Tag: First Certificate FCE

UK Ban on Petrol and Diesel Cars

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Undeniably, air pollution has been a problem in every country around the world. No wonder a lot of car companies are heading for electric and hybrid cars in the future. Just recently, the UK has announced its plans to fight air pollution by banning petrol and diesel cars starting 2040.

Is it a good idea or will it be a little too late by then?  Let’s read the article below and let us know your opinion about the subject.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-26/uk-to-ban-sales-of-petrol-diesel-fuelled-cars-from-2040-reports/8744076

Let’s talk:

1. What do you think about Britain’s plan to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2040?
2. Would you support such a ban in your country? Why? Why not?
3. How long do you think it will be before all cars on the road are electric? Why?
4. Do you believe that electric cars will be cheaper to maintain than ICE cars by 2025-2029? Why? Why not?
5. What do you think governments should do to encourage people to buy electric cars?
6. Why do you think some people are still skeptical about electric cars?

Extreme Employees

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In some countries, they are trying to maintain their workers’ work-life balance by experimenting on different work styles. However, there remains a lot of people who has no choice but to work very long hours.

Find out more about “extreme employees” through this article:

Although some countries like France and Australia have begun to experiment with additional vacation time to balance work and personal happiness, the worldwide trend has progressed in the opposite direction. For example, Japan has long been known for its excruciating workweeks. Employees in other countries are falling victim to longer and longer hours at the office in recent years, too. The result is a new type of employee, called the “extreme employee.”

From a pool of more than two million surveys of high-salaried employees in the US, it’s clear that you need to work more if you want to advance up the corporate ladder. The extreme employee demonstrates more than simple dedication to the company, though. He believes in the proposition that there’s always more he could–and should!–do. If you count the time it takes to commute to the office, then 70-hour workweeks are common. He makes himself available to clients and office emergencies 24-7 as well. He also takes far fewer vacation days than he’s allotted, roughly ten days or less per year.

Worse, however, and perhaps more exasperating, is the fact that most extreme employees admit dissatisfaction. More than half believe they would be physically healthier with less work. A lack of free time also harms the relationship with their children. Slightly less than half complained that the long hours had a detrimental effect on spousal relations.

Experts advocate discovering ways to get the seventy-hour workweek down to a more modest forty-five hours. Although corporations haven’t yet accomplished this feat for high-impact jobs, some major corporations are trying. American Express, Johnson & Johnson, and more than thirty others are working towards ways to reduce the pressure on managers to perform and produce.

Source: headsupenglish.com

Discussion Questions:
1. What are the effects of being an extreme employee?
2. What do you think are reasons some people work too much?
3. Should companies strive to have extreme employees or well-balanced ones?
4. Talk about your experience of a toxic work day or workweek.
5. Do you think workers in your country should be given more vacation days?

How to Become More Disciplined?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We all have bad habits that we want to get rid of. Have you ever tried changing your behavior and end up going back to it again after few days or months? Then, perhaps you are not doing it right.

There are certain tricks we can employ in order to be more disciplined. Willpower is the key in this case.

Let’s watch this video and learn from the life story of Lucas. Prepare to discuss your thoughts after watching.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How did Lucas become more self-disciplined?
  2. What kind of behaviors do you want to change and be more disciplined in?
  3. Would you consider yourself disciplined. How did you become so?
  4. Are you consistent with your good habits? If no, why? If yes, then how do you remain consistent?
  5. How can one resist temptations so we may be able to stick to our habits?

Faces and Impressions

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B2 – Upper Intermediate

Image is everything. We often make a quick judgement about someone based on their appearance or facial expression after meeting them even for only a matter of seconds. In most cases, we likely never change our opinions about that person.

Some impressions we make are trustworthiness, dominance, and attractiveness. Making a good first impression is incredibly important because you only get one shot at it.

Let’s listen to the podcast:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-170629

Discussion questions:

1. What are the best ways to make a good first impression?

2. Have you met someone whom you didn’t like so much right away even though you didn’t know him very well yet?

3. In what jobs do people have to make very quick decisions based on first impressions?

Spanish Habits That Are Hard to Master

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Whether you are planning to spend a few days or stay in Spain for good, it pays to know how Spanish live in their unique culture and identity.

