Tag: First Certificate FCE

The Pecking Order

B2 – Upper Intermediate

By definition, hierarchy is a way of organizing people, in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority. When is hierarchy bad and when is it not?

Let’s listen to know the answer and learn how chickens’ pecking order work as well.

Discussion Questions:
1. What did you learn from the chickens’ pecking order?
2. According to the audio, what is the best hierarchy? (Do you agree?)
3. When is hierarchy bad?
4. Talk about your workplace pecking order.

Throw in the Towel

B2 – Upper Intermediate

When things don’t turn out the way you wanted them to be despite your hard work and determination, quitting is probably something you would consider to do next. For some, quitting is not in their vocabulary. Is it really that bad to just give up? Are some dreams just aren’t worth chasing?

Read this lesson about the expression “throw in the towel”.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak/ep-181119

Discussion Questions:

1. What does “throw in the towel” mean?

2. When is it right to give up? Do you think twice before doing so?

3. What do you do when you feel like giving up?

4. Share your own experience wherein you had to throw in the towel.

How Do Vampire Bats Survive on Blood?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever wondered how vampire bats live? Scientists have recently discovered how these “flying mice” can survive on a blood-only diet.

Watch the video to find out more about these creatures and also learn some vocabulary associated with their “bloody” lifestyle.

Discussion Questions:

1. According to the video, how do vampire bats live only on blood?

2. What comes to mind when you hear the words “vampire”, “bats” and “blood”?

3. Do you know of any vampire legends/folk stories from your country? Tell us about them.

How Buffet Restaurants Make Money

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Buffet restaurants typically offer all-you-can-eat (AYCE) food for a fixed price.

The good thing about buffet themes is that the customers can immediately see all the food being served and then choose which dishes they prefer to eat. They can also control how much food they put on their plates.

This dining style is usual in events like business conventions or big parties.

Watch the video below and find out how this kind of restaurants make profits.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Talk about the tricks buffet restaurants apply to make money.
  2. What are your thoughts on this type of restaurants?
  3. Have you ever experienced going to a buffet restaurant? Share about it.
  4. How can you get the most out of a buffet?
  5. Talk about your favorite restaurant and its strategy on getting people in the door.

Work Friends

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We spend so much of our time working. It is quite unhealthy not to be happy where you work.

Watch as author Annie McKee tells us why it’s important to have friends at work and why getting too personal can sometimes be a problem too.

Discussion Questions:
1. What’s the importance of having a work buddy?
2. Do you think it is wise to be too personal with your colleagues?
3. Talk about your work best friend.

Make Men Masculine Again

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Men are commonly associated with rape, murder, aggression and violence—all the stuff related to “toxic masculinity,”. For some, the obvious solution is to make men less masculine to make them less toxic. On the other hand, some say making men more like women will only result to more “toxic masculinity”.

Watch the video to find out why.

Discussion Questions:

1. What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘men’?

2. Do you agree with the solution to make men less toxic and make them more like women?

3. Do you think men are more aggressive than women?

4. In your country, who is usually regarded as the head of the family?

5. What three changes would you like to make to (other) men?

Why Young People Feel Lonely

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Loneliness can be one of the most destructive feelings humans are capable of feeling. It can happen anytime, anywhere, in a crowd, with friends and family and even while with them. Any person can experience loneliness, but a study shows that it is the 16 to 24-year olds who feel the loneliest.

Watch the video to find out why young people are the loneliest.

Discussion Questions:

1. Why do think the youth feel the loneliest?

2. Would you agree that the youth are lonelier than old people?

3. When do you get lonely?

4. What would you advise the youth of this generation?

5. What do you think is the youth’s greatest challenge nowadays?

Donut Spree for Charity

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A local doughnut shop in California has people lining out the door before the sun even comes up.

Watch the video to discover the reason, which is sweeter than the treat itself. Find out why people are splurging on them.

 

Discussion Questions:

1. Why are the people buying all the donuts? How does the video impact you?

2. Describe your own community. How does your community look after its own people?

3. Do you support your local shops and businesses?

4. How can you encourage solidarity and charity in your community?

5. What treats are Spanish crazy about?

Spooky Stories for Your Halloween

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Halloween… many Spanish associate this holiday with the United States. But in fact, according to historians, this tradition is most likely Celtic in origin. It only became widely celebrated in America after the mass Irish and Scottish immigration in the 19th century. Nevertheless, in recent years, it has grown in popularity in Spain and has become a time for parties and revelry.

Halloween is a spooky time for many. In this video, check out some hair-raising anecdotes from real people. Truth or fiction? See for yourself.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the video about? What can you say about these stories?
  2. Does your family celebrate Halloween?
  3. Tell us about a spooky story of your own.

Designer Babies

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A designer baby is one whose genetic makeup has been selected in order to get a particular trait or remove a particular defect in the baby’s gene. It has become an increasingly popular procedure since it helps couples with infertility-related issues. The practice pre-selects before implantation. This procedure allows couples to screen viable embryos for various genetic traits, such as potential diseases the embryo could have and other traits that the embryo would likely attain before implanting them into the mother’s womb.

Since this has been created, it has caused uproar throughout the scientific community as to whether it is an ethical procedure or not. There are many questions that have been brought up, but these are very difficult to answer. Should there be designers babies?

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

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of Designer Babies?
  2. What are the benefits and drawbacks of pre-implantation genetic screening?
  3. Would you be willing to undergo this procedure? Why or why not?