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Stem Cell Donation

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Stem cells are used in treating certain conditions. They help tissues regenerate to treat skin damage and blood diseases like leukemia. 

It is crucial that we raise awareness about stem cell donation to make it less intimidating and for every information about it more accessible to everyone and so many will be enticed to register to be donors and help save lives.

Read the article about one man’s experience donating his stem cells and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/through-my-eyes-stem-cell-donation#Screening-and-preparation

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the expression “a walk in the park” mean? Use this expression in your own sentence.
  2. What does it mean “to do someone or something a disservice”? Use this expression in your own sentence.
  3. What does “uncharted territory” mean? Use this phrase in your own sentence. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are some of stem cells uses?
  2. How would you feel about donating your stem cells? 
  3. What are some effects of G-CSF injections?

Flashy New Job Titles

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The world of work has been changing a lot over the years. One of the new changes is the invention of ambiguous job titles such as ‘chief visionary officer’, ‘Wizard of Light Bulb Moments’, or ‘Problem Wrangler’. The trend is taking off because employers want to make the job titles sound beefier.

However, employees or job seekers need to be cautious because even though these fancy-sounding job titles may seem enticing, they don’t come with no downsides.

Read the article about what the problem with inventing flashy new job titles is. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20230104-inventing-new-job-titles

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the expression “to put someone/something on the back foot” mean? “It can also put candidates on the back foot if hiring managers do reach them.” Use this idiom in your own sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does the word “succinct” mean? “They’re succinct and clear, communicating essential employee details such as job function and seniority.” Use this word in your own sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “entrenched” mean? “However, although job titles may be fairly entrenched in industries like law and finance, they are evolving in many other industries, especially creative ones.” Use it in your own sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you ever come across beefy job titles? Cite some examples. 
  2. Do you think this new trend makes humdrum jobs seem more appealing? Share your thoughts. 
  3. What might be reasons arbitrary job titles are being invented? What are its dangers?
  4. Do you prefer a succinct and clear or an ambiguous and bespoke job title? Explain your choice.
  5. Invent a flashy new job title for your current job.

No-Vacation Nation

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Working for approximately 260 days a year without going on vacation once a year could lead to burnout. Hence, taking days or weeks off work to relax is definitely a must for employees. However, not everyone has the privilege to go on vacation.

Read this article to learn about the no-vacation nation.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20141106-the-no-vacation-nation

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the expression “to run thin” mean? “I can definitely feel it when I need a vacation because my patience and tolerance for our guests runs thin,” said the career bartender.” Use this word in a sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of “buck” here, “”While some companies in the US do buck the no-vacation nation trend, offering more generous time off to employees, or even requiring staff to take days off, congressmen are among the few Americans granted a number of days off on par with virtually every other advanced economy.”? Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “to take (on) the mantle” mean? “Every now and then, a legislator in the US will champion the cause of guaranteed paid time off. Florida Congressman Alan Grayson has taken that mantle several times.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of this certain work culture?
  2. Why are some workers becoming vacation-phobic?
  3. Do you agree that American workers should have as much vacation time as Europeans? Express your thoughts.
  4. How much vacation do you have each year from work? Do you think it’s a fair amount?
  5. What would you do if your boss asked you to take more (or less) vacation time?

Drink Water Often to Live Longer

B1 – Intermediate

Drinking water on a regular basis is the best thing we do to our bodies. Water can make us stay alert and focus. When we are properly hydrated, the circulation in our body will be good, too.

Read the article below about the benefits of staying hydrated.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2301/230105-staying-hydrated.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “more likely” mean here, “They added that adults who did not drink enough water were more likely to die at a younger age.“? Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does the word “prolong” mean? “The results suggest that proper hydration may slow down ageing and prolong a disease-free life.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does the verb “encourage” mean in this sentence, “She encouraged people to drink more fluids, like water and juice, and fruit and vegetables with a high water content.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on this, “half of people worldwide do not drink enough”?
  2. What might be some reasons people do not drink as much water as they should?
  3. What is the importance of drinking water?
  4. How does drinking water benefit our health? What are the benefits of drinking water for your mind?
  5. Do you think you drink enough water? Why or why not?

Companies Churn Through Young Workers

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Many employers, according to researchers, particularly recruit competent degree holders seeking to pursue their aspirations, almost always marketable, sometimes ‘picture – perfect’ career choices. This can be advantageous in certain situations for these employees who are trying to find their way into their desired field. However, because companies know that career opportunities are always in high demand, young professionals can get buried in low-paying, demanding jobs. These circumstances can leave early-career employees holding out hope to establish themselves susceptible to exhaustion or discontentment at the beginning of their careers.

Read the article about how companies churn through young workers and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20230111-the-companies-that-churn-through-young-workers

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “ to grind out ” mean? “Of course, young employees are often expected to grind out the early years of their careers by showing ambition, persistence and resilience in the workplace – in some sense, ‘paying their dues’.” Use this phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “ to get ground down ” mean? “Sometimes, however, young employees can get ground down in low-paying, demanding roles, as employers know that vacancies will always be hotly desired.” Use this phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does it mean “to have the thickest skin“? “There was just a steady churn of young, impressionable workers and nothing was ever done about it – it just became a test of who had the thickest skin.” Use this idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What factors contribute to employees feeling valued and appreciated in the workplace?
  2. How do companies in your country make employees feel valued?
  3. What are the advantage and disadvantage of hiring fresh graduates?
  4. How are new graduates treated in your workplace? Please share.
  5. How was it like for your when you were starting out your career?
  6. What advice can you give to a young employee?

