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Increasing Your Business Vocabulary

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Increasing your business vocabulary holds significant value in the professional world for several reasons:

  1. Clear Communications
  2. Professional Image
  3. Enhanced Collaboration
  4. Career Advancement
  5. Global Communication
  6. Negotiation Skills
  7. Adaptability
  8. Confidence in Communication
  9. Improved Writing Skills
  10. Networking Opportunities

In essence, expanding your business vocabulary is an investment in your professional development, offering tangible benefits in terms of effective communication, career advancement, and overall success in the business world.

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

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/business-vocabulary

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Explain the phrase “corporate jargon”. “Having an extensive business vocabulary can help you navigate the corporate jargons used in business environment.” Cite a similar expression or a similar word and use ‘corporate jargon’ in a sentence.
  2. Define “accrued expense”. “Liabilities include mortgages, outstanding loans and accrued expenses.” Use the phrase in your own sentence.
  3. What does “opportunity cost” mean? “If you can choose only one option, calculating the opportunity cost of each can help you determine the best course of action.”. Use the phrase in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Which of the listed business words do you find particularly crucial in discussions related to marketing, finance, production, and business management?
  2. Have you ever taken a business course, and if so, what benefits did you gain from it?
  3. In what way might an improved business vocabulary positively impact professional networking and career advancement?
  4. How can an individual leverage a strong business vocabulary when crafting a resume or participating in a job interview?
  5. In what ways do you continue to enhance your business vocabulary?

Challenges of Hybrid Work

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Navigating the challenges of remote work in business requires a thoughtful approach to ensure productivity and employee well-being. Addressing issues such as communication barriers, maintaining team cohesion, and implementing effective project management tools are crucial. Additionally, businesses must prioritize cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive information in a decentralized work environment. Balancing flexibility with accountability, providing proper technology support, and fostering a strong organizational culture can contribute to a successful transition to remote work.

Read the article on the challenges of hybrid work, discover strategies to overcome them, and prepare to respond to the questions that follow.

https://trainingindustry.com/articles/remote-learning/5-challenges-of-a-hybrid-workplace-and-how-to-overcome-them/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrase “growing pains” mean? “A hybrid model comes with its share of challenges or growing pains, even as the world settles into this new normal.”. Use the phrase in a sentence.
  2. What does the expression “the thread that binds something” mean. “Communication is the thread that binds the two sides in a hybrid model.” Give 2 similar expressions and use it in a sentence.
  3. Explain the phrase “across the board“. “For instance, Salesforce has created a digital HQ, which provides its employees with a single source of information and knowledge sharing that helps them securely co-create, access data, collaborate and unite teams across the board.”. Give 2 similar expressions and write a sample sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How can organizations strike a balance between the benefits of remote work and the need for in-person collaboration to ensure productivity and employee satisfaction?
  2. In a hybrid work model, how can companies effectively address communication challenges to ensure seamless collaboration among teams, whether working remotely or in-office?
  3. Do you personally prefer the flexibility of remote work, or do you value the in-person collaboration offered by the traditional office setting? Explain.
  4. As organizations navigate a mix of in-person and remote work, how can they effectively socialize and integrate new employees into the company’s culture, especially when physical presence is limited?
  5. What communication tools or apps do you find most effective in bridging the gap between remote and in-office teams, and how have they impacted your work experience?

Americans’ YOLO Spending Baffles Economists

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Amid rising interest rates, reduced savings, and persistent inflation, some Americans are still spending unrestrainedly. This year’s Black Friday saw U.S. shoppers spending more money compared to the previous year, showing a trend of increased spending despite tough economic conditions. Thus, economists are on pins and needles.

