Tag: Listening

Hunger in America

B2 – Upper intermediate

One in seven American families suffer from food insecurity. Inflation is low but the population’s ability to get healthy food is decreasing. Eating unhealthy food can cause illness such us diabetes and hypertension and food insecurity can lead people to committing crimes such us robbery and stealing.

Hunger Threatens One in Seven Americans

Discuss:

1. What do you think people can do to address this issue in their own little ways?
2. Can you think of alternative ways to get healthy food in cheaper cost?
3. Has your country experienced such difficulty? Do you see this happening in the future?
4. How secure are the citizens of your country when it comes to their employment?

How to Survive the Heat

A11BF81C-B6DD-458B-8278-A987DA7AB74F_w610_r1

B1 – Intermediate

There are common health problems which are caused by high temperatures that, in the worst scenario, can lead to death.

Read the article to know more about the dangers of heat and how to be protected from it.

How to Survive the Heat

Discuss:

1. Do you love soaking yourself in the summer sun? Are you aware of its danger?
2. Have you experienced health related issues due to high temperature?
3. What activities do you enjoy doing during the summer?
4. How do you keep cool when the weather gets too hot?

 

Ozone Layer Recovering

B1 – Intermediate

According to a panel of scientists, the ozone layer is starting to repair itself. It’s a good thing that the use of aerosol cans were banned during the 1980s.

Read the lesson about the ozone layer recovering and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2014/09/140912_witn_ozone.shtml

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this?
  2. Share your ideas on how you can contribute in protecting the environment.
  3. Have you ever done any volunteer works to help save the environment?
  4. Do you reduce, reuse, and recycle? Why or why not?

How to Detect Lies

B2 – Upper intermediate

Lies are part of human nature. Cliché, but true. It can be inevitable in some instances especially when you have personal reasons. How would you detect if someone is lying to you? Watch this interesting video.

Click on CC on the video to watch the clip with subtitles.

Discuss:

1. How about you? How can you tell when your colleagues or friends are being dishonest to you?
2. Were there times when you told a lie to impress someone? Or maybe lied to avoid hurting someone’s feelings?
3. Share some of your funny experiences about lying.

Gender Stereotyping

B2 – Upper intermediate

People usually have preconceived ideas of men’s or women’s characteristics, traits, habits or roles in general.  Have you ever wondered what causes gender stereotypes and how it all started? Watch this video to see our history.

Discuss:

1. Can you name a few stereotypes of men and women?
2. Have you been a victim of a stereotype?
3. Do you witness gender discrimination in your workplace?

PepsiCo CEO Indra K. Nooyi Can’t Have It All

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Being a women and a CEO of one of the world’s top companies might not be a walk in the park for anybody. But we’ve watch a lot of boss ladies “have it all”.

Read and watch the interview of Indra K. Nooyi and know more about her work ethics and what it is to be a CEO of a multinational company.

https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/07/why-pepsico-ceo-indra-k-nooyi-cant-have-it-all/373750/

Discussion Questions:

  1. How would you react to your mother if you were Indra?
  2. Do you agree or disagree that women can’t have it all? Explain.
  3. If you are/were a working parent, what do you think would be your coping mechanisms in being a good parent and at the same time, the best employee/boss at your company?
  4. Share your thoughts on this statement, “The biological clock and the career clock are in total conflict with each other.”

Grown-Up and Living at Home

B1 – Intermediate

The number of grown-ups who are living at home is continually increasing in different countries in the world.

This article talks about the underlying reasons regarding the issue. Some advantages and disadvantages are also discussed by different individuals from different countries.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2014/05/140516_6min_living_at_home.shtml

Audio: 

http://http-ws.bbc.co.uk.edgesuite.net/mp3/learningenglish/2014/05/140515_6_min_living_at_home_for_web_140516_6min_living_at_home_audio_au_bb.mp3

Discussion Questions:

1. Is living at home a good or bad point in your own perspective?
2. Do people in your place share the same issue (grown-up and living at home) with people from other parts of the world?
3. What do you think parents and children should do to address this issue?

Dropping Birthrates in South Korea

B1 – Intermediate

South Korea is now facing problems related to low birthrate.

Find out the reasons and consequences for their dropping birthrates.

http://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/the-end-of-south-korea/2436486.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the problem in South Korea according to the audio? Is this also a problem in Spain?
  2. What are the reasons for low birthrate in SK? What about in your country?
  3. What are the impacts of low birthrates on a country?
  4. What can the government do to solve or prevent this problem from happening?

Think Yourself Rich!

 C1 – Advanced

In 1937, the book “Think and Grow Rich” was a big hit. Everybody wanted to be rich and the book gave tips on how to be so. Could it still be practical today? Read the article and express your thoughts about it.

Be ready to explain the different idiomatic expressions used in the article. Feel free to listen to the audio clip as well.

http://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/think-yourself-rich-or-try-saving/1906479.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What does the expression “Money is the root of all evil” mean?
2. How would you explain the phrase “Money makes the world go round”?
3. Do you consider yourself thrifty or a spendthrift?
4. What are the ways in which we can save money?

Stay Healthy by Eating Raw Chocolate

B1 – Intermediate

Health experts believe that sugar in chocolates is unhealthy. However, doctors say that there are also some benefits to eating chocolates.

This VOA news clip discusses the good effects of chocolates to your body.

http://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/raw-chocolate-better-for-your-health/2423907.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the good and bad effects of eating chocolates?
  2. Do you think eating chocolate is good for your health?
  3. Do you enjoy eating chocolates? If yes, what kinds of chocolate do you prefer?