Tag: People and Human Interest

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The concept of an independent state has been a subject of great disputes among nations throughout history. The question arises: can a state truly manage itself without external interference? While some argue that independence leads to self-sufficiency and prosperity, others believe that it can result in chaos and instability.

Dreams and goals are the driving forces behind human progress. They provide us with a sense of purpose, motivation, and direction in life. Dreams are the visions we have for our future, while goals are the specific targets we set to achieve those dreams.

Dreams can take various forms – they may be personal, professional, or even societal. They represent our deepest desires and aspirations. Dreams give us hope and inspire us to work towards something greater than ourselves. They fuel our imagination and push us to think beyond the boundaries of what is currently possible.

Discover the rise and fall of Italian engineer Giorgio Rosa’s own sovereign state the Rose Island. In addition, watch the film when you have the chance.

https://www.myitaliandiaries.com/the-story-of-rose-island-4-life-lessons/

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “tumultuous” mean? “Let’s not forget that 1968 was a year of tumultuous political protests, with young people rebelling against the establishment, and in such a scenario, Rose Island represented the ultimate act of freedom.” Give 2 synonyms and use ‘tumultuous’ in a sentence.
2. What does “know-how” mean? “Let’s face it, building such a platform in the middle of the open sea was pretty complicated and required a great deal of technical know-how.” Give 2 synonyms and use ‘know-how’ in a sentence.
3. What is the meaning of the idiom “hit the headlines”? “In the 1960s, the Riviera Romagnola was one of Europe’s most popular holiday destinations and when the island officially opened to the public, it quickly hit the headlines as the hottest tourist attraction in town.”. Use the expression in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. Talk about the 4 lessons we could all learn from “The Incredible Story of Rose Island.
2. What are your thoughts about Mr. Rosa’s micronation?
3. What is your opinion on one individual creating his own little country? What might the pros and cons be?
4. What do you think about the Italian government declaring war against and destroying Rose Island?
5. Do you agree with the UN’s decision “to move the border of territorial waters from 6 to 11 nautical miles away from the coast of the state in order to prevent similar cases from happening again”? Explain your point.

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Everyone has an idol, someone they admire and look up to . So, when you get the opportunity to see or meet your idol, it’s a big deal, especially if they’re famous. It feels like a once in a lifetime opportunity for your dreams to come true.

Read the article to know if it’s actually good to meet your idol and face the reality? Or is it better to keep them in your head and admire from afar?

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “share the same brain“ mean? “You share the same brain.” Use it in a sentence.
2. What does “to exude an aura of“ mean? “He doesn’t exude an aura of greatness — in fact, he seems like a guy who watches a lot of sports on TV, leaving you to wonder: is this the pinnacle of mankind?” Use it in a sentence.
3. What does “disenchantment” mean? “You’ll view his newest work with a sense of disenchantment — after all, he’s just some guy who was flip to you that one time.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. Why is meeting your hero a bad idea?
2. What is the most important thing to remember when you are meeting someone you really look up to? Why?
3. Who is your hero? If you met them, how would you feel? What would you do the first time you meet them? Or talk about the time you met your hero.
4. Talk about who your mentor is (at work and in life). What lessons have they imparted to you?
5. If you were someone’s hero, what might be things they can learn from you?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The purpose of reunions is to give former classmates the chance to reconnect and reminisce about the good or not-so-good old days.

Read the article below to know why it’s good to attend class reunions.

https://lifehacker.com/why-you-really-should-go-to-your-high-school-reunion-1848779696

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What is the meaning of the phrase “to say the least”? “Receiving an invitation to your high school class reunion can be emotionally complex, to say the least.” Use it in a sentence.
2. What does “brown-noser” mean? “That tracked with my personality at the time, as I was obsessed with being successful in extracurriculars and generally being a pretentious brown-noser.” Use it in a sentence.
3. What does “cutthroat” mean? “Once you have a beer and get some hugs from old friends, your mind won’t be on cutthroat competition.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you agree that school reunion is boring and stressful? Why or why not?
2. What are the good and bad things about school reunions?
3. Do you enjoy going to class reunions? Why or why not?
4. How often do you meet up with your ex-classmates? Why is this the case?
5. Were you a lazy or hard-working student? Talk about it.

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Beauty pageants have long been associated with elegance, grace, and traditional standards of beauty. However, in recent years, there has been a growing trend of contestants with visible tattoos participating in these competitions. This shift has sparked debates about the impact of tattoos on the perception of beauty and whether they should be allowed in such events.

Some may view tattoos as incompatible with traditional beauty pageants, others see them as an expression of personal identity. The inclusion or exclusion of tattooed individuals in these competitions will continue to be debated as society’s perception evolves further towards acceptance and appreciation for diverse forms of beauty.

