Tag: Listening

Eurozone Economy

B1 – Intermediate

The Eurozone economy refers to the collective economic system of the European Union (EU) member states that have adopted the euro as their official currency.

Governed by the European Central Bank (ECB), the Eurozone aims to promote economic stability and facilitate trade and investment among its member states through monetary integration.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the Eurozone economy.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/eurozone-economy-level-3/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “narrow margin” mean in the sentience, “The eurozone’s economy struggled to grow last year, avoiding a recession by a narrow margin, in contrast to the global economic expansion.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘narrow margin’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does “key player” mean in this sentence, “Germany, a key player in the euro area, faced an industrial downturn, impacting the entire region.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘key player’ in your own sentence.
  3. What does “subside” mean, “Economists predict a slow recovery, with household consumption expected to drive growth as energy prices stabilize and inflation subsides.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘subside’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do economic problems in Germany affect the overall performance of the eurozone economy? Explain.
  2. What are possible long-term implications of the eurozone’s economic problems and how might it affect the future economic policies and strategies within the region? Elaborate and explain.
  3. How might strikes and protests about high prices impact consumer confidence and economic stability within the eurozone?
  4. How do you think the economic struggles of the eurozone might impact the daily lives of individuals living within the member countries?

Egypt’s Pyramid Restoration

B1 – Intermediate

The pyramids in Egypt are ancient wonders that have fascinated people for centuries. From the famous pyramids at Giza to the smaller ones across Egypt, these historical monuments are part of our shared human history. Yet, keeping them safe and strong is a not an easy job.

To preserve the pyramids, Egypt is working hard on trying to restore them. This means fixing up the old stones and making sure the pyramids stay strong against elements such as the wind, sun, and rain.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about Egypt’s pyramid restoration.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/egypts-pyramid-restoration-level-1/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to break all the rules” mean in the sentence, “It breaks all the rules for fixing old things.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘to break all the rules’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does “a big gift” mean in the sentence, “The workers say that it is a big gift for the world.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘a big gift’ in your own sentence.
  3. What does “think carefully about something” mean in the sentence, “The country must think carefully about what to do with old buildings.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘think carefully about something’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do you think many people in Egypt emphasize the importance of taking care of old buildings and special places? Elaborate.
  2. How important is it to balance modern aesthetic improvements and preserving the historical value of ancient structures like the Menkaure Pyramid? Explain.
  3. What are the positive and negative impact of historical landmarks’ restorations on local communities/on a country?
  4. Are there any specific examples of old buildings or special places in Spain that have been successfully preserved and restored? Elaborate.
  5. Which World Wonder do you want to visit and why?

Jobs Safe from Artificial Intelligence

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As more and more industries use artificial intelligence (AI), people worry more about how it could affect their occupations. Because AI can learn and automate tasks, it might replace many traditional jobs. But even with all this technology and advancements in AI, some jobs seem to remain indispensable.

Watch the video and explore which jobs are likely to withstand the tide of automation and why.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the word “broad-based” mean? “If you’re sitting in front of a computer doing something relatively routine and predictable, whether it’s writing the same report again or doing the same kind of spreadsheet and analysis, all that is definitely going to be impacted, so it could be very broad-based.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘broad-based’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does a “white-collar job” mean? “There are going to be a great many white-collar jobs that will also be impacted by this.” Use the term in a sentence.
  3. What does the word “dexterity” mean? Ex. Skilled trade jobs like electricians, plumbers where you have a need to have lots of dexterity and mobility are the safest. Use the word in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you believe that some jobs are truly safe from being replaced by AI, or do you think all jobs are at risk to some extent? Share your thoughts.
  2. What factors do you think make certain jobs more resilient to automation compared to others?
  3. How do you think the society could prepare for the possibility of widespread job displacement due to AI?
  4. Can you think of any examples of jobs that are likely to remain safe from AI in the foreseeable future? What characteristics do these jobs have that make them less susceptible to automation?

Alcohol Causes Blackouts

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There are distinct impacts of alcohol on the brain. Many drunk people would have finished other duties, such as recalling conversations or even finding their way home, but other people, particularly those who are going through blackouts, find it difficult to recall these difficult tasks or occurrences.

