Tag: People and Human Interest

Thinking about ‘Future You’ Builds a Happier Life

B2 – Upper Intermediate

These days, mindfulness is extremely popular and for good reasons. Being present-oriented can enhance our health and quality of life, foster love and care, and deepen our emotional bonds.
What if we look beyond the here and now? A growing body of research indicates that while thinking about the future can cause anxiety, it can also enrich our lives. Yes, as implied, we ought to give our future selves more of our attention, because through fantasizing, we can look at alternate paths to reach for our aspirations in life.

Read the article to learn about how thinking about ‘future you’ can help lead a better, happier, and more meaningful life.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220201-how-thinking-about-future-you-can-build-a-happier-life

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you hope for for your own future?
  2. What anxieties and concerns do you have for the future?
  3. How has your vision of your future self changed from when you were young to present?
  4. What did you believe about your years ahead when you were younger?
  5. Would you rather spend 100 years in the distant past or the future? Why?

Laughter

B1 – Intermediate

Laughing is contagious. It brings happiness, lifts spirits, and brings about good judgment.

Laughter has very good benefits to our body. Laughter and jokes help boost the immune system, improve your quality of life, promote healing, and protect you from the negative outcomes of stress. Best of all, this medicine is totally organic, fascinating, unlimited, and not to mention, free.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript about laughter.

https://listenaminute.com/l/laughter.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What usually makes you laugh?
  2. Do you consider it necessary for people to laugh? Why or why not?
  3. Do you like making other people laugh? Why or why not?
  4. Why do some people seem to laugh more frequently than others?
  5. Is laughing synonymous to happiness, contentment, or joy? Explain. 
  6. What is the funniest moment of your life and why?

Night

B1 – Intermediate

Are you a night owl?

The night should be the most peaceful period of the day. It is a great time to look at the stars because they’re beautiful,  lay out on the beach or any other place, and just talk and hang out with friends.

Let’s listen to the audio and read the transcript about nighttime.

https://listenaminute.com/n/night.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you do at night that is different from during the day?
  2. Do you feel different at night than you do during the day? Explain.
  3. What’s the best night out you’ve ever had?
  4. What would life and the world be like if humans were nocturnal – we slept during the day and were active at night?
  5. Talk about an interesting night in your life. What made it special?

Small Talk

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A psychologist named Susan Pinker says that small talks can help us live longer. It enables people to find common ground and interest. That’s why it is not surprising how small chitchats improve our social interactions.

Watch a short clip below and see how Joseph learns a lesson from a second-grader.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How was Joseph’s first encounter with Adam? How did Adam try to make a small talk with Joseph?
  2. What are your thoughts on this conversation?
  3. Do you like making small talks? Why or why not?
  4. What questions can we ask when attempting to make a small talk? What questions shouldn’t we ask when we make a small talk? Explain your answer.
  5. What are some of the most memorable small talks you’ve ever had with a total stranger?

Safety: Nothing is Routine

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We can be a victim of our own complacency. It happens when the task becomes too familiar, and our brain goes on autopilot. Ideally, we should always be mindful of everything, but because we have done a specific activity so many times, we tend to start getting complacent.

Here’s a video clip that will remind us how dangerous it can be to start being complacent about safety when it comes to our most mundane tasks.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Retell the scenes that you saw in the video.
  2. Do you agree that nothing is routine when it comes to our safety? Express your thoughts.
  3. How can we be more mindful even if we have already done a task multiple times?
  4. Share one experience you had when you didn’t pay no mind to something you were doing which led to an accident or put you in danger.
  5. What safety practices at home and work should we never be complacent about?

The Meaning of Life According to Different Philosophies

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

The meaning of life can be described in many ways: simple, absolute, soul-centered, non-existent, etc. Philosophers are occupied with the search for meaning and people of different ages ponder over this issue, sometimes driving themselves to anxiety and stress. 

Read the article below to find out what different philosophies have to say about this topic.

https://blog.adioma.com/meaning-of-life-according-to-philosophy/

Discussion Questions:

  1. How has the meaning of life changed for you as you got older?
  2. Would you say that you have fulfilled your childhood dreams?
  3. Why are some people unable to free themselves from expectations?
  4. Is our life a predetermined path? Why (not)?
  5. Do you feel like you are on the right track in life now?
  6. What have you been pondering on lately?
  7. Have you ever tried googling the meaning of life?
  8. At what moments in our life do we start thinking about the meaning of life?
  9. In your opinion, what is ‘the crisis of meaning’? Why are people hungry for the meaning of life and why do they go through a crisis when they find none?

Buying Pre-Loved Clothing More Important than Ever

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Some people love shopping for clothes, bags, jewelry, and all sorts of other things that have already been used by others previously. These products are called “pre-loved”. As you are not the first to use/wear them, they are normally priced very low as compared to brand new ones.

Read the article on why buying pre-loved clothing is important now more than ever and be able to answer the questions that follow.

Why Buying Pre-loved Clothing Is More Important Than Ever

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you ever bought pre-loved items before? What do you think about these products?
  2. Do you agree with the author’s opinion about pre-loved items? Why or why not?
  3. What are the impacts of “pre-loved” shopping to people and environment?
  4. Are your shopping habits less detrimental to the world if you shop secondhand items anyway? Explain your thoughts.
  5. How does this article change your mind about buying pre-loved items from now own?

The premium that we have to pay to have exclusive rights to be the first consumer to use the product is eliminated in pre-loved shopping and the preloved consumer can enjoy the same product for a drastically reduced price. It’s definitely a tantalizing offer that many cannot afford to miss out on .

Inside the Head of Jeff Bezos

B2 – Upper Intermediate

He is Amazon’s Executive Chairman. His whopping loot of around US$139 billion puts him on top of the list of the world’s richest. With all that he has achieved, one must be wondering, “What goes on in that mind of his?”.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript for a peek on how Jeff Bezos thinks.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-210809

Discussion Questions:

  1. What can we learn from Jeff Bezos’ business sense and his story of success? 
  2. What do you think goes in the mind of super wealthy people such as Bezos most of the time?
  3. If you were very wealthy, what do you think would often occupy your thoughts?
  4. When Jeff Bezos’s friends talk about him, three words they often use are: invention, risk-taking and long-term vision. What do you think are three words your friends would use for and about you and why?
  5. What do you think is the secret to your business/company’s success?
  6. Which business person do you idolize and why?

Finding Your Mission

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

Every day, lots of people struggle to find their calling in life and not all of them succeed as it takes a lot of effort, patience, and know-how.

Watch the video and you’ll learn how to make the search for one’s calling easier. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think is your mission in life? How did you find out about it?
  2. What is a calling? Why do many people struggle to find their calling?
  3. How can you understand that you’ve finally found a calling in life?
  4. Which of your childhood dreams would you like to live out?
  5. Would you change your career to find something more interesting and suitable for you? Why or why not?
  6. What would you do if your loved ones were against your passion?

Patience

B1 – Intermediate

In today’s modern world, life has become a constant pursuit of distraction. Being more patient can do wonders to our mental health, career, and personal relationships. Patience makes us better people.

Let’s listen to the audio and read the transcript below about patience.

https://listenaminute.com/p/patience.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are you patient? Is it difficult for you to be as such? Explain your answer.
  2. How can you improve the quality of patience in yourself? What techniques can you think of?
  3. When was the last time you lost your patience?
  4. Who/what requires the most patience in your life?
  5. Do you think you’re getting more patient or impatient as you get older? Explain.