Tag: First Certificate FCE

Workplace Conflict and How to Handle Them

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the dynamic landscape of today’s professional sphere, workplace conflicts are inevitable, requiring leaders to adeptly navigate through the complexities of human interactions.

Please read this comprehensive guide, we delve into five common sources of workplace conflicts, exploring practical methods for resolution and prevention.

5 Workplace Conflict Examples – And How to Handle Them

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “bad actor” mean here, “It sends a message to potential victims it is okay to raise even potentially emotional situations to management and to potential bad actors’ inappropriate behavior is not tolerated.”? Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What does “to pin down” mean here, “Unfortunately, discrimination and harassment is a workplace conflict that is often difficult to pin down and is often underreported – especially when it comes to sexual misconduct.”? Use it in your own sentence.
  3. What does “to set the tone” mean? “Your leadership style – and attention to employee safety – sets the tone for the company.”? Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. In addressing discrimination complaints, why is it crucial for leaders to take complaints seriously, and what message does this convey to both potential victims and potential wrongdoers?
  2. When an employee is accused of harassment, what key steps should a leader take to handle the situation objectively and ensure fairness for both the accuser and the accused?
  3. With the increase in remote work, communication challenges have become more prevalent. How can leaders effectively address communication mistakes in a way that promotes understanding, prevents tension, and improves future communication within the team?
  4. As a leader dealing with clashes in personalities or work styles among team members, what strategies can be employed to encourage diversity and collaboration while resolving conflicts rooted in employee differences?

Care Less about What Other People Think

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Human beings are social creatures, constantly seeking connection and validation from others. As a result, we often find ourselves thinking about what other people say. This phenomenon can be attributed to several factors.

The reason why we think about what other people say stems from our desire for acceptance and belonging, the influence of societal norms and expectations, as well as our innate need for information and learning.

While it is important to consider the opinions of others in order to grow personally and socially, it is equally crucial to maintain a sense of individuality and critical thinking in order to make informed decisions that align with our own values and beliefs.

This article will teach you the 6 ways to care less about what other people think.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/6-ways-care-less-what-other-people-think-you-mert-damlapinar-/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “bereft” mean?  “In other words, our worrying about what others think of us stems from the fear that we may be bereft of friends or intimacy.” Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What does “naysayer” mean?  “It’s always easier to be yourself and feels good about life when you’re surrounded by people who uplift and inspire you, rather than spending your days surrounded by naysayers and negative people who suck the energy out of your dreams.” Use it in your own sentence.
  3. What does  the phrase “to stand in one’s way” mean? “We all have different needs and different paths to pursue, so don’t let your fear of what others think to stand in your way.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘to stand in one’s way’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think is the hardest thing to accomplish, out of the six ways the article mentioned to care less about what other people say?
  2. How can one care less about what others think?
  3. “All the world is not a stage; you just think it is.” What are your thoughts?
  4. How come what other people think matters? or does it not? What are your thoughts?
  5. Can you think of a time when you proved the naysayers wrong or had to overcome your fears about what others might think of you? Share your experience.

New Sins for the Modern Age

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Without a doubt, times have changed so much. There are more temptations around that each and everyone of us are confronted with. The use of the internet has revolutionized people’s capacity to commit sins in several and more imaginative ways. Though this is not all that the Vatican is worried about.

The Vatican believed that the Seven Deadly Sins had to be updated and more modern sins had to be added to the list which included those that touch on the complexities of the modern world.

Let’s read the article and know about the all-new set of deadly sins for the modern age.

Heads Up English | ESL Lessons – New Sins for the Modern Age

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “free of something” mean? “The church believes that all people should try to live a life free of the seven deadly sins, which will then ensure entrance into heaven.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘free of something’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does “second-in-charge” mean? “The second-in-charge at the Vatican released the information on sins, modern evils, and forgiveness.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘second-in-charge’ in your own sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of “to hold a point of view“? “The Catholic Church holds the point of view that stem cells represent a destroyed human life, and hence experimentation with them is a deadly evil.” Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Talk about your take on the deadly sins.
  2. What are your thoughts on the new sins for the modern age? Do you agree with the inclusion of these sins?
  3. If you were to add more sins to the list, what would they be?
  4. What is your stand on this statement, “The Catholic Church holds the point of view that stem cells represent a destroyed human life, and hence experimentation with them is a deadly evil.“?
  5. Do you agree or disagree: “It’s sinful to harm the environment.“. Share your opinion on this.

Benefits of Having Just One Child

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Having only one child, also known as being a “singleton parent,” has its own of pros and cons. The choice to have a single child can be a deliberate choice or the outcome of various circumstances. Parents with an only child also frequently encounter reactions of sympathy, surprise, and judgment.

Despite societal perceptions, there are several notable benefits to having only one kid.

