Tag: People and Human Interest

Standard of Living

B1 – Intermediate

Standard of living demonstrates a person’s quality of life. It is the level of their material wealth and income. It dictates the kinds of things they will be able to buy and experience in their lives.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about standard of living.

https://listenaminute.com/s/standard_of_living.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is “standard of living”? “I don’t think you need a lot of money to have a good standard of living.” Use this phrase in your own sentence.
  2. What does “overseas” mean? “I’m not rich, I don’t have expensive furniture (in fact I have cheap used furniture) and I don’t have luxury holidays overseas.” Give 2 synonyms and use “overseas” in your own sentence.
  3. Explain what “do one’s best” mean. “We all do our best for most of our lives to improve it.” Use this expression in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why is a good standard of living important?
  2. In your personal opinion, what is a good standard of living?
  3. How can a person improve their standard of living?
  4. What do you think of the current standard of living of most people in your country?
  5. Agree or disagree: “I don’t think you need a lot of money to have a good standard of living.” Explain your position.

Smiling Classes

B1 – Intermediate

People have been wearing masks for a long time since the COVID-19 pandemic. Some people in Japan claim that they have forgotten how to smile naturally. Therefore, they are taking smiling lessons from “smile coaches”.

Read more about these smiling classes in the article.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2306/230608-smiling-classes.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “complex” mean in this context, “Many people developed a complex about smiling.“? Use this word in this context in a sentence.
  2. What does “the key to something” mean? “Moving and relaxing the facial muscles is the key to a good smile.” Use this expression in a sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of “for some time to come“? “Smile coaches in Japan may be busy for some time to come.” Use this phrase in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on smiling lessons?
  2. Have you ever found it difficult or uncomfortable to smile naturally after wearing a face mask for a lengthy period of time? How did you handle it?
  3. Would you consider taking lessons from a “smile coach” to relearn how to smile with confidence if you felt self-conscious about it?
  4. Do you believe that wearing masks has affected your ability to communicate effectively and make good impressions on others? Why or why not?
  5. What is your opinion on this: “Smiling makes a good impression on others and helps communication. It also has the effect of making yourself feel more positive.”?

Dead and Cremated Animals in a Hoarder’s Home

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In this eye-opening video, we witness a distressing situation involving a woman who had way too many animals living in terrible conditions, with some of them even dead. The situation got totally out of control because she just couldn’t stop hoarding animals.

This sweet elderly lady lived alone and ended up with around 100 cats in her house. It’s sad because she’s a really caring person, but things went downhill after her husband passed away 12 years ago. Her house became a complete mess, filled with boxes and stuff everywhere, making it impossible to live in. The smell was so bad that it even bothered her neighbors.

Luckily, the authorities stepped in and rescued the animals that were still alive. But now, the woman’s house is considered unsafe and is red-tagged. You won’t believe the details until you watch the video!

Vocabulary Questions:

Explain the meaning of the highlighted words below and make some sentences.

  1. It is an apparent case of animal hoarding that got out of hand.
  2. The smell would get pretty bad, it would linger over to our side.
  3. The home here was red-tagged.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What have you seen in the video?
  2. How would you feel in a situation where hoarding leads to poor living conditions?
  3. Can good intentions sometimes lead to uncontrollable and harmful situations?
  4. What could have been done earlier to stop the situation from getting worse?
  5. How important is neighborly awareness for overall well-being?

Man Opens Door During Flight 

B1 – Intermediate

Flight is a wondrous thing that has changed the way we explore and connect with the world. It allows us to travel long distances in a short amount of time, making the world feel smaller and more accessible.

During a flight, we can enjoy many things that the airline offers. We can watch movies, listen to music, or simply relax and look out the window.

