Tag: Speaking

An Interview With Italian Street Artist Millo

o-MILLO2-900C1 – Advanced

Street art has evolved from the usual graffiti to full scale city murals.

Read the article and get to know artist  Francesco Camillo Giorgino and his works. Also, take note of new expressions or vocabularies you’d like to discuss.

An Interview With Italian Street Artist Millo: ‘My Characters Are The Purest Part Of Me’

Let’s Discuss!

1. According to the article, explain what the artist loves about street art. What was his background?
2. What do you think of Millo’s art? Is this something that you have in your city?
3. What kind of art do you prefer?

A Tool to Rid Internet of Child Porn

Microsoft_CNNPH

B2 – Upper intermediate

How safe are you and your children when using the Internet?
Read the article and get to know the software PhotoDNA.

Microsoft launches tool to rid Internet of child porn

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on this tool?

2. What are ways to ensure children’s internet safety?

3. What do you think is the role of parents when it comes to children and their Internet usage?

4. How is the government in your country trying to fight cybercrimes?

Top 50 Job Interview Questions

Getting ready for an interview? This article will give you tips on how to answer top interview questions.

Read on and be ready to have a speaking activity. You’ll be able to practice by answering some of the featured questions during the discussion.

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviewquestionsanswers/a/top-50-job-interview-questions.htm

Discussion Questions:

1. Have you had an all-English job interview?
2. What do you think are the questions that are difficult to answer?

Signs You Were Born and Raised in Spain

spain-born-raised

B2 – Upper intermediate

Are you a true-blue Espanol? Read the article and see which among the cultural quirks you can identify with. Be ready to debunk the myths, explain the idiosyncrasies, and add what you think is missing from the list.

15 Signs You Were Born and Raised in Spain

Discuss:

1. Which ones do you practice? Which ones are not true for you?
2. Do you think you can add more to the list?
3. What do you think is the history behind some of the mentioned practices?

Vocabulary: Food – Different categories

Couple drinking beverage 00

A1 – Beginner

This page will show you the different English terms of food. From fruits and vegetables to spices and seasonings.

Click on each food category and familiarize yourself with the different terms. Be ready to use some of the words during the speaking exercise.

 

Food Vocabulary: Different Categories

Discuss:

1. Do you like to cook? Which ingredients do you often use when you cook?
2. What are your preferences when it comes to eating bread?
3. Which type of you meat do you prefer?

Vocabulary: Basic Food and Drinks

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A1 – Beginner

This resource will help increase your vocabulary when talking about basic food and drinks.

Read and listen to the different English terms for basic food and drinks and be ready to use them during the speaking exercise.

Basic Food and Drinks

Discuss:

1. What do you usually drink in the morning for breakfast? Are you a coffee or tea drinker?
2. What fruits do you enjoy eating?
3. What are the vegetables you least like or don’t like too much?

Generation Y – Their Attitudes towards Work and Life

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Members of Generation Y are born in a time of constant access to technology in their youth. Also called millennials, this generation has been, somewhat, criticized for how they view life.

Read the article below then express your thoughts about the topic.

http://www.english-online.at/news-articles/living/generation-y-their-attitudes-toward-life-and-work.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the different characteristics of Generation Y?
  2. What is your opinion of generation Y?
  3. What do you think are some of the advantages or disadvantages of other generations?
  4. Are people from the “older” generation always more wise and correct in their ways of thinking and choices? Why or why not?

A Chinese Man’s Plea for Love

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C1 – Advanced

Does status play a role when two people are in love? In China, it does. And, most of the time, it’s not easy getting around it.

Read the article below to find out about Xiao Yang and how he dealt with his sensitive situation.

 

 

‘I am a painter’: A Chinese man’s plea for love

Discuss:

1. What do you think of Xiao Yang’s letter?
2. Do you think the mother was right to have misconceptions?
3. China has a very interesting history when it comes to status symbols. Is it the same in your country? Discuss some of the traditions you have in your country when it comes to marriage and the role of men and women in society.

Jurassic World Breaks Box Office Record

Jurassic World

B2 – Upper intermediate

A success of a film is measured by the number of people willing to go to a movie theatre for it. Following its release in June of 2015, hundreds and thousands of movie-goers flocked to the cinema to watch the film Jurassic World.

After reading the article, talk about the the movies that you think are good. You may also answer some of the activities included in the article.

Jurassic World breaks box office record

Discuss:

1. Out of curiosity, do you believe in dinosaurs?
2. Have you watched all three films of Jurassic Park?
3. What are some of the films that you found to be really good?

EU Enlargement – What Comes Next?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The European Union is a politico-economic union of 28 member states that are located primarily in Europe. It has grown from the six founding states to the current 28. Joining the European community has become a primary goal for most European politicians.

Read the article below and express your thoughts about EU enlargement.

http://www.english-online.at/current_affairs/eu-enlargement/eu-candidate-countries.htm

Discussion Questions:

1. As a citizen of the EU, what is your opinion of further expanding the union or adding more countries?
2. Do you remember the time when your country joined the EU? Do you think it was a good idea for your country to join the EU?
3. How do you think Europe would be like if the EU weren’t ?