Tag: video

Put your Phone on Airplane Mode

B2 – Upper Intermediate

If you are a frequent flyer, you have probably heard the cabin crew’s announcement to switch off your mobile phone or atleast put it on airplane mode for the duration of the flight. They expect the passengers to follow this rule without necessarily providing ample details for doing so.

Watch the video and be informed as to why our mobile phones should be on airplane mode when we are flying.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of the word “interference” in this context? “At least your special eyes would be able to see this if the sky wasn’t flooded with interference from routers, satellites, and of course, people flying who haven’t put their phones on airplane mode.” Use it in your own sentence.
  2. Define the phrasal verb “drown out“. “Since planes travel so quickly, the phones might find themselves much closer to a cell tower than expected; blasting it with a massive signal that drowns out those on the ground.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  3. What does the phrasal verb “blot out” mean? “This leads consumers to pay for more bandwidth, pushing service providers to take over more of the radio spectrum, and eventually, send more satellites into the sky — creating a vicious cycle that could eventually blot out the stars.” Use this phrase in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the benefits of putting your phone on airplane mode when you are on a plane?
  2. What are the dangers of not putting your phone on airplane mode?
  3. Do you think airline companies should stop offering wi-fi connection on a plane? Why or why not?
  4. Do you put your phone on airplane mode every time you fly? Are there other situations where you do the same?

Moonshot Thinking

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” This mindset is what most trailblazers uphold. They go on paths no one ever dared to ever before. This then inspires others and eventually what leads to changing the world one crazy idea at a time.

Watch this video to learn more about moonshot thinking.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does ”to bring the world together” mean? “Moonlight thinking brought the world together.” Use this phrase in your own sentence.
  2. What does ”to set one’s mind to something” mean? “People can set their minds to magical, seemingly impossible ideas and then through science and technology, bring them to reality.” Use this phrase in your own sentence.
  3. What does “to set someone on fire” mean, “That then sets other people on fire that other things that look impossible might be accomplishable.”? Use this phrase in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your thoughts on moonshot thinking.
  2. Do you have any experience being an innovator? If yes, talk about it. If not, what do you think of being one?
  3. What’s your take on challenges? How do you normally take them on?
  4. In your own way, how do you think something you have done/created changed things?
  5. What is something you thought was shooting for the moon, but ended up doing anyway?

Brands Get Your Brain to Buy More

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Many of us would agree that we are usually buying constantly without thinking of whether we need it or not and that is because some products that are on display intrigue us to the point of just letting it pass.

Watch the video below to learn more about how brands are getting on our heads.

Vocabulary Discussions:

  1. What does the expression, “too good to be true” means, “If this story sounds too good to be true, then that’s because it is.“? Use this phrase in your own sentence.
  2. What does the idiom, “under the hood” means, “Neuromarketers have adopted a range of technologies in their marketing studies to see what’s happening under the hood – inside the consumers’ brains.”? Use this phrase in your own sentence.
  3. What does the expression, “to get a kick out of something” means, “When they looked at their brains, it turned out, people got a real kick out of getting their fingers messy with this orange orange dust that they are covered in.“? Use this phrase in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you feel tricked every time you shop impulsively? Cite examples of your actual impulsive purchases and which marketing trickery do you think got you to buying those products.
  2. What is the primary issue with neuromarketing and how does it affect you as a consumer?
  3. Is neuromarketing a risk or an opportunity? Explain your thoughts.
  4. Will you affirm that neuromarketing is ethical? Why or why not? State your point.

Secrets to a Happy Marriage

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Marriage won’t work if you neglect each other’s desires and needs. Do you know how to maintain a happy married life?

Let’s watch the video where truly experienced ladies share their secrets to happy and successful marriages.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “sassy” mean? ” I know that she can be sassy, but I try not to take it seriously.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “anticipate” mean? “I know for me, there’s been a lot of care-taking, that my husband has had to do, that you never anticipate.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “stigma“ mean? “It doesn’t really hold a stigma now.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the key to a long, successful marriage? Explain.
  2. Do you agree that the new generation has an absolutely different attitude to marriage? Why (not)?
  3. If people are unhappy in marriage, should they stay together? Why (not)? And what if they have children?
  4. How can people maintain romantic relationship through the years?

Talking to Yourself

B2 – Upper Intermediate

When someone catches you talking to yourself, it can be rather embarrassing. However, self-talk is absolutely normal. Doing so, the right way, that is, can actually be very beneficial to your well-being.

Watch the video and discover the psychological benefits and drawbacks of self-talks.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “mutter” mean, As your morning alarm blares, you mutter to yourself, “Why did I set it so early?” Give a synonym of ‘mutter’ and use the word in a sentence.
  2. What does “facet” mean, “Specifically, psychologists define self-talk as verbalized thoughts directed toward yourself or some facet of your life.” Give a synonym of ‘facet’ and use the word in a sentence.
  3. What does “ruminate” mean, “And those who constantly blame themselves for their problems and ruminate on those situations, typically experience more intense feelings of depression.”? Give a synonym and use ‘ruminate’ in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on talking to one’s self?
  2. What are the benefits and drawbacks of making inner speeches?
  3. How does self-talk benefit you?
  4. Does what we say to ourselves matter? Why or why not?
  5. Explain what CBT is and share what you think about it.
  6. Share you thoughts on this, “The way you treat people is what they become.”.

Making Poor Areas Richer

C1 – Advanced

Even in the rich countries, financial hardships that is brought about by inflation and the global economic crisis are felt, and the poorest areas are the ones hit hardest by this pinch.