Read the article to learn more about Americans’ ‘YOLO’ spending sprees and why economists are confounded about it.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20231130-why-americans-yolo-spending-attitude-baffles-economists

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is a “brick-and-mortar store”? “On Black Friday, sales at brick-and-mortar stores were up 1.1% from last year; online alone, US shoppers spent a record $9.8bn (£7.72bn) online alone. Consumers spent another $12.4bn (£9.77bn) on Cyber Monday – an eye-popping 9.6% increase over last year.” Make a sentence with this term.
  2. Define “chug on”. “If 18 months ago, you’d have said the Federal Reserve Bank could raise interest rates by 500 basis points, and the consumer would chug on, relatively unfazed, I would have been extremely surprised.” Make a sentence.
  3. What does “square the circle” mean? “Given how much of our life is related to work, how can analysts square that circle?” Use this in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What drives Americans’ ‘YOLO’ spending spree?
  2. How do you feel about ‘YOLO’ affecting spending habits amid economic uncertainties?
  3. Have your spending habits shifted towards a ‘YOLO’ mentality, and what factors contributed to this change?
  4. How do you balance embracing the present (‘YOLO’) with maintaining financial responsibility in today’s economic landscape?
  5. What societal or cultural changes do you think lead individuals to adopt a ‘You Only Live Once’ spending approach?

The Story of Rose Island

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The concept of an independent state has been a subject of great disputes among nations throughout history. The question arises: can a state truly manage itself without external interference? While some argue that independence leads to self-sufficiency and prosperity, others believe that it can result in chaos and instability.

Dreams and goals are the driving forces behind human progress. They provide us with a sense of purpose, motivation, and direction in life. Dreams are the visions we have for our future, while goals are the specific targets we set to achieve those dreams.

Dreams can take various forms – they may be personal, professional, or even societal. They represent our deepest desires and aspirations. Dreams give us hope and inspire us to work towards something greater than ourselves. They fuel our imagination and push us to think beyond the boundaries of what is currently possible.

Discover the rise and fall of Italian engineer Giorgio Rosa’s own sovereign state the Rose Island. In addition, watch the film when you have the chance.

https://www.myitaliandiaries.com/the-story-of-rose-island-4-life-lessons/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “tumultuous” mean? “Let’s not forget that 1968 was a year of tumultuous political protests, with young people rebelling against the establishment, and in such a scenario, Rose Island represented the ultimate act of freedom.” Give 2 synonyms and use ‘tumultuous’ in a sentence.
  2. What does “know-how” mean? “Let’s face it, building such a platform in the middle of the open sea was pretty complicated and required a great deal of technical know-how.” Give 2 synonyms and use ‘know-how’ in a sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of the idiom “hit the headlines”? “In the 1960s, the Riviera Romagnola was one of Europe’s most popular holiday destinations and when the island officially opened to the public, it quickly hit the headlines as the hottest tourist attraction in town.”. Use the expression in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Talk about the 4 lessons we could all learn from “The Incredible Story of Rose Island.
  2. What are your thoughts about Mr. Rosa’s micronation?
  3. What is your opinion on one individual creating his own little country? What might the pros and cons be?
  4. What do you think about the Italian government declaring war against and destroying Rose Island?
  5. Do you agree with the UN’s decision “to move the border of territorial waters from 6 to 11 nautical miles away from the coast of the state in order to prevent similar cases from happening again”? Explain your point.

Largest Iceberg Breaks Free

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A23a is biggest and oldest iceberg on the planet. It is twice the size of Great London. The last time it broke off the ice shelf was in 1986. Then, in 2020, scientists started seeing the iceberg moving a little bit.

Recently, it’s been observed to be drifting away from Antarctica and making its way toward Southern Ocean. 

