Tag: Reading

Overcoming Vacation Guilt

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Holidays are intended to be moments of leisure, relaxation, and fun. However, loads of individuals experience feelings of guilt when they take time off from work or other obligations. Vacation guilt is an unfortunate trend that can reduce the perks of a well-deserved break.
Hence, various strategies aimed at helping those struggling with beating this guilt and fully acknowledging the advantageous features of taking holidays have been put together by therapists.

Click on the link to learn about therapist-approved recommendations for dealing with vacation guilt, as well as the significance of self-care.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/vacation-guilt-tips_l_64948bb3e4b095a2925c0334

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “second thoughts” mean in the sentence, “Even though you’ve booked that much-needed vacation, you may have second thoughts about actually taking the time off.”? Use this expression in your own sentence.
  2. What does “weigh someone down” mean in the sentence, “So, how do you tackle the guilt that may be weighing you down and finally enjoy your vacation?”? Use this expression in your own sentence.
  3. What does “draw the fine line between” mean in the sentence, “Setting clear boundaries will help you draw the fine line between taking time off on vacation and other responsibilities.”? Use this expression in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are some common reasons why people experience guilt when taking a vacation?
  2. How do you overcome feelings of guilt when taking a vacation?
  3. What are some therapist-approved strategies for dealing with vacation guilt?
  4. How essential is the idea of going on a holiday in terms of your work-life balance?
  5. How frequently do you prioritize taking breaks and going on trips? Please share.

Skin Gets Crepey as You Get Older

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Our physical features undergo transformations as we get older and one obvious shift is the gradual occurrence of crepey skin. The concept refers to skin thinning and wrinkling that has the look and feel of crepe paper. Although crepey skin is an inevitable consequence of the aging process, appreciating its deeper causes will allow us to gratefully acknowledge the nature of our bodies complexities and potentially take proactive steps to prevent it.

Click on the link to uncover more about the underlying causes of crepey skin and the best ways to care for our skin as we get older.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/crepey-skin_l_648227d3e4b025003edc406e

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “snaps right back” mean in the sentence, “The elastic fibers, they start off very strong. Twenty-something-, 30-something-year-olds, their skin snaps right back.”? Use this expression in your own sentence.
  2. What does “ward off” mean in the sentence, “Wearing sunscreen may seem like the obvious way to ward off crepey skin, but Francis said another method may be more effective.”? Use this phrase in your own sentence.
  3. What does “last line of defense” mean in the sentence, “I always tell people, think of sunscreen as your last line of defense.”? Use this expression in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is crepey skin and how does it differ from other signs of aging?
  2. Can genetics influence the likelihood of developing crepey skin? If so, how?
  3. What are some preventive measures individuals can take to minimize the appearance of crepey skin?
  4. How significant is maintaining healthy skin to you?
  5. What is your personal skincare routine like? Please share.

Schools of Philosophy

B2 – Upper Intermediate

According to Aztec Philosophy, the meaning of life was to live in balance with nature and make sure that the energy keeps flowing.  But the meaning of life is different for everybody.

Read the article to know more about the 10 schools of Philosophy that may help us find the light and the meaning of life. 

https://bigthink.com/thinking/10-schools-of-philosophy-and-why-you-should-know-them/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of the word “slur“? “The word “hedonistic”, when used as a slur, relates to this school only in that many hedonistic thinkers also saw pleasure as the key to a good life.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of the word “construe”? “While happiness is often construed as pleasure and the green light is often given to depravity by this school, Greek thinker Epicurus was also a hedonist and tied it to a virtue ethics system based around moderation.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of the word” snockered”? “Most hedonistic philosophers would say you should read a book rather than get drunk, as reading is a higher kind of happiness than getting snockered.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. In your opinion, how can philosophy help us understand the meaning of life?
  2.  Are there similarities in any of these viewpoints? What are they?
  3. What is your philosophy in life and why?

Multinational Companies to Hire Refugees

B1 – Intermediate

Wars and political problems have increased in many countries. This puts many people in danger. Due to this, they try to find a way to escape their country and they go to another where it is safer. 

To start a new life in a new country, refugees need a job. The good news is that big companies such as Adidas, Amazon, Pepsi, and Starbucks have promised to give refugees jobs.

