phone english blogB2 – Upper intermediate
With the recent attacks in some European countries, a top member of the French government has expressed the need to take action to defend itself from terrorist threats.
Discuss:
1. What is your definition of terrorism?
2. Is there a difference between a freedom fighter and a terrorist?
3. If a country repeatedly kills innocent civilians while trying to kill terrorists, does that country take part in terrorism?
B2 – Upper intermediate
It’s no surprise that English has become the world’s language when it comes to business and learning English in companies is now the norm.
Click the title and read the article to know more about the company Rakuten and its journey with the English language.
Discussion Questions:
B2 – Upper intermediate
For the longest time China has sat tight with the law of one child per family. But, in 2015, the country announced its plan of lifting the old law and moving forward with two children per family.
Read the article below then express your thoughts about the topic.
Discuss:
1. What do you know of China’s previous one-child policy?
2. Is it good for the government to pass such laws?
3. How would you describe the population in your country?
B2 – Upper Intermediate
The 1970s gave birth to the digital age. A period when the personal computer was introduced, giving us the ability to transfer information at almost lightning speed. But what would happen if the advancements and breakthroughs arrived at the pace of a tortoise instead of a hare? Or what would happen if it all just came to a complete standstill?
Read the lesson and be ready to answer the questions that follow.
Computers have become intertwined with nearly every aspect of our society, and their disappearance would be inconceivable. We take them for granted, as we do the technological advancements that appear every few years, almost like clockwork. Computers get quicker, the Internet offers more information, and other household devices like TVs and DVD players simply do more. But what would happen if the advancements and breakthroughs arrived at the pace of a tortoise instead of a hare? Or what would happen if it all just came to a complete standstill?
It’s a realistic scenario. and microchip manufacturers are concerned. The chips, which power all our electronics nowadays, have begun to reach technological limits because they just can’t shrink much more in size. To stave off the impending problem, manufacturers have poured billions of dollars into research and development, working toward chips that blend computing muscle with innovative behavior. The microchips will handle their tasks with greater finesse, and thereby hopefully avert the looming problem. Think smart chips are capable of adjusting their function based on the needs of the program and the user. However, the paucity of answers beyond that point serves as a portent for the end of the digital age. perhaps occurring around 2020.
It’s a race among chip manufacturers, as they scramble to maintain Moore’s law. Gordon Moore, the founder of Intel, anticipated that the processing power of a chip would double every two years. So far, he’s been right on the money. In fact, microchips have outstripped expectations, for their processing power has better than doubled every two years. A slowdown or end of the digital age would prove detrimental to the economies around the world. Electronics would cost more, on top of which consumers wouldn’t upgrade because of fewer new products.
Source: headsupenglish.com
Discussion Questions:
1. Do you think the proposed scenario will happen in the future?
2. What do you think would happen if there were a technological crash?
3. How often do you use computers? Would a technological slow down concern you?
4. Do you think there are greater problems facing the world in the near future? If yes, what are they?
5. What do you think computers will be like 5/10 years from now?
B2 – Upper intermediate
Humans have always been curious about things – almost everything. Our curiosity has brought us beyond planet Earth, searching for the answers of unending questions about life. Is there life somewhere outside our beautiful planet?
Watch the video then read the article to know more.
Discuss:
1. Is it really worth the enormous expense to search for any life outside planet Earth while poverty, crime, diseases and death are still left unsolved?
2. Do you think there is life existence in other planets?
C1 – Advanced
Is it any surprise that Russia is involved in something so covert and “underground”? Read the article below then express your thoughts about the topic at hand.
Discuss:
1. What could be Russia’s motive to lurk around undersea cables?
2. What do you think will happen if those internet cables will crash?
3. Are you worried about Internet theft by China or Russia?
B2 – Upper intermediate
Every day, people are executed by the state as punishment for a variety of crimes. Read the article below and express your thoughts about the death penalty.
Read the article below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.
