Tag: Reading

China Bans Immoral Content from Television

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It is a well-known fact that media is very influential. Censorship boards are present to help rate television shows and guide parents and children accordingly. But, in China, the government has decided to totally ban shows that display violence, homosexuality and excessive drinking.

Read the article below then express your thoughts about the topic.

http://www.english-online.at/news-articles/world/asia/china-bans-immoral-content-from-television.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think it’s a good idea for China to ban television shows mentioned in the article? Explain.
  2. The article mentioned that China considers homosexuality as a mental disease. What is your opinion on this?
  3. Is there really a way to protect children and youth from sensitive social issues? What are some ways to do this?
  4. Does your country have a censorship board? If not, should your country have one? If yes, are they very strict? Talk about this government agency in detail.
  5. What contents should be censored on different media (social, TV, radio, etc.)?

Fukushima – 5 Years Later

B2 – Upper intermediate

In 2011, Japan suffered a devastating disaster that left many homeless. After some years, residents of Fukushima are still picking up the pieces, hoping that normality will be restored.

Read the article below and express your thoughts about it.

Fukushima – 5 Years Later

Discuss:

1. What do you know about what happened in Fukushima and to its nuclear power plant?
2. What is your general opinion about nuclear energy?
3. Does your country rely on nuclear energy? How about alternative forms of energy?
4. Do you think it is possible to fully rely on natural forms of energy?

Strike in South Korea

B1 – Intermediate

The fight for better wages continues. In South Korea, workers are fighting for a wage system that pays based on performance and not on tenure.

Read the article then listen to the audio clip. Express your thoughts about the topic.

http://www.newsinlevels.com/products/strike-in-south-korea-level-3/

For additional information on this story, read also:

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20180510000763

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “seniority” mean, “More than 40,000 South Korean workers in different industries went on strike as the government said that their pay should be based on their job performance rather than on their position or seniority.”? Use this word in your sentence.
  2. What does “demand” mean in this sentence, “The workers demand a stop to adopting the legal wage system based on performance which the government is pushing and they say will hurt the people.”? Use it in your sentence.
  3. What does “dispute” mean, “Workers hope that the protest will achieve their aim and allow the disputes to be resolved soon.” Use it in your sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of when you hear the word ‘strike’?
  2. Do you think salaries should be based on performance or seniority? Support your answer.
  3. Are there a lot of strikes and labor unions your country? Why is this the case?
  4. What are the changes necessary in your current labor system/policies?
  5. In your country, is the minimum wage enough to live by? Explain.

Internet Addiction Sign of Mental Health Problems

B1 – Intermediate

The Internet is like any other tool that can be useful or harmful. Many young people, including adults, find themselves addicted to the Internet.  What is an Internet addiction?  Can it really cause mental health problems?

Read the article below then express your thoughts.

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1609/160921-internet-addiction.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of internet addiction? Do you think it is possible to be addicted to the internet? Explain.
  2. Can internet addiction lead to more serious mental health problems? Explain.
  3. Do you rely on the internet for work?
  4. Are you able to “switch-off” or stay away from the internet, too? How do you do it?
  5. Is it important to disconnect from the internet, too? Why?
  6. What are the pros and cons of always being online?
  7. Discuss the following issues related to the internet:
    Cyber-bullying
    Identity theft
    Online gambling

Do Fitness Trackers Help You Lose Weight?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Are you looking for something that would finally drive you to get back into shape? Ever considered using Fitness Trackers? These are wearable devices that are designed to help you achieve that goal of losing some weight. The question is, are they really effective?

http://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/3532167.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your take on fitness trackers? Do you find them useful?
2. What kind of exercise/s do you do? How did you get into this workout?
3. What are effective ways to develop a habit of exercising?

Hats Off to You!

B2 – Upper Intermediate

This article will help increase your vocabulary. It contains different idiomatic expressions which you can use on a daily basis.

Read the article and listen to the audio clip then be ready to use the expressions in sentences.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/words-and-their-stories-clothing-expressions/3538378.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does it mean when something is tailor-made just for you?
  2. Have you ever given the shirt off your back for a friend? Share your story.
  3. Talk about the time that you had to roll up your sleeves at work.
  4. Explain what it means to ride someone’s coattails.

Villages for Sale

B1 – Intermediate

Because of globalization and the need to look for better jobs, it has become common for people to move to big cities. In Spain, villages are becoming abandoned because of this.

