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Ex Minister Gets a Knighthood

B1 – Intermediate

A knighthood is awarded to a Briton who has shown exemplary service to his country. It is considered as one of the highest honors one can ever receive. 

Gavin Williamson was a former minister and was fired twice. Despite this, he was still given the said title.

Read the article about about an ex minister who was fired from his positions twice and then proceeded to receiving a knighthood.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2203/220307-uk-knighthood-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about Williamson receiving a knighthood? Does he deserve the title?
  2. Do you think it’s true that the award is for Williamson staying quiet about allegations about Boris Johnson before? Explain your opinion.
  3. Should politicians who made mistakes be given another chance or awarded honors like this? Why or why not?
  4. If there was a similar title in your country, who do you think should get it now and why him?

The Illness That Was All in a Doctor’s Head

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Dr. Alissa Zingman has suffered painful symptoms that even her fellow doctors dismissed as something that’s only in her head. She was told many times that there was only a very small chance for her to improve. 

To help others with the same condition, she put up a pioneering clinic that offers not only possible interventions but more importantly, hope to other patients.

Read the article about about a doctor’s bout with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/feb/23/the-doctor-who-was-told-her-illness-was-all-in-her-head-and-is-transforming-the-treatment-of-her-rare-genetic-condition#:~:text=Interview-,The%20doctor%20who%20was%20told%20her%20illness%20was%20’all%20in,of%20her%20rare%20genetic%20condition&text=To%20finally%20get%20a,%2C%E2%80%9D%20says%20Dr%20Alissa%20Zingman.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about her condition and the way she was dismissed constantly?
  2. How would you feel and what would you do if you were in her shoes?
  3. Do you agree or disagree with this: “When you see a new patient, and there’s something you don’t understand, the most likely answer is that it’s real.”? 
  4. Have you ever felt ill and when you consulted your GP, they said it was nothing serious? How did you feel and react at that moment?

Caffeine Overdose

B2 – Upper Intermediate

An unfortunate caffeine overdose occurred to a personal trainer after he miscalculated the amount of caffeine powder he was supposed to take.

Read the article about about caffeine toxicity.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-60570470

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this news?
  2. To what extent is the company responsible for this miscalculation in dosage?
  3. What are your thoughts about gym-goers using caffeine to improve sports performance?
  4. How can we be careful in consuming or taking such products?
  5. What other performance-enhancing products do you know of?

Alcohol, Prohibition, and Al Capone

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Imagine an industry or commodity controlled by criminals, where even the authorities were scared to make a move. This was the case in the United States a century ago.

Al Capone was an infamous mafia boss who used his power and influence to control the trade of alcoholic beverages during a time when it was considered illegal. He was able to get away with it because he was feared.

Read the article below to learn more about him and the age of “prohibition”.

https://linguapress.com/intermediate/prohibition.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do a lot of people enjoy alcoholic beverages?
  2. How do people in your country enjoy alcoholic beverages?
  3. Were there any infamous crime bosses in your country? Who were they and what were they known for?
  4. Does the police in your city or country do a good job in hunting down criminals? How do they do it?
  5. What are some illegal items that we know of that are being distributed in the black market today?
  6. Are there some areas in your city or country that are known for high crime rates? What are they?

Career Coach Finds Your Dream Job

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Just about everyone faces a moment in their professional life when they question the job that they do, when it doesn’t challenge them anymore or simply having that feeling that they should be somewhere else. However, some time after the outbreak of the pandemic, it appears that there has been a significant increase in the number of people reconsidering their career opportunities.

A vast career coaching industry has sprung up in recent years, with the goal of sustaining and enhancing a different approach in professionals’ careers, as well as gaining the skills for them to be established and eventually being able to reach their dreams.

Let’s take a look at the article below to find out how a career coach can help you find your dream job.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220103-can-a-career-coach-find-you-your–dream-job

Discussion Questions:

  1. Would you ever consider having a career coach? Why or why not?
  2. How would you go about it when the moment comes and you feel you aren’t where you want to be professionally?
  3. What are some of the worst and best jobs you can think of and why do you consider them as such?
  4. What kinds of jobs interest you the most and the least?
  5. Talk about your dream job and how you intend to land it.

