Tag: Preliminary PET

Home Schoolers On the Rise

B1 – Intermediate

What enters your mind when someone mentions the term “Home School”?

Read the article below to know more about what home schooling is and how some parents consider this education option.  Be ready to do the speaking activities in this article with your teacher.

More and more families are choosing to teach their children at home. Although some families disagree or dislike with what is taught in schools, the reason for the new trend is different. Instead, home schooling better fits their lifestyles than public schools.

For example, Lisa Mazzoni and her family live in California and Florida. Lisa sometimes does her algebra or history homework by the pool or on her condo’s rooftop. Lisa’s mother says, “For someone who travels a lot and wants to keep the family together, it’s an excellent choice.” The Mazzonis own a speedboat company, and so they must travel frequently.

Private teachers cost about $70 to $110 an hour, though. Supporters see in-home teaching as the chance to give children the best schooling with flexible schedules. However, some believe that children don’t have the chance to build friendships and social skills. Group lessons, such as ballet or sports, may help, but the results aren’t clear.

There are many companies that supply teachers and materials, which makes it easier for families to choose home schooling. Tiffany Wheeler, another home schooler, explains it best. “It’s fun,” she says as she sits relaxed at her bedroom desk.

Source: headsupenglish.com

Discussion Questions:

1. What are some reasons that you would want to home school your child?
2. What are some reasons that you wouldn’t want to home school your child?
3. Do you think home schooling via the Internet will be common in the future?
4. What would you say if your son/daughter wanted to quit school and study at home?
5. If you moved to an English speaking country for one year, would you home school?

The Ups and Downs of Coffee and Caffeine

B1 – Intermediate

Many people drink caffeinated drinks to stay awake. A new study conducted by American and British researchers reveals the effect of caffeine on sleeping pattern.

Watch the video below to find out more.

http://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/the-ups-and-downs-of-coffee-and-caffeine/3029909.html?z=0&zp=1#relatedInfoContainer

Discussion Questions:

1. What is the video (research) about?
2. Do you like drinking caffeinated drinks?
3. How often and how much coffee or tea do you drink?
4. What is circadian rhythm? How important is it?

World Wonders Threatened

B1 – Intermediate

More and more people are becoming aware of climate change, simply because it’s more evident. Do you think we still have time to save this Earth?

Winters are becoming warmer each year. Summers are hotter and drier. Scientists say that extreme weather will become normal in the future. Water shortages will be common too, and will affect more than one billion people around the world. And according to new information, global warming may destroy some of the Earth’s natural wonders.

World governments and environmental organizations are starting to talk more honestly about climate change. Evidence increasingly shows how much damage we have done to the environment. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in Brussels recently said that humankind’s activities are definitely the top reason for our hotter planet.

So what will the impact be? With warmer oceans, coral reefs everywhere will begin to die. Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, one of the world’s natural wonders, will disappear. In the Amazonian rain forest, many of the trees will die, and much of the area will become dry savannah. In Chile and Argentina, melting glaciers will create a drier climate. As a result, there will be more forest fires in the region.

Some of the damage cannot be repaired. Action now, though, could limit or prevent some of the problems.

Discuss: (from article)

1. Are you concerned about the environment?
2. What could every person on Earth do right now to help save the environment?
3. How has the environment changed since you were a child?
4. What do you think the Earth will be like in the future?
5. Have you ever seen any of the natural wonders?

Are You Happy?

B1 – Intermediate

Knowing what happiness is can be difficult to explain. People from different situations will give different kinds of answers.

Read the article below and be ready to answer some discussion questions.

Although you may not be able to measure your happiness levels, you can still take some advice to increase the positive emotions in your life.

It’s difficult for experts to understand happiness. However, according to experts, married people are generally happier. Richer people also tend to be happier, although they then compare their wealth to their peers (and maybe don’t feel so rich). And if you live in a richer country, you’re likely happier too.

But it’s not easy to earn more money, move to a rich country, or find the perfect partner. Some things you can control include exercise, because healthy bodies and minds lead to happiness. You should also solve problems sooner rather than later. Spending time in nature also lowers stress, which might then improve happiness. Meditation is also very effective.

Source: headsupenglish.com

Discussion Questions:

1. Are you generally a positive or a negative person? Why do you think so?
2. Why do you think some people are so happy? Why are other people so unhappy?
3. What advice would you give to someone for a happier life? Please explain.

The International Space Station

B1 – Intermediate

Scientists want to know a lot of things beyond the planet Earth we live in. That is possible only by traveling to space. That requires a lot of studies, work, and sacrifice.

