Tag: video

The Truth Behind Unlimited PTO

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO) is often promoted as a modern workplace benefit that gives employees freedom and flexibility to take leave whenever they need it. At first glance, it sounds like an ideal system that supports work-life balance and employee well-being, removing the limits of traditional vacation policies.

However, discussions around unlimited PTO also reveal a more complex reality behind the policy. While it appears generous on paper, some employees may feel unsure about how much time off is actually acceptable to take, especially in workplaces where productivity expectations remain high. This raises questions about whether unlimited PTO truly benefits workers or if it creates new pressures in disguise.

Watch the video on the truth about unlimited PTO.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “accrual” mean? “At first glance, it sounds like a dream. Take time off whenever you want — no accruals, no tracking, no caps.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “baseline” mean? “Unlimited PTO has no baseline.” Construct a sentence featuring this phrase. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “performative” mean? “If the answers are “no”, unlimited PTO becomes performative.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think are the main advantages and disadvantages of unlimited paid time off (PTO) policies?
  2. Do you think employees actually take more or less time off under unlimited PTO systems? Why?
  3. How might unlimited PTO affect workplace fairness and team workload?
  4. What challenges could managers face when implementing an unlimited PTO policy?
  5. Do you think unlimited PTO improves employee well-being, or does it create pressure to work more?

Gen Z Men and Women Sharply Divided Over Reproductive Rights

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The question of whether reproductive rights should be exercised at all costs has been the subject of a protracted and contentious debate. Nonetheless, there is a gender disparity among Gen Z regarding these rights, which helps explain how this generation approaches life.

To find out more, watch the video below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to click for someone” mean? “That’s when it clicked for me and realized how important this issue is.” Use this term in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  2. What does “psychic shock” mean? “Dobbs was such a psychic shock for a lot of women because it took a right away that they’d had for a long time.”  Use this expression in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  3. What does “to dig one’s heels in” mean? “They feel like their the last generation of men who run the show, and they’re digging their heels in and trying to get as much as they can.” Use this idiom in a sentence. Give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What causes the gap between Gen Z men and women regarding reproductive rights?
  2. Do you think the views and opinions of men and women on reproductive rights have significantly widened over time? Why do you think so?
  3. Does restricting abortion harm the right to life? Explain your stance.
  4. Are there similar restrictions in your country, and how do Gen Z men and women react to them?
  5. How do social media and online discussions influence Gen Z’s views on reproductive rights?

Replacing Humans with AI is Going Horribly Wrong

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The advent of generative AI has caused widespread panic among people across the globe. The fear of AI replacing the labor of common folk has been a prevalent source of terror for humans since artificial intelligence was first conceptualized. And in today’s day and age, this fear has become especially prevalent, with generative AI threatening many different fields of human work. Thankfully, recent attempts to replace individual labor with generative AI technology have resulted in lackluster and even poor results.

To find out more more, watch the video below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “crux” mean? “What he said is the very crux of consumer generative AI today.” Use this term in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  2. What does “pain point” mean? “They have seen revenues jump from zero to $20 million in a year. It’s because they pick one pain point, execute well, and partner smartly with companies who use their tools.” Use this phrase in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  3. What does “smokescreen” mean? “When the broader market realized that it was all a smokescreen, the sector crashed.”  Use this expression in a sentence. Give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. In your opinion, why is generative AI failing to replace human work?
  2. Do you believe generative AI can be used productively? How so?
  3. Why do you believe many companies seek to replace human work with the generative AI?
  4. Share your insights on this, “The companies cutting people today in the name of AI will be the ones playing catch-up tomorrow.“
  5. Will humans ever be replaced with AI in the future? Share your opinion.

How Did The World Get So Ugly?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

When we look at the structures that surround us in this day and age, the ones that catch our eye are often from a time before most of us were even born. Creations of the modern day do not tend to inspire awe or wonder compared to the gleaming Eiffel Tower, magnificent halls, and even the tiny yet ornate street lamps of the Victorian era. But what has changed from then to now? How has the world become so ugly?

