Tag: People and Human Interest

The Joys of Writing Lists

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

How does one handle drowning in so many tasks to do? Wouldn’t it be interesting to explore our love of lists? 

Jo Nolan wrote a book exploring our obsession with making lists.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript to find out why people love lists.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2025/ep-250904

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “bang for your buck”? “I feel like you get a lot – you get a big bang for your buck in that song.  Maybe it’s the positivity – it’s a bit saccharine.” Use the idiom in a sentence and give a synonym.
  2. What does “saccharine” mean here, “But not everyone likes the song. Some call it saccharine.” Use the word in a sentence. Give another meaning of “saccharine”.
  3. What does “the nub of” mean? “The list encourages you to think really efficiently and economically, so I think you don’t waste a lot of time and effort making a nice sentence or using long words. You just get to the nub of things quite quickly.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How are lists helpful? In what ways do you find them disadvantageous?
  2. What do you think about this, “Lists often abbreviate the items they contain, so you get to the nub of things quickly.”?
  3. Do you have the habit of making lists? Why or why not? What kinds of lists
  4. Is it better to make lists on paper or on phone? Explain.
  5. Do you think making a list of pros and cons helps resolve a situation? What are your thoughts?

Superman #1 the Most Expensive Comic

B1 – Intermediate 

It was in 1939 when the comic book Superman # 1 first came out. It started the genre of superhero comics. Superman No. 1 went on to become the inspiration for many other superheroes that followed.

A copy of the first Superman comic that is in perfect condition belonged to three brothers who found it after 86 years of just collecting dust in their late mother’s house.

At an auction, it was sold for $9.12 million.

Read the article about Superman #1 comic selling for $9.12 million at an auction.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2511/251124-superman-comic-5.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is an “auction”? “A pristine copy of the very first self-titled Superman comic has been sold at auction for $9.12 million.” Use the word in a sentence and give a synonym.
  2. What does “blueprint” mean here, “Superman No. 1 became the blueprint for today’s modern superheroes.” Use the word in a sentence. What’s another meaning of “blueprint”?
  3. What does “mint condition” mean? “Mint condition copies are very rare because many people cut off the front cover to use as a poster.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your thoughts about the story of the three brothers and them finding this comic at their late mother’s house after 86 years.
  2. What do you think about the amount of money that this comic was sold for?
  3. What are your thoughts on this comic being the “pinnacle of comic collecting?
  4. Do you like collecting? Why or why not?
  5. If there is one piece of pop culture history that you could have, what would it be and why?
  6. What is the most priceless thing you own and why is it so valuable for you?

Priceless Jewelry Stolen From Louvre

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A shocking heist place in Paris, where “priceless” jewelry was stolen from the world-famous Louvre Museum. The incident has raised serious questions about security in one of the most visited cultural landmarks on Earth. Authorities are investigating how the thieves managed to bypass tight security measures and escape with such valuable items. The theft has sparked global attention and concern over the protection of historical and artistic treasures.

Watch the video and be able to answer the question below.


Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the word ‘heist’ mean?“ The daring heist at the Louvre left authorities stunned, as thieves managed to escape with priceless jewelry from one of the world’s most secure museums. Make a sentence using the word.
  2. What does ‘in broad daylight’ mean? “The thieves stole the jewelry in broad daylight.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does the phrase “never see the daylight again’ mean? “The stolen jewelry may never see the light of day again.” Make your own sentence.


Discussion Questions:

  1. How could such a high-profile theft happen in one of the most secure museums in the world like the Louvre?
  2. What do you think motivates people to steal priceless jewelry that can’t easily be sold or displayed publicly?
  3. How might this incident affect the public’s trust in museum security and the way historical treasures are protected?
  4. In your opinion, should punishment for stealing cultural treasures be harsher than for ordinary theft?

What Does Resilience Mean

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In this short video, some people are asked what resilience means to them.

To see how people define resilience and why they consider it important, watch the full video.

