Tag: health

Chinese Buy Fresh Air

B1 – Intermediate

China is one of the many countries that suffer air pollution. To have a breath of fresh air, local citizens are buying bottled fresh air from Canada.

To know more about this, let us watch the video below.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about buying bottled fresh air?
  2. If you lived in China, would you consider buying one?
  3. How is the environmental condition in your country?
  4. How can we reduce air pollution?
  5. What can large cities do to improve their air quality?

Niggles that Keep You Healthy

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Rhinitis, eczema, and migraine, to name a few, are some of the most annoying minor ailments one can experience. However, niggle no more as science has proven that they can actually protect us from more serious illnesses.

https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/health/trends/8-annoying-niggles-that-actually-keep-you-healthy-35534

Discussion Questions:

1. Which among these minor ailments do you experience, and how do you cope with them?

2. What other minor illnesses or allergies do you have?

3. How do you keep your health boosted?

Sleeping Late

B1 –  Intermediate

Do you always sleep late? If staying in bed till late morning interests you, better watch out for yourself. This is not a recommended practice by health experts. Even doctors all over the world suggest to strictly avoid sleeping late. Sleeping late not only makes your body subject to various health problems, but also disturbs your daily routine and increases stress. Your physical and mental health both will be greatly affected.

Read the article about a new study that found that going to bed late may be bad for our health.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1804/180416-sleeping-late.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What time do you usually go to bed? Why? Do you wish you slept earlier/later? Explain.
  2. What does sleep mean to you?
  3. Do you always get enough sleep? Why is that?
  4. What are you like when you don’t get enough sleep? Describe.
  5. How have your sleeping patterns changed over the years? Describe.

How does food affect your mood?

B1 –  Intermediate

Food is one of our necessities in life, but little do we know or we aren’t conscious enough that it impacts our moods. Sugary food is one of the so many examples of how our mood changes once we have an intake.

https://www.healthline.com/health/mood-food-can-what-you-eat-affect-your-happiness

Let’s talk!
How does food affect your feelings?
Do you crave for a particular food depending on how you feel?
What foods do you eat when you are sad?
What foods do eat when you are happy?
What are your food habits?

Rejuvenate Yourself

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Do you find it hard to break a routine and find some time to take a load off? No matter how much we have on our plate, we should always remember to give ourselves a well deserved time off.

Below are some downright advice about how to feel revitalized despite a hectic or too ordinary schedule.

Are you one of the almost half of Americans who did not take a summer vacation? Do you often find yourself rushing from A to B with no time to breathe, working seven days a week and not taking time for lunch? If so, it’s time to take a break. When you are building a business or climbing the corporate ladder or assuming others’ responsibilities, it’s easy to become caught up in work and routines and easy to forget that we are not machines. Taking a break is not only necessary for the well-being of our minds and bodies, but a real need. Ironic, isn’t it, that if one waits for the perfect time to take a break, it never seems to come, because there is always something to do and take care of, instead of taking care of ourselves and accepting that well-deserved break.

Taking a Break Doesn’t Have to Take You Away

Summer just came and went. It promised adventure, romance, fun, and leisure; but did your dreams become reality this year? Or did you continue to dream of white sandy beaches, quiet cool mountain views, the solitude of the desert, the excitement of an action-filled adventure vacation, or even of distant lands? The only thing stopping us from fulfilling our dreams is ourselves. There is always a way if we prioritize. Taking a break doesn’t have to be about going away. More and more people have realized that taking a break can be as simple as not answering the phone or e-mail for a week, hanging out in pajamas all day, spending time alone or with friends, and perhaps best of all not having a single plan of what to do, doing absolutely nothing. How about a retreat with no traveling and no financial outlay? You could simply investigate and experience the sound of silence for a few days. Don’t use your voice, communicate when you must with pen and paper. Those who have experienced the bliss of silence are full of praise for the many benefits derived from this simple, yet different approach to taking a break.

Take a Solitary Break

When was the last time you took a break from those that you love? A friend recently found herself taking a real break alone for two weeks. Her husband and children took a trip abroad and she chose to stay at home. It was her first break on her own for over 25 years. She looked forward to it with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. By the end of the two weeks, she reported that she had thoroughly enjoyed her own company and that the single life was a lot simpler and most enjoyable. Even in the most wonderful relationships we can find ourselves again and breathe a breath of fresh air by taking a break from our partners and being even for a short time separate units.

Ten Tips for Taking a Break from Life

If you feel like you can hardly remember the last time you took a break, check the following ten tips for taking a break from life, reality and yourself. You are guaranteed to start to feel rejuvenated, revitalized and ready to take a real break sometime soon.

