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Boredom and Sadistic Behavior

B2 – Upper Intermediate

What brings about sadism? A study made by a team of researchers at Aarhus University has found evidence that people who are bored behave more sadistically to reduce the effects of being indifferent.

Read the article below about how boredom leads to setting off sadistic behavior and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-01-boredom-factor-sadistic-behavior.html#:~:text=A%20team%20of%20researchers%20at,in%20setting%20off%20sadistic%20behavior.&text=A%20closer%20look%20showed%20that,others%20more%20often%20when%20bored.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on the results of this study?
  2. What do you think of trolling behavior of people online because they are bored?
  3. What bores you? How does boredom make you feel? What do you do when you get bored?
  4. What was the strangest thing you did out of boredom?
  5. How would you help someone who says they are bored?

Recycling and Reusing COVID Tests and Masks

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The use of face masks is the most important weapon that we have against the COVID-19 virus. Even before the pandemic, wearing of face masks was already customary in some parts of Asia such as China, Japan, and Korea. People wear it to protect themselves from illness, allergies, pollution, and more.

While beneficial, it generates millions tons of plastic wastes and it is causing a lot of environmental problems. So people came up with some recycling initiatives to reduce COVID plastic wastes.

Let’s read the article below to find out more about these recycling initiatives.

https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/01/28/can-covid-tests-and-masks-be-recycled-and-reused-these-people-have-found-a-way

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on COVID tests and masks being recycled and reused? Do you think it is safe to do this?
  2. How do you safely dispose your used masks and test kits?
  3. Do you agree that “hygiene theatre” should be stopped? Is it really effective in providing additional protection against the spread of Covid-19?
  4. Are there recycling points in your city/country? If not, do you think you should have one?
  5. What are other ways to manage all our pandemic wastes?

Minister Swims for Hours after Helicopter Crash

B1 – Intermediate

A Madagascar police minister was lucky enough to be one of the few to survive after their helicopter crashed into the Indian Ocean. He was one of only two men to survive the accident by swimming for so many hours.

Read the lesson about Serge Gelle’s incredible story of survival. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2112/211227-survival-swim-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this story?
  2. What do you think about the two men?
  3. Have you ever been involved in an accident? Share your experience.
  4. Share an experience where you have ‘beaten the odds’.
  5. When a situation is very difficult and hopeless, what do you try to do?

Health Checks at Certain Age

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the past years, people only used to go the doctor when they were sick or dying. It is necessary to go for a regular medical check-up as it can identify early signs of health issues and can result in a healthier life. “Prevention is better than cure” could not be any truer.

Let’s read the article below about the importance of health checks depending on our life age.

https://theconversation.com/im-approaching-a-milestone-birthday-what-health-checks-should-i-have-at-my-age-172047

Discussion Questions:

  1. How often do you get a medical check-up? How often should people get a check-up?
  2. What might be reasons people do not get checked up as regularly as they should?
  3. Are you a healthy person? How often do you get sick?
  4. What health changes have you noticed as you’ve begun to age?
  5. Do you consider yourself a hypochondriac? Do you know anybody who might be considered one?
  6. What steps are you taking to ensure you prevent chronic disease down the track?

Pope Francis on Opting for Pets over Children

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Pope Francis has made comments that couples who opt for animals instead of children are selfish. According to him, there are a lot of people nowadays who prefers to have one child or none at all but has cats or dogs that take the place of children. He also said that this denial of fatherhood or motherhood takes away our humanity. He encourages people to adopt children or make children naturally.

Learn more by reading the article on the website below.

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/01/05/europe/pope-dogs-cats-kids-intl/index.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree with Pope Francis? Why or why not?
  2. Would you prefer having pets, children, both, or none?
  3. What are the pros and cons of having pets?
  4. What are the pros and cons of having children?
  5. What can happen in the future if more people choose to have pets instead of children?

China’s Artificial Sun

B1 – Intermediate

Nowadays, scientists want to develop sources of clean energy. China has a project that aims to do this through nuclear fusion. They tested it recently and set a new record. With this success, advances in this technology could help our planet be cleaner and greener.

Read this article to learn about China’s hottest scientific development.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2201/220106-artificial-sun-1.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What could be the uses of this artificial sun?
2. Who do you think would benefit from using this kind of energy?
3. Do you think this source of energy is safe? Explain.
4. Do you know of other countries that are developing nuclear fusion? Do you think all countries should aim to develop this kind of energy? Why?
5. What are some good sources of clean energy?
6. When would be the right time to shift from fossil fuels to other sources of energy?

Macron Vows to ‘Piss Off’ Unvaccinated

B2 – Upper Intermediate

President Emmanuel Macron promised to make the lives of the unvaccinated population in France difficult and inconvenient. He did so using what some people say, unfit language. This did not sit well with everyone in the country.

Read about the reactions to Macron’s statements about his strategy with the unvaxxed citizens of France.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59873833

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to Macron’s statements on making unvaccinated people’s lives “in the shit”?
  2. Some people think that what he did and the things he said were divisive. Do you agree or disagree?
  3. What is it like being unvaxxed in your country?
  4. What do you think of unvaccinated people?
  5. What might be reasons people refuse to get vaxxed?

Treating Covid Like an Endemic Illness

B2 – Upper Intermediate

After having lived for so many years of the pandemic life, I think it’s safe to say that most of us have had enough. As a result, more and more countries are calling for Covid to be treated like the flu which is an endemic illness.

Spain is one of the first countries to suggest that we all should just start living with it.

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

https://www.euronews.com/2022/01/18/spain-to-move-from-treating-covid-19-as-a-pandemic-to-an-endemic

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on this? Is it really time for us to start treating Covid much like the flu?
  2. What would be advantages and disadvantages of doing this now?
  3. How has your life changed because of the pandemic?
  4. What is the first thing you’d do once the world ‘goes back to normal’ again?

The Forgotten Art of Hitchhiking

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Hitchhiking is a form of transportation that is done by asking people, mostly strangers, for a ride in their car for free. This way of travelling is very appealing, especially to those who are travelling on a budget.

Read this article about the forgotten art of hitchhiking — and why it disappeared

https://www.vox.com/2015/6/8/8737623/hitchhiking

Discussion Questions:

  1. What comes to your mind when you hear the word ‘hitchhike’?
  2. Is hitchhiking common in your country? Why/why not?
  3. Have you ever hitched a ride?
  4. Why do you think some states in the US banned this form of transportation?
  5. If you were the driver, would you be kind enough to pick up a total stranger off the side of the road? Why/why not?

World Health Organization Introduces Gaming Disorder

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Video games have been very popular since they were introduced. Kids and adults alike love playing video games. It is a way to relax and enjoy the time and even bond with family and friends. Video games have even been helpful in some situations and in managing some medical conditions.

With video games getting more and more accessible, more people get access and play more, which can sometimes be too much, leading to a disorder. Because of this, the World Health Organization has added this to their list of diseases, calling it gaming disorder.

Read the article below on what gaming disorder is according to the WHO.

https://www.english-online.at/news-articles/health-medicine/world-health-organisation-introduces-gaming-disorder.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think it is just right for the WHO to include this disorder? Why or why not?
  2. Who do you think are those most likely to have this disorder?
  3. What could be the possible causes of these disorders? What would be the best way to manage this disorder?  
  4. What were some games that you liked playing as a child? How about as a grown-up?
  5. Do you prefer video games or other game types? Why?