Vocabulary Questions

  1. What does “to push through something” mean in the sentence? “Resilience is about pushing through through life’s hardships even when you don’t want to or you feel like you can’t.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “to keep one’s head up” mean in the sentence? “To me, resiliency is the ability to keep your head up when things aren’t looking great.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “to work through something” mean in the sentence? “If we don’t talk about it, then we can never bond over things. We can never work through problems.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions

  1. For you, what does resilience mean?
  2. Can you think of a time when you had to “bounce back” from a problem?
  3. Why do you think it’s important to teach resilience to young children?
  4. How can adults demonstrate resilience?
  5. What other examples can you think of that show resilience in everyday life?

Japan’s Legendary Sushi Chef Still Working at 100

B1 – Intermediate 

Jiro Ono is a very famous sushi chef from Japan. He decided not to quit work even after he turned 100.

Chef Ono believes working is the secret to living a long and healthy life. He has no plan to stop any time soon.

Read the article about Jiro Ono, the famous sushi chef in Japan who decided to continue working despite being 100 years old.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2510/251030-sushi-chef-jiro-ono.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to retire from one’s job” mean? “Ono-san said he has no plans to retire from his job.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “to keep going” mean? “I plan to keep going for about five more years.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “to reach the top” mean? “I haven’t reached perfection yet. I’ll continue to climb and try to reach the top, but nobody knows where the top is.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about working even at 100 years old?
  2. Share your opinion on this: the best medicine is to work.
  3. What do you think is the secret to living a long and healthy life?
  4. How do centenarians in your country usually spend their life at that age?
  5. What do you think about Chef Ono’s sushi restaurant’s concept?
  6. Would you be interested to visit Sukiyabashi Jiro? Why or why not?

The 4 Stages of Adaptation to Culture Shock

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Adapting to a new culture can be both exciting and challenging. When people move to a different country or environment, they often go through what’s known as culture shock—a process of adjusting to unfamiliar customs, values, and lifestyles. This experience typically unfolds in four stages of adaptation: the honeymoon, frustration, adjustment, and adaptation stages.

Understanding these stages helps individuals navigate cultural differences more smoothly and develop a deeper appreciation for their new surroundings.

Watch the video and be able to answer the questions that follow.


Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Explain what “honeymoon stage” means. “In the honeymoon stage, everything is beautiful. The people are friendly, the culture rich, and the way of local life fascinating.” Use the phrase in your own sentence.
  2. What does “reverse culture shock” mean? “Those who have adapted to a new society may face a surprise when they eventually return home. After another honeymoon, they often enter a reverse culture shock.” Use the term in a sentence.
  3. What does the phrase “set in” mean? “After the excitement of moving to a new country faded, homesickness and loneliness began to set in as part of culture shock.” Make one sentence.


Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think experiencing culture shock is a necessary part of truly understanding another culture? Share your thoughts.
  2. In your opinion, which stage of adaptation (honeymoon, frustration, adjustment, adaptation) best shows a person’s resilience?
  3. Do you believe some people adapt to new cultures faster because of personality, or is it more about preparation and experience?
  4. How might the honeymoon stage affect someone’s first impressions of a country, and how do those impressions change later?
  5. Share your own experience going through the different stages of adaptation to culture shock.

Stereotypes: The Truth Behind Cultural Clichés

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Cultural clichés, or stereotypes, are simplified ideas people hold about certain groups or nationalities. They often come from bits of truth but are exaggerated or generalized over time. While some clichés may seem harmless or even flattering, many can lead to misunderstanding and unfair judgment. Exploring the truth behind cultural clichés helps us see people as individuals, appreciate real cultural diversity, and move beyond shallow assumptions.

Watch the short video and be able to answer the questions below:


Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the difference between “explicit stereotype” and “implicit stereotype“? Cite an example situation for each type.
  2. What does the phrase “to cloud one’s judgement” mean? “Believing in stereotypes can cloud one’s judgment, causing people to misjudge others before getting to know them personally.” Make your own sentence.
  3. What does the phrase “unbiased standpoint” mean? “Armed with this self-awareness, you try to interact with each French individual from a seemingly unbiased standpoint.” Make a sentence using the term.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think stereotypes are sometimes based on a small truth, or are they mostly unfair generalizations?
  2. In your opinion, is it possible to completely get rid of cultural clichés in today’s society?
  3. Do you believe media plays the biggest role in spreading stereotypes, or do they come more from personal experiences?
  4. What are some common stereotypes about your culture, and how accurate or inaccurate do you think they are?
  5. How can education and cross-cultural experiences help break down harmful stereotypes?
  6. What stereotypes are associated with people from your country? Do you find these stereotypes to be all true?

