Tag: Social Issues

The World’s First Trillionaire

B1 – Intermediate 

According to Oxfam, an anti-poverty charitable organization, in about 10 years, the world will see its first trillionaire.

The Oxfam report revealed that the fortune of five of the world’s wealthiest has increased by more than 100% since 2020. Moreover, the top five billionaires also doubled their wealth. 

But there is a sharp contrast with the situation of almost five billion people who have become even poorer in the past couple of years.

Read the article about the growing wealth inequality. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2401/240118-trillionaire-2.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define “wealth gap”. “Oxfam said the wealth gap between the rich and poor is growing.” Give 1-2 synonyms or similar expressions and use “wealth gap” in your own sentence.
  2. What does “to supercharge” mean, “The gap “supercharged” after the coronavirus pandemic.”? Give 1-2 synonyms or similar expressions and use “supercharge” in your own sentence.
  3. What does ”milestone” mean, ”The AP news agency said someone with a trillion-dollar milestone would “have the same value as oil-rich Saudi Arabia”.”? Give 1-2 synonyms or similar expressions and use “milestone” in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on this, “In the next ten years, the world will have its first trillionaire.”?
  2. Share your thoughts on this, “Almost five billion people have become poorer.”.
  3. How can the wealth gap between the rich and poor be reduced?
  4. Why do you think ‘The world will see a “decade of division”’’?
  5. Is there a huge wealth gap between the rich and the poor in your country? Talk about some circumstances where it is evident.

The Rwandan Genocide

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In 1994, around 800,000 people were wiped out in 100 days in Rwanda. The genocide was triggered by the rocket attack on the plane carrying the then President Juvenal Habyarimana which led to his death.

Let’s watch the video and know more about the series of events that led to the Rwandan genocide.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define the verb “engulf“. “Neighbor turned against neighbor as violence engulfed the region.” Use it in your own sentence and give two synonyms.
  2. What does “on good terms” mean, “Many Hutus and Tutsi civilians were on good terms, but colonial powers encouraged political division.” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.
  3. What does “self-preservation” mean? “Over one million Hutu civilians joined their ranks due to coercion, self-preservation, or the pursuit of personal agendas.” Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your insights on this, ““Many Hutus and Tutsi civilians were on good terms, but colonial powers encouraged political division.”.
  2. What is the concept of gacaca? How does this system work and what are your thoughts on this?
  3. Do you agree or disagree that “These verdicts helped restore the dignity of those lost in the violence.“? Share your opinion.

Russia Celebrity Party

B1 – Intermediate

A controversial party in Russia, marked by indecent attires, has caused a controversy. With a rapper going to jail, companies ending contracts, and public disapproval, the event took place during the Ukraine war, receiving a lot of criticism. The organizer now faces tax issues, public anger, and calls for accountability.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about this controversial party in Russia.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/russia-celebrity-party-level-2/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to get in trouble” mean in the sentence “A rapper got in trouble and went to jail for 15 days.“? Use it in a sentence.
  2. What is implied by the phrase “tough time” in the sentence, “Some people say the party was bad because soldiers are fighting, and it is a tough time“? Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “punish” mean in the sentence, “People are angry, and they want those who did the party to be punished.”? Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think it’s okay to have a big party when there’s a serious situation like a war going on? Why or why not?
  2. Are fines effective way to punish people for their actions? Why / Why not?
  3. How are famous people affected when companies end contracts with them?
  4. The person who organized the party said sorry two times. Do you believe apologies can fix everything in this case? Explain.
  5. Has something like this ever happened in your country? Talk about it.

Food Expiration Dates

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We could all be guilty about one thing — tossing food on or before their sell-by dates. Part of the reason is because we do not fully understand what expiration date labels on them actually mean. As a result, massive amounts of food are wasted globally.

Watch the video about the truth about food expiration dates and how to solve food waste.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does ”go bad” mean,“So if the dates on our food don’t tell us that something’s gone bad, what do they tell us?”? Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and make a sentence using ‘go bad’.
  2. Explain “open dating”. “Many supermarkets adopted a system still in place today called ‘open dating’.” Use this term in a sentence.
  3. What does “gauge” mean? “But when supermarkets began stocking processed foods, product ages became harder to gauge.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and make a sentence using ‘gauge’.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on this, “Many foods are safe to eat far beyond their labeled dates.”?
  2. Do you use date labels to decide if food is still edible? Why or why not? Would the info in this video change your ways? Explain.
  3. What are some food preservation hacks you employ on your food items at home?
  4. How do you minimize your food waste?
  5. Should grocers remove date labels on produces and just let consumers use their own judgement? Explain your perspective on this.
  6. Should restaurants and grocers donate unsold food? Share your opinion.

Afghan Refugees Need Help

B1 – Intermediate

In the face of adversity, Afghan refugees need assistance. Fleeing conflict and instability, they seek refuge and support to rebuild their lives. This is a call to action, emphasizing the importance of global solidarity and humanitarian aid for those facing displacement and uncertainty.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about on Afghans needing help.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/afghan-refugees-need-help-level-2/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the word “expel” mean? “Approaching winter brings colder days and this is a serious problem for Afghan refugees whom Pakistan expels.” Use the word in a sentence.
  2. What does “psychosocial support” mean? “These people need psychosocial support.” Use this term in a sentence.
  3. What does the phrase “make a fresh start“ mean? “Without help, they can’t make a fresh start.” Use this idiom in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How important is it to provide assistance to Afghan refugees?
  2. Why is psychosocial support important for these refugees?
  3. How might not having a place to stay as soon as they arrive impact the safety and well-being of the refugees?
  4. What are other ways to help refugees?
  5. What does your government do to help refugees?

