phone english blogB1 – Intermediate
Japan needs to make its immigration stricter after Nissan ex-CEO Carlos escaped the country.
Read more about this news and be ready to talk about it.
https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2001/200108-carlos-ghosn-1.html
Discussion Questions:
B1 – Intermediate
Taking or going a walk is a good way to improve our health and also the best way to see the city. It is truly nice to go around our cities on foot. But the question is, is your city suitable for walking?
Read and listen to this story.
https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/city-for-walking-level-2/
Discussion Questions:
1. What is your opinion about Pontevedra?
2. Do you like walking? Why or why not?
3. Why is it important to have cities that are good for walking?
4. What are the benefits of walking?
5. Is your city good for walking?
B1 – Intermediate
The Autobahn is the federal motorway system in Germany. For some types of vehicles, no speed limit is set when traveling through this expressway.
Read the article to know why Germany is thinking to put a limit on vehicle speed on this highway system.
https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1901/190125-autobahn-speed-limit-2.html
Discussion Questions:
1. Why does Germany want to put speed limits on the Autobahn?
2. What are your thoughts on putting speed limits on the Autobahn?
3. They say the idea of a speed limit on the autobahn is impractical. Do you agree or disagree?
B1 – Intermediate
How do people usually go to school or work in your city? Often, taking public transportation such as bus or train is one of them.
What if they make bus or train rides free in your city? Some German cities have tried giving free public transport.
Read the article and find out why they want to do this.
Discussion Questions:
1. Why are some German cities giving free transport services?
2. What are the pros and cons of this measure?
3. What is your opinion on this?
B1 – Intermediate
All countries have debts that they need to pay. This is why the government tries its best to find ways to pay for them.
In Malaysia, the citizens did something to help the government pay the country’s debts.
Read the article and learn how Malaysians helped the government.
https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1806/180603-crowdfunding-1.html
Discussion Questions:
1. What is your opinion on what the Malaysians did?
2. Would you give money to your government to pay your country’s debts?
3. Have you ever used crowdfunding to collect money for something/someone?
4. Have you ever given money to someone/for something by crowdfunding?
5. What are your thoughts on crowdfunding?
B1 – Intermediate
Electricity is a basic necessity. But not all places in the world have it. In some remote communities, people still have to live in the dark.
Read on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proud announcement that every Indian village now has electricity.
https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1805/180502-electricity-1.html
Discussion Questions:
1. What are your thoughts on this news? How are Indians’ lives going to be changed?
2. What do you think it would be like to live without electricity?
3. If there was a power outage in your village/city for a day/a week, what would you do?
4. Are there still areas in your country without proper electricity or other services available?
5. If there’s one service (electricity, water, telephone, internet, cable TV, mobile, gas) you can live without, which one would it be?
B2 – Upper Intermediate
People welcomed the first train rolled into the new WTC Cortlandt station. The train station was buried under the rubble of the Twin Towers on 11th September 2001 and now the new fully accessible station features a mosaic that uses words from the Declaration of Independence.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45463886
Discussion Questions:
2. How would Americans feel about the re-opening of the train station?
3. Do you think re-opening of this train station will bring back bad memories of the 9/11 attack?
B1 – Intermediate
What springs to your mind when asked about AI or Artificial Intelligence? Well, opinions differ for sure. Some would say it is of great advantage and some would say it is dangerous or a few would say they don’t care.
The United States will spend billions on developing AI weapons. They wanted to be ahead in terms of this technology as China and Russia are known to have their own.
https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1809/180912-weapons.html
Discussion Questions:
B2 – Upper Intermediate
Social media has undeniably become a vital part of our societies. It is an essential tool for our daily activities such as communicating, socializing, accessing to news and information, and making decisions.
A small town in Spain takes the use of social media to new heights.
Read the article about Jun, a town governed via Twitter.
https://medium.com/@socialmachines/the-incredible-jun-a-town-that-runs-on-social-media-49d3d0d4590
Discussion Questions:
B2 – Upper Intermediate
More than 30 years ago, Daniel Pohl attempted to leave his country and its Communist views. The means by which he tried to escape was highly unconventional and required a lot of daring.
Watch the video to find out more about Pohl’s amazing feat.
Discussion Questions: