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Tips and Tricks for Affordable Adventures

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Practical advice for travelers who want to explore the world without breaking the bank. It includes tips on finding cheap flights, budget accommodations, and ways to save money on transportation and food while traveling.

Read the article to know the importance of planning ahead and being flexible to take advantage of budget-friendly opportunities.

How to Travel on a Budget – Tips and Tricks for Affordable Adventures
https://visaukusa.com/how-to-travel-on-a-budget-tips-and-tricks-for-affordable-adventures/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “crammed” mean? “Whether planning a crammed-in-the-car road trip to national parks or a luxury two-week journey to exotic destinations, you can enjoy affordable adventures with the right tips and tricks.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘crammed’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does ” to cut back “ mean? “Create a spreadsheet or use an expense tracking app to track your expenses and see where you can cut back.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘to cut back’ in your own sentence.
  3. What does “to run into” mean? “It also helps to plan out what supplies you will need to bring and any additional costs you may run into.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘to run into’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. After reading about budget travel, what’s the most surprising tip you came across?
  2. Did it offer any unique tips or tricks that you hadn’t heard of before? Which one is it?
  3. Share any favorite budget travel hacks or strategies that weren’t mentioned in the article.

Must-Visit Destinations for Adventure Travelers

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Ten exciting destinations around the world that are perfect for adventure travelers seeking thrilling experiences. From trekking in the Himalayas to diving in the Great Barrier Reef, each destination is described with its unique attractions.

Read the article to know more activities that cater to adrenaline junkies.

https://medium.com/@muhammadahmedseo580/top-10-must-visit-destinations-for-adventure-travelers-80ea3d9b2835

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “beckon” mean? “For those seeking the ultimate adrenaline rush and a break from the ordinary, adventure travel beckons like a siren’s call.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘beckon’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does “off the beaten path” mean? “For adventure travelers seeking an unforgettable journey off the beaten path, these ten destinations are a gateway to exhilarating experiences and extraordinary landscapes. “ Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘off the beaten path’ in your own sentence.
  3. What does “intrepid” mean? “As the sun rises over the Andes, the lost city emerges like a dream, rewarding intrepid adventurers with a glimpse into the past.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘intrepid’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Among the ten destinations highlighted in the article, are there any off-the-beaten-path gems that you’ve never heard of before?
  2. Talk about your most memorable adventure ever.
  3. Did the article mention any safety considerations or tips for travelers visiting these adventurous destinations?
  4. After reading about these adventurous destinations, do you feel inspired to plan your next trip? If so, which destination are you most excited to explore, and what kind of adventure activities would you want to experience there?

Spain Pensioners Subsidised Holidays

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Retired people have plenty of time on their hands. They have different ways of spending this abundance of time. An ideal way to spend it is to get out and see the world.

However, not all retirees have the financial means to explore this option. Spanish pensioners are lucky to have a government-sponsored scheme that lets them travel without breaking the bank.

Read the article and know more about Spain’s IMSERSO subsidised holidays scheme.

https://www.euronews.com/travel/2024/02/15/spain-gives-its-pensioners-subsidised-holidays-and-it-wants-other-eu-countries-to-join-in

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define the word “subsidized“. “Millions of older adults – both Spanish and foreigners living in Spain – are eligible for heavily subsidised trips, costing as little as €115 for short breaks and €455 for longer holidays.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘subsidized’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does “out of reach“ mean in this sentence? “Older people living in Spain are able to plan trips previously out of reach.“ Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘out of reach’ in your own sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of the phrase “up for grabs“? “For the 2023/4 season, a total of 886,269 places are up for grabs – that’s 70,000 more than last year.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘up for grabs’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on subsidised holidays scheme for pensioners?
  2. Share your opinion on this, “The Imserso tourism programme contributes to active ageing and the promotion of an active lifestyles, while favouring intergenerational solidarity, generating employment and economic activity and favouring inter-territorial solidarity through travel between different regions.”
  3. How does improving pensioner’s health and quality of life benefit social care budgets?
  4. What other benefits do old people in your country have?
  5. How would you like to spend your retirement years?

Bare Minimum Mondays

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As the weekend draws to an end, many individuals experience “Sunday scaries”, a phenomenon characterized by a sense of unease and dread. Numerous workers all throughout the world feel the same way as they struggle with the upcoming workweek. What ought to be a day of rest and renewal becomes overshadowed by the weight of responsibilities and challenges that await them on Monday morning. Hence, some people are starting to do “bare minimum Mondays”.

Read this article to learn how “bare minimum Mondays” can help with “Sunday scaries”.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/18/bare-minimum-monday-how-it-works-and-what-experts-think-.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of “to let someone off the hook”? “So alleviating that pressure and choosing to let myself off the hook was a much needed change of mindset going into the beginning of the week … which suddenly allowed me to be productive again.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘to let someone off the hook’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does the expression “to put one’s foot on the gas” mean? “With the volume of work or meetings on our plates, there needs to be a heightened focus on mental health and well-being instead of employees thinking they have to put their foot right on the gas at 9am on Monday.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘to put one’s foot on the gas’ in your own sentence.
  3. Define “to keep one’s finger on the pulse”. “One of the most powerful ways to get out in front of this is to keep your finger on the pulse of how employees are doing and what they need.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘to keep one’s finger on the pulse’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you also experience “Sunday Scaries”? How do you deal with it?
  2. Share your thoughts on “bare minimum Mondays”.
  3. Do you agree with this statement, “But bare minimum Mondays could lead workers to procrastinate to avoid stress.” Share your opinion on this tendency among workers.
  4. Have you ever tried implementing “bare minimum Mondays” in your own life? If so, what was your experience like? If not, what are the reasons you haven’t done so.
  5. Are there any potential drawbacks or limitations to adopting the “bare minimum Mondays” approach, and how can individuals mitigate them?

Vampire Tasks

B2 – Upper Intermediate

“Vampire tasks” or those repetitive, tedious tasks at work are slowly draining our productivity across workplaces these days. These distractions disrupt our focus and slow our progress.

From numerous emails to unnecessary meetings, these tasks can appear essential yet contribute nothing to our overall goals. As a result, we become locked in a loop busyness, attempting to complete important work within the turmoil.

Read this article to learn how to deal with vampire tasks and boost productivity.

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/08/vampire-tasks-are-killing-your-productivity-at-work-says-workplace-expert.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to get bogged down by something” mean? “Cecily Motley, the co-founder of Harriet, an AI-powered workplace assistant, calls these repetitive, tedious activities “vampire tasks” — and warns that getting bogged down by admin work is the number one thing that kills people’s productivity.” Give 1-2 similar expressions and use this phrase in a sentence.
  2. Define “timeboxing” in this sentence, “You can time yourself completing different tasks to figure out the duration of each one and build a confident framework for your timeboxing schedule from there.” Give 1-2 similar expressions and use this term in a sentence.
  3. What does “counterintuitive” mean? “It might seem counterintuitive, but saying “no” to unnecessary tasks or taking on more work doesn’t just prevent burnout — it can also help you build trust in the workplace.” Give 1-2 similar expression/s and use this word in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do “vampire tasks” affect your productivity at work?
  2. How do you deal with your administrative tasks?
  3. How do you communicate with your colleagues or supervisors about the challenges posed by vampire tasks in the workplace?
  4. Share your thoughts on this, “The smallest tasks on our to-do lists can often be the most draining.“
  5. What steps can individuals take to identify and mitigate the effects of vampire tasks on their productivity?

Emojis in Business Communications

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Emojis add humor and spirit to digital communications. It expresses happiness, laughter, anger, fear, etc. However, in business, a more traditional approach using formal language in plain text has been the norm. The question is whether to use emojis or not in business communications.

Get further insight from the article below.

https://www.business.com/articles/put-an-emoji-on-it-should-you-use-emojis-in-business-communication/

Vocabulary Questions

  1. What does the idiom “to break down barriers” mean in the sentence, “Emojis in a business setting break down barriers in formal communication and bring conversations down to a personal level.”? Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the idiom “to get lost in translation” mean in the sentence “Emojis can get lost in translation.”? Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does the word “launchpad” mean in the sentence, “Emojis should serve as a launchpad for more in-depth conversations.”? Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions

  1. Do you like using emojis when having a digital conversation? If so, describe one emoji that you frequently use.
  2. Do you work in a formal or informal industry? Are employees allowed to use emojis? Tell me more about it.
  3. How can adding emojis change the way you communicate with your colleagues, superiors, clients, or customers?
  4. Cite situations where using emojis might be considered inappropriate.
  5. Do you think emojis will evolve in the future? If so, how?

The End of Rank and Yank

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Rank and yank is a management style where employees are assessed and graded based on their performance and the lowest-performing individuals are let go or moved to different roles each year.

Critics say this is an outdated practice, but some still defend it.

Read the whole article to know more about the topic.

https://www.business.com/articles/the-end-of-rank-and-yank-management-practices-revisited/

Vocabulary Questions

  1. What does the idiom “to pull one’s weight” mean in the sentence, “How do you determine which employees are making a valuable contribution to your business and which aren’t pulling their weight?”? Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the idiom “to purge dead wood” mean in the sentence, “The idea behind employee rating systems is to purge dead wood.“? Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does the term “to dole out” mean in the sentence, “While a rank-and-yank evaluation sets performance goals and metrics and provides a way to dole out incentives, it also promotes individuals over the team, discourages collaboration and can demoralize underperformers.”? Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions

  1. What is your opinion about Jack Welch and his stack ranking system? Do you see him as a good CEO? Why or why not?
  2. After reading the pros and cons of the rank and yank management style, are you its defender or detractor? Explain your stance.
  3. What recommendations do you have for companies that implement the rank and yank method?
  4. Among the rank and yank alternatives mentioned in the article, which one do you think is the most efficient? Explain your answer.
  5. What management style does your company use to assess its employees? Do you like it? Why or why not?

Having a Doppelganger

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A doppelgänger, derived from the German words “doppel” (meaning double) and “gänger” (meaning goer), refers to a mysterious and often unsettling phenomenon of encountering one’s exact look-alike or identical double. This concept has deep roots in folklore and mythology, with various cultures interpreting it differently.