Read the article about some multinational companies’ promise to give jobs to refugees.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2306/230622-multinational-companies-1.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define “homeland”here, “Many people are fleeing wars or feel unsafe in their homeland.” Use this word in your own sentence.
  2. What does “refugee” mean, “Multinational companies will give jobs to 250,000 refugees.”? Use this word in your own sentence.
  3. What does ”diversity” mean, “It said refugees would add diversity and make the company stronger.”? Use this word in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do refugees leave their country?
  2. What is your opinion on multinational companies hiring refugees?
  3. What are other ways to help refugees?
  4. Do you agree or disagree that “refugees would add diversity to its workforce and would make the company stronger.”?
  5. Share your opinion on this, “Diversity brings creativity and different points of view.”.

Things That Harm Your Happiness

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Individuals frequently face various challenges and obstacles in their pursuit of happiness. While each person’s path to happiness is distinctive, medical professionals and mental health experts have pointed out a common factor that drastically impairs one’s happiness.

Click on the link to learn more about the specific thing that therapists consistently identify as the most hazardous to our happiness and its consequences in every aspect of our lives.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/worst-things-for-happiness-therapists_l_6491badbe4b025003ee6dbe3

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “hostage to something” mean in the sentence, “When you’re experiencing one of these feelings, you’re holding yourself hostage to past life experiences or worrying about the future.”? Use this expression in your own sentence.
  2. What does “fill your cup” mean in the sentence, “And when you have a stronger connection with yourself, you can learn what you need to fill your cup, such as setting healthy boundaries.”? Use this expression in your own sentence.
  3. What does “a glass half-full” mean in the sentence, “It can feel hard to be honest and vulnerable in a society that encourages a glass half-full mentality.”? Use this phrase in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the one thing therapists commonly identify as the most harmful to our happiness?
  2. How does happiness contribute to our overall well-being and quality of life?
  3. In what ways does social media contribute to the problem of comparison and its negative effects on happiness?
  4. How does cultivating gratitude and practicing mindfulness impact our happiness levels?
  5. How do you prioritize self-care and ensure that your own happiness is not neglected? Please share.

Titanic Wreck Lucrative Tourism Industry

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Off the isolated coast of Newfoundland, more than two miles under the water, lies the rusting, decaying skeleton of a ship that has fascinated the public for more than a century. Discovering its tragic past is still appealing to scholars, adventurers, and common people.

Tourists have been paying for years to have a chance to see the Titanic shipwreck from below. Five individuals boarded the underwater vehicle Titan on Sunday to undertake the trip.

Let’s read the article below to know more about it.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/titanic-tourism

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “insatiable” mean in this sentence, “More than a century after the ship’s sinking, interest in the Titanic remains insatiable.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “pretty penny” mean in this sentence, “And for a pretty penny, tourists have been able to go too.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “to catch a glimpse” mean, “For decades, tourists have been paying for a chance to catch an undersea glimpse at the wreck of the Titanic.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on this style of tourism and the impacts of the submersibles on the deteriorating site?
  2. Should the site be left undisturbed in memory of the more than 1,500 people who died there? Explain.
  3. What do you think happened to the explorers?
  4. Would you be willing to give this type of tourism a try? Why or why not?

Creating An Effective Ad

B2 – Upper Intermediate

“A good advertisement is one which sells the product without drawing attention to itself.” – David Ogilvy, known as the “Father of Advertising”.

We can see advertisements on television, on trains, and they are constantly popping up on our computer screens. We are so used to ads that we hardly pay them any attention anymore. 

Read the article and find out 11 simple tips on how to create an effective ad.

https://targetpublic.com/11-simple-tips-creating-effective-ad/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “puffery” mean? “Each advertisement must make a proposition to the consumer-not just words, product puffery, or show-window advertising.” Use this word in a sentence.
  2. What does the idiom “right off the bat” mean? “Get out a pad of paper and some pens and have fun with this. I am sure you will start coming up with brilliant ideas right off the bat!” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “eye-catching” mean? “You will be able to make eye-catching ads that will get people excited about what you have to offer.”. Give a synonym and use ‘eye-catching’ in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Talk about the 11 tips mentioned in the article on how to have an effective advertisement. Which ones do you think your company employs in their advertising campaigns?
  2. What is your company’s Unique Selling Proposition (USP)?
  3. Do you think that there are advertisements that do not draw attention to themselves? If so, can you think of some examples?
  4. Do you remember any advertisements that made you buy something? What kind of advertising was it?