Read the article and also watch the short video of British Antarctic Survey glaciologist Oliver Marsh as he talks about A23a and its current state and course.

https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/worlds-largest-iceberg-breaks-free-heads-toward-southern-ocean-2023-11-24/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrase ”calf off” mean? “Since calving off West Antarctica’s Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf in 1986, the iceberg — which once hosted a Soviet research station — has largely been stranded after its base became stuck on the floor of the Weddell Sea.” Use this expression in a sentence.
  2. What does the idiom “to gain steam” mean? “As it gains steam, the colossal berg will likely be launched into the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. This will funnel it toward the Southern Ocean on a path known as “iceberg alley” where others of its kind can be found bobbing in dark waters.” Make a sentence using this phrase.
  3. What does “to make a run for it” mean, “Why the berg is making a run for it now remains to be seen.”? Use this phrase in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What comes to your mind when you hear the word ‘iceberg’?
  2. What are your thoughts on the biggest iceberg being on the move?
  3. What caused this move?
  4. What impact can this have on the surrounding environment?
  5. How do icebergs affect the Earth?
  6. What will happen if icebergs melt?

Never Meet Your Hero

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Everyone has an idol, someone they admire and look up to . So, when you get the opportunity to see or meet your idol, it’s a big deal, especially if they’re famous. It feels like a once in a lifetime opportunity for your dreams to come true.

Read the article to know if it’s actually good to meet your idol and face the reality? Or is it better to keep them in your head and admire from afar?

12 Reasons You Should Never Meet Your Hero

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “share the same brain“ mean? “You share the same brain.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “to exude an aura of“ mean? “He doesn’t exude an aura of greatness — in fact, he seems like a guy who watches a lot of sports on TV, leaving you to wonder: is this the pinnacle of mankind?” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “disenchantment” mean? “You’ll view his newest work with a sense of disenchantment — after all, he’s just some guy who was flip to you that one time.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why is meeting your hero a bad idea?
  2. What is the most important thing to remember when you are meeting someone you really look up to? Why?
  3. Who is your hero? If you met them, how would you feel? What would you do the first time you meet them? Or talk about the time you met your hero.
  4. Talk about who your mentor is (at work and in life). What lessons have they imparted to you?
  5. If you were someone’s hero, what might be things they can learn from you?

Why Go to Your High School Reunion

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The purpose of reunions is to give former classmates the chance to reconnect and reminisce about the good or not-so-good old days.

Read the article below to know why it’s good to attend class reunions.

https://lifehacker.com/why-you-really-should-go-to-your-high-school-reunion-1848779696

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of the phrase “to say the least”? “Receiving an invitation to your high school class reunion can be emotionally complex, to say the least.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “brown-noser” mean? “That tracked with my personality at the time, as I was obsessed with being successful in extracurriculars and generally being a pretentious brown-noser.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “cutthroat” mean? “Once you have a beer and get some hugs from old friends, your mind won’t be on cutthroat competition.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree that school reunion is boring and stressful? Why or why not?
  2. What are the good and bad things about school reunions?
  3. Do you enjoy going to class reunions? Why or why not?
  4. How often do you meet up with your ex-classmates? Why is this the case?
  5. Were you a lazy or hard-working student? Talk about it.

Airports on High Alert after Bomb Warning

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There’s no denying that practically everyone aspires to travel as much as possible.

An airport bomb threat is a grave concern that poses a significant risk to the safety and security of air travel. With the increasing number of terrorist activities around the world, airports have become prime targets for such threats. The consequences of an airport bomb threat are far-reaching, not only causing panic and chaos among passengers, but also disrupting the entire aviation industry.

Read the article to see how airport security procedures are impacted by bomb threats.

https://www.voanews.com/a/philippine-airports-on-high-alert-after-anonymous-bomb-warning-/7299417.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of the idiom “to beef up”? “On Friday the aviation regulator released to media a Wednesday memo of the order given to airport security managers to beef up security, thoroughly inspect baggage and conduct round-the-clock surveillance after receiving the email threat.” Give 2 similar expressions and use “to beef up” in a sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of the idiom  “round-the-clock”? “On Friday the aviation regulator released to media a Wednesday memo of the order given to airport security managers to beef up security, thoroughly inspect baggage and conduct round-the-clock surveillance after receiving the email threat.”  Give 2 similar expressions and use “round-the-clock” in a sentence.
  3. What does “flag carrier” mean in aviation, “A source at Philippines Airlines, who declined to be identified because they were not authorized to speak to media, said the flag carrier was operating “business as usual.“? Make a sentence using this phrase.

