Tag: People and Human Interest

Life Lessons from Centenarians

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Older people typically have distinct viewpoints and a plethora of worthwhile experiences that can help us navigate through life.

They have lived ahead of us, thus mistakes and disadvantages can be avoided by utilizing the priceless knowledge they are kindly imparting to us.

Watch the video below to learn some valuable life lessons from centenarians.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is meant by “touch wood“? “I’ve never been unlucky, touch wood.” Use it in your own words.
  2. Do you the meaning of “misspent”? “Another part of my misspent youth.” Please make your own sentence.
  3. How about “make the most of it“?” Make the most of it. Especially if it’s the first love there is nothing like it.” Try to use this phrase in your sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think as a society we value the experiences and wisdom of the elderly?
  2. Have older people ever taught you anything? If so, kindly impart the knowledge they have given you.
  3. Do you believe that advice from the elderly is helpful in navigating through life?

Filter Bubbles Isolate You

B2 – Upper Intermediate

One could assume that when you visit a website, you’re getting the same stuff as everyone else. However, algorithms practically everywhere you go online keep note of the links you frequently engage on. These algorithms will continue to display your stuff based on what they believe you will enjoy until they are only presenting you with the material you are likely to consume. This procedure may result in the formation of a filter bubble.

Watch the video on how filter bubbles isolate you.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “curate” mean? “When you first think about algorithms personalizing and curating your online experience, it can sound like a good thing.” Give 2 synonyms.
  2. What is the meaning of the word “coin” in this sentence: “This is a term coined by Eli Pariser.”? Give 1 synonym and use it in a sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of “definitive”? “There is no definitive solution.”. Give 2 synonyms.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why is awareness of filter bubbles so critical?
  2. What strategies could you use to pop your filter bubble?
  3. What is the significance of filter bubbles?
  4. How does the filter bubble impact your life?
  5. How can we deal with algorithms?

Spanish Actress’ Surrogate Baby Is Her Late Son’s

B2 – Upper Intermediate

When celebrities announce that they’ve had a baby via surrogacy, it doesn’t shock the world that much anymore.

But Spanish TV star Ana Obregón’s revelation of having a surrogate baby using his late son’s sperm did. Legally, his makes her the baby’s mother. But biologically, she is the grandmother.

Read the article about Spanish TV actress Ana Obregón’s surrogate baby who was fathered by her deceased son.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65186636

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define “bear”here, “While ¡Hola! magazine’s front page carried a picture of the TV actress and the new baby, another Spanish magazine, Lecturas, featured the surrogate mother who bore Ana Sandra.” Use this word in your own sentence.
  2. What does “rule out” mean, “She refuses to rule out providing her granddaughter with a brother or sister.”? Give a similar word or phrase and use ‘rule out’ in your own sentence.
  3. What does ”to take something upon oneself” mean, “Ana Obregón has taken it upon herself to interpret her dead son’s wishes and that is going too far.”? Give a similar word or phrase and use ‘to take something upon oneself’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of Obregón’s saying she did this to fulfill his dying son’s final wish? Do you think there is an ethical issue here? Explain.
  2. Share your thoughts on this: “She (Obregón) refuses to rule out providing her granddaughter with a brother or sister.” 
  3. Legally the actress is the baby’s mother, even if she is biologically her grandmother. Any thoughts on this?
  4. What are your thoughts on surrogacy being illegal in Spain?
  5. In general, what is your opinion about surrogacy?

Should I Follow my Dreams

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Following our passions can be exciting and fulfilling, while duty may seem like the responsible choice for stability and security. But how do we strike the right balance?

Here’s an article that offers a fresh perspective on this topic and challenges traditional notions of safety.

https://theschooloflife.com/should-I-follow-my-dreams

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of the word “high-wire” in the sentence, “Meanwhile, passion is a high-wire act.”? Use it in a sentence.
  2. Explain the meaning of “penury” in the sentence, “We constantly fear penury and humiliation.”. Use it in a sentence.
  3. What is meant by “onerous” here, “A decade of mixed results on a passion project is inherently less onerous than unspectacular returns for a whole career in a hateful field.”? Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What aspects of the article caught your attention the most?
  2. How do you reconcile between practicality and passion?
  3. How do you define safety in the context of career choices? Is it solely based on financial stability, or does it involve other factors such as job security, fulfillment, and personal satisfaction?
  4. What are your thoughts on the idea that pursuing what we love, even if it may involve risks and failures, can ultimately lead to mastery and success?
  5. Have you seen someone choose a safe career path but end up feeling unfulfilled? How did that experience shape your perspective on safety when making career choices?

The Rise and Fall of Podcasts

B2 – Upper Intermediate

If you’re curious to learn more about the surging popularity of podcasts, I highly recommend checking out the full article below. The article explains why podcasts have become a popular source of entertainment and information for people worldwide. Dive into the world of podcasts to uncover why they have become a global phenomenon. Happy reading!

https://www.deseret.com/entertainment/2023/2/9/23592684/decline-of-podcasts

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of the expression “tables have turned” in the sentence, “Since 2004, this form of entertainment has boomed in popularity, but last year, the tables seemed to have turned.”? Use this idiom in a sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of the phrase “to gain traction” here, “The origin of podcasts is rooted in the late 1900s, but 2004 was the year where podcasts started to gain traction.”? Use it in a sentence.
  3. Explain the meaning of “free-fall” in the sentence, “Coming up on almost two decades after the invention of modern podcasts, it seems that podcasts might be in free-fall.”. Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you listen to podcasts? If so, what types of podcasts do you enjoy and why?
  2. In what situations do you prefer listening to podcasts over watching videos, or vice versa?
  3. What was the last podcast you listened to, and what was it about?
  4. Do you think the popularity of podcasts will continue to grow in comparison to videos? Why or why not?
  5. Do you think the decline in podcast creation is a temporary trend, or do you believe it’s indicative of a larger shift in consumer preferences for audio entertainment? Why?

Stop Consuming, Start Creating

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The article you are about to read will encourage you to break free from the endless cycle of consumption and take intentional steps toward self-expression, innovation, and personal fulfillment.

Explore how the author benefited from adopting a “stop consuming, start creating” mindset and how it led her to a more fulfilling and purpose-driven life.

https://possibilitychange.com/start-creating/

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does the word “ball game” mean in the sentence “Until this artistic awakening, I had taken lessons in piano and dance, but doing my own thing was a completely different ball game.”? Use it in a sentence.

2. What does the term “muse” mean in the sentence “Music was my first muse.”? Use it in a sentence.

3. Explain the meaning of the expression “to show somebody the ropes”, “Ask someone to show you the ropes.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. According to the author, what happens when you shift from a consumer to a creator?

2. Are you a consumer or a creator?

3. What do you think is the role of creativity in problem-solving and innovation?

4. Can creativity be developed and nurtured, or is it something people are born with? Explain.

5. What would you stop consuming, and what would you create instead?

Lucky Rituals Bring Success

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The habits or rituals that lead to rich and famous people to their success are secrets everyone is dying to know, thinking it could hopefully bring them the same fortune.

Read the article about superstitious learning and how the eccentric habits of high-flying individuals bring them success.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220708-superstitious-learning-can-lucky-rituals-bring-success

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrase “gospel truth” mean, “Some of their behaviours will have been acquired through superstitious learning – and we may then follow their advice as if it were the gospel truth.”? Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What does “rife” mean, “Creative tasks are especially rife with uncertainty – which may explain why thinkers like Gates, Beethoven and Dickens adopted such specific behaviours to get their thoughts flowing.“? Use this word in your own sentence.
  3. What does “spurious” mean, “It is notoriously difficult to get a new paper accepted by a prestigious journal, she says, and researchers will often find spurious reasons for their successes and failures.”? Use this word in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on superstitious learning?
  2. Give a benefit and a downside of over-imitation.
  3. People sometimes attribute success to something so random rather than their own talent or hard work. Share your thoughts on this.
  4. What are some rituals that you think bring you luck and success? Where did you learn this from? 
  5. Have you ever taken a famous and successful person’s idiosyncratic rites and rituals in the hope that you can somehow achieve the same success? Share about it.
  6. Why do successful people follow eccentric habits?

Doomscrolling

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Although it is no surprise that bad news can cause some mental issues such as distress, anxiety, and depression, they still are what catch people’s attention. Despite their negative effects on our wellbeing, they still get consumed way more than positive or neutral, developmental news.

Generally, people around the globe like doomscrolling. This is when someone uses a lot of their time consuming negative news stories on the internet.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about doomscrolling.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2023/ep-230209

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to feel ick” mean, “We go searching out for bad news, looking for things that will make us feel ick inside.”? Use this phrase in your own sentence.
  2. What does “on tap” mean, “Is it a result of 24/7 doom on tap on our phones?”? Use this phrase in your own sentence.
  3. What does the expression “to make up for something” mean, “The little good news we do hear doesn’t make up for the depressing news.”? Use this phrase in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you tend to doomscroll? Why/why not? What type of news stories are you usually more drawn to? And why?
  2. What might be the reasons people are attracted to bad news?
  3. What are some effects bad news might have on an individual?
  4. How can one protect oneself against bad news?
  5. What is your opinion on this statement: “We’re conditioned to believe that negative experiences shape us more than joyous ones.”?
  6. Share your thoughts on this statement: “The modern world has become one in which the media are ubiquitous, pervasive, and cannot be switched off.”.

Rapping Teacher 

B1 – Intermediate

Passion is one of the foundations of effective teaching. Apart from that, there are several teaching methods that teachers use to educate their students. These methodologies are chosen depending on the approach and the types of learners. Some teachers get more creative to keep their students engaged.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about this unconventional way of teaching by a teacher in Chile.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/rapping-teacher-level-1/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define the word “rap“. “He raps to his students.”, “In the past, he rapped on city buses.” Give 2 other meanings.
  2. What does the phrasal verb “find out” mean? “His students found out.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does the word “hit” mean?”The rapping teacher is a big hit at the school.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of rapping as a way of teaching?
  2. Based on your experience, what is the best way to teach young learners? Why?
  3. What kinds of unconventional learning methods have you had before? Were they effective?

Impact of Life Coaches

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Believing in the magic of life coaching is now a new trend in the world of hard-working and successful people. The use of life coaching is quite a contentious issue. Some people can’t live without a mentor, while others think that it’s nonsense and a waste of money.

Please read the article to know the reasons why people find life coaching helpful.

Niche to Mainstream: The Surging Popularity and Need for a Life Coach
https://leaders.com/articles/personal-growth/life-coach/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrase “uncharted waters” mean, “Navigating uncharted waters when making a career change”? Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What does the word “adversity” mean, “In her research she found, “Individuals who experienced more positive emotions than others, over time became more resilient to adversity, as indexed by increases in broad-minded coping.”? Use it in your own sentence.
  3. What does the word “instigate” mean, “From experiencing better mental health to becoming more productive, they can instigate transformation in your life.”? Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Would you consider seeking the expertise of an actual life coach? Why/why not?
  2. Have you ever tried independent strategies to achieve your goals? Which ones?
  3. What problems would you like to solve with the help of life coaching?
  4. How important is it for you to work only with certified specialists?
  5. Who do you consider are your life coaches?