Lockdown Drills for School Shootings

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Drills are conducted for us to be prepared for unforeseen events such as natural disasters or school shootings, which we have unfortunately seen happening in the US.

Now, schools are conducting lockdown drills for children to know exactly what they need to do when such unprecedented event happens.

However, some of these drills are so realistic that they trigger unpleasant reactions from trauma.

To learn more about the lockdown exercise, watch the video below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrase “out of sight” mean? “Lock down. Locks. Lights. Out of sight. This is a drill.” Use this expression in your own sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of “one wrong move“? “If we do just one wrong move then we can be like goners.” Kindly create you own sentence.
  3. What does “siege” mean? “Although there is evidence hiding behind a locked door saves lives, it is very unlikely a child would be involved in a Columbine style siege.” Please make your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think lockdown drills at schools are a good idea? Explain.
  2. What are the pros and cons of these lockdown drills?
  3. How do drills prepare you and your family/community for an unprecedented event?
  4. Talk about the different drills conducted in your school or community.
  5. What are some necessary drills that should be run in your country? What significance will it bring to your community?

Bed Poverty

B1 – Intermediate

Sleeping well at night in your very own bed relaxes us and recharges our batteries. Not having a proper bed to sleep in is, unfortunately, a sad reality for more than one million children in the UK.

Read the article and know more about this problem in the UK with young kids living with no beds of their own.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2310/231005-bed-poverty-1.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does ”bed poverty” mean? “The charity said bed poverty is because people are poorer because the cost of living has increased.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  2. What does “struggling” mean? “Bed poverty shows that many people in Britain are struggling.” Give 2 synonyms and use ‘struggling’ in a sentence.
  3. What does “deep-rooted” mean, “The charity asked the government to take “urgent action” to fix these “deep-rooted issues”.”? Use this word in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this news?
  2. Does this problem exist in your country too? Talk about it.
  3. What are the effects on children of not having their own beds?
  4. What can the government do to solve this problem?
  5. Talk about your experience sleeping in the following:
  • your own bed now
  • sharing beds with others
  • on the floor
  • in other places apart from a bed or a room

The Birth of Food Politics

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Nutrition professor Marion Nestle learned that some food companies do things that might not be good for us, such as advertising unhealthy food to children. She also observed that some food scientists, who receive money from these companies, may exhibit bias in their statements.

The professor wanted to let people know about all of this. Marion believes that knowing the truth empowers consumers to make wiser choices regarding food. Consequently, she composed this article to share the details of her work with us.

https://www.bluezones.com/2022/10/the-birth-of-food-politics/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the idiom “up in arms” mean? “Nutritionists were not up in arms about the products being marketed.” Use this idiom in a sentence.
  2. What does “lobbying” mean here, “I looked for evidence of lobbying and campaign contributions and ways in which companies protected their business interests.“? Use this word in this context in a sentence.
  3. What does “beholden” mean? “I did not have to be beholden to funding agencies or private donors.” Give two (2) synonyms and use “beholden” in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. In your opinion, why is it important to know about the food industry’s practices and their impact on our food choices?
  2. Have you ever noticed any advertisements that promote unhealthy foods, especially to children? How did you feel about them?
  3. Do you think it’s common for scientists or experts to receive money from companies? How might this influence their work?
  4. Have you ever been surprised by something you learned about the food industry or the products you eat? What was it?
  5. In your own words, how can knowing the truth about the food industry help us make better decisions about what we eat?

Breastfeeding Experiment 

B1 – Intermediate

Breastfeeding is a natural and essential way for mothers to nourish their newborns. Mothers produce a special kind of milk that provides all the necessary nutrients for a baby’s growth and development. It also promotes a strong bond between the mother and the baby, creating a sense of closeness and security.

In this lesson, a social experiment was conducted, where people tested how others react to breastfeeding in public.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/breastfeeding-experiment-level-2/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “social experiment” mean? “People created a social experiment to see how others really react to breastfeeding in public spaces. Part of the experiment showed a situation on the tube in London.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “increasingly” mean? “The man became increasingly louder.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “step in” mean? “One of the passengers stepped in” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your initial thoughts and feelings about the social experiment? Elaborate.
  2. Should breastfeeding in public be considered a normal and acceptable practice? Why / Why not?
  3. What are some ways society can promote and normalize breastfeeding in public spaces while respecting the comfort of all individuals involved?
  4. Should there be designated breastfeeding areas in public spaces, or should mothers have the right to breastfeed anywhere they feel comfortable? Talk about it.

Court Overturned a Ban on Religious Knives in Schools

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Keeping their children safe at home is an utmost priority for parents. Parents expect the same from schools. Most schools have rules on what children could bring inside the school premises. Sharp-edged objects are only allowed for learning purposes and should be handled with extra care. In cases where religious practices require young members to possess a dangerous weapon even at school, a higher judicial decision could prevail over school rules and regulation.

Let’s read the article and know more details about the Queensland court ruling on this matter.

https://theconversation.com/why-a-queensland-court-overturned-a-ban-on-religious-knives-in-schools-211042

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “blunt” mean? “Many kirpans are blunt and worn stitched inside a sheath under a person’s cloths.” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.
  2. Define the word “egregious“.“What made the Queensland law particularly egregious is that not only did it prohibit the freedom of religion of a small and vulnerable minority, it did so deliberately.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of the verb “downplay“? “Referring to the kirpan as a knife downplays its important religious significance.” Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the kirpan for the Sikhs?
  2. Why did the Supreme Court of Queensland overturn the prior ban on possession of knives in school?
  3. What is your opinion on this Supreme Court ruling?
  4. How does this ruling affect the safety of the students in school and the religious rights of the Sikhs in the educational institution?