To find out more, watch the video below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is a “cesspit”? “There would have been open cesspits spilling down the streets, and the stench of sewage boiling in the midday sun would have been unbearable” Use this term in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  2. What does “embankment” mean? “Those lamps on the embankment did their job, and even though more efficient and better methods of lighting have been invented, they remain 150 years later.” Use this word in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  3. What does “exuberance” mean? “And yet, it has been designed with the same ornamental exuberance as any church or palace.”  Use this expression in a sentence. Give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you noticed examples of old structures that look more beautiful than new ones? If so, elaborate on your experiences.
  2. Give your interpretation of this statement: “If you want to understand any society, don’t listen to what it says about itself; look at what it creates.”
  3. Should the aesthetics of public structures be considered more important in modern-day society?
  4. Why do you think designers put less emphasis on the beauty of structures in the modern day?

How the World Ends According to Nostradamus

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the 15th century, a man would shake the foundations of Europe’s history by virtue of prophecy while remaining untouched by the many powerful forces who disregarded his visions. And depending on how you read his predictions, the chaos and turmoil we encountered today may have been long foretold by this French astrologer, apothecary, physician, and renowned seer, known for his book Les Prophéties, more commonly recognized around the world as Nostradamus.

Watch the video below to learn more about how Nostradamus predicted about a war.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is a “splintered off”? “The soldier’s lance shattered, and a piece of wood splintered off and pierced Henry’s eye and brain ” Use this term in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  2. What does “word on the street” mean? “What started as targeted assassinations of Huguenot quickly spiraled into a mas slaughter. And word on street was that Queen Catherine was behind it all”  Use this expression in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  3. What does “to swell into slums” mean? “The poor suffered, and the rich grew colder toward the new working class. Cities swelled into slums, and unrest followed.” Use this idiom in a sentence. Give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you heard of Nostradamus before? What have you heard about him?
  2. What are your thoughts on his prophecies?
  3. How can prophecies be helpful and harmful?
  4. Are prophecies real? Share your stand.
  5. Is foreseeing the future a gift or a curse? Share your thoughts.

Could the Dollar Lose Its Dominance?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Since the end of World War II, the dollar has dominated and shaped global trade and finance. Investors have generally felt secure and confident in the United States. However, reserve managers’ diversification into other currencies has led to a noticeable decline in dollar holdings in recent years, signaling a shift in confidence as they seek to mitigate risks associated with currency fluctuations and geopolitical uncertainties.

To discover more about the potential for the dollar to lose its dominance, watch the video below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is a “linchpin”? “For eight decades the US dollar has been the linchpin of global trade and finance.” Use this term in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  2. What does “to hedge someone’s exposure” mean? “Over the past year in particular investors have become much keener to hedge their exposure to dollars.”  Use this expression in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  3. What does “fiscal and monetary trajectory” mean? “The more people use it use it, the more others want to use it too, but anxiety about America’s fiscal and monetary trajectory is growing” Use this idiom in a sentence. Give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What factors might put an end to the dollar’s hegemony?
  2. Is it difficult to dethrone the dollar dominance? Elaborate your answer.
  3. If the dollar starts losing its dominance, which currency could best replace the dollars? Why this currency?
  4. How difficult is it to develop trust in international and financial trade?

How to Tell What’s Real and What’s AI-Generated on Social Media

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As artificial intelligence becomes more advanced, it is increasingly difficult to tell whether content on social media is real or AI-generated. From realistic photos to convincing videos and text, AI tools can create content that looks authentic but may be misleading. Because of this, it is important for users to develop critical thinking and digital literacy skills to help them identify what is genuine and what may have been created by AI.

Watch the video and be able to answer the questions below.


Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does it mean “to be past the point of no return“? “Are we past the point of no return? Are our efforts, at this point, futile?” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “to come to terms with something” mean? “We have not come to terms with what this means for the society.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “to grapple with” mean? “Many celebrities grapple with deepfakes on different social media platforms.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think it is becoming harder to tell what is real and what is AI-generated on social media? Share your experience.
  2. Should social media platforms clearly label AI-generated content? Share your opinion.
  3. What signs might help people recognize AI-generated photos, videos, or text on social media?
  4. How can users improve their critical thinking skills when evaluating information they see on social media?

