Tag: Speaking

A Guide to Breakups

C1 – Advanced

Almost all of us has experienced loss. Especially during the teenage years, when young men and women start crushing on someone and have their first take on a relationship.

Read the article below to know about Julia’s dating experience and her suggestion of ending affairs.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/201101/the-thoroughly-modern-guide-breakups

Discussion Questions:

  1. What did you think of Julia’s heartbreaking story?
  2. What can you say about her suggestions when it comes to ending a relationship?
  3. Share any bad experiences when it comes to dating.

How Reading Can Change You

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C1 – Advanced

Reading has always been a part of people’s lives. You can learn a lot through reading. You read from the time you begin school until the time that you start working. It is one hobby that some people love and adore.

Read the article below to discover how what we read can mould our personalities.

How Reading Can Change You in a Major Way

Discuss:

1. Do you think reading is important?
2. How often do you read?
3. Do you like reading? What are your preferences in books?
4. What are some of the interesting books or stories you’ve read?

Workaholic Fathers ‘Symbolically Absent’

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C1 – Advanced

Recently, the leader of the Catholic Church spoke about fathers whose primary focus has been their work rather than their children.  He explained the important role fathers play in their children’s lives and why a patriarch’s being “symbolically absent” can be a problem not just for his family but society as well.

Read the article below and express your opinions regarding Pope Francis’ views.

Pope criticizes workaholic dads, says they’re ‘symbolically absent’

Discuss:

1. What are a father’s roles in a family?
2. What happens to children when their father is “symbolically absent”?
3. According to the article, some fathers used to practice authoritarianism. What does this mean?
5. Is an authoritarian father better than a father who’s always absent? Why or why not?

What the World Can Learn from Auschwitz

C1 – Advanced

The world commemorates the history of Auschwitz concentration camp.  Anita Lasker-Wallfisch said that it was like a global cemetery without a tomb. It was an unspeakable hell.

Click below to watch the videos. This is a set of eight short video clips. Feel free to watch as many as you wish but do watch at least three.

http://edition.cnn.com/videos/tv/2015/01/22/voa-orig-natpkg-anita-lasker-wallfisch.cnn/video/playlists/intl-70-years-since-the-liberation-of-auschwitz/

Discussion Questions:

1. Re-tell the stories of the survivors featured.
2. What can we learn from this terrible part of the history?
3. How did you feel after watching the videos?

Young, Unemployed, and Stressed

B1 – Intermediate

Unemployment has become a problem for many countries, especially after the economic crisis started. It has affected many, especially young people. As a result, more people are also experiencing stress and anxiety, possibly even depression.

Read the short article below to  know more about the topic.

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1501/150116-unemployed-l.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What can you say about the issue of unemployment?
2. Are there many unemployed in your country?
3. What would you do if you were unemployed?
4. Do you ever feel anxious about everyday situations?

‘Safer GMOs’ made by US scientists

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B2 – Upper intermediate

The use of GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) has been around for years and yet the issue of whether it is safe or not has not yet been fully concluded. Because of that, there are groups and individuals who are against the use of GMO in consumer products.

‘Safer GMOs’ made by US scientists

Discuss:

1. What is your stand on this issue?
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the use of GMO?
3. The article talks about new and “safer” GMO. Do you think it is a better option? Why or why not?

 

Sunday Night Hobbies

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Some people have manic Mondays and some people have the Sunday blues. It’s pretty normal to get the blues knowing that your weekend is about to end. The article below shows interesting suggestions on how to make the most of your weekends.

Here are the things that most successful people do with their Sunday evenings.

http://www.businessinsider.com/what-successful-people-do-on-sunday-night-2014-12?utm_content=buffer5d5f4&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the reasons people do not look forward to Sunday evenings?
  2. Talk about your Sunday evening habits.
  3. Do you get the Sunday blues as well? What do you do to overcome it?
  4. How would you describe your ideal weekend?
  5. Share your thoughts on this statement, “Sunday night routines help us to anticipate the week ahead and to prepare for the unexpected.”.

Gadgets in School as Educational Tools

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C1 – Advanced

The use of tablet and iPads in schools are nothing new. But is it really effective? Read the article below to know more about how technology can be effective in schools.

Should schools gorge on gadgets?

Discuss:

1. How do you feel about young children using tablets and laptops in learning their ABC’s and 123’s?
2. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of using such technology in the classroom?

Toyota Selling Hydrogen Fuel Car

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Photograph: Toyota/EPA

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Toyota has started selling a few hundred Mirai cars in Japan, US and Europe.  The Japanese car maker has taken its first small step into the unproven market for emissions-free, hydrogen-powered vehicles.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/nov/18/toyota-begin-selling-fuel-cell-cars-mirai

Discussion Questions:

1. Which car bands do you prefer?
2. Do you think more environment-friendly cars should be produced?
3. Are there now more and more “green” cars running aound your city?
4. Is air pollution a major problem in your country? Kindly discuss.

Women with More Children Are More Productive

B2 – Upper Intermediate

One of the greatest worries of women is that having children could slow down their performance in their respective professions. A study reveals otherwise.

In fact, working mothers all over the world are very much capable to balance paperwork and their kids’ bath time.

The article below reveals an encouraging study on the productivity of working mothers.

https://www.today.com/parents/moms-2-or-more-kids-are-more-productive-work-study-1d80256648

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on the results of this study?
  2. Are working mothers common in your country? Why do you think this is the case?
  3. What do you think are the challenges that working parents deal with?
  4. In your opinion, does having a child hinder success? Explain.
  5. What would your advice be to working parents who struggle with balancing work and their family life?