Tag: Reading

The Chocolate Capital of the World

B1 – Intermediate

Chocolates! One of the most famous desserts and confectionery known to man. So just how famous is chocolate in Belgium? Read on and be ready to talk about some of your cocoa favourites.

http://www.english-online.at/news-articles/world/europe/brussels-chocolate-capital-of-the-world.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you like chocolates? What are some of your favourites?
  2. Traditionally, how do people in your country take chocolate?
  3. Aside from chocolates, what other types of sweets do you enjoy?
  4. What are some of the products that your country famously export?

World’s First Bionic Eye

B2 – Upper intermediate

Most of us are born with good eye sight and sadly take it for granted. Read about Ray Flynn and the extraordinary second chance he had to see life in a different light.

Feel free to work on the different activities below the article with your next teacher.

Man gets world’s first bionic eye

Discuss:

1. Talk about and describe some of the medical breakthroughs that you know of.
2. Have you had an operation before?
3. What medical operations do you think should be free to help citizens in your country?

Capture Life in Your Soul

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C2 – Proficient

Whenever you have a holiday coming up, step back and contemplate on this: Will I be taking pictures of every single detail of my trip then upload them instantly on my social media? Or Will I take the time to appreciate the beauty that is in front of me?

At some point we are all guilty of just clicking away on our cameras. Read the article below then express your thoughts.

Capture Life in Your Soul — Not Your Smartphone

Discuss:

1. Do you agree that taking photos prevents us from fully enjoying the moment?
2. Do you think social media has a lot to do with this habit of taking a photo of everything?
3. Can you imagine disconnecting from social media for a year?
4. How do you get to fully enjoy your vacations or adventures to the fullest?

A Tattoo Done on Holiday

C1 – Advanced

The BBC recently interviewed a young man who spent a holiday with friends. Rather than post photos on social media to commemorate the event, he decided to get a tattoo done on one of his legs.  What was it a tattoo of? It’s not what you’d expect.

Read about Banjo, then share your opinion regarding the questions below.

‘I got a tattoo done of 17 mates’ names on holiday’

Discuss:

1. What do you think about tattoos?
2. What can you say about Banjo’s choice of tattoo?
3. Should the decision to get a tattoo be taken lightly, or should it be given serious thought?

Best Food Markets in Madrid

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C1 – Advanced

Food markets have been a buzz for some years now and Madrid’s Mercado San Miguel is one of them.

Read the article and watch the video then be ready to talk about the beauty of food markets.

Best Food Markets in Madrid, Spain – Fresh Fish, Meat, Veggies and Cafes

Let’s Discuss!

1. According to the video, what are some of the “services” that the Mercado San Miguel offer as a food market?
2. What are some of the food markets that you’ve been to? Where do you usually shop for food?
3. Share some of your favourite traditional food or dishes.

An Interview With Italian Street Artist Millo

o-MILLO2-900C1 – Advanced

Street art has evolved from the usual graffiti to full scale city murals.

Read the article and get to know artist  Francesco Camillo Giorgino and his works. Also, take note of new expressions or vocabularies you’d like to discuss.

An Interview With Italian Street Artist Millo: ‘My Characters Are The Purest Part Of Me’

Let’s Discuss!

1. According to the article, explain what the artist loves about street art. What was his background?
2. What do you think of Millo’s art? Is this something that you have in your city?
3. What kind of art do you prefer?

Pop Music Can Be Good for You

B2 – Upper Intermediate

At one point in our lives, we’ve been guilty of liking a song that was just too mainstream pop. We’ve secretly danced to Britney Spears and sang along the Backstreet Boys.

Watch the video to find out how our guilty pleasure music benefits our well-being.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your thoughts on this statement, “Looking at a person’s music playlists can be like reading their diary.“.
  2. How does listening to tracks we are ashamed to love can be good for us?
  3. What kind of music / which bad pop song do you secretly enjoy listening to? Are you embarrassed for people to know you listen to this?
  4. Explain reminiscent bump’. How does it relate to a person’s music choices?
  5. Talk about one song and a core memory you associate it with.

ALS Ice Bucket Money

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the summer of 2014, one guy posted a video of himself pouring a bucket of ice water over his head to support ALS and other causes. Then his friends decided to do it as well. In total, more than 17M people took part in the Ice Bucket Challenge.

Ever wondered what happened to the money the supporters donated? Watch the video and read the article to get an update on the ALS research.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/07/15/health/one-summer-after-the-als-ice-bucket-challenge/


Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you know about ALS?
  2. What did you think about the Ice Bucket Challenge? Is the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge a novelty or a repeatable tradition?
  3. Share your thoughts on this, “Donors will pay attention only to diseases with the cleverest social media marketing campaigns.“
  4. If you could support a research or an organization, what would it be?

A Tool to Rid Internet of Child Porn

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B2 – Upper intermediate

How safe are you and your children when using the Internet?
Read the article and get to know the software PhotoDNA.

Microsoft launches tool to rid Internet of child porn

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on this tool?

2. What are ways to ensure children’s internet safety?

3. What do you think is the role of parents when it comes to children and their Internet usage?

4. How is the government in your country trying to fight cybercrimes?

Signs You Were Born and Raised in Spain

B2 – Upper intermediate

Are you a true-blue Spanish? Read the article and see which among the cultural quirks you can identify with. Be ready to debunk the myths, explain the idiosyncrasies, and add what you think is missing from the list.

http://matadornetwork.com/notebook/15-signs-born-raised-spain/

Discussion Questions:

1. Which ones do you practice? Which ones are not true for you?
2. What are other things you can add to the list?
3. What do you think is the history behind some of the mentioned practices?