Tag: Reading

Radio Stations Shut Down in Venezuela

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has closed down almost one hundred radio stations due to lack of valid licenses. However, journalists and opposition leaders have a different opinion. They believe this is another blow to freedom of speech.

Read the article about radio stations shut down in Venezuela.

https://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/08/01/venezuela.radio.stations/index.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why is the Venezuelan government closing down numerous independent radio stations?
  2. What do you think of the massive closure of radio stations in Venezuela? Do you think it is a subtle act of suppressing press freedom?
  3. What are the indirect effects of these radio station closures?
  4. What are the regulations of the ownership and operation of radio and television stations in your country?

The Smart Way to Learn from Failure

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The idea that failure is a bad thing is one that is quite often held. Numerous people who struggle with something are frequently labeled as losers, but if they take the lessons from their defeats, they become victors.

Failure teaches individuals that success is earned through tenacity and hard work, and that they are just like everyone else. The most valuable lessons in life are commonly learned through bad decisions made and the wisdom acquired through them. But do we actually learn from our mistakes, or do we purposefully fail to acknowledge them and carry on as if nothing had happened?

Check out the following article for more information on how to gain knowledge from our shortcomings.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20221019-the-smart-way-to-learn-from-failure

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your personal perspective on failure?
  2. Have there been any failures that made your life better?
  3. Is there a right time to give up and stop trying?
  4. Can you name any well-known figures who failed miserably at something?
  5. Describe a time when you tried something and failed.

Anti-Cheating Exam Hats

B1 – Intermediate

Cheating in exams is a dishonest action and it harms an individual. Studying for an examination is very important. Through examinations, it enhances our personality, knowledge, and learning power. We also get to know where we are behind and we can move ahead for improvement.

Let’s read the article below to know more about how creative a college in the Philippines is in fighting against cheating in examinations.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2210/221027-anti-cheating-hats-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of anti-cheating hats?
  2. How much pressure is there to pass exams? What’s the best way to pass exams?
  3. What should happen to students who cheat?
  4. How stressed out do you get about/during exams?
  5. What do schools in your country do to prevent cheating?

Bees Like Playing with Balls

B1 – Intermediate

Bees are small flying insects, buzzing around with its painful stings which always make people afraid and annoyed. They are renowned in facilitating pollination for most plant life. Without bees, there would be a huge decrease in pollination, which later result in reduce in plant growth and food supplies.

Let’s read the article below and learn more about bees.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2211/221103-bees-and-balls-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you know about bees? How do you think bees might play?
  2. What are you thoughts on the results of study?
  3. What do you associate bees with?
  4. Do you like being busy? When are you as busy as a bee?
  5. What are the benefits of bees?
  6. How do you relax after a busy day?

Thinking about ‘Future You’ Builds a Happier Life

B2 – Upper Intermediate

These days, mindfulness is extremely popular and for good reasons. Being present-oriented can enhance our health and quality of life, foster love and care, and deepen our emotional bonds.
What if we look beyond the here and now? A growing body of research indicates that while thinking about the future can cause anxiety, it can also enrich our lives. Yes, as implied, we ought to give our future selves more of our attention, because through fantasizing, we can look at alternate paths to reach for our aspirations in life.

Read the article to learn about how thinking about ‘future you’ can help lead a better, happier, and more meaningful life.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220201-how-thinking-about-future-you-can-build-a-happier-life

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you hope for for your own future?
  2. What anxieties and concerns do you have for the future?
  3. How has your vision of your future self changed from when you were young to present?
  4. What did you believe about your years ahead when you were younger?
  5. Would you rather spend 100 years in the distant past or the future? Why?

Guantanamo Bay Releases Oldest Detainee

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It has been around twenty years since the first prisoner set foot in the infamous Guantanamo Bay. There are nearly 800 detainees in this prison camp who are mostly held without charge or trial. Quite recently, the oldest prisoner has been released and sent back home to Pakistan.

Let’s read the article to know more about Guantanamo Bay and the controversies surrounding it.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-63438878

Discussion Questions:

  1. When and why was the detention camp established?
  2. What is your opinion on Guantanamo Bay’s human rights violations?
  3. What are your thoughts about detainees being cleared for release and do you think it is an “embarrassment to the US”? Share your opinion.
  4. How does your government treat people arrested on suspicions of terrorism?
  5. What is the maximum period of detention for people held without charges in your country? Do you think it is a reasonable period of time?

An Unusual Friendship

B2 – Upper Intermediate

No matter the color, race, or social standing, we all have the capability to reach out to someone if we just keep an open mind.

Please read the article below about an unusual friendship.

For a black man living in the 1960s, life was far from easy. This was the case for Donald Shirley, a musical prodigy and classically trained pianist. His plan was to tour the Deep South, but for a black man living during this era, he knew that his journey would be far from smooth. This was the time when the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) would stop at nothing to voice their extremist views, and they did this through any means thinkable and unthinkable. Violence was often the most popular of means. So, Donald needed protection. He needed some backup. This brought Tony Vallelonga to the scene. He became Donald’s driver.

