Tag: People

South Koreans Got Taller

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Many would agree that height is power. Studies show that height is a key factor in one’s overall health. Have you ever considered how our height varies, particularly from one nation to another? Or do you ever make a comparison to a single member of your family?

Take a look at the video below to see how our height evolves.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “vertical axis” mean? “We need to adjust the vertical axis so we can see this chart better.” Kindly use it to construct your own sentence.
  2. Do you know the meaning of “outlier“, “The countries that grew the least were in Africa. And Asian countries were mostly in the middle. But all the way on the right is an outlier.” Give your example using this word.
  3. What is the meaning of “skyrocketed“, “Eventually, the country shifted from producing things like textiles to consumer electronics and cars. And South Koreans wealth skyrocketed.” Use this word in your

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the good and bad sides of being tall? How about being short?
  2. How important is a person’s height?
  3. Share your thoughts on this statement: “Height is something history gives to us.”
  4. Are people generally tall in your country? What factors do you think are to attribute to it?
  5. What are the factors that affect our growth?
  6. Do you believe that one inherits a genetic component that determines height? Explain.

Self-Parenting

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Self-parenting is the practice of treating yourself with the same kindness and care that a supportive, nurturing parent would. This can help improve your relationship with yourself and cultivate self-love.

To achieve this, you can start by cultivating self-compassion and nurturing your inner child.

The article offers six practical tips on how to practice self-parenting, including setting boundaries and practicing self-reflection. Following the tips can help you become more self-compassionate and caring.

To learn more, follow the link provided to read the full article.

https://www.lifehack.org/924532/self-parenting

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “hinder” mean, “Self-parenting can help you meet those needs today while enhancing rather than hindering your success.” Give 2 synonyms and use them in your own sentences.
  2. What does “jump in” mean, “You weren’t taught how to make decisions or deal with conflict. As a result, the inner child jumps in and does their best to solve your problems.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  3. What does “internalize” mean here, “It’s the echo of your parents, caregivers, and other authority figures that you’ve internalized and made your own.” Use it in another sentence.

Discussion Questions

  1. In what ways do you interpret self-parenting and how might it positively impact your life?
  2. What are some of the common obstacles that people face when trying to practice self-compassion and self-care, and how can they overcome them?
  3. What steps can one take to identify and overcome emotional wounds and limiting beliefs that hinder self-parenting?
  4. How might individuals benefit from nurturing their inner child and connecting with their authentic self in order to cultivate a stronger relationship with themselves?
  5. How does self-parenting contribute to resilience building and coping with challenges and setbacks in life?

Run Away and Join the Circus

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever considered drastically changing your career? Do you know anyone who has done it? Modern life requires constant change and flexibility. That is true for one’s career and any other aspect of life. 

Watch the video and hear an incredible story from a woman who has dared to make significant changes in her life.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of “adrenalin buzz“? Use it in a sentence.
  2. What is “stage fright“? Use it in a sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of the phrase “to be on the road“, “I never looked back and I’ve been on the road ever since.”? Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you know any stories of people who have given up their careers or profession and started something new? What do you think made them do that?
  2. Would you do the same? What career would you change your present one for?
  3. What do you think of this statement: “Whatever you want to do in your wildest dreams, do it!”?
  4. Were you inspired by this story?

Woman Runs Record 150 Marathons

B1 – Intermediate

A marathon is a 42-kilometer run. Running a marathon is quite very physically challenging. So not everyone can do it. You have to train intensively for many months in order to do so.

However, for Australian runner Erchana Murray-Bartlett, running a marathon is like a walk in the park. 

Read the article about a woman who ran a marathon daily for 150 days.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2301/230119-record-marathon-runner-2.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrase “in shape” mean, “They would need to train for months to be in shape for the 42-km run.”? Use this expression in your own sentence.
  2. What does “smash” mean here, “She smashed the previous record of 106.”? Give a synonym and use this word in your own sentence. 
  3. What does the expression “to string together” mean, “If you keep stringing together little tiny goals, you can make it.”? Use this expression in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of  Erchana Murray-Bartlett’s achievement?
  2. What do you think about marathons/long-distance running?
  3. What are the benefits from running marathons? What are the hard things about it?
  4. What is your opinion on Ms. Murray-Barlett’s mantra, “If you keep stringing together little tiny goals, you can make it.”
  5. What do you do to help yourself continue when you are doing something that is very difficult?

Lazy People Are More Likely to Succeed

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It might surprise you to find out that a person can be more productive if they are lazy. Bill Gates has often been quoted as saying, “I always choose a lazy person to do a hard job because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it.”