Mindset Brings Unlimited Willpower

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Our ability to maintain self-control and avoid acting on impulses is referred to as willpower. It has to do with our capacity to exercise self-control and manage our behavior. Willpower basically refers to our ability to withstand momentary temptations in order to accomplish our long-term objectives.But, how do we intensify our willpower?

Like your muscles when you exercise, your willpower can be strengthened over time even though it may temporarily become weaker. Some professionals as well claim that pursuing your own targets is likely to boost willpower. For others, willpower is frequently perceived as being fixed and limited. But an increasing number of experts demonstrate that there are numerous efficient and tried-and-true techniques that can maximize ones willpower.

Read the article and learn how to strengthen one’s willpower.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20230103-how-to-strengthen-willpower

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “override” mean? Use this word in a sentence.
  2. What does “iron grip” mean in this sentence, “And some people seem to have much greater reserves of it than others: they find it easier to control their emotions, avoid procrastination and stick to their goals, without ever seeming to lose their iron grip on their behaviour.”? Use this word in a sentence.
  3. What does “taxing” mean here, “ The people with the non-limited view, however, did not show any signs of ego depletion, however: they showed no decline in their mental focus after performing a mentally taxing activity.”? Use this word in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why is willpower so essential in our lives?
  2. How can strengthening your willpower help you accomplish your priorities?
  3. Is willpower enough in trying to reach a long-term objective? Explain your thoughts.
  4. What causes lack of willpower?
  5. What challenges can prevent you from gaining the ability to strengthen your willpower?

One-and-Done Parenting

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Why is having siblings becoming less common? The reasons for having an only child are numerous and diverse. Finances, sexual dysfunction, parent’s maturity level, clinical issues, and the desire to have only one are among them. Given the hardships of modern marriage, job demands, and the cost of child rearing, the rise in one-child families is understandable.

While single-child families remain a standard deviation, the number of one-child households has nearly doubled in the last 40 years. But even though having only one child is becoming the mainstream in many countries, there is still pressure to have more than one. Despite repeated arguments, stereotypes about only children being spoiled or unhappy is very apparent.

Parents say they feel pressured to have more children from everyone, from relatives to random strangers, that is why becoming a one-and-done parent is and always has been a tough choice, one to which they give a great deal of thought and occasionally may even doubt.

Read the article about one-and-done parenting.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20230110-only-child-or-siblings-one-and-done

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to forego” mean? Use this word in a sentence.
  2. What does “one-and-done” mean in this sentence, ” Trying something new shouldn’t be a one-and-done exercise.”? Use this word in a sentence.
  3. What does “background noise” mean here, “Even as deciding to be one-and-done becomes more common, this background noise means parents who make this choice often find themselves having to convince other people – and even themselves – that they’ve done the right thing.” Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How common is it to have only one child these days? Why do you think that is?
  2. What are the benefits and drawbacks of only having one child?
  3. Are parents with only one child happier? Explain your stand.
  4. Does growing up as an only child have any impact on an individual? Discuss.
  5. How will the future be like with couples deciding to have fewer and fewer children?

UNESCO’s Website for the International Year of Indigenous Languages 

B2 – Upper Intermediate

What languages do you think are the most common nowadays? According to UNESCO, 96 percent of the world’s population speaks only 4 percent of the world’s languages.

Read the article, discover why some languages are dying out today, and see if it is possible to save them.

https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-launches-website-international-year-indigenous-languages-iyil2019

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “extinction” mean? Use this word in a sentence.
  2. Explain the word “collaboration” in your own words. Give some synonyms of this word.
  3. Based on the context of the sentence, “The website will contribute to raising the awareness about this International Year and about the urgent need to preserve, revitalize and promote indigenous languages around the world.” What does the underlined word mean?

Discussion Question:

  1. How many languages are there in the world?
  2. Is the Internet to blame for the extinction of languages? Why?
  3. What languages that are commonly used online are mentioned in the article?
  4. Why will the next generation probably use a foreign language to communicate?
  5. What is the main reason for some languages not being used online?
  6. Why is it so important to protect endangered languages?

South Koreans to Become Younger

B1 – Intermediate

In South Korea, there are three different ways to tell how old they are. It is rather confusing, isn’t it? But not for long. They have a new law that can simplify age in their country. Hopefully, it will help end the confusion people have when telling their age.

Read the article to know about the new law that will make South Koreans now a year or two younger.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2212/221222-being-younger.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is a “lawmaker”? Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What is “military service”? Use it in your own sentence.
  3. What does “relieved” mean in this sentence, “A Korean Twitter user was relieved there is a new law to make things simpler.”? Give a synonym and also use it in your own sentence. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. In your own words, explain the three ways South Korea tell their age. What is your opinion about having 3 different ages?
  2. Do you think this new law will be helpful? Why or why not?
  3. What are the good and bad things about having 3 different ages?
  4. If you were from this country, would you continue to use the Korean age?
  5. What is the best and worst thing about your current age?

Japanese Will Never Travel Again

B1 – Intermediate

As the lockdowns end and borders reopen, people became free to travel to other countries again! You would think everyone would be excited about this.

Apparently, some Japanese think the opposite. They prefer to explore their own country and its nature instead.

Read the article to know why some Japanese do not want to travel again.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2301/230102-travel-plans-4.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “lockdown” mean? Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What is a “bucket list”? Use it in your own sentence.
  3. What does “engrossed” mean? Use it in your own sentence. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on this, “Almost 35 percent of Japanese people said they never wanted to leave Japan again.”?
  2. What are reasons some Japanese do not want to travel outside of their country again?
  3. How has the pandemic changed your interest in traveling?
  4. Which is better: traveling around your own country or overseas? Explain.
  5. Did you travel in a new city in your country during the pandemic? Talk about your discovery.