phone english blogC1 – Advanced
Have you heard of Urban farming? In the US, it’s been a popular idea for quite some time.
Read the article below and discuss some of the issues that urban farmers are facing.
Discussion Questions:
B2 – Upper Intermediate
People around the world work with minimum wage. A minimum wage is the lowest daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Which country has the best minimum wage in the world? Let’s take a look!
The country has the most generous national minimum wage in the developed world, according to a report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
The report ranked 27 countries that have laws setting a nationwide minimum rate of pay.
Australia’s minimum wage workers — aged 21 and over — make 15.96 Australian dollars per hour. After tax and other deductions, that’s equivalent to $9.54, once the difference in the cost of living is taken into account.
“They have a high minimum wage. And interestingly they have a low tax burden,” said Herwig Immervoll, the author of the OECD report. “[Australians] recognize that supporting low wage earners through the tax system is important.”
Other countries have set higher hourly rates but they also tax minimum wage workers more, leaving them with less in their pockets.
The U.S. ranked 11th on the list, with a federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. That leaves workers with take-home pay of $6.26 per hour.
However, the U.S. would move up the rankings if state minimum wage rules were factored into the equation. Roughly half of U.S. states have rules ensuring workers are paid more than the federal minimum, Immervoll said.
Related: Compare your salary with CNNMoney’s global wage calculator
The OECD report shows that a single Australian minimum wage worker with two kids could work just six hours per week to lift themselves above the poverty line, because they would also receive state benefits.
In the U.S., the same worker would have to clock in 50 hours per week to escape poverty. In the Czech Republic, it would take 79 hours of work per week.
Eight countries, including Finland, Sweden and Switzerland, were not included in the report because their governments do not set national rules on minimum pay. Many of them have strong labor unions and established arrangements for collective bargaining, which means governments don’t have to step in.
Related: The U.S. minimum wage, state by state
Here are the top five countries for hourly minimum wages, based on the latest OECD data from 2013:
1. Australia – $9.54
2. Luxembourg – $9.24
3. Belgium – $8.57
4. Ireland – $8.46
5. France – $8.24
Countries with the lowest take-home minimum wages include Latvia, Chile and Mexico, which is bottom of the list with a rate of about $1 per hour.
— An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the U.S. federal minimum wage was $7.85. It is $7.25.
Discussion Questions:
1. What is the minimum wage in your country?
2. What do you think should be the ideal minimum wage in your country?
3. How does salary affect the performance of an individual at work?
B1 – Intermediate
These days, it is easy to get and share information from different parts of the world. The Internet made this possible. However, in China, the Internet is highly controlled by the government.
Read the article below and be ready to express your thoughts about China and how they control the Internet.
http://www.english-online.at/technology/china-blocks-youtube/china-blocks-youtube.htm
Discussion Questions:
C1 – Advanced
Jack Cator was your normal teenage school boy; defying and challenging the rules. But what he got out of that persistent attitude was quite extraordinary.
Read the article below to know more about Jack and his business and its humble beginnings.
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-32702501
Discussion Questions:
C1 – Advanced
On April 25, 2015, Nepal was hit by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that cost thousands of lives and left so many injured.
Below is an article to look back on the devastation that hit a country and affected so many. Take a look at the before-and-after photos included in the article.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32479909
Discussion Questions:
1. What do you know of the earthquake that hit Nepal in 2015?
2. Have you experienced natural disasters such as earthquakes?
3. What are some catastrophes you’ve witnessed?
4. Is your country prepared in case a natural disaster hits?
B2 – Upper Intermediate
Dave Goldberg was a very successful entrepreneur who died of a severe head trauma after falling off a treadmill. The cause of the fall isn’t clear yet. Some people would call Goldberg’s death a freak accident.
Read the article below to have more information on how dangerous some exercise equipment can be.
http://www.livescience.com/50744-dave-goldberg-treadmill-accidents.html
Discussion Questions:
1. After reading the article, do you think using a treadmill is that dangerous?
2. What other considerations do we need to take before we use any exercise machine?
3. Do you know of any other gym-related accidents?
B2 – Upper Intermediate
Shopping is fun. For women, mostly, it is a time to bond with friends and family members. On the other hand, if you let your impulse get the best of you, your love for purchase can do you more harm than good.
Read the article below to know more about the facts of being a shopaholic.
The lives of some people revolve around shopping, as they repeatedly make purchases regardless of need or available money. Some of these people make impromptu purchases. Some of these people have closets with unopened purchases. Some of these people have racked up overwhelming amounts of credit card debt. If this sounds like you, then you may be a shopaholic.
A recently administered test to determine the predilection towards compulsive buying reveals that 9% of people fall into this category. Another recent test revealed a slightly smaller percentage of 6%. This new data concludes an increase in the number of shopaholics from just fifteen years ago, as well as determines that men remain just as prone to the shopping urge as women. The test consisted of six statements which people answered on a 7-point scale, from strongly agree to strongly disagree. Some statements included:
* Much of my life centers around buying things.
* I buy things I didn’t plan to buy.
* Others might consider me a shopaholic.
Compulsive buying obviously leads to financial problems such as an empty bank account and maxed out credit cards. Yet these unneeded and unwanted purchases may be the manifestation of more serious problems, namely depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. What’s more, relationships and family harmony also deteriorate because of disagreements over the purchases. Shopaholics may then hide their purchases, as well as the accompanying costs, and thus add to the strain. It’s a problem that affects people of all income brackets.
Researchers suggest that shopaholics felt better when they were shopping, even when they realized the associated harm.
Source: headsupenglish.com
Discussion Questions:
1. Based on the information in the article, would you consider yourself a shopaholic?
2. Do you know anyone who might be a shopaholic?
3. Do you agree that women and men suffer from the problem equally?
4. Do you agree that anxiety and low self-esteem cause compulsive buying? Why/not?
5. What solutions are there for people who are shopaholics? How can they be helped?
B2 – Upper intermediate
Some say that Venice is the romance capital of the world.
Read the article below to know more about the city itself and the life and history of this tourist spot.
Discuss:
1. Describe some of the beautiful places that you’ve visited in the past.
2. Do you often travel? What do you like most about travelling?
3. Have you been to Venice? If you have, describe your trip. If you haven’t, is this city on your bucket list of places to visit?
B1 – Intermediate
Bananas are very popular fruits all over the world. They have essential nutrients that helps keep you healthy.
Here’s an article that’s all about bananas. Read about the facts of this well-known fruit and how important it is in some regions or countries.
http://www.english-online.at/biology/bananas/bananas.html
Discussion Questions:
1. What are some of the very common fruits that you have in your country?
2. Talk about some of the food products that your country exports.
3. What are some of your preferences when it comes to fruits and vegetables and how do you like to eat them?
B1 – Intermediate
Each country has its own rules and customs. Some are liberating while others are dated.
Read the article and discover how Saudi Arabia is changing some of their traditions.
http://www.english-online.at/news-articles/people/more-rights-for-women-in-saudi-arabia.htm
Discussion Questions:
1. What are some of the rights that you enjoy as a woman in your country?
2. In your country, what other laws should the government pass for women and children?
3. How are the women viewed in your society?