Read the article below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

In many countries, young people have moved from the countryside to urban areas for jobs, financial success, and a more exciting life. As a result, the countryside has a lot of elderly, with a few youths who dream of escape. Of course, these communities are aware of the problem, and many solutions have been tried. For example, there might be tax breaks, fast and reliable Internet access for telecommuting, or appeals to a safe environment to raise children. There have been an equal number of successes and failures.

In Spain, though, the problem is extremely serious. There are hundreds of villages where no one lives. In recent years, schools closed as the population decreased in smaller villages. And as a result, even more residents moved to larger towns and cities with schools, hospitals, and public transportation.

For some people, the result is an opportunity. People with extra money can buy houses, farmland, or even whole villages. A village with good farmland might sell for only $230,000. In a poorer area, it might be only tens of thousands of dollars.

For others, though, there is only sadness. The older people in the area remember happier times. They hope that if people buy the various properties, then someone will look after part of the country’s heritage.

Source: headsupenglish.com

Discussion Questions:

1. Would you want to buy a second home? How about a whole village? Why / not?
2. Imagine you bought a village. What would you do with it?
3. Which is a better environment for children, the city or the countryside? Why?
4. What might be done to bring back people to the countryside? Please explain.

Wanted: Wedding Guests!

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The business of renting has been proved to be very profitable. You can have a house rented out, a car and also some services. But, wedding guests?

Read the article below about a specific business in Korea that’s all about hiring friends for your wedding.

In a sharing economy, people rent out goods, services, and expertise, and the trend has grown in recent years. Many of the successful companies begin in the US, but soon expand around the world. After all, there are resources everywhere, and everyone wants to earn more cash if they can fulfill a need.

Airbnb is one recognizable example. People rent out their homes or spare rooms to vacationers on a nightly, weekly, or even monthly basis. Uber, which is an Internet taxi service, is also very popular, and anyone with a car, accident insurance, and a driver’s license can become a taxi driver or chauffeur. There’s Elance too, where professionals can freelance their skills as a writer, web designer, translator, accountant, and so on. However, perhaps one of the more unique examples of the sharing economy comes from South Korea, where weddings hire fake friends to attend the ceremony.

It might seem that hiring fake friends on such an important occasion is inconceivable. Weddings are a big deal in South Korea, though. There is a lot of pomp in the ceremony, such as musical numbers, skits, and several hundred guests in attendance. According to Korean tradition, the immediate family, extended family, and family friends must all be invited. As such, it can be a problem if, for example, the groom has two hundred guests and the bride has only fifty guests. In order to save face, the solution is to hire actors.

Fake guests get reimbursed roughly $20 per ceremony, and the actors might attend several weddings in one day during the busy season. The service that offers wedding guests contains a database of 20,000 actors, and these people can also be hired as fake bosses, office employees, family members, spouses, and even mistresses.

Source: headsupenglish.com

Discussion Questions:

  1. How would you feel about working as a fake guest to attend a wedding or another important event?
  2. How would you feel about working as a fake boss? How about as a husband or wife?
  3. Do you think that hiring fake wedding guests shows a problem with society? Why/not?
  4. What do you know about the sharing economy and companies like Airbnb and Uber? Please explain.
  5. What sort of jobs would you be able and willing to do in a sharing economy?

Insiders Blast Trump’s ‘Sexist’ Remarks

_91500718_5eef05b4-b6a1-43f4-b63b-f5afc1fb19d7

C1 – Advanced

Donald Trump has been accused of sexism by ex-contestants and staff on his reality show The Apprentice. Over 20 people that were interviewed said his behavior toward women was inappropriate.

Read the article then express your thoughts about it.

Ex-Apprentice insiders blast Trump’s ‘sexist’ remarks

Discuss:

1. Do you think someone who insults women should have the privilege to lead them?
2. Donald Trump has avoided paying federal taxes. Do you think it’s fair that someone who makes millions every year pay less in taxes than someone who makes minimum wage?
3. Do you think these allegations are true?
4. What is the general consensus of Donald Trump in Spain?

Pitbull Ban Put on Hold

_91468516_canadapitbull4

C1 – Advanced

Last week the city of Montreal passed a bill banning the pitbull dog breed.  The law will prevent the sale of any pitbull and all current pitbulls will need to be sterilized, micro-chipped and vaccinated by 31 March 2017. They must also be kept on a short leash and muzzled in public. Pitbull owners must also undergo a criminal background check.

Montreal pitbull ban put on hold

Discuss:

1. Do you think a state has the right to ban an entire breed of dog?
2. Do you think it’s the owner or the breed of dog that can make a dog violent?
3. Is there any law in Spain that legislates dog breeds?
4. Have you ever seen a pitbull and did it appear to be violent or more aggressive than another breed?