Tag: Social Issues

How to Turn Moments into Momentum

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It only takes a single moment to make a change. When are you committed to making an impact, your actions will show your true intentions.

Watch the video to know more about why our voice need to be felt to create a change.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you feel about racism? What can we do to end it?
  2. What’s your biggest leap of faith in life?
  3. What’s something you’re doing that you think is contributing to global change?

Pandemic Shows Importance of School Meals for Millions

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly highlighted the importance of school meal programs in Canada. There are more than two million students who go to school without eating anything before leaving their homes.

There have been many programs that aim to assist students both when they’re at school and even when they are not.

Watch the video and be able to answer the questions that follow.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What can you say about the school lunches/meals in your country? How was it different before from now? How has it changed during the pandemic?
  2. How important are school meals for students?
  3. What has the pandemic taught us with regards to our health and well-being?
  4. Do you agree that adequate food and good nutrition lead to academic success? Explain your answer.

Anti-Asian Violence in America

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There has been a series of attacks in the US, particularly targeting Asian-Americans recently. It alarmed, set anguish and fear among the people who were subject of this unimaginable violence or crime amidst the pandemic. Although racism isn’t new to most of the people with Asian decent it has been rising with the pandemic as a propaganda of the supremacist indulged more to the hate as they put emphases on China as the source of the virus that had affected the country.

Watch the video and read the transcript on this report on Anti-Asian Violence in America.

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/03/17/opinions/asian-hate-crimes-us-avlon/index.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why the hate toward specific race? How do some people justify such crimes or violence?
  2. What exactly trigger these crimes against Asians? How could we stop this violence?
  3. How are Asians or people from other races treated in your country?

Life Expectancy – What Makes the Difference?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Life expectancy is the estimation of the number of years an individual can expect to live. It is the key measure to evaluate population health. Countries differ in life expectancy depending on different factors.

Find out more about life expectancy and the factors affecting its trends.

https://www.english-online.at/geography/life-expectancy/life-expectancy-where-people-live-longer.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the article, what factors affect the life expectancy of a nation? Can you add some more?
  2. What is the life expectancy in your country? Why do you think it’s like that?
  3. Why do you think men and women have different life expectancy?
  4. Do you agree with the saying ‘It’s not how long you live, it’s how well you live.’?
  5. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages when people live for so long?

Fat Shaming

B2 – Upper Intermediate

According to some studies, obesity is not just due to an individual’s lack of self-control. Other factors such as poverty, awareness, genetics, hormones, and some chronic illnesses also contribute to developing this complex disease.

For some people, fat-shaming actually helped them to begin losing weight. But for some, it’s been nothing but a shameful remark that could lead to self-destructive behaviors.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript to know more about fat shaming.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-201231

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is fat-shaming and does it really benefit anyone?
  2. What are your thoughts on this attitude toward others?
  3. Are you happy with your body? Do you ever wish you could change something about it? If so, what changes would you like to do?
  4. How can we overcome negative thoughts on our body image?

Technology Changes Sense of Right and Wrong

B2 – Upper Intermediate

When we judge others let’s bear in mind that our notions and our understanding of right and wrong changes over time. There are some things that we once considered wrong but are totally acceptable now. Technology plays a massive role in society’s emerging moral sense.

Watch the video to know more about how the advances in technology lead to more ethical behavior and why we should build a community wherein having different points of view is accepted.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “burn someone at the stake” mean, “And that means that those who think you’re wrong, may burn you at the stake.”? Use this expression in a sentence.
  2. What does “narrowcast” mean, “In a weird way, today’s machine guns are narrowcast social media.”? Use this word in a sentence.
  3. What does “180-degree shift/change” mean, “It’s almost 180-degree shift in the opinion.”? Compare it with ‘360-degree shift/change’ and use these phrases in sentences.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How has technology changed our ethics and moral and ethical points of view over the years?
  2. Why is it necessary to be more understanding towards others?
  3. Why is it not right to use people’s mistakes against them?
  4. What is something you think was wrong that lasted for so long in your society?

No Free Meals for Poorer Children

B1 – Intermediate

In some countries, giving free school meals is one program that many public schools have. This is to be sure that children get proper nutrition while they study. It is also a way to help children who comes from poor families.

Read more about the UK government voting not to give free school meals to poorer kids.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2010/201028-free-school-meals-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What did the UK government do? Do you agree or disagree with the UK government’s decision? Support your stand.
  2. Are school meals completely free in schools in your country? How are the food like? 
  3. Why are these school meals important to children?
  4. How else does your government try to improve children’s conditions in schools?
  5. What was your school like? How was the food at your school cafeteria?

Scotland Ends “Period Poverty”

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In November 2020, the Scottish Parliament unanimously voted to pass a bill that would conclusively put an end to what has been termed “period poverty.” It refers to the inability of a lot of Scottish women to afford sanitary products.

The trailblazing legislation took into account not just the cost of this staple problem in women’s health, but also the indignity associated with not being able to afford such essentials.

Learn more about this law and its impact by reading the article below. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

Ending ‘Period Poverty,’ Scotland Is First Nation to Make Sanitary Products Free

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think is the significance of the “Period Products (Free Provision) Bill” in Scotland?
  2. What were the circumstances that led to the creation of the bill?
  3. Does period poverty also exist in Spain or are sanitary products easily afforded by all women? Are these items subject to tax?
  4. Are there similar or related legislation in your country that safeguards aspects of women’s health?
  5. What more can be done to raise awareness about women’s health issues?

Cyber-Bullying

B1 – Intermediate

Cyber-bullying is quite a common issue nowadays. It is easily done by people who hide their identities by making fake profiles. Peoples lives can be ruined just by bad comments posted in their social media accounts.

Let us hear more about cyber-bullying in the audio.

https://listenaminute.com/c/cyber-bullying.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is cyber-bullying a common problem in your country right now?
  2. What are the reasons why people bully others online?
  3. Are there consequences for the people who do this?
  4. What can be the effect of cyber-bullying on the victims?
  5. Is there a way to stop people from cyber-bullying others?

Japan to Use Artificial Intelligence to Match Couples

B1 – Intermediate

Can you imagine yourself finding someone to be with in a relationship through the use of an AI software? Well, it is now possible.

Japan has recently started using an AI program to match couples in order to increase their birth rate, which is one of the lowest in the world.

Read the article for more information on AI matchmaking.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2012/201211-ai-matchmaking-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of this AI matchmaking program in Japan?
  2. Will this help the country address its problem on low birth rate?
  3. Do you have the same issue in your country? How has the government addressed this issue so far?
  4. Will your government be willing to spend much money to get men and women matched up using an AI technology?
  5. Would this be an effective tool for an ageing society?
  6. What are the pros and cons of this technology?