Tag: Speaking

Facebook Plans to Combat Fake News

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Facebook has been under a lot of criticism for being a portal for posting and spreading fake news particularly on the altered results of the recently concluded US elections.

Read the article on Facebook’s plans on fighting against fake news on their website.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38039506

Discussion Questions:

1. What are the measures that Facebook is taking in order to stop the spread of fake news on their site?
2. What do you think Dave Lee meant when he said, “we’re in completely uncharted territory”?
3. Why is addressing this issue crucial?
4. How can we spot fake news?
5. Tell us about fake news you read or heard of recently.

A Man and His Tiny Country

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C1 – Advanced

Liberland is one of the only few unclaimed territories in the world. But a Czech-born guy is claiming the rights to this country that he thinks is his.

Find out more about Liberland and Vit Jedlicka’s battle to get back what he thinks rightfully belongs to him.

The man who created a tiny country he can no longer enter

Discuss:
1. Do you think this man and his friends are the rightful owners of this territory?
2. Describe Liberland and its government. What do you think of the kind of government it has?
3. Would you like to be a resident of this country?
4. If you were to own a country, what would you name it and how would you try to create a utopia there?
5. Express your thoughts about land disputes.

Myanmar and Iraq Most Generous Countries

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There’s a saying that goes, “It’s better to give than to receive.“

This is what Burmeses and Iraqis are trying to do in their lives. The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) found that Myanmar is the country where the most generous people in the world live. While the most helpful people to strangers are from Iraq.

Read the article about how people from the countries Myanmar and Iraq are the most generous in the world.

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1610/161028-charity.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What are your thoughts on the results of the study?
2. Do you think doing charitable acts are necessary? Why or why not?
3. Would you say being generous and helpful are two traits that most Spanish people have?
4. What’s the most generous thing you’ve ever done?
5. Name some important charities in your country.

American Voters Decided More Than Just the Presidency

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B2 – Upper intermediate

And so the United States presidential election is over. The country has a new president, who will take office in January of 2017. There is mixed emotions on the results. But voters were not only choosing who the best candidate should take office. They were also hopeful that certain policies would change.

Read the article below to know more about policy measures that Americans are trying to work on.

American Voters Decided More Than Just the Presidency

Discuss:

1. Is marijuana legal in Spain? What about medical marijuana?
2. Are you able to possess any type of gun in Spain? Do you think it makes you any safer owning a gun?
3. What is the minimum wage in Spain? Do you think you can live off of the current minimum wage in the States at $7.25 an hour or 6.75 Euro?
4. Do you know when they stopped implementing the death penalty in Spain? Do you agree with having the death penalty?
5. Is euthanasia legal in Spain? Do you think someone has the right to decide to end his/her life if he/she is suffering from a terminal disease?

Unexploded Bombs Still a Problem in Laos

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B2 – Upper intermediate

Most countries have many remembrances of past wars. Unfortunately, in countries like Laos, these reminders still have the power to injure them.

Read the article below and express your thoughts about it.

Unexploded Bombs Still a Problem in Laos

Discuss:

1. Who do you think is responsible for the clean up of the remaining bombs?
2. Should the USA pay for the medical bills of those people who are affected by the bombs or should it be charities?
3. Do you think that bombs today are more sophisticated because of advanced technology?

Developing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

B2 – Upper intermediate

There are many differences between males and females. And dealing with stress is one of them. Read the article below to know more about PTSD and how stress affects specific gender.

Boys and girls react differently to stress

 Discuss:

1. What do you know about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?
2. What damage does stress do to the body? How does it change people?
3. Who do you think are emotionally stronger, boys or girls?
4. What are some of the world’s most stressful job?

Paid Time to Read

B1 – Intermediate

The United Arab Emirates have come up with a way to encourage people to read more. Government employees will be compensated when they read during work hours and libraries will be set-up in their workplaces.

Read below to know more about it.

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1611/161103-reading.html

Discussion Questions:

1. How much do you like reading?
2. How long should people read each day?
3. How important are libraries?
4. What do you think of having libraries in shopping malls?
5. What does your country do to encourage reading and literacy?
6. What do you think of having a law that gets people to read?

Reasons We Don’t Call in Sick

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Most of us can choose to go on as many sick leaves as we want but for some reasons, we decide not to take advantage of this work benefit.

This BBC article offers explanations as to why many people choose to still go to work even if they are already very ill.

http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20161101-the-reasons-we-dont-call-in-sick-when-we-are-ill

Discussion Questions:
1. Kindly name some reasons why people choose not to take a time off of work when sick.
2. Have you ever gone to work even if you were very sick? If yes, Why did you do it? If not, why so?
3. Do you think “Working on sick leave, weekends and vacations has become the norm”?
4. How is absenteeism rate monitored in your company?
5. Talk about leaves (vacation and sick days) in your country.

Less Stuff, More Happiness

C1 – Advanced

Can having less material things in a room lead to more happiness?
Watch this 5-minute video to get the answer and tips on how you can edit your life.

Discuss:
1. Fill in the blank: In 2013, American homes were about ________ bigger than they were in the 1950’s and 60’s.
2. To which has the accumulation of “stuff” led to in the past 50 years?
3. Discuss the 3 rules mentioned in the video.
4. In your personal life, how can you practice “less is more”?
5.  What is the most important reason to edit your life?

Ways To Drive Traffic To Your Website

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Almost everyone in the world is on the world wide web nowadays. Doing business online has never been more important for businesses in offering their products and services and for reaching out to their target markets.

Read the article below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertadams/2017/04/10/23-proven-ways-to-drive-traffic-to-your-website/?sh=668d84ec2654

Discussion Questions:
1. What do you think of Jeff’s idea to compete against yourself? Do you think this would work?
2. What are the benefits and drawbacks for a business to go online?
3. Does your company do business over the internet?
4. What features do you look for in a website when doing some transactions?
5. How do online businesses make the market competitive?