Tag: People

Man Saves a Driver

B1 – Intermediate

Hundreds of car accidents happen every single day. Human errors and external factors have been associated with collisions on the roads. Getting into a car accident can lead to several unwanted consequences that is why road safety is something that road users must keep in mind at all times.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about how a courageous man saved a driver who was having a seizure.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/man-saves-a-driver-level-2/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this story?
  2. Are road accidents a major cause of death in your country?
  3. Have you ever been involved in a traffic accident? If yes, what happened?
  4. What do you do when you see an accident on the road? Do you stop to watch/help or do you pass?
  5. How strict are the traffic laws in your country?
  6. Are there any groups of people more likely to have car accidents than others? Who and why?

Napalm Girl

B1 – Intermediate

The Vietnam war was was a dark period in history. During that time, many attacks were launched. In one of them, South Vietnamese planes dropped napalm bombs on a village. Direct contact with flaming napalm can cause burns all over the body. 

One of the victims of this attack is Kim Phuc Phan Thi who was 9 years old at the time. While she was burning, she had to take her clothes off. She will later be known as “Napalm Girl”.

Photographer Nick Ut took a photo of her while running for her life without clothes on. This photograph will then become one of the most iconic photos of the 20th century.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript to know about napalm girl’s photograph.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/napalm-girl-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you feel about this story?
  2. Look for napalm girl’s photo on the internet. Talk about what you think of this photo.
  3. What do you think about ‘napalm girl’ and the photographer staying friends after all this time?
  4. Talk about a photo that you would remember forever. What makes this photo unforgettable?
  5. How important are photographs in telling our history?

Hobbies Are Great

B1 – Intermediate

How we spend our free time is important for our well-being. In fact, there are a lot of benefits to having hobbies. 

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about why hobbies are good for us.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/hobbies-are-great-level-2/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the good things about hobbies?
  2. Are there any disadvantages to hobbies?
  3. What hobbies do you have and why do you enjoy doing them so much?
  4. How do your hobbies help you in your life?
  5. What hobbies do you want to take up next and why?

Men vs Women’s Intelligence

B1 – Intermediate

You might have met a man who thinks he is so clever. According to a study, men actually overestimate their intelligence. On the other hand, women tend to have a more accurate estimate of the power of their brains.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about how men and women estimate their intelligence.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/men-vs-women-level-2/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree or disagree with the results of this study? Explain.
  2. What do you think are the reasons men think they are intelligent than they actually are?
  3. Why are women able to have a clear idea of how clever they are?
  4. Is it a good or bad thing to overestimate your intelligence. Explain your point.
  5. How intelligent do you think you are? How do you know this?
  6. Who is the most intelligent person you know and what makes you think they are brilliant?

Birthdays

B1 – Intermediate

Our birthday is a very important day and it is a day that makes us feel special. There are many ways to celebrate your birthday. Some throw big parties and open gifts after their big birthday celebrations. How do you celebrate your birthday?

Let’s listen to the audio and read the transcript about birthdays below.

https://listenaminute.com/b/birthdays.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. How important are birthdays to you and why?
  2. How do you prefer to celebrate your own birthday?
  3. How do people usually celebrate birthdays in your country? What other birthday traditions are common in your country?
  4. Have you ever had a bad birthday? If so, what happened?
  5. Do you usually organize your own birthday party? Or do you prefer to have someone else organize it for you? Explain.
  6. Do you worry about getting older or does ageing not really bother you? Share your thoughts.

Footballer Unhurt After Gunfight during Mugging

B1 – Intermediate

Gratitude is the best mantra to be happy. It refers to the feeling and attitude of appreciation and thankfulness we receive in life, and life is exciting and full of surprises.

Brazilian football player Emerson Royal has his luck star to thank. He was saved from imminent danger by a police officer.

Let’s read the article below to know more about what happened to this famous footballer.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2206/220606-angel-police-officer-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the good and bad things about being a police officer?
  2. Have you ever been eternally grateful to anyone? What did they do to or for you?
  3. Should soccer players get more security especially when they go out in public? Why/why not?
  4. Should the police officer get an award for saving the football player? Why or why not?
  5. What would you do if you were attacked?
  6. How dangerous is your city at night?

Names

B1 – Intermediate

Our names are a crucial part of our identity. From the day we are born, we are assigned this identifier. It represents who we are. When someone remembers our name, we feel respected and important. That’s why choosing the best name for a child is one of the biggest decisions parents have to face.

Let’s listen to the audio below about names.

https://listenaminute.com/n/names.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you like your name? What does it mean?
  2. If you could change your name, what would you choose to replace it with and why?
  3. Do you have a nickname? If so, what is it and how did you get it?
  4. Are you good at remembering names? Why or why not?
  5. Do you think a person’s name can influence their life/character? Explain your answer.
  6. What is the most common boy/girl’s name in your country? Do you like to have a common name or a distinctive one?

British Couple Win a Lottery

B1 – Intermediate

You’ve probably had days when you do not want to go to work. You want to just pack your bags and go on a really long holiday in some exotic destination. Unfortunately, most of us do not have the time nor the money to do so. All we can do is to just wish we’d win the lottery so we never have to work a day in our life. We think having loads of money would help us do whatever we want.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about a couple who won the lottery.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/british-couple-win-a-lottery-level-3/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What would be the very first thing you would buy?
  2. What would you do if you won 230 million dollars? 
  3. Would you give money to friends and family? Who? How much? If not, why?
  4. In what ways would winning the lottery change you and your life? 
  5. Have you ever won anything? What/How much did you win? How did you feel in that moment?

Man Throws Cake at Mona Lisa

B1 – Intermediate

Louvre is a very popular museum in Paris. It is also famous because it is where  Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is displayed. Many people admire this painting when they see it. However, one man did the opposite. He disrespected it and even tried to damage it by punching and throwing a cake on it. Good thing, the painting has glass for protection.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about a man who attempted to damage the Mona Lisa.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/man-throws-cake-at-mona-lisa-level-2/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on what this man did to the Mona Lisa? It is supposed that he did it to protest for the environment. Do you agree with what he did or not?
  2. Have you seen the Mona Lisa? If yes, what do you think of it? If not yet, would you like to someday?
  3. Talk about a similar incident that happened in your country.
  4. Why is important to protect famous works of art such as the Mona Lisa?
  5. Talk about the proper behavior at a museum.
  6. Do you like arts? Why or why not?

Man Collects Old Apple Devices

B1 – Intermediate

Everyone has that one thing they love so much. Sometimes, they even collect them. There are many reasons for someone to collect something.

Jimmy Grewal collects old Apple devices and accessories.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about Jimmy Grewal’s Apple products collection.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/man-collects-old-apple-devices-level-2/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of this man’s obsession with Apple products?
  2. What are all the Apple products you have owned?
  3. What is something that reminds you of your childhood and why?
  4. What is something that you wanted as a child but you couldn’t have it and when you became older, you got or bought it? Why do you want this thing so much? How did you feel finally having it?
  5. Is there something you collect? Why do you collect this thing? Talk about your own collection.
  6. What are reasons people collect things?