Read the article to learn how the pageant world is changing along with our beauty standards.

https://celebrityink.com/tattoos-enter-the-beauty-pagent-world/

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does the word “enrich” mean? “Their aim is to create role models who enrich the perception of beauty while positively impacting communities.”  Use it in a sentence.
2. What does “recurring theme” mean, “However, the idea of natural, unaltered beauty is still a frequently recurring theme throughout many modern beauty pageants, with tattoos being considered unladylike.”?  Use it in a sentence.
3. What does the word “allure” mean? “Beauty pageants, like Miss World and Miss Universe, have moved with the evolving beauty standards and recognised the allure of tattoos on women.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are your thoughts on beauty pageants?
2. Share your opinion on having a visible tattoo as grounds for disqualification from a beauty pageant.
3. Are there any tattoos anywhere on your body? If so, could you kindly describe what one means; if not, could you please explain why not?
4. Do you believe that getting tattoos diminishes your beauty? Explain your answer.
5. Have you ever had an experience of someone judging your beauty? In what way did it occur?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” – Anatole France

This heartwarming quote beautifully expresses the deep connection between humans and animals. In a world where countless dogs are in need, showing our love and support for dog shelters is essential.

This article explores simple yet powerful ways to make a difference in the lives of homeless pets, proving that even small actions can have a big impact.

https://www.top5.com/support-dog-shelters-and-make-a-difference/

Vocabulary Questions

1. What does the phrase “gear up” mean in the sentence “Gear up your home to welcome your new four-legged family member.”? Use it in a sentence.
2. What does the phrase “kick off” mean in the sentence “Kick off online crowdfunding initiatives“?  Use it in a sentence.
3. What does the phrase “take notice of” mean in the sentence “Take notice of the plight of animals worldwide.”?  Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions

1. How important do you think dog shelters are in your community? Share your thoughts on why they are important.
2. Among the ways presented in the article to support dog shelters, which one(s) do you like the most and why?
3. Do you think it’s more important to help local shelters or international rescue efforts? Share your thoughts.
4. How can social media help raise awareness and support for shelter animals?
5. The article inspires readers to take action to support dog shelters and their residents. How does it make you feel about helping?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Distinguishing “supporting” and “enabling” is crucial in relationships and personal growth. Both of these ideas involve lending a hand to others but they have different outcomes.

Read this article to learn the difference between supporting and enabling.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/supporting-enabling-difference_l_64c004ffe4b00356919b39ae

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “cross the line”mean? “People often do not realize that they are crossing the fine line between support and enabling.” Give a synonym and write a sentence using “cross the line”.
2. What does “teeter into” mean? “But sometimes people’s attempts at support teeter into more harmful territory: enablement.” Give a synonym and write a sentence using “teeter into”.
3. What does “swoop into” mean? “It sends the signal that life is perfect, that everyone else will swoop into clean up the mess and reinforces entitled behavior.” Give a synonym and write a sentence using “swoop into”.

Discussion Questions:

1. What is the key difference between supporting and enabling when it comes to helping someone in need?
2. Are there situations where enabling might be necessary or justified, and if so, what distinguishes them from situations where support is more appropriate?
3. How does setting healthy boundaries play a role in differentiating between support and enabling?
4. What are some instances of enabling actions that might be misinterpreted as support?
5. How do you find a balance between giving support and letting a friend or family member to face the repercussions of their actions when faced with constant mistakes or poor choices?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We often describe someone as “nice or kind” rather than “nice and kind”, primarily due to the common perception of these two words being synonymous. According to researchers, one represents a significantly superior quality compared to the other, though.

Read this article to learn the difference between nice and kind.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/nice-kind-difference_l_650b53ffe4b0d75184692b0e

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “to go to great lengths” mean? “While a nice person might go to great lengths to gain approval from others (potentially even causing harm in the process), a kind person engages in generous acts built on a foundation of self-love.” Use this idiom in a sentence.
2. Define “fall short”. “By contrast, he believes niceness falls short of deep impact, perhaps in part due to its roots in notions of ignorance.” Use this in a sentence.
3. What does “to let someone down” mean? “Sometimes being kind may mean letting someone down in the short term…” Make a sentence with this phrase.

Discussion Questions:

1. How do “nice” and kind” differ from each other according to the article?
2. How do you personally set the difference between being “nice” and being “kind” and which quality do you value more in your interactions with others?
3. In your opinion, which is more valuable in building meaningful relationships – niceness or kindness?
4. Can you recall a time when someone’s kindness had a significant impact on your life and how did it make you feel?
5. According to Plante, “Our world is so fractured. We are very quick to be mean to each other and even cruel.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement?