Tag: People

85-Year-Old Woman Finishes College

B1 – Intermediate

Going back to school isn’t just for children. Even parents and grandparents can go back to school too. They say age is not a barrier to education.

In life, things don’t always happen the way we want them to be. We may delay some things like education to prioritize more important things. But it’s definitely never too late to learn and pursue our dreams.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript on how an 85-year old woman was able to finish college.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/85-year-old-woman-finishes-college-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree that it’s never too late to graduate from college? Explain your answer.
  2. Would you do the same as what Jihad Butto did if you were older and need to finish your education? Why or why not?
  3. Why do students drop out of school?
  4. What might be some challenges faced by an elderly person returning to college?
  5. Do you agree or disagree with the saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”?
  6. What advice can you give elderly people so they can manage their anxieties about going back to school?

Vegetarianism

B1 – Intermediate

Vegetarians do not eat meat, fish, and poultry. People of all ages and backgrounds choose to be vegetarians. Among the many reasons for being vegetarian are health, environment, and animal welfare. The decision to adopt a meat-free diet can be a complex choice.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript on vegetarianism.

https://listenaminute.com/v/vegetarianism.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are you a vegetarian? If not, have you ever considered becoming one?
  2. What reasons do people have for becoming vegetarians?
  3. How do people generally react to vegetarians or vegans in your country?
  4. Have you ever visited a vegetarian restaurant? What was the food like?
  5. Would you marry a vegetarian if it meant you could not cook meat at home?
  6. Can you cook any vegetarian dishes? Talk about something you can make.

Lost at Sea

B1 – Intermediate

Being lost at sea can be the worst nightmare. The view of the sea in every direction is simply a glistening sheet of nothingness.

Let’s read the article below on how two men survived the sea despite the odds and what their experience was.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2110/211011-lost-at-sea-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about the article you have read?
  2. What would you say about the character of the two men?
  3. How would you feel if you were lost at sea?
  4. What do you think you would do when you try to ‘get away from it all’?
  5. When was the last time you had a nice break? Share that moment.

Boxer for President

B1 – Intermediate

Manny Pacquiao is a professional boxer, basketball player, actor, and singer. At the age of 16, he was already a top junior boxer.

He entered politics, even won as congressman and is currently a Philippine senator and has announced that he would be running for President in the 2022 elections.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about this boxing legend and his political aspirations.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2109/210923-boxing-legend-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. How can boxing skills help someone to be a good president?
  2. What do you think of Pacquiao’s other successes?
  3. What advice would you give Manny Pacquiao?
  4. For you, what should be the qualifications for presidential candidates?

Adults Don’t Want Children

B1 – Intermediate

To have or not to have children is one of the most important decisions that someone can make. There are certain factors to take into consideration when choosing between parenting and living a child-free life such as financial security, own interest/desire for having children, and partner’s interest/desire for having children.

Let’s read the article below to find out why views on having children are changing.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2106/210621-child-free-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does having children change someone’s life?
  2. Do you want to have children? If so, when do you want to have them and how many do you want to have?
  3. Why do people decide not to have children?
  4. Do you think it is better to have children when you are older or younger?
  5. Most families in wealthy countries are having fewer and fewer children. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Why?
  6. Is it a good reason to have children to avoid being lonely later in life?

Zip it

B1 – Intermediate

The phrase “zip it” originates from literally closing a bag by zipping it. Zipping the mouth of the person talking incessantly so that he or she could stop giving more information that others shouldn’t hear. This phrase is used more as a slang since it may sound rude to others specially in a formal conversation.

Let us hear more about the phrase “zip it” in the audio below.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak/ep-210503

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are you talkative? Why or why not?
  2. Do you usually tell people to zip it? What are some reasons?
  3. Do you find it rude when someone stops you when you’re speaking?
  4. What are the topics that you don’t normally talk about with others?
  5. How do you stop someone from talking when you want them to zip it?

Slay

B1 – Intermediate

There are multiple meanings of the word “slay”. It may often mean to kill a person or an animal, sometimes it means to make someone laugh very hard, it could also mean that something is quite impressive but most of the time it means that someone is looking attractively fashionable.

Let us hear more about the word “slay” in the audio below.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak/ep-210524

Discussion Questions:

  1. What comes to your mind when you hear the word “slay”?
  2. Are you a fashionable person? What kind of clothes do you wear?
  3. Do you easily get impressed? What things do you find interesting?
  4. What memory do you have that you have slayed something?

Noob

B1 – Intermediate

There is no exact origins of the word “noob” but this is a very popular expression online specially for gamers that means a “newbie” which most of the time is used as an insult. This word may also be used in the real world for people who are part of an activity but not yet well experienced and quite knowledgeable thus, not performing very well.

Let us hear more about the word “noob” in the audio below.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak/ep-210607

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is being a noob always necessarily a bad thing?
  2. How are usually you like as a newbie?
  3. How can we tell that someone is a noob?
  4. What activities are you a noob at?
  5. What are you good at or an expert on?

Pour Cold Water

B1 – Intermediate

We usually see people in movies stop whatever they are doing when someone throws water on them. This somehow relates to the phrase “pour cold water” that started out literally and now used more figuratively. When someone talks about an idea or a plan, the other discourages it for some reason.

Learn more about the expression “pour cold water” in the video below.

https://www.theidioms.com/pour-cold-water-on/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does “pour cold water on something” mean?
  2. What were the things have you done but people discouraged?
  3. Do you regret any of those actions? Why or why not?
  4. What do you do when someone disapproves of your plans?
  5. Do you say your disapproval when someone has a bad idea? Why or why not?

Two Heads Are Better Than One

B1 – Intermediate

There is an old saying that goes “two heads are better than one”. It means that two people thinking together can come up with a better solution to a problem than a single person. It could also be more than two people working together. This phrase was first seen in the Bible and then was published in some books later on.

Let us hear more about the expression “two heads are better than one” in the video below.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does “two heads are better than one” mean?
  2. Do you prefer working alone or with another person or other people?
  3. What are the pros and cons of working with someone?
  4. Can a person get their goals in life on their own? Why or why not?
  5. What are your experiences when you needed help from others?