phone english blog
B1 – Intermediate
Playing sports helps you stay in shape, teaches you how to organize your time and builds relationships with your peers and adults.
Click the title below to practice your speaking skills and talk about sports. Be ready to discuss new phrases and to answer discussion questions.
C1 – Advanced
Jack Cator was your normal teenage school boy; defying and challenging the rules. But what he got out of that persistent attitude was quite extraordinary.
Read the article below to know more about Jack and his business and its humble beginnings.
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-32702501
Discussion Questions:
1. In your own words, explain how Jack was able to come up with his business.
2. What do you know about VPNs? Is this something you use?
3. Have you experienced doing business remotely with people you’ve never met before? Describe that experience.
C1 – Advanced
On April 25, 2015, Nepal was hit by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that cost thousands of lives and left so many injured.
Below is an article to look back on the devastation that hit a country and affected so many. Take a look at the before-and-after photos included in the article.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32479909
Discussion Questions:
1. What do you know of the earthquake that hit Nepal in 2015?
2. Have you experienced natural disasters such as earthquakes?
3. What are some catastrophes you’ve witnessed?
4. Is your country prepared in case a natural disaster hits?
B2 – Upper Intermediate
Dave Goldberg was a very successful entrepreneur who died of a severe head trauma after falling off a treadmill. The cause of the fall isn’t clear yet. Some people would call Goldberg’s death a freak accident.
Read the article below to have more information on how dangerous some exercise equipment can be.
http://www.livescience.com/50744-dave-goldberg-treadmill-accidents.html
Discussion Questions:
1. After reading the article, do you think using a treadmill is that dangerous?
2. What other considerations do we need to take before we use any exercise machine?
3. Do you know of any other gym-related accidents?
B2 – Upper intermediate
Read the list of phrasal verbs with the word “come” and be ready to discuss them with your teacher. You’ll be using them in sentences as well.
Discuss:
1. What are some of the interesting things (facts, food or culture) that you’ve come across with?
2. When was the last time you came down with something? How serious was it? What do you do stay healthy?
3. Have you ever cancelled an event or a meeting because something came up?
4. Who comes up with vacation ideas in your family?
B1 – Intermediate
A favor is something you do to help someone. When asking for a favor we usually ask people to help us and, most of the time, we ask politely making sure that it is not an inconvenience.
Click the title below to practice your speaking skills and learn the words we can use when asking for a favor. Be ready to discuss new phrases and to answer discussion questions.
B2 – Upper Intermediate
Shopping is fun. For women, mostly, it is a time to bond with friends and family members. On the other hand, if you let your impulse get the best of you, your love for purchase can do you more harm than good.
Read the article below to know more about the facts of being a shopaholic.
The lives of some people revolve around shopping, as they repeatedly make purchases regardless of need or available money. Some of these people make impromptu purchases. Some of these people have closets with unopened purchases. Some of these people have racked up overwhelming amounts of credit card debt. If this sounds like you, then you may be a shopaholic.
A recently administered test to determine the predilection towards compulsive buying reveals that 9% of people fall into this category. Another recent test revealed a slightly smaller percentage of 6%. This new data concludes an increase in the number of shopaholics from just fifteen years ago, as well as determines that men remain just as prone to the shopping urge as women. The test consisted of six statements which people answered on a 7-point scale, from strongly agree to strongly disagree. Some statements included:
* Much of my life centers around buying things.
* I buy things I didn’t plan to buy.
* Others might consider me a shopaholic.
Compulsive buying obviously leads to financial problems such as an empty bank account and maxed out credit cards. Yet these unneeded and unwanted purchases may be the manifestation of more serious problems, namely depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. What’s more, relationships and family harmony also deteriorate because of disagreements over the purchases. Shopaholics may then hide their purchases, as well as the accompanying costs, and thus add to the strain. It’s a problem that affects people of all income brackets.
Researchers suggest that shopaholics felt better when they were shopping, even when they realized the associated harm.
Source: headsupenglish.com
Discussion Questions:
1. Based on the information in the article, would you consider yourself a shopaholic?
2. Do you know anyone who might be a shopaholic?
3. Do you agree that women and men suffer from the problem equally?
4. Do you agree that anxiety and low self-esteem cause compulsive buying? Why/not?
5. What solutions are there for people who are shopaholics? How can they be helped?
B2 – Upper intermediate
Some say that Venice is the romance capital of the world.
Read the article below to know more about the city itself and the life and history of this tourist spot.
Discuss:
1. Describe some of the beautiful places that you’ve visited in the past.
2. Do you often travel? What do you like most about travelling?
3. Have you been to Venice? If you have, describe your trip. If you haven’t, is this city on your bucket list of places to visit?
B1 – Intermediate
Bananas are very popular fruits all over the world. They have essential nutrients that helps keep you healthy.
Here’s an article that’s all about bananas. Read about the facts of this well-known fruit and how important it is in some regions or countries.
http://www.english-online.at/biology/bananas/bananas.html
Discussion Questions:
1. What are some of the very common fruits that you have in your country?
2. Talk about some of the food products that your country exports.
3. What are some of your preferences when it comes to fruits and vegetables and how do you like to eat them?
B1 – Intermediate
Each country has its own rules and customs. Some are liberating while others are dated.
Read the article and discover how Saudi Arabia is changing some of their traditions.
http://www.english-online.at/news-articles/people/more-rights-for-women-in-saudi-arabia.htm
Discussion Questions:
1. What are some of the rights that you enjoy as a woman in your country?
2. In your country, what other laws should the government pass for women and children?
3. How are the women viewed in your society?