Read the article to learn the benefits of only having one child.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/one-child-parent-benefits-goog_l_65bbd9b1e4b01c5c3a3a46a2

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to be met with something” mean, “As a parent of one child, you’re often met with surprised, dismissive or pitying comments from others.” Use this idiom in a sentence.
  2. What does “one-and-done” mean? “But there are also plenty of folks who happily chose the “one-and-done” path.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  3. Define “tag-team“. “You can tag-team with a partner more easily.” Make a sentence with this word.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on the “one-and-done” approach?
  2. In your opinion, what are the pros and cons of having only one child? 
  3. How does having just one child contribute to a better work-life balance?
  4. Is it common in your country to only have one child? Why or why not?
  5. In what ways can parents challenge or change societal perceptions regarding the decision to have only one child?

Messiness More Efficient

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Mess equals stress. In homes and workplaces, messy areas are unwelcomed and seen negatively. Studies have shown that clutter has negative impacts on people’s mental and physical health. However, a business book is claiming otherwise.

Let’s read the article and find out how mess contributes to efficiency.

https://headsupenglish.com/index.php/upper-intermediate-students/upper-intermediate-news-lessons/upper-intermediate-business-lessons/240-messiness-efficient

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of the word “slob“? “Every office has at least one slob.” Use it in your own sentence and give two synonyms.
  2. What does the phrase “organized mess” mean? “Take Karen Jackson, who admits that her desk looks like a disaster area. Yet it’s an organized mess, she says.” Use it in a scenario.
  3. What is the meaning of “filed away” in this context? “Filed away papers, on the other hand, usually end up forgotten.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree with the connection between messiness and efficiency? Support your stand.
  2. What are your thoughts on “organized mess”?
  3. What is your take on messiness in the workplace? Is it an acceptable practice?
  4. How do you keep your workplace organized?
  5. How does messiness impact business expense profitability?

The Psychology of Greed

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not everyone’s greed.”.

One must ask, where does this desire to accumulate things, keep them for yourself, and not share them with others stem from?

Listen to this audio and read the transcript to explore the psychology of greed.

Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240118

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to pull yourself up by your bootstraps” mean, “Some people indeed have worked themselves up by their own bootstraps and get what they have because they worked hard.” Give 1-2 synonyms or similar expressions and use “to pull yourself up by your bootstraps” in your own sentence.
  2. What does “flip of a coin” mean, “They talked about how they controlled their own outcomes, they talked about how it was the decisions they had made that had led to their being ultimately victorious, and not that flip of a coin that randomly got them into that position of privilege in the first place.”? Give 1-2 synonyms or similar expressions and use “flip of a coin” in your own sentence.
  3. What does ”to take credit for” mean, “Interestingly, the rich players took credit for winning.”? Give 1-2 synonyms or similar expressions and use “to take credit for” in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is greed ever good? Share your thoughts.
  2. Talk about your opinion on this, “It’s not greed itself that’s bad, but the things we’re greedy for.”.
  3. Share your thoughts on this, “We’re genetically built to want things that increase our social status.”.
  4. When someone feels financially better off than others translates into feeling better than others and the reason behind these feelings could be what money buys you, especially one thing: space. Share your thoughts on how well-off people don’t need others in their lives as much because they can afford to be in their own private bubble.
  5. Talk about an instance you think you got a little greedy. How can it be justified?

The Most Important Question of Your Life

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Finding one’s purpose in life provides a sense of direction, fulfillment, and meaning. It allows us to navigate through the complexities and challenges that we encounter on our journey. Without a clear purpose, life may seem aimless and devoid of significance.

In life, struggles are inevitable. They shape our character, test our resilience, and ultimately determine our success. However, not all struggles are created equal. Some are worth enduring for the sake of personal growth and fulfillment, while others may be futile or even detrimental to our well-being. Therefore, it is crucial to identify what we are truly willing to struggle for.

Throughout our existence, we are constantly bombarded with questions. Some are simple and trivial, while others are profound and thought-provoking. These questions shape our understanding of the world and help us navigate through life’s complexities.

Discover which question is most important for us to ask ourselves by reading this article.

https://markmanson.net/question

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrase  “delayed gratification” mean, “People want to be rich without the risk, without the sacrifice, without the delayed gratification necessary to accumulate wealth.”?  Use this in your own sentence.
  2. What does “to morph” mean in the sentence, “They settle and wonder “What if?” for years and years until the question morphs from “What if?” into “Was that it?”? Use this in your own sentence.
  3. What does the phrase  “emotional turbulence” mean, “But you don’t end up attracting someone amazing without appreciating the emotional turbulence that comes with weathering rejections, building the sexual tension that never gets released, and staring blankly at a phone that never rings.“? Use this in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. In contemplating your life, what are the usual questions you ask to yourself?
  2. What pain do you want in your life? What are you willing to struggle for?
  3. What is your opinion about this, “What we get out of life is not determined by the good feelings we desire, but by what bad feelings we’re willing and able to sustain to get us to those good feelings.”?
  4. “To get good at dealing with negative experiences is to get good at dealing with life.” Do you agree? Share your perspective.
  5. Share your thoughts on this, “People want to be rich without the risk, without the sacrifice, without the delayed gratification necessary to accumulate wealth.“.

