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Planning an Event

B1 – Intermediate

Working with a group of people can be both challenging and advantageous. Some prefer to work by themselves while others think sharing responsibilities could be the fastest way to get the job done.

In this lesson, you will find how the team managed to delegate each task effectively in order to plan an event.

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/skills/reading/intermediate-b1/planning-an-event

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Give 1-2 synonyms of “organise“. Use them in your own sentences.
  2. What is an “emcee“? Use this word in your own sentence.
  3. What does “book” mean in this sentence, “I can do that if someone books the speakers.”? Use this word in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. If you were part of this team, which task/s do you think you would prefer to do and why?
  2. Talk about a time when you had to organize/plan an event.
  3. What are some rewards and challenges of planning an event?
  4. How are tasks usually divided in your project teams?
  5. Why is delegating tasks important?
  6. Do you prefer to work by yourself or with others? Why?
  7. What are your thoughts on this, “Democratic leadership is one of the most popular leadership styles because it involves input from the entire team and fosters employees’ sense of ownership in their work.”?

No Screaming in Japanese Amusement Parks

B1 – Intermediate

Amusement parks are by far one of the most thrilling places on earth. As you wait in a long line to get in, you can hear numerous kids, adults, and tourists shouting at the top of their lungs due to a tremendous jaw-dropping drop on their beloved rollercoasters.

But what if you are not allowed to scream, shout, or laugh during the ride? What would you do?

Let’s read the article below.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2005/200531-amusement-parks.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What images are in your mind when you hear the word ‘amusement’?
  2. What do you think of rollercoasters and haunted houses?
  3. Should everyone talk more quietly and wear masks?
  4. What is the “new normal” in the world today?
  5. What coronavirus guidelines are there in your country?

The Importance of Sports for Children

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Sports help children develop their physical skills, get exercise, make friends, have fun, learn teamwork, learn to play fair, and improve their self-esteem. However, these are not the only things a child can acquire from playing sports.

Click the link below to learn more about the importance of sports to children:

https://novakdjokovicfoundation.org/the-importance-of-sports-for-children/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are some benefits of doing sports on kids?
  2. What sports are good for kids and what are those that are dangerous for them and why?
  3. What if your child doesn’t want to do sports, would you force them to do it?
  4. What can you say about this statement: “Sport is not a privilege of wealthy people.”?
  5. Do you agree with the saying, “Start them young”? Why or why not?

City Pilots Cyber-Graduation Rites

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Graduation is one of the most important milestones not only to students but also their parents. It’s the event where you’ll feel fulfillment and exhibit your achievements to other people. The day that you’ll feel proud of yourself and make your loved ones proud.

However, this opportunity was revoked by the pandemic that we are facing right now. It was unfortunate but as the proverb goes, “When there’s a will, there’s a way” and that what was proven by one schools in the Philippines. They held a cyber-graduation.

Let’s learn more about what they did here:

https://www.cnn.ph/news/2020/5/22/Taguig-City-pilot-cyber-graduation-rites.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. How did they perform the cyber-graduation?
  2. What is your reaction about cyber-graduation?
  3. Do you think it’s a great idea to do this? Why or why not?
  4. Compare the education system before and during the Covid-19 pandemic.
  5. What are school graduations like in your country?

Cuckoo Completes Epic Migration

B1 – Intermediate

Cuckoo birds are birds that are popular for their parenting skills. They have a habit of laying their eggs in the nests of other species and letting other birds raise their babies for them. Several weeks later, young cuckoos are ready to migrate and fly to Africa and find their real parents.

Read the article below and learn more about Cuckoo birds.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2005/200529-cuckoo-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you know about Cuckoo birds?
  2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word ‘cuckoo’?
  3. What do you think of migration? Where would you migrate to if you could?
  4. Where would you go if you traveled to 16 countries?
  5. What is your favorite bird and why?

The Future of the Human Race

B2 – Upper Intermediate

What do you think will happen to humankind after 12 00,000 years? Are you excited to see the future? Will a new human species arise one day? A lot of interesting and crazy predictions have been made about the future. One of these is from evolutionary theorist Oliver Curry.

