phone english blogB1 – Intermediate
Stress is a very common word for most people. It comes from different causes and everybody can have it. Everyone can experience stress and there are ways to be free from it.
Let’s learn how to manage stress properly.
http://www.ulifeline.org/articles/427-managing-stress
Discussion Questions:
1. Would you consider yourself stressed out?
2. What are the major causes of your stress?
3. What are the ways you do to deal with your stress?
C1 – Advanced
Do you have the habit of checking your phone all the time, even when it’s not necessary? Are you an impulsive person who just can’t resist buying when there’s a sale? Our self-control is always on the line.
Click on the title below and read the article to know more about self-control.
Discuss:
1. Explain the 6 secrets of self-control.
2. Which ones do you practice? Do you agree with all of them?
3. Would you say that self-control is your strength?
4. When was the last time that you had to practice self-control?
B1 – Intermediate
Economic development is causing the extinction of some languages, according to some scientists. A study has found that minority languages in the most developed parts of the world are most at threat.
Listen to the podcast to know more about the extinction of certain languages.
Discussion Questions:
B2 – Upper Intermediate
Spanish are known to be very easygoing. However, even the most patient locals could have some tourists actions or behaviors that tick them off.
Find out some things that tourists do that displease the locals.
http://www.thelocal.es/galleries/travel/twelve-things-tourists-do-that-annoy-spaniards-spain-tourism
Discussion Questions:
1. Which habits annoy you? Which habits do you find tolerable?
2. What tips can you give tourists for them to enjoy your country?
3. Share some of your travel experiences.
B1 – Intermediate
Walking or cycling to work instead of driving a car can improve feelings of health and happiness. Click on the title to know more about alternative ways of commuting. Be ready to answer some discussion questions.
Click on the title to listen to the report:
Discussion Questions:
B2 – Upper intermediate
Pope Francis has announced that a third world war may soon happen. He has made repeated appeals for an end to the world’s conflicts. He cited the loss of life in WWI to what is happening today.
Be ready to have a speaking activity and to discuss some vocabulary words
Discuss:
1. Do you think that World War III will happen?
2. What is your opinion about war?
3. What do you think we should do to prevent this from happening?
B2 – Upper intermediate
Nowadays, people with college degrees are going through a tough time finding a job they like. Is getting a degree worth it? Or is it becoming to be a waste of time?
Read the article to know the benefits of getting a college education. Prepare to express your thoughts.
Discuss:
1. According to the article, explain the benefits of going to college or university.
2. What is your general opinion of the article?
3. Is your current career related to the degree that you took in college/university?
4. In your country, is it important to get a university education to land a good job?
5. If given the chance, what other fields of education would you study or take up?
B1 – Intermediate
Internet addiction is one very common problem among teenagers these days. In China, one way to combat this addiction is to take children to a boot camp.
Listen to this audio and read the transcript on a boot camp for internet addicts.
http://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/can-boot-camp-cure-internet-addiction/2442322.html
Discussion Questions:
1. How many hours do you usually spend surfing the internet?
2. At work, are you highly dependent on the internet?
3. Would you consider internet addiction as a disease?
4. What are the ways you can prevent internet addiction?
B1 – Intermediate
A report in England states that thousands of patients a year wake up during an
operation. One doctor said it happens one in every 19,000 operations. They are now trying to find areas that could be improved during an operation to prevent this from happening.
http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1409/140914-surgery.html
Discussion Questions:
B2 – Upper intermediate
One in seven American families suffer from food insecurity. Inflation is low but the population’s ability to get healthy food is decreasing. Eating unhealthy food can cause illness such us diabetes and hypertension and food insecurity can lead people to committing crimes such us robbery and stealing.
Discuss:
1. What do you think people can do to address this issue in their own little ways?
2. Can you think of alternative ways to get healthy food in cheaper cost?
3. Has your country experienced such difficulty? Do you see this happening in the future?
4. How secure are the citizens of your country when it comes to their employment?