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The Power of a Mother’s Love

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Unconditional love of a mother is vital to one’s well-being. It has a long-lasting and profound impact to a person’s overall development.

She is the anchor of not only her children’s life but her whole family. Her love is the fuel that gives us power to do impossible things. On her love depends the emotional foundation of her children. The reason why nobody should belittle the power of mother’s love.

Read the article about the power of a mother’s love.

https://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/the-power-of-a-mothers-love/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Describe your mother. What are her best qualities?
  2. Share your most unforgettable moment with your mother.
  3. Do you consider your mom as your bestfriend? Why or why not?
  4. How can a good mother-child relationship be fostered?

Dealing with Teen Depression

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Teenage years can be arduous especially during the break and peak of Covid-19 when kids and teens need to be stuck in their houses. This occurrence has lessened the vibrance of their social lives which is one of the reasons of their happiness and growth.

Though it may be temporary feelings for them, it is a very serious and debilitating mood disorder that can definitely affect their way of thinking.

Learning more about this will give us an all-around idea for us to understand what teenagers are going through.

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/teenagers-guide-to-depression.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. How was your teenage life? What are the best and worst moments that you remember when you were a teenager?
  2. How can you help someone who is going through teenage depression?
  3. What important piece of advice will you give the teenagers of this generation?

How to Stop Overthinking Everything

B2 – Upper Intermediate

They say overthinking is a special form of fear. It becomes worse when emotion and imagination are being added into it. It is worrying about almost all things and thinking everything might go wrong. It kills happiness and destroys peace of mind.

In view of this, let us check some of the ways on how to control or stop being an overthinker.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/amymorin/2016/02/12/6-ways-to-stop-overthinking-everything/?sh=f6b7e65663cd

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about the article?
  2. Share your point of view for each point mentioned in the article.
  3. What are the ways that you are applying in your life?
  4. State the disadvantages of overthinking. What might be some advantages of overthinking things?
  5. Do you consider yourself an overthinker? Why or why not?

Good Relationships Are All in the Family

B2 – Upper Intermediate

According to Ivan Doig, childhood is the one story that stands by itself and in every soul.

Childhood is one of the most important factors of a human being’s physical and mental development. It has a really great impact to a person’s future in every single way. In this stage, we establish the eagerness and certainty of dealing with our analytical world.

Good or bad, it has a huge influence in our everyday lives as an adult. It extends from our avocation to dealing with crucial events and dilemmas that we encounter throughout our lives.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/good-relationships-are-all-in-the-family/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction about the article?
  2. Do you agree with the result of Harvard University research about this? Why or why not?
  3. Describe your childhood. State the most unforgettable experience you had when you were a child.
  4. How has your childhood impacted your life now?
  5. In your opinion, what is the best way to have an idyllic childhood?

Daylight Saving Time Debate

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the practice of turning the clock one hour ahead when warmer weather approaches and an hour back when it becomes colder again. It has been used for more than a hundred years in order to save energy and make better use of sunlight. However, do its benefits really outweigh its drawbacks?

Read the article and be able to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/daylight-saving-debate.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What’s your take on Daylight Saving Time (DST) ?
  2. What are the things mentioned in the article do you agree and disagree with and why?
  3. How does DST affect you and your daily routine?

Private Tutoring Ban

B2 – Upper Intermediate

At present, South Korea’s private tuition industry is growing. In 2006, its education ministry imposed curfew on private education’s operating hours. Long before that, they used to ban private tutoring completely until almost two decades later when South Korea’s constitutional court ruled that it is unconstitutional.

https://www.cato.org/commentary/youll-never-guess-what-south-korea-frowns-upon

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on South Korea’s ban on private tutoring?
  2. Can you really put a price on education? Explain your point.
  3. How can educational opportunities be possibly equalized for everybody?
  4. What are your thoughts on private tutoring?
  5. Is private tutoring common in your country? Did you use to attend after-school classes? Why or why not?

Celebrating All Saints’ And All Souls Day

B2 – Upper Intermediate

All Saints’ Day, also known as All Hallows’ Day, is a Christian ceremony celebrated in honor of all the saints of the church. People around the world are familiar with the American version of this holiday involving costumes and trick-or-treating. Most of us follow a tradition that originates from All Saints’ Day or All Souls Day come October 31st and November 1st.

Here’s a quick look at some of the ways people celebrate Halloween around the world.

ALL SAINTS DAY WORLDWIDE TRADITIONS

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think Halloween is still appropriate to celebrate it today? Why or why not?
  2. How is Halloween celebrated in your country?
  3. Does your family have a special tradition for this holiday?
  4. What other ways to celebrate Halloween do you know of? How did you come to know this?

More People Eat Insects

B1 – Intermediate

Eating bugs and insects are considered gross and disgusting but lots of people around the world eat them in different types and flavors.

Meat is one of the best source of protein. However, there are other certain insects that can be good source of protein too.

Let’s read the article below to know more about eating insects.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2109/210927-eating-bugs-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. In general, what do you think about eating bugs?
  2. Do you agree or disagree that eating insects will soon be widely accepted? Explain your opinion.
  3. Would you eat food from insects if it didn’t look like insects? Why or why not?
  4. How would you feel about seeing food items from insects in supermarkets?
  5. How will eating insects help the planet?

Japanese Royal to Marry a Commoner

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Japan has very strict lineage rules for royal families which state that male royals can marry commoners but female royals cannot. Princess Mako will not accept the payoff she is entitled to upon abdication. We all know the prestige and wealth that royal families tend to enjoy but this is one of the downsides of being a member of the royal family.

Read more about Japan’s Princess Mako and her upcoming wedding to a commoner.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58758317

Discussion Questions:

  1. Which aspects make this wedding very controversial in Japan?
  2. What do you think of Japan’s very strict lineage rules?
  3. How would you compare Japan’s monarchy to other countries’?
  4. What are your thoughts on royals marrying commoners?
  5. What is your opinion on monarchy?

Lost at Sea

B1 – Intermediate

Being lost at sea can be the worst nightmare. The view of the sea in every direction is simply a glistening sheet of nothingness.

Let’s read the article below on how two men survived the sea despite the odds and what their experience was.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2110/211011-lost-at-sea-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about the article you have read?
  2. What would you say about the character of the two men?
  3. How would you feel if you were lost at sea?
  4. What do you think you would do when you try to ‘get away from it all’?
  5. When was the last time you had a nice break? Share that moment.