Tag: Social Issues

To Future Generations of Women, You Are the Roots of Change

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Feminism was misunderstood in the beginning and people are still baffled by what really it is about. Feminism as described can dispense with the labels of gender and class and race and begin to realize our unique individuality. Feminism is not about female superiority or not a movement for lesbians only.

Watch as Gloria Steinem explains why we shouldn’t wait for somebody to tell us what to do and start being the roots of change.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is feminism?
  2. Do you agree that there’s still a lot to be done to reach gender equality? Why?
  3. Do you think women could be better leaders?
  4. What are the usual things that you notice that show women are still not equal to men? What can we do about them?
  5. What can you say about this quote “Follow the fear and do it anyway”?

A Very Young Influencer

B1 – Intermediate

A seven-year-old child influencer from Italy has gained heartfelt support from people all over the world when his videos went viral on social media platforms. He proves that disability does not prevent a person from inspiring others.

Read the article and listen to the audio and be able to answer the discussion questions:

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/a-very-young-influencer-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think it is a good idea to make a very young child become an influencer on social media? Why or why not?
  2. If you had/have a child, would you let them become an influencer at a very young age? Why or why not?
  3. What do you think are the perks and pitfalls of being a child influencer?
  4. What do you think of social media influencers who have disabilities? How can they affect the lives of the viewers? What can we learn from them?
  5. How has the society changed their view on people with disabilities over the years?

“Speaking Up About HIV Stigma” Campaign

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Aside from the serious medical issues HIV positives are facing, they are also experiencing stigma and discrimination because of this disease. As a result, they tend to be discriminated in most social groups they belong to. Illinois HIV Care Connect launched a campaign to raise awareness on this issue.

Read this article for more information on this campaign.

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201021005133/en/Illinois-HIV-Care-Connect-Launches-%E2%80%9CSpeaking-Up-About-HIV-Stigma%E2%80%9D-Campaign-in-Spanish-to-Encourage-Social-Media-Engagement

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the campaign about? How will it be helpful to those affected people?
  2. What is your reaction to this news?
  3. Are sexually transmitted diseases openly talked about in your country?
  4. Are there any laws in your country that protect the confidentiality and basic rights of people with HIV?
  5. What do you think are some ways to end the HIV stigma?

Four Steps to Ending Extreme Poverty

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Being poor means more than a lack of income. If you are in extreme poverty, you are being stripped of your purpose. Imagining a better life for you and your family seems unfeasible.

Learn the four steps on how to get out of poverty in this video.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does it mean to be ultra-poor?
  2. What are the 4 ways to end extreme poverty according to the video?
  3. What does “Optimism triumph over despair” mean?
  4. Give some tips on how to manage personal finances.
  5. What are the plans that you have to earn/save more money 3-5 years from now?

Men Create All the Problems

B2 – Upper Intermediate

While great strides have been made in the fight for women’s rights, there are still a few places on the planet where even their most basic needs continue to be denied by their patriarchal society.

Read the article below and be ready to weigh in on this issue.

Men Create All the Problems!

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of the article’s headline “Men Create All the Problems!”? Is it justified in the context of the information presented?
  2. What is your reaction to this story on the plight of Afghan women?
  3. Describe how you feel when you contrast the state of women’s rights in Spain to that of the women in Afghanistan.
  4. What improvements have you observed in Spanish society with regards to the treatment of women? What further actions can be done to ensure gender equality?

Is This The Era of Distrust?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The fallout of trust on the government, companies, and even individuals is evident in the recent years. As access to information is at an all-time high, it creates room for doubts on people’s minds. We tend to be cynical about almost everything now.

Is it really bad that we doubt? Do we simply have to trust everything we hear and see? Or should we realize that sometimes there is more to it than meets eye?

Listen to this podcast about trust in this day and age.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-200813

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are you a trusting person or a skeptic?
  2. Are you familiar with the Ponzi scheme mentioned in the podcast? What is it about? Did something similar happen in your country?
  3. How would you describe someone who is gullible?
  4. What makes someone truly trustworthy?
  5. Talk about a situation you know of where public trust was betrayed.

Young Adults Live With Parents

B1 – Intermediate

The advantage of living with your parents is that you don’t have to pay rent and you don’t have to worry about buying all those groceries every month. It can be very expensive if you eat out all the time. Most importantly, you don’t have to go through some problems alone because your parents will always be there for you no matter what.

Let’s read the article below to know more about it living with parents as a young adult.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2009/200908-young-adults-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the good and bad things about living with your parents?
  2. Should all young adults have to leave home? Why / Why not?
  3. Would you prefer to live at home or on your own?
  4. What advice do you have for young adults?
  5. How has Coronavirus affected young adults in your country financially?

Catalan Leader Demands Probe Into Phone-Tapping Reports

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Pro-independence speaker Roger Torrent learned that his phone had been tapped. He claims the Spanish government seems complicit or negligent about this issue. 

Read more about this news on phone tapping and political espionage from the link below:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/07/spain-catalan-leader-demands-probe-phone-tapping-reports-200714112106903.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think Torrent had been the target of political espionage?
  2. What is your opinion on his claims about how the Spanish government is tackling this issue?
  3. In general, what are your thoughts on political espionage?
  4. Do you think that Pegasus is operated “solely by authorized government agencies to fight terror and serious crime, and protect public safety”? What is your opinion on this software?
  5. If you were one of the victims of this cyber attack, how would you react/feel?
  6. Share any kind of cyber-related problems you’ve encountered.

Black Lives Matter Protests Take Place Worldwide

B1 – Intermediate

The Black Lives Matter protests started again when someone took a video of a police kneeling on George Floyd’s neck that later on, caused his death. The video went viral all around the world reigniting the BLM movement.

People protested on the streets and even on the social media. BLM is now an organized movement in the USA. It advocates for non-violent civil disobedience against African-American people.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2006/200608-black-lives-matter-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the story behind the protests lead by the Black Lives Matter Movement?
  2. What is the purpose of this protest? Do you think it could make a difference?
  3. Were there such protests in your country? How did they go? Would you like to take part in this protest?
  4. How were people of color treated in the USA before? Is there any difference now?
  5. What are some ways to help support advocacies for justice and equality for all?

What Difference Has #MeToo Made?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The #MeToo movement has become viral in social media. A lot of prominent celebrities and survivors have come forward to share their saddening and traumatic stories with all the sexual harassment and abuse that they have experienced from wealthy men with high-power positions.

Tarana Burke, an American social activist, created the movement in 2006 and according to her, the purpose of the movement was to empower women through empathy. She has stated that the movement is for giving people the resources to have access to healing and to advocate for changes in the laws and policies around violence against women.

Let’s hear more about it in the audio below.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-200604

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are you familiar with #MeToo before listening to the audio?
  2. How did the #MeToo movement start and why did it become viral?
  3. What is your reaction and opinion about the #MeToo movement?
  4. How did the #MeToo movement impact people? Did it help the victims?
  5. Are you interested in being an advocate of the #MeToo movement?
  6. How do you think we can help people who was sexually abused?
  7. Did this movement reach Spain too or are there similar organizations there? Talk about some of them and their impact on helping women.