Tag: First Certificate FCE

Oxford Word of the Year 2017

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Post-truth, ‘Face with Tears of Joy’ Emoji, vape, and selfie are just some of the words Oxford declared as Word of the Year in the past four years.

Find out last year’s Word of the Year and why Oxford chose it.

And the Word of the Year 2017 is…

Discussion Questions:

1. How did youthquake come into rise?

2. What do you think of the youth in this generation?
How do they differ to the youth in the past?

3. Explain how you can observe youthquake in Spain in the recent years.

4. What is the most significant cultural, political, or social change that arose in Spain last year? What significant cultural, political, or social change would you like to emerge in Spain?

5. If you could coin a word, what would it be?

6. What could you choose as 2017 Spanish Word of the Year?

Corporate Social Responsibility

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We normally associate business with financial gains. But at the end of the day, is it really just about the money?

In recent times, a lot of companies are moving toward dedicating their efforts to developing their company’s corporate social responsibility’s arm.

Check out the link below for a better understanding of CSR.

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/corp-social-responsibility.asp

Discussion Questions:

1. In your own understanding, what is CSR?
2. In your opinion, should CSR be an important part of any company? Why or why not?
3. Talk about your company’s CSR.

Are Food Preservatives Bad for You?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Food preservatives are substances added to food items in order to inhibit, retard or arrest the process of fermentation, acidification, and decomposition of food items’. Or, in other words, they are a type of  food additive  which prolong shelf life and keep products from being broken down by microorganisms

But the question is, how safe are they? Watch the video and be able to discuss the questions that follow:

 

Discuss:

  1. What are the benefits of using preservatives in food?
  2. What do you think about preservatives? Are they beneficial or harmful?
  3. Do you seek out preservative-free food?
  4. What are some ways of preserving food in your country?
  5. What are some of the most popular preserved food in your country?

Tips for Job Interviews

B2 – Upper intermediate – Job Interview

Are you going to a job interview soon? Are you nervous that maybe you will stutter and fail the interview? Then, don’t fret because we got you covered. Watch the video below and learn how to ace that interview.

Discussion Questions:

  1.  Have you ever had a job interview in English before? If yes, how was your experience?
  2.  What kind of preparations do you do before a job interview?

Sample interview questions to help you practice:

  1.  Tell me about yourself.
  2.  What is your strength?
  3.  What is your weakness?
  4.  Why should we hire you?
  5. Why are you leaving your job?
  6. Why do you want this job?
  7. What are your goals in the future?

Steve Jobs Talks About Managing People

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Steve Jobs was one of the most famous CEO in the world. Ever wonder how he did it? How did he manage his people and build a successful multinational company?

Watch as Steve Jobs talks about managing people.

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the interview, how is the company organized?
  2. What kind of organization is set up in this company?
  3. According to Steve Jobs, why did Apple become successful? Share your thoughts on this.
  4. Explain your company’s management style. Is there anything that you would like to change?
  5. What do you think is the best way to manage people? Elaborate.

Showering Everyday Is Bad

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It’s common sense that we take a bath to wash away germs that can make us sick, to keep clean and to smell fresh. However, a research shows that we do not actually have to shower every day for it may cause more harm than good.

Click the link to find out.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/is-shower-everyday-good-or-bad-cleaning-hygiene-university-utah-amazon-village-microbes-skin-a7546216.html

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you take a shower every single day? How do you feel when you skip a shower?

2. After reading the text, would you change your routine?
What is your daily self-care routine?

3. How do you take care of your skin? What are the advantages of having beautiful skin?

Protesters Ransack South African H&M Stores Over Racist Ad

B2 –  Upper Intermediate

H&M, a Swedish multinational clothing-retail company, faces a backlash when an image of a black child models a sweatshirt with the slogan “coolest monkey in the jungle” came out.

This led to protesters running amok in some H&M stores in South Africa to express their anger.

Read the article to know more.  

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/protesters-ransack-south-african-h-m-stores-over-racist-ad-n837506

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on H&M’s advert?
  2. What are your thoughts on the protesters action?
  3. Speak about another company that was involved in a similar controversial.
  4. H&M already issued an apology for the racist advert. How do you think this kind of advert or controversy can affect a company like H&M?
  5. Share your thoughts about protests over corporate wrongdoing turning violent in South Africa. Has there ever been a similar incident in your country? Talk about it.

Cities Face a Surge in Online Deliveries

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Online delivery service is very popular and a convenient way for customers to receive items right at their doorstep but to what extent? Will this continue to keep the streets busy and congested.

Read the article to know what the growth of online shopping looks like on the ground in America’s largest cities.

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-42245367

Discussion Questions:

  1. Talk about some problems associated with growing deliveries brought about by skyrocketing online shopping.
  2. What can be done to address these issues?
  3. Do you think it is the same problem in the city where you live in? Why is this so?
  4. How do you feel about online shopping deliveries overall?
  5. How important is online shopping for you?

What to Expect at the World’s Biggest Tech Show

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever been to a smart city before? Can you imagine living in a city where almost everything is operated by AI and technology?

In this year’s biggest tech show, there will be variety of advanced gadgets that you can find from TV to cars. It is expected to draw more than 170,000 people and there will be 4,000 exhibitors.

If you are curious like me, let’s read the full article below and discuss it later.

https://www.voanews.com/a/ces-las-vegas/4199977.html

Discussion:
1. What are your thoughts on the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas?

2. Which of the technologies featured in the article are you most excited about? Why?

3. Why do you think voice-controlled devices are becoming increasingly popular?

4. Would you like to be able to “order around” your household appliances? Why? Why not?

5. How do you feel about the prospect of “smartening up entire cities”?

Light Pollution

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As far as history goes, night time has always been associated with darkness. Nowadays, it hasn’t been the case anymore.

We’re lighting the world up at an alarming rate and we don’t know it.

Watch the video about increasing light pollution.

https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/world/2017/11/22/were-lighting-up-earth-alarming-rate/107945254/

Discussion Questions:

1. What was mentioned about Spain’s radiance in the video?
2. What do you know about light pollution?
3. What are the pros and cons of overly brightly-lit towns/cities?
4. Talk about light pollution in your city.
5. What can you do to reduce light pollution?