Amidst the continuously widening economic divide, is there hope for these declining areas?

Watch the video on how to tackle regional inequality.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the idiom “to feel the pinch” mean? “Many across the rich world are feeling the pinch and it’s hitting hardest in its poorest regions. ” Use this expression in your own sentence.
  2. What does “to be left in the lurch” mean, “Although globalization benefited many in well-off countries, large areas have been left in the lurch.” Use this idiom in your own sentence.
  3. What does ”top-down” in governance mean, “[In] countries which tend to be very centralized and top-down in terms of governance what we see is only certain parts of the country seem to really enjoy the benefits of prosperity and they tend to leave other parts of the country behind.”? Use this word in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is regional inequality also an issue in your country? Talk about how evident it is and how the government is addressing this problem.
  2. How can countries with the problem of the dark divides fix this issue?
  3. In a country with the government system like the UK, should Mayors be given more autonomy to address their respective city’s crises? Explain your stance.
  4. How does economic globalization worsen regional inequality?
  5. How might regional inequality affect a country?

Being Thinner Makes You Richer

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever observed that in the developed world, wealth and weight are somehow related? People tend to become thinner as their wealth increases, yet this association can be strongly inferred or extended to women.

Let’s watch the video below to learn more about the secret economy of thinness.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “economically rational” mean? “It is economically rational for women to try as hard as possible to be thin.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  2. What does “more likely” mean? “Richer women are much more likely to be thin than poorer ones.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  3. What does the term “economic pursuit” mean? “In many ways thinness is an economic pursuit.” Use this phrase in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree with the correlation between wealth and weight, especially for women in developed countries? Explain.
  2. Are women typically leaner in your country? What could be the reason why their weight is like that?
  3. Can we consider the correlation between wealth and weight a tragedy? Explain your thoughts.
  4. What are your thoughts on this, “In many ways thinness is an economic pursuit.“?
  5. Share your reaction to this, “Losing 65 pounds could have the same impact on a woman’s wages as gaining a master’s degree.“.

Easy to be Thin in Japan

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In a world where obesity rates are on the rise, Japan stands out as a remarkable exception. Renowned for its slender population, Japan has consistently held one of the lowest obesity rates among developed nations. The question stands, “What factors contribute to the ease of maintaining a thin physique in the Japanese society?”.

Watch the video on why it is easy for Japanese to stay thin.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the word “establishment” mean here, “As of 2017, there are over 243,000 fast food establishments in America.“? Give another meaning of this word and use ‘establishment’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does the phrase “walking distance” mean, “For most, these places are in walking distance.“? Give a synonym of ‘walking distance’ and use this phrase in your own sentence.
  3. What does the phrase “over and over” mean, “It’s going to be much easier to stick to healthier options if you aren’t getting bored of having to eat the same thing at the same places over and over.“? Give 2 synonyms of ‘over and over’ and use this phrase in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. In your opinion, which factors discussed in the video do you believe are the most influential in maintaining a slim figure in Japan? Are there any other factors that you think should be considered?
  2. What are the key dietary factors that contribute to the ease of maintaining a slim figure in Japan? How does the traditional Japanese diet differ from the diet in your country?
  3. What’s your country’s food environment like?
  4. While Japan’s low obesity rates are notable, is it realistic or desirable for other countries to replicate the same level of slimness? Why or why not?
  5. Explain why people’s diet is a societal concern.

Traded-In Apple iPhone Refurbished

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the world of technology, smartphones have become an essential part of our daily lives, and one of the most popular brands in the market is Apple. With each new release, millions of people eagerly anticipate getting their hands on the latest iPhone model, leading to a growing number of previously owned devices that are traded in or sold. But have you ever wondered what happens to these traded-in iPhones?

In this video, we will explore the fascinating journey of how a traded-in Apple iPhone gets refurbished, giving it a new lease on life before finding its way into the hands of a new owner.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of “trade in”? “Many iPhone users choose to trade in their old devices for credit towards a new purchase.” Make one sentence using the word.
  2. What does the word “refurbished” mean? “In 2022, 73.5 million used and refurbished phones were shipped in North America alone.” Use the word in a sentence.
  3. What does “triage” mean? “The first stop for our iPhone 11: data erasure and triage.” Use the word in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. From an environmental perspective, do you believe refurbishing traded-in Apple iPhones is a more sustainable practice compared to manufacturing new devices? Why or why not?
  2. In your opinion, what are the key advantages of purchasing a refurbished iPhone over a brand-new one? Are there any potential drawbacks to consider?
  3. Do you think the refurbished iPhones market poses a significant threat to Apple’s sales of new devices? Why or why not?

Factory Decorates 8 Cakes a Minute

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Baking a single-tiered cake at home takes about 25-30 minutes. However, decorating it is another story. It usually takes about 4 hours or longer to make one cake. However, one factory manages to decorate eight cakes in a minute.

Here’s a full video and watch how the workers do it.

Vocabulary Discussions

Explain the meaning of the highlighted words below and make some sentences.

1. Start by scraping the icing to make sure that the icing goes into the holes of the stencil.

2. My handmade snowflakes are finally getting their starring role.

3. 480 cakes are boxed and conveyed towards the end of the line.

Discussion Questions

1. How does the video make you feel?

2. Discuss how the cake assembly lines in the video make it possible to decorate eight cakes a minute.

3. The workers use stencils to decorate cakes at a fast pace. Can you think of other tools or methods that help to speed up tasks?

4. Do you like decorating things? Talk about the best decoration you have ever made.

5. Have you ever witnessed a high-speed production process like the cake assembly lines in the video? If so, share your experience and impressions.