company?
3. How can we resolve issues about the pay gap?
4. In what other phenomena are men considered to be more privileged than women?
5. In what events are women thought to be more advantaged than men?

World Trade Center Subway Station Reopens

B2 – Upper Intermediate

People welcomed the first train rolled into the new WTC Cortlandt station. The train station was buried under the rubble of the Twin Towers on 11th September 2001 and now the new fully accessible station features a mosaic that uses words from the Declaration of Independence.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45463886

Discussion Questions:

  1. In what ways do you think the re-opening of the subway station will be most beneficial?

2. How would Americans feel about the re-opening of the train station?

3. Do you think re-opening of this train station will bring back bad memories of the 9/11 attack?

 

Marketing a Country

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There are about 200 countries around the world. Each of which strives to get resources, improve trade activities, and garner attention.

Now, the bigger challenge is, how do you rise above everyone and let the world know that your country exists?

Read more about nation branding from the article below.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-45263511

Discussion Questions:

1. In your opinion, what are other ways to boost a country’s profile?
2. What do you think is your country’s image to the world?
3. What part of your country’s brand would you change?
4. Which country or countries do you have very good impression of?

Town Governed Through Twitter

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Social media has undeniably become a vital part of our societies. It is an essential tool for our daily activities such as communicating, socializing, accessing to news and information, and making decisions.

A small town in Spain takes the use of social media to new heights.

Read the article about Jun, a town governed via Twitter.

https://medium.com/@socialmachines/the-incredible-jun-a-town-that-runs-on-social-media-49d3d0d4590

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree or disagree with this idea? Why or why not?
  2. What do you think are the positives and negatives of using Twitter this way?
  3. How else do you think social media can be used in a positive way?