Whatever man would find beyond our lovely planet, it will always be true that research is endless and that most things that man discovers are mind-boggling.

Read more about the Internation Space Station.

english-online.at/technology/international-space-station/international-space-station.htm

Discussion Questions:

1. What comes to your mind when you hear “the ISS”?

2. Would you like to stay at the ISS?

3. Why is it important to keep studying space?

Chicago Pizza

B1 – Intermediate

There’s thin crust, there’s thick crust. Deep dish and all-meat. With so many choices out there, what makes pizza the best pizza?

Read the article and be ready to answer the discussion questions included in this article.

Chicago pizza is a unique and famous pizza from Chicago. But how is Chicago pizza different from the pizza served in New York, London, or Italy?

First, the crust is about 2.5 inches deep, or about 6.35 cm. It is cooked like a pie in a deep, round pan. The pan has a lot of olive oil, so the crust becomes crunchy on the bottom.

For toppings, the pizza usually has about 1/4 inch of sausage, 1/4 inch of cheese, and 1/4 inch of chunky tomato sauce. Other popular ingredients include pepperoni, green peppers, mushrooms, and olives.

No one know exactly who made this style of pizza first, because several restaurants claim to be the creators. However, everyone from Chicago has a favorite pizza restaurant, and they feel very strongly that it is the best pizza.

Source: headsupenglish.com

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you like pizza? What kind of pizza do you like?
2. Do you want to try Chicago pizza? Why/not?
3. Does your hometown or country have an unusual / unique dish?
4. Talk about some of the strange dishes that you have tried in the past.

Speaking Activity: Family

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B1 – Intermediate

For this activity, you’ll be able to talk about family and family life. Be ready to share some of your experiences.

Click the title below and be ready to have a discussion.

Topic: Family

Want to Emigrate?

B1 – Intermediate

To leave or not to leave? Most families and individuals have been choosing the option of moving to another country to find a better life. Would you consider yourself one of them?

Are you tired of your home country? Do you dream of better opportunities abroad? Do you sincerely believe that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you and 700 million other people in the world want to emigrate. This figure may sound like a lot, and it is. However, let’s make this large number even easier to understand. 700 million people exceed the entire adult populations of North and South America combined.

The largest numbers of people who want to emigrate come from sub-Saharan Africa. Roughly 38% of adults from this region would prefer to settle elsewhere. However, in Asia, only 10% of the population wants to move. Although reasons weren’t given, Asia’s huge potential for growth likely limited the number seeking lives elsewhere. Sub-Saharan Africa remains a desolate and desperate place for its inhabitants, and experts forecast an even darker future.

The top destination is overwhelmingly the US, despite an economy that continues to struggle. Britain, Canada, and France were all tied for second most desirable country for immigration, with roughly 45 million stating they desired to relocate here. Spain came in third with 35 million votes, and Saudi Arabia was fourth with 30 million. About 25 million desired to emigrate to either Australia or Germany.

There remains the generally idea of prosperity for people in the US, Britain, and other countries. This might serve as the main reason that people in economically depressed regions wish to emigrate. The global economy continues to struggle, with a similar outlook for the near future. But once these countries get back on their feet, citizens there have many more opportunities than the inhabitants in developing countries.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about emigrating?
  2. Would you want to emigrate to another country? If yes, where? Why?
  3. How can migrating be a bad thing?
  4. Do a lot of people from your country migrate to other countries? Why is this the case? What might be reasons they emigrate
  5. In your country, what problems do immigrants face?

Elements of Language

B1 – Intermediate

It is amazing how languages are developed in our minds. It is a wonder how we learn words and languages.  Speaking and writing our thoughts are also a marvel.

The article below talks about how languages have developed and discusses the elements of language.

http://www.english-online.at/society/languages/history-of-languages.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the article, how many languages are spoken in the world nowadays?
  2. Is it practical to have just one language all over the world?
  3. How many languages can you speak fluently? What languages would you like to learn?

How Happiness Affects Our Health

B1 – Intermediate

Happiness, as defined by Wikipedia, is a mental or emotional state of well-being defined by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. Many research groups are using the scientific method to research what happiness is, and how we can get it.

Read this lesson about how happiness affects our health.

http://www.english-online.at/news-articles/health-medicine/how-happiness-affects-our-health.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. What happens to your body when you are happy?
  2. What about when you are sad?
  3. What is your source of happiness?
  4. Is there a way of learning happiness or improving it? Explain your opinion.
  5. What is your opinion on this: “Money plays an important role for many people’s happiness.”?