AI Overuse Can Lead to Brain Fry

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A growing number of people rely on artificial intelligence to write, research, and solve problems. However, new research suggests that too much AI use may have unexpected mental effects. A recent study describes a phenomenon called “AI brain fry,” a type of mental fatigue that occurs when people interact with or supervise AI tools beyond their cognitive limits.

Watch the video and be able to answer the questions below.


Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to resonate with someone” mean? The idea that too much AI use can cause “brain fry” may resonate with people who feel mentally tired after relying on AI tools all day. Make a sentence using the phrase. Give a similar expression.
  2. What does “beg the question” mean?The rise of AI tools begs the question: are people becoming too dependent on technology? Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What is the meaning of “cognizant”? People should remain cognizant of the risks of overusing AI tools so they can protect their own critical thinking skills. Use it in your sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think using AI too often can make people think less for themselves?
  2. In your opinion, should people limit their use of AI to avoid “brain fry”?
  3. What are some possible effects of overusing AI tools on people’s thinking and productivity?
  4. How can people balance using AI technology and maintaining their own critical thinking skills?
  5. In your opinion, should people limit their use of AI to avoid “brain fry”?

Why We Can’t Have Nice Things

B2 – Upper Intermediate

If you’ve owned antique or vintage furniture or appliances, there’s a good chance you’ve noticed how durable these old items are. And when compared to modern devices, the difference is night and day—newer technology breaks and bends as easily as paper, while older stuff sometimes feels as durable as tanks. But how can it be possible for newer items to be worse than older ones? Shouldn’t newer technology create better and more durable items? But in reality, most of the appliances, furniture, and tools being sold to us now are specifically designed to be weak and frail.

To find out more about planned obsolescence, watch the video below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is a “fringe idea”? “Now, this might sound like a wild, fringe idea, but people were clearly afraid of being put out of work by technological progress and products that were too good.” Use this term in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  2. What does “overnight sensation” mean? “In the 1940s, the synthetic nylon replaced silk in stockings and it was so durable that the products became an overnight sensation.”  Use this expression in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  3. What does “to get one’s hands on something” mean? “There were riots when women tried to get their hands on the synthetic nylon stockings.” Use this idiom in a sentence. Give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why have companies made their products intentionally worse even though technology has improved?
  2. Discuss the pros and cons of planned obsolescence.
  3. What is your opinion about dynamic obsolescence?
  4. Have you noticed examples of planned and dynamic obsolescence on some products around you before? If so, give details on what you’ve noticed.
  5. Share your thoughts on this statement, “The only type of obsolescence we should support is technological.“

Heading Towards a Post-Literate Society

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The ability to understand complex and sometimes mundane texts is an incredibly important skill, allowing us to gain knowledge and power from those who have lived very different lives from us. This skill is known as “literacy,” one that should continuously be increasing among individuals all across the globe. However, for the first time in a hundred years, literacy rates are dropping. But why? Shouldn’t the modern world, which grants access to collections of texts far greater than even the Library of Alexandria at a single click of our fingertips, give us an edge in literacy over our ancestors? Well, it may be that very world that’s causing this crisis in the first place.

Watch the video below to learn more about why we are heading towards a post-literate society.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “democratization of information” mean? “With that sort of information, you have more power over what you chose to think and do. And that is why the democratization of information was terrifying for the elites. ” Use this term in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  2. What does “to hammer home” mean? “This is a point I’ve hammered home in many previous videos, so I won’t spend too long on it, but short form content and endless scrolling platforms have undoubtedly shifted our expectations around knowledge acquisition and entertainment.”  Use this term in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  3. What is “to get out of the mud”? “In the 17th or 18th century, the only way you were getting out of the mud.” Use this phrase in a sentence and give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why was literacy a skill exclusive to the rich and elites for such a long period of our history? And how did it become available for the poor as time passed?
  2. Do you think we’re heading to post-literate era? Expound your stance.
  3. In your opinion, how important is literacy? Especially in this day and age? And why?
  4. What are ways you can think of to ensure literacy rates continuously increase once more?