    Discussion Questions:

    1. What happened after the airports received a bomb threat?
    2. If you are an avid traveler yourself, how does this news make you feel?
    3. When you are at an airport, do you always feel safe? Why or Why not?
    4. How do airports in your country handle safety and security?
    5. Talk about any untoward incident you’ve encountered while at an airport..

    The End of the Mediterranean Beach Holiday

    B2 – Upper Intermediate

    The beach is one of the most visited places during the holidays. A summer getaway seems incomplete without taking a trip to the coast.

    As the years pass, the climate has been noticeably getting worse. That said, staying under the sun may be more harmful to us as heat waves have been recurring. Hence, beach travels to the Mediterranean might come to an end.

    Read the article to learn more about the possible end of the Mediterranean beach holiday.

    https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20231016-is-this-the-end-of-the-mediterranean-beach-holiday

    Vocabulary Questions:

    1. What does “tighten one’s belt” mean? “Part of this could be down to consumers tightening their belts, with the ETC finding that nearly a quarter of respondents expressed concern about the rise of travel costs.” Use this in a sentence.
    2. Define “driven by something“. “We believe it’s partly driven by the cooler climate, which makes walking and cycling delightful rather than a sweat.” Make a sentence with this phrase.
    3. What does “fare” mean in this context? “Other regions fare better: the same climate scenario would see a 16% annual rise in tourism to west Wales, for example.” Give two synonyms and make a sentence with this word.

    Discussion Questions:

    1. How do you feel about the potential decline of the Mediterranean beach holiday and what impact might it have on your future travel plans?
    2. In what ways might over-tourism be contributing to the decline of the Mediterranean beach holiday experience?
    3. What measures can be taken to ensure the sustainability and longevity of the Mediterranean beach holiday industry?
    4. What factors do you consider when choosing a beach holiday destination? Are environmental concerns a priority for you?
    5. Have you ever been on a Mediterranean beach holiday? If so, which destination did you visit and how was your experience?

    Tattoos Enter the Beauty Pageant World

    B2 – Upper Intermediate

    Beauty pageants have long been associated with elegance, grace, and traditional standards of beauty. However, in recent years, there has been a growing trend of contestants with visible tattoos participating in these competitions. This shift has sparked debates about the impact of tattoos on the perception of beauty and whether they should be allowed in such events.

    Some may view tattoos as incompatible with traditional beauty pageants, others see them as an expression of personal identity. The inclusion or exclusion of tattooed individuals in these competitions will continue to be debated as society’s perception evolves further towards acceptance and appreciation for diverse forms of beauty.

    Read the article to learn how the pageant world is changing along with our beauty standards.

    https://celebrityink.com/tattoos-enter-the-beauty-pagent-world/

    Vocabulary Questions:

    1. What does the word “enrich” mean? “Their aim is to create role models who enrich the perception of beauty while positively impacting communities.”  Use it in a sentence.
    2. What does “recurring theme” mean, “However, the idea of natural, unaltered beauty is still a frequently recurring theme throughout many modern beauty pageants, with tattoos being considered unladylike.”?  Use it in a sentence.
    3. What does the word “allure” mean? “Beauty pageants, like Miss World and Miss Universe, have moved with the evolving beauty standards and recognised the allure of tattoos on women.” Use it in a sentence.

    Discussion Questions:

    1. What are your thoughts on beauty pageants?
    2. Share your opinion on having a visible tattoo as grounds for disqualification from a beauty pageant.
    3. Are there any tattoos anywhere on your body? If so, could you kindly describe what one means; if not, could you please explain why not?
    4. Do you believe that getting tattoos diminishes your beauty? Explain your answer.
    5. Have you ever had an experience of someone judging your beauty? In what way did it occur?