Begpackers – Asia’s Most Disliked Travelers

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Backpacking is a cost-effective way for people to travel to many different places. With a limited budget, they tend to make the most of out of their trip by staying in inexpensive hotels and living like a local.

However, there are also backpackers who do not have enough money to fund their trip. Some of them turn to the kindness of local people by begging, selling, or performing on the street in exchange for money.

Let’s read the article and know more details about the begpacking phenomenon.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/asia-begpackers-intl-hnk/index.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the word “portmanteau” mean in this context? “The term is a portmanteau of “begging” and “backpacking” and is usually used to negatively describe people who are asking the public for money to fund their travels.” Give examples.
  2. Define the verb “pigeonhole“. “A Cantonese-speaking colleague waited nearby to see who interacted with Pratt, then pigeonholed them to ask questions – and, in some cases, return the money they’d given.” Use it in your own sentence.
  3. What does the phrase “if the shoe were on the other foot” mean? “If the shoe were on the other foot, begpacking would be simply called vagrancy.” Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on begpackers? Does it make a difference if they are simply begging, selling or providing entertainment in exchange for money?
  2. Do you agree that much of the hatred for begpackers are from foreigners too?
  3. What is passport privilege? How does it play a part in begpacking?
  4. Do you think Asian countries should set financial requirements to all tourists?

Workers Quitting Digital Nomadism

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Traveling and working in different locations at the same time seems ideal. This working setup feels like a dream for most employees. However, people who have been doing it have found that it is different from what they imagined.

Read the article to learn more about people quitting digital nomadism.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20230531-the-workers-quitting-digital-nomadism

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “ebb” mean, “After five years, however, the excitement of the nomadic lifestyle across the world began to ebb.“? Give two synonyms of this word and use them in sentences.
  2. What does “pin down” mean, “It’s difficult to pin down the exact number of these types of workers.“? Use this phrase in a sentence.
  3. What is an “untethered worker“? “In other countries where data is less available, resources abound to help untethered workers make their way across the globe.” Use this phrase in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on digital nomadism?
  2. Name some challenges or drawbacks associated with being a digital nomad.
  3. What are some of the reasons cited by workers for leaving the digital nomad lifestyle?
  4. Would you like to experience being a digital nomad? Why or why not?
  5. How do you think being a digital nomad could impact your personal relationships and social life? Do you see it as an advantage or a challenge?

Discriminatory Airline Seat Policies

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Traveling by plane is the quickest way to get to your destination. Due to technological advances, it is also considered one of the safest forms of transportation. Another selling point for airline companies is the comfort they provide to their passengers. They offer wider seats, in-flight entertainment, more legroom and many more at additional costs.

However, for plus-size travelers the experience of flying can be daunting.

Let’s read the article and know more about the struggles of plus-size travelers and one particular plus-size traveler’s petition.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/plus-size-travelers-slam-airline-seat-policies/index.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “slippery slope” mean? “It can be a slippery slope.” Give an example scenario.
  2. What does the idiom “to be hit in the pocket” mean? “This ultimately means that more and more passengers are likely to be finding it difficult to fit into airplane seats, and some may be hit in the pocket as a result.” Use it in your own sentence.
  3. Define the word “encroach“. “One of the various demands listed in Chaney’s petition, which had received over 17,000 signatures at the time of writing, is that all airlines “provide accessible additional seats to customers-of-size” who may require more space or “encroach onto another passenger’s space.” Give one synonym and use “encroach” in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on Jae’lynn Chaney’s demand? Is it reasonable or a form of entitlement?
  2. Do you agree that charging more to plus-size passengers is a human rights issue? Why or why not?
  3. What else do you know about airline policies in your country regarding plus-size passengers?
  4. Just as airline companies are charging plus-size travelers more, do you think passengers with smaller bodies should be charged less? Explain your stand.