Read the article to learn about the benefits of doing nothing and how to take advantage of it.

https://tipsmake.com/7-reasons-why-lazy-people-are-more-likely-to-succeed

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of the word “paradoxical“, “This may sound paradoxical in this age and lifestyle today.”? Use it in a sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of the word “crammed” in this sentence, “They have many ideas because their minds are not crammed with common thoughts and responsibilities.”? Use it in a sentence.
  3. Give 2 synonyms of “to some extent“? Use this phrase in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the benefits of a lazy employee according to the author?
  2. What are your thoughts on this, “Lazy people can really do a lot of work and being lazy is sometimes an advantage.”?
  3. Share your thoughts on this statement: “In order to  achieve great success in life, besides the natural talent, you have to know how to spend time wisely.”
  4. How can working with lazy co-workers impact your work?
  5. What are some technologies or tools you use that let you relax a little at work?

Furniture

B1 – Intermediate

A house seems complete when it is fully-furnished. For most homes, the essential ones should be enough. There are also people who invest a lot of money and effort in making their homes unique and stylish by buying many kinds of furniture.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about furniture.

https://listenaminute.com/f/furniture.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the word “antique” mean? Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “chests” mean in this sentence, “ I love going round old houses and looking at all the beautiful sofas and chests and cabinets from hundreds of years ago.”? Give 2 synonyms.
  3. What does the idiom “wander around”mean? Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are essential home furniture?
  2. What non-essential furniture do you have at home?
  3. Where do you usually buy your furniture from? Why do you prefer to buy from this/these shop/shops?
  4. What is your opinion on expensive antique furniture?

Happiness

B1 – Intermediate

Happiness is a simple word with a deep meaning behind it. When we feel positive emotions we tend to feel happy. That is what happiness is all about. It is also regarded as the mental state of a person in an optimistic manner.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript below about happiness.

https://listenaminute.com/h/happiness.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What comes to your mind when you hear the word “happiness“? Explain.
  2. What does the word “measure” mean? Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “doom and gloom” mean? Give 2 synonyms. Use them in sentences.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What’s your idea of happiness?
  2. Do you think that happiness lies within you or does it depend upon other people and external things? Explain.
  3. What is or was the happiest time of your life?
  4. Do you feel that you have to work hard and be miserable now in order to be happy later? Elaborate.

Library

B1 – Intermediate

A library is the place where books regarding every type are held. Many people love to spend their time inside the library. They gain wisdom, knowledge and joy of the vast period of history, science, fiction, art and architecture.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript below about libraries.

https://listenaminute.com/l/libraries.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘library’? Explain.
  2. What does “atmosphere” mean here, “They all have a special atmosphere.”? Give 2 synonyms.
  3. What does it mean when “something/someone does things to something/someone” mean? “A room with a large collection of books does things to people.” Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree or disagree that “Every library I’ve been to in the world is the same.” Explain your point.
  2. When have you spent the most time in a library and why?
  3. What does a room with a large collection of books do to you?
  4. Do you think libraries have changed over the years? Elaborate.
  5. What do you think libraries will be like 50 years from now?

Disability

B1 – Intermediate

Disability refers at physical, mental or other inability of a person that one is incapable of completing a task that would require typically normal efforts. Each type of disability needs different kind of support and assistance.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about disability.

https://listenaminute.com/d/disability.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘disability’? Explain.
  2. What does “human spirit” mean? Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “to excel” mean? Give 2 synonyms.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Some people prefer to use the term ‘physically challenged’ instead of ‘disabled’. What do you think about this?
  2. What problems do people with disabilities face in your country?
  3. Do you always try to help people who are disabled? In what way?

South Koreans to Become Younger

B1 – Intermediate

In South Korea, there are three different ways to tell how old they are. It is rather confusing, isn’t it? But not for long. They have a new law that can simplify age in their country. Hopefully, it will help end the confusion people have when telling their age.

Read the article to know about the new law that will make South Koreans now a year or two younger.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2212/221222-being-younger.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is a “lawmaker”? Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What is “military service”? Use it in your own sentence.
  3. What does “relieved” mean in this sentence, “A Korean Twitter user was relieved there is a new law to make things simpler.”? Give a synonym and also use it in your own sentence. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. In your own words, explain the three ways South Korea tell their age. What is your opinion about having 3 different ages?
  2. Do you think this new law will be helpful? Why or why not?
  3. What are the good and bad things about having 3 different ages?
  4. If you were from this country, would you continue to use the Korean age?
  5. What is the best and worst thing about your current age?