They have some habits that a non-native Spanish would find it to be a little hard to pick up and master.

 

Let’s read the article and start a discussion about it. Click the link below:

https://www.thelocal.es/20170719/seven-spanish-habits-youll-never-quite-master

Discussion Questions:

1. Does the article define a true Spaniard?

2. Which among the habits mentioned do you also have?

3. What unique habits do you observe from other countries?

China Moves to Ban Use of Uyghur Language in Schools

B2 – Upper intermediate

National language drives national unity in any country, even if there are hundreds of other languages and dialects present in the state. Apart from a name, boundary, currency, or flag, a national language makes a country respectable. National language clearly indicates the national character of a country. If you want to profoundly understand and penetrate into a society, you must know how to speak and write their language.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript:

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/china-moves-to-ban-uyghur-language-in-schools/3969575.html

Discussion Questions:
1. Do you think this measure is an act of ethnic discrimination or a measure to educate everyone in the country to speak one common language?
2. Is it important to have one national language known and used by everyone in the country?
3. How many languages are spoken in your country?

 

 

A Day Without Internet

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We are living an “always-connected lifestyle”. This means that we are constantly connected to the internet. With this level of dependency, try to imagine a day without it.

Read the article and find out what it would be like if the internet would be shut down for one day.

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20170207-what-if-the-internet-stopped-for-a-day

Discussion Questions:
1. What do you think would happen if the internet stopped for a day? According to the article, what would happen if the internet stopped for a day?
2. How much do you use the internet?
3. What uses do you have for it?
4. What may be the advantages and disadvantages of a “kill switch”?
5. What do you do alternatively when you’re not online?

The Healing Power of Nature

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever felt stressed out because of your busy life? Are you sick and tired of the pollution in the city?  Then you might want to recharge and reconnect yourself with nature.

Watch the video below and talk about how immersing yourself in nature will heal you.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “parasympathetic division (of the nervous system)” mean? “When we step into a natural landscape, our bodies experience a shift from a sympathetic division of the central nervous system, which handles stress, to the parasympathetic division, which handles rest.” Use this term in a sentence.
  2. What does “incessant” mean? “This activates the body’s relaxation response, wherein breathing slows down and deepens, internal dialogues become less incessant, worries are less pressing, and one is able to appreciate the present moment.” Use this word in a sentence.
  3. What does “green space” mean? “Another study published in 2003 found that the health of every single bodily system increased with the amount of green space in one’s living environment.” Use this phrase in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the health benefits of being in nature?
  2. What does nature do to you?
  3. Share your insights regarding this, “Nature has incredible healing powers.”
  4. What do you think about “forest bathing”?
  5. Do you think patients would recover more quickly if they had a view of nature from their hospital room window? Explain.

Best Beaches in Europe

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It is summertime again and what better way to cool off on a hot summer’s day than to go to the beach?  If you find yourself in Europe this summer, here are ten beaches that would make your vacation a memorable one.

Let’s read the article and start a discussion about it. Please it through the link below:

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017/may/18/europe-beaches-france-portugal-greece-italy-spain-readers-tips

Discussion Questions:

1. Have you ever been to the beaches listed in the article? If not, which beach would you like to visit and why?
2. What’s the nicest beach you’ve ever been to? Please share your experience.
3. What’s your favorite activity to do at the beach? Why?
4. What do you think is the best way to spend your summer vacation?
5. Do you prefer summer or winter vacations? Why?

Skills Best Sales Managers Possess

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Most of the times, companies reward their top sales people by promoting them as managers. Do excellent salespeople necessarily become good managers?

Look at three skills all best sales managers have through this article.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ianaltman/2016/04/14/the-best-sales-managers-always-possess-these-3-skills/#2e97c9e859dd

Discussion Questions:

1. Why is important for managers to have the said skills?
2. What other traits do you associate with great managers?
3. What is the worst trait you’ve experienced?
4. Talk about a situation where the team failed, how did you/your team/your manager handle it?
5. Do you think anyone who is excellent at his job can be a leader?