Tag: People and Human Interest

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?

The Best Way to Give a Presentation

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

Giving a presentation can be taxing to some. However, as soon as you are decided on your speech’s topic, you are now ready to come up with a persuasive and pretty compelling presentation.

Watch the TED-Ed video to learn the best way to give a presentation and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Explain the meaning of a “throughline”. “Deciding on a clear throughline is an essential part.” Use the term in a sentence.
  2. What does “best shot” mean here,  “If you have time to do that, it will probably give you the best shot at delivering a powerful talk that says everything you want it to say without sounding robotic.”? Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  3. Explain the meaning of “to make eye contact”. “Look up from the page as often as you can, and make eye contact with your audience members.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your thoughts on this, “Speech is power: speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel.” 
  2. How do you usually prepare for and deliver a talk?
  3. Do you prefer to make a script or be spontaneous when you are to give a presentation? Share some experience giving an unscripted talk.
  4. For you, what makes an effective speech?
  5. Talk about the most powerful speech that you have ever heard. 

Zoo Asks for Unwanted Pets to Feed to Big Cats

B1 – Intermediate 

The Aalborg Zoo in northern Denmark has requested pet owners to donate their unwanted pets. They plan to feed pets such as chickens, guinea pigs, rabbits, and small horses to some zoo animals.

Read this article about the zoo’s request to pet owners to donate their unwanted pets to make them as feed for the zoo’s captive predators.

Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2508/250811-zoo-pet-food.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to put down” mean? “The zoo said that the practice of putting down animals to be used as feed was common in Denmark.” Use this phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym. Also, give another meaning of “put down”.
  2. What does “waiting list” mean? “There is so much interest in helping the zoo that there are waiting lists to donate horses.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  3. What does “tax deduction” mean? “Donors can even receive a tax deduction based on the animal’s value.” Use this phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your opinion about this news.
  2. Talk about the good and bad thing about this scheme.
  3. What is your thought about putting down animals to be used as feed?
  4. What are your thoughts on this, “Unwanted small creatures as food is practical because nothing goes to waste, and we ensure the natural behaviour, nutrition and well-being of our predators.”?
  5. Do you think that there will also be so much interest in helping zoos this way in your country? Why or why not?

Seoul Tackles Loneliness with Mind Convenience Stores

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Seoul, one of Asia’s busiest and most connected cities, is facing a growing challenge: loneliness. In response, the city is trying new ways to bring people together, improve mental health, and make the community more welcoming.

Let’s read the article and learn how Seoul is investing over $330 million in a five-year plan to help alleviate loneliness.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jul/16/instant-noodles-foot-spas-and-counsellors-seoul-tackles-loneliness-with-mind-convenience-stores

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of the phrase “to draw on a touchstone“? “The “convenience store” concept deliberately sidesteps stigma while drawing on a touchstone of Korean culture.” Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.
  2. What does “to pull oneself together” mean? “I became powerless and didn’t want to do anything,” she recalls. “But I had children to raise, so I had to pull myself together.” Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.
  3. What does “to feel low” mean? “When you’re feeling low, staying at home just makes things worse.” Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about Seoul’s mind convenience stores?
  2. Will these mind convenience stores really help people feel less alone in a city like Seoul? Why or why not?
  3. How well do you think this kind of place fare in your own city/country?
  4. How does your country/the government addresses the issue of loneliness among the citizens?
  5. What’s your thought on this, “The idea is that even passive interactions can help combat the city’s loneliness epidemic.“?
  6. Share your thoughts on this, “62% of single-person households report experiencing loneliness, while city estimates suggest 130,000 young people suffer from social isolation.“
  7. Share your view on this, “The centre represents something that formal services often miss: genuine human connection. That’s something money can’t buy.“

What is Success?

B1 – Intermediate 

Perhaps, each person has his or her own definition of success. For some, it is about being always on top, while for others, it just means to have family and friends and a job.

What is Success? – Interview

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to live paycheck to paycheck” mean, “Success is also the ability that you’re not living paycheck to paycheck.” Use this idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “rainy day” mean here, “You know, you can also save up money for a rainy day.” Use this term in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “well taken care of” mean? “ One of the big things for me, though, is having enough money to support my family. Uh, so I have a child. So making sure that he is well taken care of. ” Use this phase in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. For you, what is success?
  2. What is your biggest success so far?
  3. Talk about a moment when you were on the brink of success, but failed.
  4. What must a person do when they fail?
  5. We can have successes every day, especially at work or in our hobbies. What are your successes for today at work and in your hobbies? How do you feel about it?