The Case of Edward Snowden

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

Edward Joseph Snowden formerly worked for the National Security Agency as an intelligence contractor.

In 2013, he became a whistleblower and leaked classified documents exposing global surveillance programs which were operated by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) and the U.K.’s intelligence organization, Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). 

Read the article about Edward Joseph Snowden. 

https://www.whistleblowers.org/news/the-case-of-edward-snowden

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “whistleblower” mean? “After Deep Throat and Daniel Ellsberg, one of the whistleblowers at the top of American minds is Edward Snowden.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym or similar expression.
  2. What does “to be used to the injury of (someone/something)” mean? “With its broad language, the Espionage Act prohibits the publication of information by anyone to be used to the injury of the United States.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym or similar expression.
  3. What does “to be in someone’s interest” mean? “Originally designed to prosecute spies bringing military secrets back home, this Act has been used against whistleblowers, not spies, who release information that they believe is in the American interest.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym or similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. In your opinion, is Snowden’s disclosure of the classified information an act of espionage or free speech? Discuss.
  2. Share your thoughts, “With intelligence whistleblowers still facing retaliation from superiors and even from sitting presidents, their protection is paramount.”
  3. What are your thoughts on this, “The benefit to the public from a disclosure must outweigh the government’s need for secrecy.”?
  4. Share your insights on this, “Originally designed to prosecute spies bringing military secrets back home, The Espionage Act has been used against whistleblowers, not spies, who release information that they believe is in the American interest.”
  5. Talk about a whistleblower you know of and their story.

Flourishing

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

At present, we have grown more and more conscious about our overall well-being. 

There’s a new buzzword making rounds: “flourishing”. Now, this term doesn’t only mean generally feeling healthy and happy, but it is about feeling good about every other aspect of your life such as happiness, health, relationships and financial security.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the meaning of flourishing and how to ensure you are thriving in life.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2025/ep-250807

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define “buzzword”. “I wonder if you all feel that you are ‘flourishing’ in life. This is another psychological buzzword with added evidence.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  2. What does “small win” mean?  “There’s an old saying – ‘a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step’ – and savouring each small win along the way is vital to flourishing.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  3. Explain the meaning of “to stop and smell the roses”. “Savouring involves taking time out to ‘stop and smell the roses‘, as we say.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What can one do in order to cultivate flourishing?
  2. What are things you do to ensure you are flourishing in life?
  3. Does flourishing depend on your nationality, or are there things anyone can do to feel happier wherever they live? Share your insights.
  4. Share your thoughts on this, “While richer countries scored higher on material happiness, middle-income countries did better in terms of kindness and social connection.”
  5. “In Japan, women flourished more than men, while in Brazil the opposite was true.“ Why do you think this is?
  6. What might be the explanation to this: “Across all countries, flourishing increased after the age of 50.” 

Grown-ups Buying Kids’ Toys

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

The toys that we used to love playing with as kids are a very nostalgic way to reminisce our childhood. 

This must be the reason why some adults still enjoy the idea of buying kids’ toys and playing with them.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about grown-ups buying and playing with kids’ toys.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2025/ep-250814

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define “disposable income”. “Once I kind of had a stable job with disposable income, I kind of rediscovered my love for soft toys, and I started buying them again because I’ve always loved collecting things, because, you know, they bring me happiness, they bring me joy.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  2. What does “inner child” mean?  “And I think also a big pillar of my channel and my content is reconnecting with my childhood, and healing that inner child, and I think the toys also play a part in that.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  3. Explain the meaning of “to have time on one’s hands”. “During the pandemic, people had time on their hands. Many adults went online, hoping to find the toys they remembered from childhood.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What might be the reasons grown-ups like buying and/or playing with toys?
  2. What do you think about adults still buying and playing with toys?
  3. Share your insights on this, “Adults buying kids’ toys for themselves account for between 30 and 40% of the entire toy market.” 
  4. Do you consider yourself a “kidult”? Why or why not? What are some things/activities you still enjoy that are normally for younger people? Why do you think you still like them until now?
  5. During the pandemic, people had time on their hands. What did you do with yours?