On the surface, these two men seemed worlds apart. Donald Shirley lived alone, a well-educated man with 3 doctorates under his belt. Tony had followed the school of hard knocks and had grown into a rough-and-ready Italian. Tony’s streetwise nature and his job as a bouncer at the Copacabana, though, led him to cross paths with young Donald Shirley. What followed was a road trip that opened Tony’s eyes to the brutality of racism and a deep, even though at first sight unlikely, friendship developed between the two. It lasted for many decades to come. In the early 70s, Donald Shirley was able to play at the famous Carnegie Hall together with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra.

What had happened to Tony? Well, he went back to his old stomping grounds at the Copacabana, only to be spotted and cast in The Godfather. It’s poignant to note that their unlikely friendship lasted well into the 21st century. Tony’s son recollects how they would go out for lunch together when Donald was playing in town. It seemed that if Donald ever was in need, Tony was the man he would turn to for help. “Whenever Dr. Shirley had any problems,” he said, “he’d call my father, and he’d go and help to sort them out.”

It is no wonder that such a story turned into a Hollywood movie. Stories like these warm our hearts and show us that we don’t have to be alone. No matter our colour, race or social standing, we all have the capability to reach out to someone if we just keep an open mind.

Quote retrieved from the article, “What happened to Don Shirley and Tony Lip after ‘Green Book’? Nick Vallelonga talks us through their friendship” by Gregory Wakeman, posted on November 15, 2018 on Metro.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you watched the movie Green Book? Why or why not?
  2. What do you think made a bodyguard and a pianist, who seemed to be from two different worlds, true friends?
  3. Do you think this story is common or an exceptional one? Explain.
  4. What’s the most incredible story of friendship do you know of?
  5. How does most friendships begin?
  6. How can friendships last?
  7. Who is your greatest friend and why?

Homeless People Living in Cars

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The number of people living in their vehicles is on the rise as homelessness continues to grow across the US. Some courts have made it illegal to park cars overnight in areas where people may be inclined to sleep. However, many advocates in the homelessness community are opposed to this as well as other policies that are criminalizing homelessness.

Read the article to learn more and be able to discuss the questions below.

https://invisiblepeople.tv/homeless-people-living-in-cars/

Discussion Questions:

  1. How big an issue is homelessness in your country and what do you think is being done to address it?
  2. What do you think of homeless people living in their cars? Does this situation happen in your country? What should be done to help them?
  3. What are some reasons why people end up being homeless and turning to their vehicles to have a roof over their heads?
  4. What are the good and bad points of living in a car as a homeless?
  5. Should it be made illegal to park cars overnight in an area? Explain your stand.
  6. Have you ever thought about living the “van life”? What are the appealing and uninviting aspects of it in your opinion?

The Meaning of Life According to Different Philosophies

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

The meaning of life can be described in many ways: simple, absolute, soul-centered, non-existent, etc. Philosophers are occupied with the search for meaning and people of different ages ponder over this issue, sometimes driving themselves to anxiety and stress. 

Read the article below to find out what different philosophies have to say about this topic.

https://blog.adioma.com/meaning-of-life-according-to-philosophy/

Discussion Questions:

  1. How has the meaning of life changed for you as you got older?
  2. Would you say that you have fulfilled your childhood dreams?
  3. Why are some people unable to free themselves from expectations?
  4. Is our life a predetermined path? Why (not)?
  5. Do you feel like you are on the right track in life now?
  6. What have you been pondering on lately?
  7. Have you ever tried googling the meaning of life?
  8. At what moments in our life do we start thinking about the meaning of life?
  9. In your opinion, what is ‘the crisis of meaning’? Why are people hungry for the meaning of life and why do they go through a crisis when they find none?

The Workers Leaving Their Dream Jobs

B2 – Upper Intermediate

What are the familiar dream careers that your buddies tell you about when you were young? Probably, “I want to be a movie star!” or “I would like to become a doctor so that I can help other people! “

You frequently hear advice to be realistic and choose a profession that pays well from parents, relatives, and sometimes even from complete strangers. Some friends and accomplished individuals may on the other hand, advise you that following your passion is the secret to success.
Naturally, you will be confused and worried over whether you ought to pick a different profession that you have no interest in simply because it appears favorable for your future or follow your heart’s desire blindly with such little possibility of earning money from it. Having a career you’re enthusiastic about is wonderful! However, some employees are abandoning their dream jobs in constant search of security and stability.

Now the question is, how do you determine when it’s not worthwhile to follow a career you’re passionate about and when to take a different (financially wiser) path?

To learn more, check out the following article.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20221010-the-workers-leaving-their-dream-jobs

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “omnipresent” mean, “These days, more than ever, the idea that happiness and success are linked to working in a ‘cool’ job – a role you’re passionate about in an interesting, envy-inducing workplace – is omnipresent.“? Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What does the expression “to put up with” mean, “Employees who love their job or really value their work are willing to put up with harsher conditions than others, such as non-standard working hours or low pay.“? Use it in your own sentence.
  3. In your own words, explain “passion trap“. “Now 31, free from hospitality, on a rapidly rising wage and finally well rested, Andrew’s keen to coach others out of the ‘passion trap’ he found himself in.” Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What might be reasons people would quit their dream jobs?
  2. Would you walk away from a job that you are passionate about for stability and security? Why or why not?
  3. What job do you aspire to have and what are your absolute non-negotiables when it comes to work? Are there any jobs you would refuse to do, regardless of the pay? Why?
  4. What advice would you give someone who is in a job where they are feeling overworked, underappreciated, and underpaid?