The United States still executes criminals for very serious crimes. People who support the death penalty believe that the fear and threat of death reduce serious crimes. However, opponents don’t believe this argument. And, maybe more importantly, innocent people could be put to death. More than 200 prisoners previously on death row have been freed because DNA showed that they didn’t commit the crime.
States may get rid of the death penalty not because of ethical reasons, though. Because many states face budget crises, financial reasons may push along the change. Prisoners on death can row can appeal the decision, and it may take ten or twenty years before the person is finally put to death. That means it costs roughly $4 million per prisoner, which is a ridiculously high cost.
Life on prison without any chance to get out costs ten times less than an execution. That’s a lot of money, even in more economically stable times. But politicians are looking closely at budgets in order to cut costs and make ends meet. Fewer death sentences may be the result.
Source: headsupenglish.com
Discussion Questions:
1. What do you think about the death penalty? Why?
2. Can you think of three reasons why supporters think the death penalty works?
3. Can you think of three reasons why opponents think the death penalty doesn’t work?
4. Does your country have the death penalty? Why/not?
5. How can serious crimes be reduced? Think of three reasons with a partner.
B2 – Upper Intermediate
Because of various researches and studies, we have become aware of the consequences of smoking. In China, alarming results of a report exposes the dangers of smoking among young Chinese men.
Read the article below and be ready to talk about health.
http://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/smoking-will-kill-one-in-three-young-men-in-china/3013944.html
Discussion Questions:
1. Explain the graph (The Price of Smoking Around the World) featured in the article.
2. Do you think that increasing the price of cigarettes will help reduce the number of smokers or cigarette-related deaths?
3. What are other good ways to discourage people from smoking?
B2 – Upper intermediate
There is a strange correlation between the United States and school shootings. Debates on gun control have emerged since but people are still awaiting conclusions.
Read the article and watch the video, then share your thoughts about the topic.
Discuss:
1. What is your reaction to the whole issue of gun control in the US?
2. Does your country have very good laws when it comes to owning and purchasing firearms?
3. In the US, what do you think is the root cause for their increased gun violence?
B2 – Upper Intermediate
Santa Claus has been popular for a very long time. He’s called by different names and always portrays a loving soul. But do you think it’s time to give him a make-over?
Read the article below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.
Do-gooders and political correctness nuts have gone too far, having attacked Santa Claus and the Christmas tradition. For hundreds of years, jolly Santa has slaved away each year, prodded (nicely) his elves to get all those toys completed on time, and checked his naughty and nice list twice. On Christmas Eve, he has managed without fail to circle the globe and visit every home. His “ho ho ho!” resounds through the night, while his belly jiggles like a bowl full of jelly. Yet some have now suggested that an overweight Santa portrays an unhealthy image for kids. Equally ridiculous, “ha ha ha!” may be preferential to “ho ho ho!” because the latter term denotes a prostitute in American slang.
Let’s face it: It comes down to mom and dad’s eating habits, not Santa’s, which have a far greater influence on kids. Regardless of the trend among many First World countries to produce obese children, which in turn creates alarming health problems, few kids express the desire to have a spare tire to emulate Santa. Parents and educators should assume greater responsibility for the diets of the young, and understand that healthy choices should be advocated as well as practiced.
Equally troublesome are the attacks on Santa’s laugh. Although “ho” may have negative connotations, only an adult would understand the reference. What’s more, it’s American slang, so kids (and possibly adults) elsewhere in the world won’t likely understand all the fuss. If a child still gives credence to the big guy, then it seems unlikely there will be any association apart from a very distinct laugh.
Will this madness never end? Leave Santa Claus’s sacrosanct weight and laugh alone.
Source: headsupenglish.com
Discussion Questions:
1. What do you think of political correctness?
2. What would you do if Santa’s image were changed?
3. If Santa’s image were modernized, would it somehow change Christmas?
4. Do you agree that parents and educators should assume more responsibility for children’s health?
5. Which has a greater influence on children, parents, educators, or the media?