For additional information on how alcohol causes blackouts, watch the video below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to draw a blank” mean? “When Donald asked them to recall the object a mere 30 minutes later, half the participants drew a blank, having “blacked out” the earlier moment entirely.” Use this expression in your own sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of “moment-to-moment? “ The transfer of moment-to-moment understanding to something we can remember is thought to depend on a process called long-term potentiation or LTP.“Use it in your own sentence.
  3. How about the adjective “blunted“? “So, while moment-to-moment information is encoded and understood, the storage of that information is blunted.” Construct your own sentence using this word.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does alcohol make us blackout?
  2. What are some long-term impact of alcohol on a person’s brain?
  3. What are some of the effects of alcohol on people when they had too much? Can people have control over it? Explain.
  4. Share your insights on using alcohol-induced blackout as a criminal defense or mitigating factor.
  5. How probable is it for individuals in your country to become inebriated as a result of consuming alcohol? And what effect does alcohol have on their actions?
  6. Have you ever experienced a blackout from drinking alcohol? Kindly share your funny or perhaps embarrassing experiences.

McDonald’s Flopped In Vietnam

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the global landscape of fast-food giants, McDonald’s has managed to establish an iconic presence in numerous countries.

However, its venture into Vietnam, a nation renowned for its rich culinary traditions, presented a unique set of challenges leading to a less-than-successful outcome.

Watch the video to know more about it and be able to answer the questions that follow.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the idiom “to get one’s hands on” mean? “The launch drew crowds of locals who waited hours to get their hands on a Big Mac.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “rock-bottom “mean? “For the Vietnamese, we have our banh mi sandwiches and those sandwiches are sold on the streets at rock-bottom prices compared to McDonald’s and Burger King.” Make one sentence.
  3. What does the idiom ” mend fences” mean? “It wasn’t until that the United States and Vietnam mended fences and opened the door for trade.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. In your opinion, how much of McDonald’s struggle in Vietnam can be attributed to cultural differences, and to what extent should multinational companies adapt their strategies to fit local cultures?
  2. Do you believe McDonald’s could have succeeded in Vietnam with a different menu tailored specifically to Vietnamese tastes, or was the issue more deeply rooted in other factors? Share your thoughts.
  3. How did changing consumer trends towards healthier eating impact McDonald’s in Vietnam, and what lessons can other international fast-food chains learn from this experience?

Gucci Knockoff Is Totally Legal

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the ever-evolving landscape of consumerism and global markets, the issue of knock-offs, or imitation products resembling popular brands such as Gucci, has sparked considerable debate.

While the term “knockoff” often carries a negative connotation, it is essential to recognize that not all imitations fall into the realm of illegality.

Surprisingly, in certain contexts and under specific conditions, knockoffs can be legally produced and distributed.

Watch the video to know more and be able to answer the questions below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “knockoff” mean? “New technology and the speed of production have amplified the two views on knockoffs.” Give 1-2 synonyms or similar expressions and use “knockoff” in your own sentence.
  2. What does “battleground” mean in this context? “In fashion, the main battleground is copyright.” Give 1-2 synonyms or similar expressions and use “battleground” in your own sentence.
  3. What does the phrase “at stake” mean? “It’s hard to protect fashion designs because it’s not obvious that protecting them promotes progress. And from a legal perspective, that’s all that matters. Even though to the artists, that’s not the only at stake.” Give 1-2 synonyms or similar expressions and use “at stake” in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your stance on the legality of Gucci knock-offs? Do you believe it is fair for these imitation products to be considered legal under certain circumstances? Explain.
  2. Do you think the legality of Gucci knock-offs promotes healthy competition in the fashion industry, or does it undermine the efforts of genuine designers and brands? Share your thoughts.
  3. How does the legal status of Gucci knock-offs impact the broader conversation about intellectual property rights and the balance between consumer choices and brand protection?
  4. How does the existence of legal knock-offs be seen as a positive aspect, providing more affordable alternatives for consumers who aspire to the luxury brand but cannot afford the original products?

The Language of Menus

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Restaurants around the world offer different menus with unique and distinctive names for their listed dishes, which can be perplexing most of the time.