  • Buy a New Outfit – Make a shopping trip especially for something new to wear which is bright, colorful and just perfect for breaks and vacations. Then leave right away and enjoy your purchase. Your wardrobe with thank you for giving it a new splash of color
  • Give Your Taste Buds a Treat – Take a break from skipping lunch at work and making do with eating fast food. Instead, eat something simple, colorful, fun, exotic or with wild flavors and textures. Enjoy!
  • Indulge in a Day of Silence – Take one day out of your life and vow not to say a single word. Relax, enjoy the peace and silence.
  • Change Your Routine – Drive to work a different way. Break your usual daily habits. Expect the very best all day and be ready for the unexpected.
  • Squirrel Away Some Mad Money –  Dream a dream of your perfect break or vacation. Promise to put a little money aside regularly to make it happen. You’ll be amazed at how easy and painless it is to do.
  • Be Still for Ten Minutes – Take a break from life as you know it by sitting down and being still for ten minutes. Close your eyes and relax. Let your thoughts come and go. Focus on your breathing. Allow your body to relax and your mind soar.
  • Take Down Your Guard, Be Yourself – Take a break from the image that you have of yourself and the image that you project. Just let yourself be whoever you feel like being in the moment. Give yourself permission to be you.
  • Check In – Make a regular practice of stopping whatever you are doing and checking in with yourself to feel how who and where you are at the moment. Keep a gratitude journal.
  • Allow Yourself to Feel Awed – Take a break from reality. Look at a simple object, a flower, a tree, or a building. Imagine you are looking at it as if for the very first time.
  • Step Out of Your Comfort Zone – Take a break from barriers and boundaries. Do something you did not know you could. Overcome your fear and amaze yourself.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How busy are you?
  2. Which among the tips do you do?
  3. What is your own way to change your routine?
  4. What do you do during your alone time?
  5. What are your plans for your upcoming vacation this year? If none, if given the chance, what would you do or where would you go?

Headaches

B1 – Intermediate

Almost everyone suffers from a headache at least once a year. In most cases, they are not dangerous and the person suffering it can still function normally. 

Headache is usually described as pain anywhere in the region of the head or neck. Headaches are very common and their effect can range from mild to worst.

Read on to know about the types of headaches, their causes, and ways to treat them.

https://www.english-online.at/health_medicine/headache/headache-disorder-of-nervous-system.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you often suffer from headaches? What type of headache do you often suffer from? What usually cause them?
  2. What do you do when you have a headache?
  3. Do you think people should see a doctor immediately when they have a headache? Why/why not?
  4. Some say that physical activities such as exercise can help with relieving headaches. Do you agree or disagree with this? Explain.

Organ Donation and Transplant

B1 – Intermediate

It is kind of unnerving that the moment you get your driver’s license, you will be asked whether or not you are willing to become an organ donor. It would seem like they are expecting for a fatal accident to happen and only your organs will be saved. If you look at it from a different perspective, however, it is one way that you will be able to do your share in saving lives. Even in death, you will be able to do something heroic. But organ donation is a tricky subject and an equally tricky process that may come with side effects, which is why it remains a hot subject for debate.

Read the article and be able to answer the questions below.

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/organ-transplant-donor-information

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about organ donation?
  2. Should everyone be considered organ donors unless they ‘opt-out’? Explain your thoughts.
  3. Would you consider donating your organs in case of an untimely death? Why or why not?
  4. Would you allow your organs or tissue to be used for research purposes? Why or why not?
  5. Would you donate your body to medical science? Why or why not?

Coping With Death and Grief

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Death is part of life. Passing of a loved one makes us feel a lot of different emotions. When such tragic thing happens, we end up trying to do everything we can to avoid the pain.

Read more about the “five stages of grief” and be able to discuss the questions below:

https://www.focusonthefamily.com/lifechallenges/emotional-health/coping-with-death-and-grief/coping-with-death-and-grief

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are there special rites or ceremonies performed when a person dies in your country?
  2. How do you view death?
  3. Is there any person you would die for in order to save? Who is it?
  4. How do your national customs surrounding death reflect the values of your country?
  5. What are funerals like in your country? What are some funeral customs in your country?

Is Binge Watching Bad?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Binge watching wrecks your sleep.

You’re almost certainly guilty of binge watching: market research indicates about two-thirds of us regularly spend several hours inhaling a TV show. But watching just one more episode… just one more… just one more isn’t without consequence.

Watch the video explaining why binge watching is bad for us.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Explain the term “binge watching“. “Is binge watching bad for your brain and body?” Use this term in a sentence.
  2. What does “in one sitting” mean? “Whether you are watching and entire Netflix series in one sitting or playing the newest Zelda from start to finish, most of us spend a significant time in front of screens.” Use this idiom in a sentence.
  3. What does “at the root of” mean? “At the root of many of these claims is the physical inactivity associated with prolonged TV watching.” Use this idiom in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What might be reasons people binge watch?
  2. How is binge watching bad for our brain and body?
  3. What could be some benefits of binge watching?
  4. Have you ever watched multiple movies/series episodes or an entire series in one sitting? Talk about this experience. What effects did it have on your body?
  5. What can one do to avoid a sedentary lifestyle?
  6. What are your thought on this, “The more you move, the more you live.“?

 

Fad Diets

B1 – Intermediate

People go on special diets for different reasons. Some take it way too far though.

Fad diet, also known as diet cult, promises weight loss or other health benefits such as longer life without any scientific basis, and is often characterized by highly restrictive or unusual food choices.

Get more information about different examples of fad diets and some issues associated with them here:

https://www.medishare.com/blog/7-ways-to-lose-weight-no-fad-diets

Discussion Questions:

1. Talk about your regular diet.

2. Have you ever been on a diet?

3. In your opinion, how important is exercising as part of a diet?

4. Is it important to track one’s weight? Why or why not?

5. Are dietary habits in your country changing?

6. Why are people so worried about the way their body looks?