It’s important to remember that flying comes with responsibilities. We should be considerate of our fellow passengers, keep quiet, and respect their space. Most importantly of all, we should also follow safety instructions to ensure a smooth and secure flight.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript to know the incident of a man opening the plane door during a flight.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/a-man-opens-the-door-during-flight-level-2/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to find (something) out” mean in this sentence, “The police are questioning the suspect and they are trying to find out why he did it.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the word “lever” mean? “He pulled a lever and opened the door. Videos showed strong winds blowing at passengers.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “suspect” mean? “The suspect was a 33-year-old passenger who was sitting near the emergency exit. He pulled a lever and opened the door. Videos showed strong winds blowing at passengers.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to what the man did?
  2. Have you ever taken a flight? If yes, where did you go? If not, where would you like to go?
  3. What are some safety measures you should follow during a flight?
  4. What are some potential risks or challenges that travelers might face during their journey? How can they be prepared to handle such situations?
  5. What are your travel tips / advices for someone who is taking their first flight?

Life Purpose

B2 – Upper Intermediate

At what moments in our lives do we start thinking about the meaning of life? Our life purpose can be described in many ways and some people of different ages ponder over this personal enigma.

Read the article and try to unlock the mystery of life by discussing common views on life’s meaning. 

https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/what-life-purpose

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “fluctuation” mean here, “What’s more, your purpose can actually shift and change throughout life in response to the evolving priorities and fluctuations of your own experiences.”? Give a synonym and use ‘fluctuation’ in this context in a sentence.
  2. What does “shipwreck” mean in this context, “Questions about life purpose may arise at any time in life, but you may notice that they are especially prevalent during times of transition or crisis—for example, a career or educational change, personal loss, or long-distance move. Sharon Daloz Parks calls these events “life’s shipwrecks.”? Use this word in your own sentence.
  3. What does “reframe” mean? “This is the secret to a fully alive life: to reframe our life questions over and over.“ Use this word in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the article, what is the secret to a fully-alive life?
  2. Share your thoughts on the equation for purpose that is G + P + V = P (gifts + passions + values = purpose).
  3. Would you say that you have fulfilled some of your dreams? What have you accomplished?
  4. What do you think is your life purpose?
  5. Is life a predetermined path? Explain your views on this.

Silence Your Inner Critic

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There are times when we end up being our own biggest critic. We tend to be harsher on ourselves when we mess something up. Rather than being our biggest enemy, we must try to be kinder to ourselves and free ourselves from our inner critics.

Read this article to learn the easiest way to silence your inner critic.

https://lifehacker.com/the-easiest-way-to-silence-your-inner-critic-1850497775

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “stem from something” mean? “He used to have a severe case of toxic self-talk that stemmed from an addiction to perfectionism, as it related to performance.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  2. What does “to be stuck in a loop” mean? “In fact, many of us are stuck in a toxic feedback loop with ourselves that is more damaging than we might think.” Use this idiom in your own sentence.
  3. What does “the bulk of the work” mean? “Regardless, the bulk of the work is done when you stop talking to yourself negatively and redirect that negative self-talk into a kinder monologue.” Use this phrase in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you find yourself being your own biggest critic? How so, and in which situations?
  2. According to the article, negative self-talk can have a significant impact on our self-esteem and well-being. Can you think of a time when your inner critic affected your confidence or mood?
  3. What other steps can you take to have more self-compassion and avoid all the negative self-talk?
  4. Do you believe that silencing your inner critic can have a positive impact on your personal and professional growth? Why or why not?
  5. Do you think having an inner critic is ever necessary? Why or why not?

Crowds

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Every individual’s reaction to being in a sea of people differs. When people get together in a crowd, some good and some bad come out of it.

Listen to this podcast and read the transcript about the role of crowds in modern life.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2023/ep-230323

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “mob mentality” mean? “But according to John, the idea of mob mentality, that people in crowds are irrational and prone to destructive behaviour, just isn’t backed up by research.”? Use this phrase in a sentence.
  2. What does “flip side” mean? “The flip side of that is when you don’t feel as much part of the group, and you’re not having a positive experience.” Give 1-2 synonym/s of ‘flip side’ and use the phrase in your own sentence.
  3. What does “gullible” mean? “When people get together in a crowd, they regress psychologically, their thinking is more primitive, they become more gullible, and that’s also associated with the supposed tendency towards violence as well.” Use this word in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you feel about crowds?
  2. What might be the good and bad things about crowds?
  3. What are your thoughts on this statement, “When people get together in a crowd, they regress psychologically.”?
  4. Cite an incident/s where you’ve witnessed “mob mentality”.
  5. What is your opinion on this, “In today’s world, crowds are important because of the feeling of power they give us.”?
  6. Talk about a time when you were amidst a huge crowd. How was this experience for you?

