Tag: First Certificate FCE

Getting Over a Lingering Grudge

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Who hasn’t been wounded by someone else’s gestures or words? Maybe you were routinely reprimanded by your family at a young age, a teammate hijacked a project, or partner had been unfaithful to you. Perhaps you’ve been through a horrific event, as well as being emotionally and psychologically mistreated by close relatives. And yes, these experiences do leave scars.

While vengeance may feel more satisfying, forgiving someone who has wronged us is undoubtedly a great advantage to us. But can we easuly do so? How do we cultivate forgiving? Is it possible to forgive and forget?

To find out more on how you can ever get over lingering grudges, let’s take a moment to read the full article.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20211214-can-you-ever-get-over-a-lingering-grudge

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you experienced holding a grudge against someone for a long time? What was the situation? How did you feel? How did you get over it?
  2. How do you deal with someone who is constantly rubbing you up the wrong way?
  3. What are the consequences of holding grudges?
  4. Is forgiveness a basic requirement for reconciliation? Explain.
  5. Can you think of some techniques to enhance the ability to forgive?
  6. “Forcing forgiveness isn’t the answer.” What are your thoughts on this?

Showing Stress Can Make People More Likeable

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It’s tempting to mask your stress, but it won’t do you or anyone else any favor. Countless internal physiological changes occur in our bodies’ response to stress. These activations aren’t merely stress-related side effects. They also serve a purpose which help the body to be equipped for its functions.

Our gestures might reveal our stress levels and when communicated properly, these can be extremely beneficial not only to us but also to the individuals around us.

To find out more about the downsides of bottled-up stress, let’s take a moment to read the full article.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220610-why-showing-stress-can-make-people-more-likeable

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree or disagree that “exhibiting signs of anxiety may make people respond better to you”? Explain your stand.
  2. What are reasons people bottle up their stress?
  3. Are you able to manage your stress on your own or do you require assistance? Explain.
  4. Who are the people you can discuss your stress with and why them? How are they able to help you cope with stress?
  5. How can one tell whether they are suppressing stress?
  6. What causes an individual to emotionally shut down?

Why Do Humans Cry?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

All animals cry just like humans so that they can clean their eyes tor lubricate their eyes, but only Humans cry emotionally, why is this?

Babies crying makes sense because they can’t speak, so they have to find another way to show emotions and this carries on to adulthood, and during this time, people also want to comfort us, like when we used to cry as a baby.

There are a few reasons this can happen, in order to find out these reasons, let us watch this video:

Discussion Questions:

  1. When you see another person cry, how do you feel about it/them?
  2. What are other reasons we cry?
  3. In your opinion, is emotional crying beneficial to humans? Explain why or why not.
  4. Which moments make you cry your heart out?

Buzz Lightyear Film Banned

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The LGBT community is now somehow accepted by most of the countries all over the world to the point that we now have same-sex marriages and laws against LGBT discrimination in some places.

However, there are still countries that do not allow any kind of same-sex relationships nor any form of display of such relations.

The spin-off movie Buzz Lightyear has been banned in 14 countries because of a lesbian kissing scene between a female character Alisha Hawthorne, voiced by actress Uzo Aduba, and her female partner.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about the Buzz Lightyear film being banned in some countries over lesbian kiss.

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-61786355

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are you thoughts about these countries banning the movie?
  2. Should Disney just delete this scene? Why or why not?
  3. How will this ban affect the Disney movie?
  4. Do you think that showing LGBT scenes could affect the viewers, especially the younger ones? Share your opinion on this.
  5. How is the LGBT community viewed and treated in your country?
  6. Do you think that the LGBT community could be accepted by everyone in the future? Why or why not?

Voluntourism: More Harm than Good?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Teaching English in foreign countries, helping to build schools and orphanages, working on conservation projects … These are all examples of voluntourism. It’s a combination of visiting other countries while doing some volunteer works too.

Dedicating time and effort to doing volunteer activities seems great and fulfilling. But is it all what it’s cracked up to be? 

