Tag: People and Human Interest

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the 17th century, people used to put on these detailed wigs that looked woolly. Put them on the wrong way and that would obscure the person’s vision hence the inability to see if a trick is being played on them.

Listen to the audio below and find out how pulling one’s woolly hat over someone’s eyes explains deception and trickery.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak/ep-190318

Discussion Questions:

1. What does ‘to pull the wool over someone’s eyes’ mean?

2. Has anyone pulled the wool over your eyes?

3. How do feel when you find out you have been tricked into doing something?

4. Do you blame yourself for falling victim to deception/trickery?

B2 – Upper intermediate

Young people often feel pressured to make decisions about how they want to spend the rest of their lives. Should we follow our passion wherever it may take us? Which is better—do what you love or learn to love what you do? How can you know which course to take or avoid?

Watch the video and listen to Mike Rowe talk about his opinion on “following one’s passion”.

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your opinion about the statement “Don’t follow your passion”?
2. What do you really want?
3. Do you like what you are now?
4. What do you think will happen if you had followed your passion?
5. Would you be willing to work for free just to follow your passion?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Keeping your room or house clean can be tedious and time-consuming. Unfortunately, household chores are a must and you have to do them if you want to live in a neat and comfortable environment.

In this video, you will learn about seven great tips to make sure that you are cleaning your space the right way.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are the 7 tips described in the video?

2. Do you like cleaning? How do you clean your room/house? How often do you do so?

3. Share some of your own house cleaning techniques / maintenance tips.

B2 – Upper intermediate

A tattoo is a form of body modification where a pattern or design is made by inserting ink and dyes into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Though for many it is a painful process, it remains a very popular one that lots of people get done.

Meet Whang-Od, the last remaining Mambabatok, a tattoo artist who uses a thousand-year old method using traditional hand-tapping motions.

Discussion Questions:

1. Who is Whang-Od? What does she do?

2. What are your thoughts on tattoos?

3. Do you know of any ancient or traditional forms of art from your country?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Men are commonly associated with rape, murder, aggression and violence—all the stuff related to “toxic masculinity,”. For some, the obvious solution is to make men less masculine to make them less toxic. On the other hand, some say making men more like women will only result to more “toxic masculinity”.

Watch the video to find out why.

Discussion Questions:

1. What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘men’?

2. Do you agree with the solution to make men less toxic and make them more like women?

3. Do you think men are more aggressive than women?

4. In your country, who is usually regarded as the head of the family?

5. What three changes would you like to make to (other) men?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A local doughnut shop in California has people lining out the door before the sun even comes up.

Watch the video to discover the reason, which is sweeter than the treat itself. Find out why people are splurging on them.

Discussion Questions:

1. Why are the people buying all the donuts? How does the video impact you?

2. Describe your own community. How does your community look after its own people?

3. Do you support your local shops and businesses?

4. How can you encourage solidarity and charity in your community?

5. What treats are Spanish crazy about?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Halloween… many Spanish associate this holiday with the United States. But in fact, according to historians, this tradition is most likely Celtic in origin. It only became widely celebrated in America after the mass Irish and Scottish immigration in the 19th century. Nevertheless, in recent years, it has grown in popularity in Spain and has become a time for parties and revelry.

Halloween is a spooky time for many. In this video, check out some hair-raising anecdotes from real people. Truth or fiction? See for yourself.

Discussion Questions:

1. What is the video about? What can you say about these stories?
2. Does your family celebrate Halloween?
3. Tell us about a spooky story of your own.

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Hair fashions may change season to season, but the norm persisted that men needed to keep their hair short for sanitary reasons. Also, many view men with long hair as lazy slackers while those with short hair are seen as industrious.

However, since when – and why – did men begin cutting their hair short?

Find the story behind this in the video below.

Discussion Questions:

1. Describe your hairstyle.

2. In Spain, what is the trendy hairstyle for men and women nowadays?

3. How do you view men with long hair? How about women with short hair?

4. How do you think hair or hairstyles can affect our perception of a person’s personality?