Tag: Social Issues

South Korean Men Leads Beauty Market

B2 – Upper Intermediate

South Korean men have begun spending more money on beauty and skincare products. This has become a trend to which men conform more to using cosmetics products that enables them to improve their appearance. Will the Western men’s definition of beauty change because of this fashion?

Let’s read more about it in the article below.

https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/south-korea-male-beauty-market-chanel/index.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about male beauty?
  2. How is vanity among men viewed in your country? What do you personally think when a man takes care of his skin so much and/or puts on some makeup?
  3. What is your beauty obsession? Why?
  4. How do makeup and beauty products affect masculinity?
  5. Should we associate beauty rituals with femininity or with self-care and success?

The United Kingdom Could Break Up

B1 – Intermediate

Many people in the UK want independence. An ex-UK prime minister believes that if the UK leaves the EU, the four nations of the UK will be in trouble.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1908/190813-united-kingdom-0.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion of the European Union (the EU)?
  2. Why do think people in the UK want this independence? What advantages, if any, would their citizens obtain?
  3. What do you think will happen to the EU without the UK?
  4. Can freedom damage a country?

Child Marriage in Nepal

B1 – Intermediate

Child marriage is very common in poor countries of the Third World. Over half the adults in Nepal married when they were still children. A UNICEF study reports that about 60% of Nepalese women got married before they turned 18 years old.

https://www.english-online.at/news-articles/people/child-marriage-in-nepal.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about child marriage?
  2. At what age do people usually get married in your country?
  3. In your country, what do women usually do after getting married?
  4. What are some wedding traditions in your country?

Can Robots Care for Us?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. Can robots have empathy? Can robots care for us?

Let’s find out by listening to the podcast carefully.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-191121

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the pros and cons of having a robot carer?
  2. Do you think it’s possible for robots to have empathy?
  3. Would you buy one for yourself? Why or why not?
  4. How are elderlies taken care of in your country?

Should Hate Speech Be Censored?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

With all the anonymity the internet provides trolls and the negativity in the world, many had been wondering if hate speech as defined by Encyclopedia Britannica as an expression that denigrates a person or persons on the basis of (alleged) membership in a social group identified by attributes such as gender, race, ethnicity, religion, age, and etc.

The typical hate speech would usually have slurs that promote malicious stereotypes and intended to incite violence or hatred against someone or a group. After the series of suicide cases among celebrities in South Korea it has been a debate on social media if it is possible to regulate hate speech as it has been limitless and not punishable by law because they are only considered by many to be simply free speech.

Watch the video below to further understand hate speech.

Discussion Questions:

  1. When do we know that free speech becomes hate speech?
  2. When does hate speech become dangerous?
  3. Should people spread hate speech be held accountable for their words?
  4. Is hate speech a precursor to more serious violence or crimes?
  5. Is there a need to regulate or censored hate speech?

Glasses Ban for Women at Work

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In Japan, news of several companies banning the wearing of glasses among female employees made rounds recently.

This has become a controversial issue in the country as reports say that female employees have been told by their employers to stop wearing them.

Read the article to find out more about this eyewear ban among women in Japan.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-50342714

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on forbidding women to wear glasses at their workplace?
  2. Do you think this ban is sexist? Why or why not?
  3. What might good things about wearing and not wearing glasses?

Photos Ended Child Labor in the US

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The Industrial Revolution had led to a need for workers and in the pursuit of cheap labor, many companies hired children. This, in turn, had put them in dangerous conditions for long hours and low pay. As the outcry against this practice grew, the National Child Labor Committee hired Lewis Wickes Hine to travel the country and photograph and interview child laborers. His images are powerful, and his careful documentary work gave them more context and helped spur the passage of legislation.

Check out the video below on his outstanding work and be able to answer the questions that follow:

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do feel about what’s discussed in the video?
  2. What are your thoughts on how Hine carefully shot his photos to shine a light on the problem in child labor?
  3. What do you think of Child Labor? Do you think it still exists today?
  4. Do you like taking pictures? What is your purpose in taking them?
  5. What do you think is the importance of photography in our life? How powerful is it?

Food and Drinks on Public Transport

B1 – Intermediate

Public transport is used for going from one point to another. Some people use them for other things. They do other things while on the bus or train.

Read the article and find out what the UK government is planning to ban on public transport.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1910/191012-public-transport-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the UK government thinking about doing?
  2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this ban?
  3. Do you agree or disagree with this ban? Explain your position.
  4. What is your opinion on prohibiting fast food at football games?
  5. Do you ever eat or drink while on public transport? Why or why not?
  6. What other things do you do or see other people do while on public transport?

Perfectly Edible Food Tossed to Dumpster

B2 – Upper Intermediate

All commercial dumpsters may be filled with garbage or trash, but in some, they contain food that is still safe to eat. Inside Edition’s Chief Investigative Correspondent Lisa Guerrero and food waste expert Rob Greenfield went to a dumpster outside a CVS store in Orlando, Florida. They searched for food inside garbage bins and were shocked to see that edible food are really going to waste.

Watch the video and see what they have found:

 

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of food thrown away before their expiration dates?
  2. Should it be donated to the needy? Why or why not?
  3. Why do companies throw away this food?
  4. Would you consume edible food from the dumpster?

Child Grooms

B1 – Intermediate

UNICEF’s newest report finds that over 23 million young boys are forced to get married even before they turn 15. Most stories we hear about child marriages involve girls but in Africa, Latin America, Asia and nations in the Pacific, child grooms are very common.

Read about child grooms from the link below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1906/190610-child-grooms-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this report?
  2. How does getting married at an early age affect an individual?
  3. What do you think is the best age to get married? Why?
  4. What are the best things about childhood?
  5. Do you know anyone who got married at a very young age?