Rekindle Lost Passion

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Knowing what your passion is a great thing. Most people go on about their lives trying to find it.

However, finding out what it is and keeping the fire burning for it is not the be-all and end-all. Losing your interest in what you are passionate about and trying to rekindle that lost fervor is another thing.

Read the article to learn the five ways that can help reignite your fire.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20230113-the-mindset-to-re-kindle-lost-passion

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “fan the flames” mean, “What strategies do they use to fan the flames of their zeal for work?“? Use this phrase in a sentence.
  2. What does “in a rut” mean, “If you still feel like you are in a rut, you might simply be asking too much from your career.“? Make a sentence with this phrase.
  3. Define “self-consequating“. “Two of the most useful techniques are “proximal goal setting” and “self-consequating”.” Use this in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree with the techniques mentioned in the article?
  2. What are some common reasons why people lose their passion for their work or hobbies?
  3. Have you ever experienced a loss of passion or enthusiasm in your life? If so, how did it manifest and how did you handle it?
  4. How important is it to have a supportive network or community when trying to rekindle lost passion?
  5. Are there any specific strategies or techniques mentioned in the article that resonate with you and that you would consider implementing to reignite your passion?

Cultivate Life Transforming Habits

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We all want to become better but sometimes it can be very overwhelming when we don’t know how or where to start. We easily get intimidated by the amount of effort we need to put in in order to change ourselves. Thus, we never get around to doing it.

Read the article on how doing a habit trial can challenge you and help you become a better version of you.

https://personalexcellence.co/blog/21-day-trial/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of the word “age-old”, “The 21-day trial is based on the age-old belief that it takes 21 days to fully form a new habit.”? Use it in a sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of the word “cloud” mean in this sentence, “Firstly, breaking the habit for one day will affect your experience of the activity, which subsequently clouds your findings.“? Use it in a sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of the word “chuck”, “. Since you are not committing to this habit beyond 21 days, you can chuck it aside if you don’t like it.“? Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why is it usually difficult for people to form a new habit?
  2. How can the 21-Day Habit Challenge help people?
  3. What activities can people do when they complete the 21-Day Habit Challenge?
  4. Would you like to try this program? Why (not)?

You Wake Up Earlier As You Get Older

B2 – Upper Intermediate

People get up earlier than they did when they were more youthful as they get older. This is a typical occurrence that has been documented in numerous studies. While it may seem counterintuitive that older people would require further sleep, there are an array of causes for this.

Educate yourself on the topic of age-related sleep changes and discover practical strategies for maintaining healthy sleep habits as you age by reading the full text below.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/reason-older-adults-wake-up-early_l_644a7b33e4b0d840388d2f46

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to wake up before the sun” mean in the sentence, “There are many jokes that center around older adults waking up before the sun, and even more about teenagers’ late-sleeping habits.”? Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “few extra hours of Zzzs” mean in the sentence, “We asked Lustig and other experts to break down the main reasons why this occurs, and what you can do to push back if you just want those few extra hours of Zzzs.”? Use this phrase in your own sentence.
  3. What does “nightcap” mean in the sentence, “Lustig added you should avoid alcohol before bed — “while that nightcap might make you sleepy, it actually disrupts the quality of your sleep.””? Give 2 synonyms for this word and use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do older adults tend to experience changes in their circadian rhythms?
  2. How does advanced sleep phase syndrome contribute to earlier wake-up times in older adults?
  3. Can medication or other therapies help older adults manage sleep disturbances and wake up at a more desirable time? Tell me more.
  4. Can changes in hormone levels impact sleep patterns as people age? If so, how?
  5. What are the long-term consequences of poor sleep hygiene in older adults, and how can these be avoided? Please share.
  6. How can older adults maintain a healthy sleep routine as they age?