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

Oliver Curry studies evolution and the future, and he has an interesting idea about the future of the human race. He suggests that in 100,000 years, humankind will split into two species. In addition, one group will be the haves, and the other group will be the have nots.

We will see some changes in the next 1,000 years. For example, humans will grow to 6-7 feet (182-213 centimeters). Humans will also live for about 120 years. And lastly, there won’t be different races like today. The races will mix to produce people with similar, latte-colored skin.

Unfortunately, there will also be negatives. People will lose social skills and empathy because they will use too much technology. Weak genes will spread and affect our whole species because new medicines will lower the mortality rate. Curry predicts this will happen 10,000 years from now.

Further into the future, in the year 100,000, the healthy will only breed with one another, and so create a beautiful and intelligent group of people. The unhealthy will become short and ugly, and also be less smart. These are the haves and the have nots. In other words, humans will become rulers and slaves.

Source: headsupenglish.com

Discussion Questions:

  1. What can you say about Oliver Curry’s predictions?
  2. What do you think life will be like in the 31st century?
  3. Do you think technology will harm us, as explained in the article?
  4. Do you think the human race will still be here in 100,000 years?
  5. Are you optimistic or pessimistic about your future? How about the world’s future?

How Do We Educate the Workforce of the Future?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

For us to remain competitive, it is important to understand the era of technology. The innovative development such as AI, electric vehicles, e-commerce, and smart utilities all affect changes, influences, and challenges in the work sector.

Read the article on how to educate the future workforce.

https://www.standard.co.uk/business/how-do-we-educate-the-workforce-of-the-future-a4390596.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the workforce of the future?
  2. Do you agree or disagree that technology is revolutionizing how many sectors operate?
  3. “Some prefer more employment – labour intensive with lower pay – while others like better-paid workers to the detriment of outsiders, but with higher levels of social protection”. Which would you choose here?
  4. Do you think technological development can increase workers’ productivity and increase companies’ profits?
  5. Explain the 4 C’s human characteristics that machines cannot replicate.

Fixing the Housework Gender Gap

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Despite living in the 21st century, we still hear of women having to take on a huge load of the household chores.

In Sweden, they are giving tax breaks for cleaners. Does this reduce the gap or only make gender-role norms flourish even more? 

Read the article to find out more about this policy.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200303-how-sweden-is-fixing-the-housework-gender-gap

Discussion Questions:

  1. Talk about Sweden’s way to fix the housework gender gap and your opinion about it.
  2. How would you describe the division of household tasks in your own home and generally, in your country?
  3. Is it common in your country for families to have a house cleaner? Talk about it.
  4. Do you agree or disagree to this, “House chores are part of the family life.”?
  5. How do you think the government of your country champion work-life balance?

Thousands of Stolen Artwork Found

B1 – Intermediate

On May 20, 2010 Pablo Picasso’s Le pigeon aux petit pois was stolen from a museum in Paris. The thieves must have gotten nervous and panicked. The $123 million painting was later found in a trashcan. Thankfully, it was retrieved. However, many other artworks that are stolen are never recovered.

Trafficking of stolen artworks is a big problem but with the cooperation of the Interpol, national police forces, and customs some pieces of art have been recovered.

Read more about problems with art theft from the link below.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2005/200511-artwork-0.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What can you say about the good job that the police have done?
  2. What is your reaction that some art were stolen when some countries were at war?
  3. Why do think art theft is a big problem?
  4. What is your favorite piece of art and why?
  5. Name another artwork that you know has been stolen.

How Venus Fly Traps Developed a Liking for Meat

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The Venus flytrap is a carnivorous plant that depends on meals of insects for them to survive in the soil where they are ingrained. They are very unique because of how they attract prey to draw closer and eventually get trapped as meals for these kind of plants. They are known to be plants with medicinal attributes as well. They were found out to be cure for stomach pain and eye troubles.

Read the article below and learn more about Venus Fly Traps.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2005/200517-venus-fly-trap.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you know about Venus fly traps?
  2. What do you think of carnivorous plants?
  3. Do you think carnivorous plants are useful?
  4. What are your favorite plants?
  5. What are other strange plants you know of?