Tag: People and Human Interest

Status Anxiety

C1 – Advanced

It’s quite normal when we meet someone new at a gathering or a party to be asked this common question “What do you do?” That’s one of the many reasons we aspire to advance in our position in the society including greater influence, higher quality of life, and well-being.

Notably, the desire for higher status may be accompanied by the experience of status anxiety. Status anxiety, according to Wikipedia can be defined as the constant tension or fear of being perceived as “unsuccessful” by the society in materialistic terms. Today, every individual constantly tries to outsmart others to climb up the social ladder.

Watch the video below to learn more about anxiety status.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is status anxiety? Are you particularly conscious of your status in the society?
  2. What are the factors that lead us to prove ourselves to the society?
  3. Do you think people around us in the world we live in are snobs or judgmental?
  4. Is it important to be at the top of your league?
  5. Do we have to conform with the society’s status standards?
  6. What is the best way to deal with status anxiety? Explain your point.

Weirdest Phobias People Suffer From

B2 – Upper Intermediate

One of the basic human emotions is fear. It is natural to be fearful in situations we feel unsafe in. However, there is also ‘phobia’ which means an extreme or irrational fear of something. Experts say having a phobia isn’t a sign of weakness.

Let’s watch the video and find out more about phobias you probably never knew existed.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Which of the phobias in the video did you find most outrageous? Why?
  2. Which of the ten phobias do you think is the least weird?
  3. Do you know anyone who has any of these phobias?
  4. Do you agree with the last statement, “all we have to fear is fear itself”?
  5. How would you feel about being without your device?

Growing Roses

B2- Upper Intermediate

Roses are beautiful and fragrant flowers but some people often think they are hard to grow. Most of these rose plants come from Asia and also seen in some parts of Africa, Europe, and the United States.

Let us read few suggestions on how to start growing beautiful roses.

https://www.esolcourses.com/content/reading/intermediate/graded-readers/growing-roses.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you like roses? What are some kinds of flowers and plants do you like?
  2. Do you enjoy growing flowers or other type of plants?
  3. What do you know about planting or gardening?
  4. When is the best time to plant roses?
  5. How do flowers make you feel?

Guide Dogs for the Blind

B2 – Upper Intermediate

For someone who is blind or partially sighted, guide dogs help them move around safely. Because a person’s safety may depend on their dog’s alertness and concentration, not all dogs can be a guide dog.

Let’s read the article about the responsibilities of guide dogs to their owners.

https://www.esolcourses.com/content/reading/intermediate/graded-readers/guide-dogs.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of guide dogs?
  2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having guide dogs?
  3. What are the types of things that guide dogs assist their owners with?
  4. Would you be willing to get a guide dog for someone who is blind or partially sighted?
  5. What other things do you know about service animals?

A Leopard Can’t Change Its Spots

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A philosopher once said, “the only constant in life is change”. Change is inevitable that’s why we should be able to adapt to changes in our lives. However, some things never change; such as bad habits.

Let’s watch the video and learn a new expression.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/course/experiment/unit-1/session-1

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does “a leopard can’t change its spots” mean? Do you agree with this?
  2. What are some bad habits that you would like to get rid of?
  3. Do you agree or disagree that people can change for the better? Why or why not?
  4. How do you say the same expression in your language and explain what it means.
  5. Share an experience when a leopard couldn’t change its spots.

Success at School vs Success in Life

C1 – Advanced

We were often told that we should do well at school as it is the ultimate security in life. Everyone seems to want it so that in time, they’ll have a suitable and comfortable house, career, business, and respect from others.

However, at some point, confusion strikes as we know or meet people who have done pretty well at school but unfortunately failed in life or vice versa.

To understand further, take a look at this video.



Discussion Questions:

  1. Does school assure success in life? Explain your stand.
  2. Do grades determine success in life? Explain your position.
  3. How has school curricular designed and evolved through time?
  4. What are the two tricky things mentioned in this video to have a good life? Do you agree or disagree with it? Why?
  5. What is important to succeed in school and in life?

Etiquette Mistakes You Need to Stop Making

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Do we really get wiser as we age? We certainly hope so. As you grow older, there are certain lessons that you learn and then those habits that you have to cull in order for you to become a more mature individual.

Below are some inexcusable etiquettes that you should remove in your system by the time you hit your 30s. Learn them very carefully.

https://www.rd.com/advice/etiquette-mistakes-stop-making-by-30/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Which among those etiquette mistakes do you still unconsciously make?
  2. Which among the etiquette mistakes mentioned do you find most repulsive?
  3. What others can you add to this list?

How to Spot a Liar

C1 – Advanced

It can be a challenge to tell if someone is lying to you. No one is safe from liars and they can strike from absolutely anywhere. It could be your partner, best friend, your work colleague, or your family member. The most practiced liars are incredibly skilled in what they do and how they do it. They are absolute masters in the ancient art of deception and many have fallen victim to their mischievous advances.

Luckily enough, there are many signs we can look out for when trying to detect a lie.

Watch the video to find out some simple tricks that you could do to trap a liar.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How can you tell if someone is lying to you?
  2. What causes a person to lie?
  3. We are all liars. Do you agree or disagree with this? Explain your stand.
  4. Lying’s a cooperative act. Do you agree or disagree with this? Share an example.
  5. How do you trick a liar?

Spill the Tea

B2 – Upper Intermediate

People love to chat especially when it is something juicy about another person. It may seem fun and entertaining but it can also be damaging to the person who is the subject of the conversation.

Let’s listen to the podcast and learn a similar expression.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak/ep-200608

Discussion Questions:

  1. What did Feifei say about Roy? How did she know about it?
  2. What happened in the end? Was Feifei correct?
  3. Explain the phrase ‘”lost a dare”.
  4. What does “spill the tea” mean?
  5. Do you like spilling the tea or listening to someone spilling the tea?

There’s More to Life Than Being Happy

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We all want to live a happy and meaningful life but what does having a “meaningful life” really mean? Finding happiness could be easy. Whether it’s money, family, travel, or food, we all have a different definition of happiness. Having a meaningful life is another story. Some would say seeking meaning in life is the more fulfilling path.

In this video, you will know why we should build more meaningful lives instead of just happy ones.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the four pillars of a meaningful life?
  2. What’s important to you in life?
  3. How can you help someone who has depression?
  4. What makes you happy?
  5. How can you live more meaningfully?