Tag: First Certificate FCE

Stress Relief

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Everyone experiences stress at times. Stress can be helpful because people can develop the skills they need to deal with possible threatening situations throughout life. Stress is a disadvantage when it prevents a person from taking care of themselves or their family.

More and more people try to find healthy ways to cope with it.

Click the link and find out some simple tips to help reduce stressful feelings and symptoms:

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/gretchen-rubin/stress-relief-10-extremel_b_617967.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are you stressed out? What usually makes you stressed?
  2. Do you think the tips mentioned in the article are helpful to relieve stress?
  3. How do you cope up with stress?
  4. Do you have any more tips to add in order to reduce stress?

 

Relationship-Building

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Employees spend a good deal of time in the office. You interact with different people with different personalities all the time.

It is vital that you establish a good relationship with the people you work with everyday.

Listen to the audio and learn some practical ways to develop relationship-building competency.

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/business-english/podcasts-professionals/relationship-building

Discussion Questions:
1. Differentiate team building and relationship-building.
2. What are ways to develop relationship-building competency?
3. Why is this competency important in the workplace?

The Green Card Lottery

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The government’s protection on one’s pursuit of happiness is the main concept of the American dream. People from different parts of the world would like to have a piece of this dream. In order to do so, the first step would be to secure a green card.

There are millions of immigrants who are applying for this to gain residency in America. Every year, a lottery is held by the US government to give out green cards.

Read on to find out more details about the American Green Card Lottery.

https://www.english-online.at/government/green-card-lottery/green-card-immigration-to-the-us.htm

Discussion Questions:

1. What is a green card?

2. What are the benefits of having a green card in the United States?

3. Why do people from many countries wish to live in the USA?

4. Would you ever want to live in the United States of America? Why or why not?

Summertime: Food Poisoning Alert

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Food poisoning is more common than we think. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), there are over 40 million cases of food poisoning every year. The effects of this condition can be simple and not too worrisome, like a case of mild diarrhea or a slight fever. But in extreme cases, it can cause severe dehydration and an inability to pass urine, among others.

Food poisoning can occur all-year round, but it is most common in the summertime.

Check out the article to find out why and how to prevent it.

http://www.thetimesinplainenglish.com/summer-time-food-poisoning-alert/

Discussion Questions:

1. Why is food poisoning more common in the summertime?

2. How can food poisoning be prevented? Please explain.

3. Have you ever experienced this condition before?

America’s Position on Breastfeeding

B2 – Upper Intermediate

For decades, doctors and health experts have praised the wonders and benefits of breastfeeding. Breast milk contains antibodies that help strengthen a baby’s immune system. It also lowers the risk of asthma and allergies. In general, breastfed babies have a healthier outlook compared to those who have never been breastfed.

Shockingly, however, at a recent World Health Organization (WHO) meeting, America changed its stance on breastfeeding.

Read the article below to find out more about this stunning news.

http://www.thetimesinplainenglish.com/americas-position-do-not-encourage-breast-feeding/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What were America’s reasons for changing their position about breastfeeding?
  2. What is your opinion about the article?
  3. Should this practice be encouraged or discouraged? Kindly explain.
  4. How is breastfeeding in public viewed in your country?

Miss Universe’s First Transgender Contestant

B2 – Upper Intermediate

On June 29, Angela Ponce of Seville made history as she was crowned Miss Universe-Spain. She is the first ever transgender candidate in the prestigious pageant’s 60-year history. Although this is seen as a groundbreaking achievement for the LBGTQ community, many people on social media are divided in their opinions about allowing a former male to take part in an event associated with natural-born women.

Take a look at the article and find out more.

https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/beauty/face-body/meet-miss-universes-first-transgender-contestant/news-story/308156f8ac3e2c5e492abfe53cbb08e5

Discussion Questions:

  1. Should a transgender woman be allowed to compete in Miss Universe? What is your opinion?
  2. Why is this a controversial subject? How can this affect society in general?
  3. Are beauty contests popular in your country? What can you say about beauty pageants?

Thailand Cave Rescue

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Last 23rd of June, a group of boys and their football coach went missing while exploring a cave in the north of Thailand. Fortunately, they were all found alive by British volunteer divers, 9 days later.

Watch and read about the youths’ harrowing experience and the massive and daring rescue mission that was organized to find them.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-44688909

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the article and video all about? Who should be held responsible in this situation?
  2. Exploring a cave, especially a big and deep one, can be very dangerous. Is it something that you would like to try? Why or why not?
  3. If you were trapped inside a cave, what would you do in order to survive?

The Menstruation Taboo in Rural Nepal Can Kill

B2 – Upper intermediate

Through the centuries, the fight for women’s rights has always been a slow and uphill battle. Although steady progress and changing attitudes towards women have been very positive in a lot of countries, there are others who still cling to tradition and see women as second-class citizens. For instance, in some parts of rural Nepal, a woman’s “period” is bizarrely regarded as a time of shame.

Read the article to find out more.

http://www.thetimesinplainenglish.com/the-menstruation-taboo-in-rural-nepal-can-kill/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Explain the article in your own words.
  2. Talk about women’s rights in your country. What are some issues concerning women that are still regarded as taboo?
  3. What can be done to improve the plight of women around the world?

Foreign Home Buyers Ban

B2 – Upper Intermediate

New Zealand has been an attractive place for holiday homes. Hence, more and more foreigners have been buying houses there. This lead to a massive demand in properties and consequently, rise in property prices.

Find out more about PM Ardern’s plans to make buying their first homes easier for Kiwis through the article below:

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1711/171102-home-buyers.html

Discussion Questions:

1. How is it like to purchase your first home in Spain?
2. Should non-citizens be allowed to buy homes in a country?
3. Do you agree that houses are good investments?

Is Reading News Bad

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Reading newspaper is a good habit that can provide us a clear idea and understanding of what is happening in your country and the whole world. It carries information about politics, economy, entertainment, sports, business, industry, trade and commerce. However, a survey found that news consumption has a tremendous downside for mental health.

Read the article below to find out the downsides of reading too much news.

http://time.com/5125894/is-reading-news-bad-for-you/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “feed” mean here, “Yet one in 10 adults checks the news every hour, and fully 20% of Americans report “constantly” monitoring their social media feeds—which often exposes them to the latest news headlines, whether they like it or not.”? Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “exacerbate” mean, “Our studies also showed that this change in mood exacerbates the viewer’s own personal worries, even when those worries are not directly relevant to the news stories being broadcast.”? Use it in a sentence.
  3. Explain “negativity bias“.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does news affect you?
  2. What are the positive and negative aspects of watching or reading news for you?
  3. How has the way that news is presented changed in the past 15 to 20 years? What are your thoughts on “bystander-captured media”?
  4. What was the most devastating news that you have ever watched, read, or heard about?
  5. Talk about some news today.