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B1 – Intermediate
A restaurant owner in Mexico is offering tacos topped with insects. He has wild items added to his menu such as scorpions and spiders too.
Discuss:
1. What exotic kinds of food do you know or have tried?
2. Are there exotic foods in Spain?
3. For you, is it okay to use and put insects in our food? Why or why not?
B2 – Upper intermediate
Below is an interesting study about men and women and their mood swings.
Read the article and express your thoughts about it. Be prepared to share some of your experiences.
Discussion Questions:
1. Do you think that women are grumpier than men?
2. What puts you in a bad mood?
3. How do you deal with little, everyday stress in your life? How do you keep your cool?
B1 – Intermediate
A footage shows native people emerge from the Amazon rain forest and make contact with the outside world. Brazilian experts said the indigenous people likely crossed the border from Peru facing pressure from illegal logging and drug trafficking at home.
http://www.newsinlevels.com/products/people-from-a-rainforest-level-3/
Discussion Questions:
1. Is drug trafficking happening in Spain? How about illegal logging?
2. Have you ever taken a trip to exotic places?
3. Are there still places in your country that are still “untouched” by civilization?
B1 – Intermediate
Stress is a very common word for most people. It comes from different causes and everybody can have it. Everyone can experience stress and there are ways to be free from it.
Let’s learn how to manage stress properly.
http://www.ulifeline.org/articles/427-managing-stress
Discussion Questions:
1. Would you consider yourself stressed out?
2. What are the major causes of your stress?
3. What are the ways you do to deal with your stress?
B1 – Intermediate
Different studies were conducted on how behavior among children and teenagers are affected by playing video games. A study in Oxford University found that playing video games for less than an hour a day is good. On the other hand, playing violent video games influence teenagers to be more aggressive.
Read the article to know more about the possible benefits and consequences of vieo games on children.
Discuss:
1. Do you play video games?
2. Does it affect your way of thinking and behaviour?
3. Do you agree with idea suggested in the article?
4. Would you allow your children to play video games? If yes, what set of rules would you impose?
C1 – Advanced
Do you have the habit of checking your phone all the time, even when it’s not necessary? Are you an impulsive person who just can’t resist buying when there’s a sale? Our self-control is always on the line.
Click on the title below and read the article to know more about self-control.
Discuss:
1. Explain the 6 secrets of self-control.
2. Which ones do you practice? Do you agree with all of them?
3. Would you say that self-control is your strength?
4. When was the last time that you had to practice self-control?
B1 – Intermediate
We’ve all had horrible or not-so-good experiences with our neighbors. The website “Which?” conducted a survey and found out that a number of people are stressed with their neighbors.
Read the article to know more about the different nuisances that neighbors can have with each other.
http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1409/140918-neighbours.html
Discussion Questions:
B2 – Upper Intermediate
Spanish are known to be very easygoing. However, even the most patient locals could have some tourists actions or behaviors that tick them off.
Find out some things that tourists do that displease the locals.
http://www.thelocal.es/galleries/travel/twelve-things-tourists-do-that-annoy-spaniards-spain-tourism
Discussion Questions:
1. Which habits annoy you? Which habits do you find tolerable?
2. What tips can you give tourists for them to enjoy your country?
3. Share some of your travel experiences.
B2 – Upper intermediate
Pope Francis has announced that a third world war may soon happen. He has made repeated appeals for an end to the world’s conflicts. He cited the loss of life in WWI to what is happening today.
Be ready to have a speaking activity and to discuss some vocabulary words
Discuss:
1. Do you think that World War III will happen?
2. What is your opinion about war?
3. What do you think we should do to prevent this from happening?
B2 – Upper intermediate
Nowadays, people with college degrees are going through a tough time finding a job they like. Is getting a degree worth it? Or is it becoming to be a waste of time?
Read the article to know the benefits of getting a college education. Prepare to express your thoughts.
Discuss:
1. According to the article, explain the benefits of going to college or university.
2. What is your general opinion of the article?
3. Is your current career related to the degree that you took in college/university?
4. In your country, is it important to get a university education to land a good job?
5. If given the chance, what other fields of education would you study or take up?