Tag: Reading

Covid Vaccine Passports Could Discriminate

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As Covid-19 vaccination rates increase, the economy reopens. As a result, decision makers and public officials have considered the idea of a “vaccine passport”. This is required to provide proof of vaccination before traveling or conducting daily work and other activities in order to allow human mobility while protecting lives. Although there are a lot of benefits from it, the cons on the other hand, are quite controversial.

Read the article and be able to answer and answer the questions that follow.

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-56125142

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of “vaccine passports”? Do you agree that it could lead to discrimination?
  2. What do you think are its pros and cons?
  3. What are your thoughts on people who don’t want to get vaccinated?

Best Bedtime to Lower Heart Disease

B1 – Intermediate

To stay healthy, one must eat properly, exercise regularly, and sleep well. A study reveals that sleeping early prevents people from developing heart problems.

Read the lesson on the healthiest time to go to bed to avoid heart diseases.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2111/211111-bedtime-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you believe that going to bed early is healthy? Explain your stand.
  2. Talk about your sleeping pattern. What time do you normally sleep and what is the reason for this?
  3. Now that you know sleeping beyond 12MN isn’t healthy, would you try to change your sleeping habits? Why or why not?
  4. What else can we do to avoid heart diseases?
  5. What other health problems can you develop if you do not sleep early?

Japan to Give Children Cash Handouts

B1 – Intermediate

In Japan, the government is thinking to give money to young people 19 years old and younger. It is a way to help families during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Read the lesson on Japan’s plans to give money to children.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2111/211108-cash-handout-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on this initiative?
  2. Do you agree or disagree with the critics of this initiative? Share your opinion.
  3. Should this money be given to everyone, including children from rich families? Explain your opinion.
  4. If you received money from your government now, what would you do with it?
  5. Describe the economic situation of your country during the pandemic.

Limits of Humor and Social Networks

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In this generation, when the line between offensive comedy and off-limits jokes is very thin, it’s difficult to determine whether one is just being funny or downright offensive. People say, comedy is subjective. What is funny to you may not be funny or even worse, insulting to others.

Read this news about comedian David Suarez being on trial for a tweet about women with Down Syndrome.

https://euroweeklynews.com/2021/04/22/popular-comedian-on-trial-over-humiliating-tweet-about-down-syndrome-women

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on this issue?
  2. Do you agree with the court sentence the comedian received? Why or why not?
  3. What is black humor? Do you find it funny?
  4. When do we draw the line between humorous and offensive?
  5. Are there laws in your country that penalize people who offend others in social media? If none, do you think there should be?

Companies Lean Harder on Non-Parents

B2 – Upper Intermediate

With work getting very demanding nowadays, certain groups of workers are affected by some work arrangements. Parents can easily get away with leaving work early, getting extra days off, or not showing up because of domestic duties. The pressure to cover certain hours or work loads now falls on workers without kids.

Little by little, non-parents feel as if their voices or needs are not as important or respected as those of the parents. They believe that they also deserve the same benefits or leeway that the companies give parents.

Read the article below to see the differences in the work setup that non-parents experience and what they yearn for from the management.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20211005-is-modern-office-culture-unfair-to-non-parents

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think that there’s a huge tension building up between parents and non-parents in the workplace? Why?
  2. Do you believe that there are higher expectations for non-parents to work harder and perform better? Why?
  3. Why do you think it’s important for company management to take their employees’ concerns into account?
  4. What are some policies that you can propose for a good working environment?
  5. What are some countries that have some of the best working environments?

Should Fast Food Sponsor Sport?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There are millions of sports enthusiasts who are always tuned in to big sporting events in the world such as the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup. For these spectators, it is hard to ignore the large banners of sponsors all throughout the match. Some experts believe that these advertisements are contributing factors that lead to people consuming them.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript on fast food sponsorships in sports.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-211104

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are you a big sports fan? Do you always watch big sporting events? Why or why not?
  2. How important is sponsorship in these events?
  3. How does brand loyalty and unhealthy food and drinks companies sponsorship result to obesity?
  4. Do you agree that these companies should be banned from sponsoring big sporting events?

French Diet Secrets for Health and Happiness

B2 – Upper Intermediate

People are fascinated by the French diet as it allows them to be healthy and thin without dieting or exercising and just merely using the French principle. How does a population that loves steak, cheese, bread, and desserts avoid going to the gym but manage to stay healthy and live long?

Click the picture below and read the tips the French can give us about living longer, healthier, and happier lives. Be able to answer the questions that follow.

https://empoweredsustenance.com/french-diet-healthy/
https://empoweredsustenance.com/french-diet-healthy/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of the French diet?
  2. How important is diet to you? Explain.
  3. Based on the article, which tips have you ever tried before? Did they work? Share your experiences.
  4. Which of the tips did you find fascinating or strange and why?
  5. How do you keep yourself fit and healthy?

The Power of a Mother’s Love

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Unconditional love of a mother is vital to one’s well-being. It has a long-lasting and profound impact to a person’s overall development.

She is the anchor of not only her children’s life but her whole family. Her love is the fuel that gives us power to do impossible things. On her love depends the emotional foundation of her children. The reason why nobody should belittle the power of mother’s love.

Read the article about the power of a mother’s love.

https://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/the-power-of-a-mothers-love/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Describe your mother. What are her best qualities?
  2. Share your most unforgettable moment with your mother.
  3. Do you consider your mom as your bestfriend? Why or why not?
  4. How can a good mother-child relationship be fostered?

Dealing with Teen Depression

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Teenage years can be arduous especially during the break and peak of Covid-19 when kids and teens need to be stuck in their houses. This occurrence has lessened the vibrance of their social lives which is one of the reasons of their happiness and growth.

Though it may be temporary feelings for them, it is a very serious and debilitating mood disorder that can definitely affect their way of thinking.

Learning more about this will give us an all-around idea for us to understand what teenagers are going through.

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/teenagers-guide-to-depression.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. How was your teenage life? What are the best and worst moments that you remember when you were a teenager?
  2. How can you help someone who is going through teenage depression?
  3. What important piece of advice will you give the teenagers of this generation?

How to Stop Overthinking Everything

B2 – Upper Intermediate

They say overthinking is a special form of fear. It becomes worse when emotion and imagination are being added into it. It is worrying about almost all things and thinking everything might go wrong. It kills happiness and destroys peace of mind.

In view of this, let us check some of the ways on how to control or stop being an overthinker.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/amymorin/2016/02/12/6-ways-to-stop-overthinking-everything/?sh=f6b7e65663cd

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about the article?
  2. Share your point of view for each point mentioned in the article.
  3. What are the ways that you are applying in your life?
  4. State the disadvantages of overthinking. What might be some advantages of overthinking things?
  5. Do you consider yourself an overthinker? Why or why not?