In literature and popular culture, encountering a doppelgänger is often associated with foreboding omens or supernatural occurrences. The doppelgänger motif has been explored in numerous stories and films, highlighting the psychological and sometimes eerie implications of coming face-to-face with one’s identical counterpart. The phenomenon adds a layer of mystery and intrigue, provoking questions about identity, fate, and the blurred boundaries between reality and the supernatural.

Read the article below, listen to the short audio, and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/do-you-have-a-doppelg%C3%A4nger-/7467075.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “dead ringer” mean in the sentence, “My best friend in college is a dead ringer for George Clooney? When we’re out in public, he gets asked for his autograph all the time.” Use it in your sentence. 
  2. What does the word “mirror image” mean in the sentence, “Well, if you weren’t there, then I ran into your doppelgänger. She was a mirror image of you!? Give two synonyms or similar expressions and use “mirror image” in your own words. 
  3. What does the expression “to trade places with someone” mean in the sentence, “I wish I could trade places with my doppelgänger!“? Use it in a sentence. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do cultural beliefs and folklore influence the perception of doppelgängers, and do such beliefs exist in your culture?
  2. English often borrows words from other languages. Can you think of other words in English that have been borrowed and adapted from different languages? What impact does this linguistic borrowing have on language evolution?
  3. Have you ever personally encountered someone who looks remarkably similar to you or someone you know? Share your experience and reactions.
  4. How would you react if someone told you they met your doppelgänger? Do you find the idea intriguing or unsettling?
  5. Doppelgängers often carry symbolic meanings. What do you think the concept of a doppelgänger represents in a broader sense, beyond physical resemblance?

Cozy Cardio

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Cozy cardio refers to engaging in cardiovascular exercises in a comfortable and inviting environment, often characterized by warmth and relaxation.

Unlike traditional intense cardio workouts, cozy cardio focuses on gentle yet effective movements that elevate the heart rate while maintaining a sense of comfort and coziness. This may include activities such as brisk walking in a scenic park, leisurely cycling on a stationary bike while listening to soothing music, or practicing low-impact aerobics in a cozy living room.

Cozy cardio emphasizes the enjoyment of exercise without the pressure of high-intensity routines, promoting a sense of well-being and relaxation while still reaping the benefits of cardiovascular fitness.

Read the article below, listen to the short audio, and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/what-is-cozy-cardio-/7468815.html

Vocabulary Questions: 

  1. What does the expression “to flip one’s mindset” mean in the sentence, “Thank you so much for flipping my mindset on what I thought exercise is supposed to be.” Use in it your own words. 
  2. What does the expression “to tap into something” mean in the quote, “It’s not just that I’m exercising…I’m tapping into something I want to be doing already”? Use it in a sentence. 
  3. What does the expression “all-or-nothing” mean in the sentence, “Too many people look at exercise as an all-or-nothing?” Use this expression in your sentence.

Discussion Questions: 

  1. What factors contribute to the popularity of “cozy cardio” as a form of exercise?
  2. How might creating a comfortable environment contribute to the sustainability of exercise habits?
  3. How does social media play a positive role in promoting health and fitness trends? Talk about possible drawbacks, too.
  4. How does “cozy cardio” challenge the notion that exercise has to be intense or time-consuming?
  5. Do you think “cozy cardio” is a passing trend, or do you see it becoming a lasting part of exercise culture? Share your opinion.

Somebody That I Used to Know

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Art has long been recognized as a therapeutic outlet for emotional pain and heartbreak. When faced with the devastation of a broken heart, many individuals turn to art as a means of healing and self-expression. Engaging in artistic endeavors can provide solace, allowing one to process their emotions and find catharsis.

Doing art after a heartbreak is not only therapeutic but also transformative. It enables individuals to process their emotions, communicate their experiences, and embark on a journey of self-discovery. Through artistic expression, one can find solace amidst the pain and emerge stronger than before.

Appreciate what a broken heart can accomplish. Read this article and listening to the song “Somebody That I Used To Know”.

Behind the History and Meaning of the Song “Somebody That I Used To Know” by Gotye

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “a sight to behold” mean? “And Gotye’s literal mouth is a sight to behold, up there in the pantheon of legendary singers’ mouths like Mick Jagger and Steven Tyler.” Give two synonyms/similar expressions and use ‘a sight to behold’ in a sentence.
  2. What does the phrase  “foil for someone/something” mean? “Indeed, the addition of female singer Kimbra offers the song depth, a different perspective, and a foil to [sic]] the track.” Give two synonyms/similar expressions and use ‘foil for someone/something’ in a sentence.
  3. What does “interplay” mean? “Who is the good person, and who is the bad person? The interplay is marvelous.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of the song and the story behind it?
  2. What might be some things people commonly do when they go through a breakup, especially a bad one?
  3. When you’re feeling quite low, what do you usually do?
  4. What are your thoughts on productivity getting affected by emotions?
  5. Share an experience of yours where you were able to accomplish something due to a rather low point in your life.