The No-Buy Challenge

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The popularity of a No-Buy Month stems from its simplicity. A commitment to avoid non-essential spending for an entire month.

As we explore into the experiences of those who took on this challenge, we gain valuable insights into how it affected their private finances and overall well-being.

From economical lessons to unforeseen results, these individuals disclose their tips for mastering the art of financial restraint and achieving improved monetary accountability.

Visit the link for additional information.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/no-buy-january-challenge-budget_l_65b3f42ee4b0d407294f08b3

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “all or nothing” mean in the sentence, “Cuevas said an “all or nothing” mindset was not sustainable, so she purposely created exceptions for her no-spend challenge.”? Use this in your own sentence.
  2. What does “dopamine rush” mean in the sentence, “To replace the dopamine rush she used to get from shopping, Nevitt said it has helped to go back to the comforting escapism of reading books.”? Use this in your own sentence.
  3. What does “reset and rewire” mean in the sentence, “So I wanted to give my brain a full year to really reset and rewire all of my habits.”? Use this in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you ever considered trying a no-buy or no-spend challenge, like the individuals in the article? Why or why not?
  2. How do you usually manage your spending habits? Please share.
  3. Do you find yourself making impulsive purchases, especially during specific times like holidays? Tell me more.
  4. Do you relate to the concept of FOMO spending (fear of missing out), and have you ever made purchases driven by this feeling?
  5. Considering the lessons learned by the individuals in the article, do you think a no-spend challenge could be a beneficial strategy for you to reset spending habits and save money? Why or why not?

IRS Tax Refund Scam

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Unfortunately, in the digital age, where technology pervades every aspect of our lives, scams and frauds have grown in sophistication.

The IRS tax refund scam is one such dangerous scheme that exploits taxpayers’ vulnerabilities. As tax season approaches, people must remain vigilant in distinguishing between reliable correspondence from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and savvy scammers attempting to steal sensitive information.

To avoid falling victim to these scams, it is crucial to be aware of certain red flags. Visit the link for additional information.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tax-refund-scam-irs_l_65bbe017e4b05c8779f84c11

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “underway” mean in the sentence, “Tax season is underway, and unfortunately, so are the scams.”? Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘underway’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does “stakeholder liason” mean, “If you your tax data may have been compromised because you got fooled, you can report client data theft to your local stakeholder liaison.”? Use this in your own sentence.
  3. What does “red flag” mean in the sentence, “The biggest red flag of a suspicious IRS scam is in how the message got delivered to you.”? Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘red flag’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the biggest red flag mentioned in the article that indicates a suspicious IRS scam?
  2. What are your thoughts on many organizations or government offices like the IRS communicating via nontraditional ways such as email, text, or social media?
  3. Have you ever encountered a tax refund scam, or do you know someone who has fallen victim to such fraudulent schemes? Please share.
  4. What precautions can one take to verify the legitimacy of communications claiming to be from the tax ministry during tax season?
  5. The article suggests creating an online account with the IRS for up-to-date information on taxes. Do you currently have such an account, and how do you feel about using online platforms for tax-related matters? Tell me more.
  6. Do you think the use of technology and social media has made people more susceptible to falling for IRS scams? Why or why not?

Micro-Acts of Joy

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the pressures of everyday life, it’s easy to lose sight of the seemingly insignificant pleasures that surround us. But the key to joyfulness may be less difficult than you think.

It’s often the small things that make the biggest impact. From savoring a warm cup of coffee to taking a moment of solitude to reflect, or even just simply making a mindful choice to treat others with kindness and respect. These little things have the potential to unleash immense joy.

Click the link to learn how paying attention to these fleeting moments can transform our lives, making each day more wonderful and fulfilling.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/expert-backed-micro-acts-joy-happier_l_65b183bfe4b04d89950fbc46

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “zest for life” mean in the sentence, “During the cold days of winter and through the tough realities that many of us face on a daily basis, it’s hard to feel a zest for life.”? Use this in your own sentence.
  2. What does “bang for your buck” mean in the sentence, ““That is going to give you the biggest bang for your buck in terms of the investment of time and effort that you’re putting into it,” Bono said.””? Use this in your own sentence.
  3. What does “to get/be trapped in a cycle” mean in the sentence, “Otherwise, it’s easy to get trapped in the cycle of bad news.”? Use this in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Can you recall a recent experience of awe or wonder, such as being in nature or witnessing something creatively inspiring? Please share.
  2. In what ways do you practice gratitude, and how does it influence your perspective on life? Tell me more.
  3. Can you think of a recent situation where choosing kindness made a positive difference, either for you or someone else? Please share.
  4. How do you balance your attention between negative news and positive aspects of life to avoid getting trapped in a cycle of negativity bias?
  5. Reflecting on the article, what micro-acts of joy resonate with you, and how might you incorporate them into your daily life?