We often wonder if they have their own language that they use to name and describe their food.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about how restaurants come up with the food descriptions on their menus that make their dishes seem “appealing, tasty, or poetic”.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240125

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “haute cuisine” mean? “Many of the words used to describe gourmet food – that’s food which is higher-quality and more sophisticated than usual – are French, coming from a country with a long tradition of high-level cooking called haute cuisine.” Construct your own sentence using this phrase.
  2. Do you know the meaning of “turn (someone) off“? “Some diners like the French names, but it turns other diners off.” Use this expression in your own sentence.
  3. How about the word “not available to everyone“? “Caroline thinks French makes her cooking sound too posh, too fashionable, expensive and not available to everyone.” Use this idiom in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on the confusing menu selection?
  2. What steps do you typically take to make sure you don’t regret your menu selections? What are the usual questions you ask if you are confused about the name or description of a certain dish?
  3. Do you think the language used to describe food affect our psychology? Explain your insights.
  4. What are your thoughts on this, “There’s a tendency to not use French because it sounds pretentious.“? Would it turn you off as a diner? Why or why not?
  5. Could you share a funny or embarrassing experience with menu selection? What’s the moral lesson you learned from that experience?

The Rwandan Genocide

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In 1994, around 800,000 people were wiped out in 100 days in Rwanda. The genocide was triggered by the rocket attack on the plane carrying the then President Juvenal Habyarimana which led to his death.

Let’s watch the video and know more about the series of events that led to the Rwandan genocide.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define the verb “engulf“. “Neighbor turned against neighbor as violence engulfed the region.” Use it in your own sentence and give two synonyms.
  2. What does “on good terms” mean, “Many Hutus and Tutsi civilians were on good terms, but colonial powers encouraged political division.” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.
  3. What does “self-preservation” mean? “Over one million Hutu civilians joined their ranks due to coercion, self-preservation, or the pursuit of personal agendas.” Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your insights on this, ““Many Hutus and Tutsi civilians were on good terms, but colonial powers encouraged political division.”.
  2. What is the concept of gacaca? How does this system work and what are your thoughts on this?
  3. Do you agree or disagree that “These verdicts helped restore the dignity of those lost in the violence.“? Share your opinion.

The History of Poker

B2 – Upper Intermediate

“Poker face” is a term which means an impassive expression in order to hide one’s true feelings. The term dates back to the latter half of the 1800s as a strategy employed by poker players to make their opponents believe that they are holding different cards.

Let’s watch the video and know more about the history of poker.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of “battle of nerves“? “From its earliest incarnations, poker has always been a battle of nerves.” Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What does “hand” mean in this context, “They would then wager on whether or not they had the best hand — either adding more money to the pot or folding and forfeiting their chance to win it. “ Use it in a sentence.
  3. Define the word “guile“. “This winning combination of guile, guts, and gambling caught on quickly.” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.

Discussion Questions:

  1. In your opinion, what makes poker a battle of nerves?
  2. What are your thoughts on poker?
  3. Do you play poker (or any other card game)? Why or why not?
  4. What tactics in poker can you apply in real-life?
  5. Where else can the ‘game theory’ be applied?
  6. Share your thoughts on this statement: “Poker is here to stay.“.

How Green Is Your Money

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

We keep our money in the bank. The bank uses our money to invest in or fund other businesses.

Now, the question is, do you have any idea as to what your money is being used for or are you just very green about it?

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about how banks invest our money to fund other business, at times, even dirty practices and find out how our money can help save the environment.

Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2023/ep-231019

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “green” mean in this context, “No, I don’t. I have to admit I’m very green about money, and I don’t mean green as in environmentally friendly.”? Give 2 synonyms and use “green” in this context in your own sentence.
  2. What does “to jump on the bandwagon” mean, “It was always viewed, I think, as a niche thing, something for those that had very clear views on the world, social views. That’s now broadened hugely, and there’s great concern about greenwashing so who’s jumping on the bandwagon? – that’s a huge concern amongst investors.”? Use this expression in your own sentence.
  3. What does ”to put the spotlight on someone/something” mean, ”This in turn puts the spotlight on how pension funds are being used, for example whether they support large oil corporations or renewable energy companies.”? Use this idiom in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What might be reasons public interest in ethical banks has ballooned in recent years?
  2. Are you aware about where your bank invest your money in? Talk about it.
  3. How common are ethical banks in your country? Why do you think this is the case?
  4. What are your thoughts on Richard Curtis’ campaign “Make My Money Matter” which is essentially doing one simple thing, moving your pension to an environmentally sustainable fund? Would you consider doing such financial move? Why or why not?
  5. They say that the most effective way to fight climate change is to move your pension into ethical investments. Share your opinion on this.
  6. Share your thoughts on this, “Luckily, the customer is always right, and by managing our money ethically, we can all help a little.”.