Watch the video about voluntourism and its downsides.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to what’s discussed in this video?
  2. Has anyone shared their volunteering experience with you? What did they tell you? Talk about some of your volunteer works too.
  3. Would you prefer to volunteer with animals or do some administrative work?
  4. Do you think that all job positions are suitable for volunteering? What other jobs can you do as a volunteer?
  5. Have you ever been in a situation where you had to abandon your responsibilities?
  6. What do you think the pros and cons of so-called “voluntourism” are?

New York City Bans Foie Gras

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Foie gras is a special food made of duck’s liver. However, this delicacy is not without controversy attached to it. The thing is, the way foie gras is made is rather agonizing for the ducks. Hence, some cities are deciding to outlaw this food product.

New York City is one city that has also voted to ban the sale and production of foie gras by 2022.  It has long been considered a French delicacy, but for animal rights activists, they are concerned about the cruelty inherent in its production process. The demand is still there and it continues to be served at many restaurants in New York. Reactions have been mixed and emotional but activists hope this new ban will put an end to its consumption.

Read the article and be able to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.treehugger.com/new-york-city-bans-foie-gras-4856359

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you ever eaten/tried foie gras before? If you have, how do you find this French delicacy? If you haven’t, would you like to give it a try? Why or why not?
  2. What do you think about banning its sale and production?
  3. What would be the positive and negative effects of banning it?

Optimists vs Pessimists

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Optimism and pessimism are our way of thinking and considered basic traits of the human brain. Optimism reflects a belief of hopefulness about the future whilst pessimism is not a trait most people desire to have. There are benefits and drawbacks to both.

Let’s listen to the audio and read the transcript below to find out more about optimism and pessimism.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2022/ep-220331

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are you more of an optimist or a pessimist? Explain your answer.
  2. Do you enjoy being with optimist people or do you find them annoying? Explain.
  3. Have ever lost something because of being optimist/pessimist?
  4. How do you deal with unpleasant or disastrous situations?
  5. Think of a situation where optimism can save you?
  6. Optimistically speaking, what will you be doing 10 years from now?

Freeganism: A Solution to Food Waste?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We work, earn money, buy food, eat, and repeat the cycle. It is what most of us know. We get a job or run a business to put food on the table. Not many people are aware of, more so, care for freeganism.

Freegans do not believe in capitalism,and they strive to reduce the amount of food waste on the planet. Interestingly, freegans can eat food for free. Discover how and why they do it.

Watch the short clip about freeganism.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Which part of the video appeals to you?

2. Tell me about a time when you or anyone you know wasted food?

3. Do you agree that freeganism is the solution to food waste?

4. If given a chance, would you eat in freegans’ mobile kitchen? 

5. Most freegans don’t believe in the money economy. What are your thoughts on this?

6. Do you know any other unconventional lifestyles like freeganism? Describe such lifestyles.

Male Postnatal Depression

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We live in a male supremacy and authoritarian society, for sure. As a result, some believe that men are incapable of suffering. Unfortunately, males have been defeated by their own vulnerabilities numerous times, leading to a variety of mental health issues or worst-case scenario, suicide. Consider the new fathers who have fallen victim to this chasm.

Fathers can also battle from postnatal depression but are not given the opportunities, supports, or the encouragements they need to cope.

To find out more about postnatal depression among men, let’s take a moment to read the full article.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220601-male-postnatal-depression-why-men-struggle-in-silence

Discussion Questions:

  1. How can sufferers (both men and women) of postnatal depression be supported?
  2. What are some factors that can contribute to depression in new fathers?
  3. Why do postnatal depression in men often goes undiagnosed?
  4. When do you believe fathers get depressed?
  5. What are some strategies for reducing the chances of paternal postnatal depression?

What It Feels Like to Sleep on the Side of a Mountain

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever been in a situation where your friends wanted to do something extreme but you didn’t or maybe the other way around? Let’s compare your experience with the experience of the guy from the video.

Watch the video about a blogger who sleeps suspended on the side of a mountain and answer the questions.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What’s the most extreme place you have ever been to? What did you do during the trip? Would you like to do it again?
  2. Why, despite the fact that such a vacation can be unpleasant, do people choose to spend time like this?
  3. How do you think it would be like for you to sleep on a portaledge?
  4. What is something you do that makes you feel empowered?