Xenobots

B1 – Intermediate

Technology has come a long way. What once seemed impossible, now seem to be because of all the tools that are available to us. More inventions have been introduced including a new type of robot that can reproduce.

These “living” robots are currently being studied and they provide promising applications in different fields. Despite this, some people are still doubtful about the possibilities these robots can unleash.

Read the article below to learn more about xenobots.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2112/211202-xenobots-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on this machine-animal hybrid?
  2. What might be the pros and cons of these robots?
  3. Where would these robots be most useful?
  4. Why are some people worried about these robots?
  5. What are some current applications of robots that are helpful?
  6. How should these experiments be monitored and evaluated?

Time Management Skills

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Managing how to accomplish tasks is one of the best tools in becoming successful in one’s career or endeavor. However, most of us are wondering why it feels like we just can’t to accomplish all the tasks we should on a daily basis. Maybe, we lack the skills to organize and plan allocating our time to different activities that we need to pull off. Time management is the key.

Here are some tips on how to manage our time to make it more productive and effective.

https://www.grammarly.com/blog/essential-time-management-skills/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Which of the tips do you apply in your daily life?
  2. Do you have additional tips on how to effectively manage your time?
  3. How do you block out distractions?
  4. What is your stance on multitasking?
  5. What are your thoughts about getting some down time to rest?

Passion Exploitation

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Most likely, you have heard that once you have found the job you are most passionate about, “you will never have to work a day in your life”. But what if your passion for what you do gives people you work with the idea that they can take advantage of you?

Read the article about passion exploitation.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20190719-passion-exploitation

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about this being practiced/done by some in certain industries?
  2. Do you think passion exploitation is more likely to happen if you work in particular industries? Explain your stand.Why do you think workers in artistic and creative industries are more susceptible to this kind of exploitation?
  3. Talk about an instance when you were asked to work more, on unrelated tasks, or for free. How did that make you feel?
  4. What is the best way to refuse paying the “passion tax”?
  5. What are your thoughts on this, “Doing what you love a double-edged sword.“?
  6. In general, how can some exploitative actions of managers be prevented?

Stem Cell Transplant Using Umbilical Cord Blood as HIV Cure

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A female patient who’s been living with HIV was cured using a new approach in which stem cells are taken from umbilical cord blood. The goal is for other patients with HIV to undergo the said stem cell transplant in hopes of curing cancer and other serious conditions.

Read the article about the first stem cell transplant using umbilical cord blood for curing HIV.

https://www.euronews.com/next/2022/02/16/woman-reportedly-cured-of-hiv-after-first-stem-cell-transplant-using-umblical-cord-blood

Discussion Questions:

  1. Describe the treatment and the most important element to its success.
  2. What are your thoughts on this new treatment approach to possibly curing HIV and other serious diseases?
  3. What do you think are its pros and cons?
  4. What else do you know about stem cells and stem cell transplants?
  5. Would you be willing to undergo such a new approach if you were inflicted with a very serious condition?

Anti-Ageing Vaccine

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Ageing is a biological life process that is inevitable. It is also the biggest factor that increases the risk of developing diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. However, Japanese researchers are developing a new approach to slowing down or reversing the ageing process.

Let’s read the article below about this new anti-ageing vaccine.

https://www.euronews.com/next/2021/12/14/can-we-live-forever-new-anti-ageing-vaccine-could-bring-immortality-one-step-closer

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on this new anti-ageing vaccine?
  2. Do you want to live forever? If yes, what are you going to do while you live eternally? If not, how long do you want to live and why?
  3. What is a disadvantage of immortality? How would it change our lives?
  4. Who is the oldest person you know? How is their view of the world different from yours?
  5. “We all die. The goal isn’t to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.” Do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.