Tag: video

What OpenAI’s New Image Generator Means for Our Future

B2 – Upper Intermediate

OpenAI’s new image generator is getting a lot of attention because it can create very realistic images based on what people ask for. This tool could change the way we create art, design, and media. It gives people more ways to be creative, but it also brings up some serious concerns.

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


Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “tweak” mean? “There has been an improvement in the quality of the image and it becomes conversational so you can tweak and make adjustments.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use the word in your own sentence.
  2. What does the phrase “to scream at the top of the mountain” mean? “I’ve been screaming at the top of the mountain that AI is here to stay and it’s not going anywhere and can’t be eliminated at this point.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use the phrase in your own sentence.
  3. What does the phrase “too good to be true” mean? “If an AI image is too good to be true, it’s more likely not true.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use the phrase in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think AI-generated images should be considered original art? Why or why not?
  2. Should there be limits on how people can use image generators like OpenAI’s?
  3. In your view, does this technology do more good or harm for society?
  4. How might AI image generation affect jobs in creative fields like illustration, design, and photography?
  5. How can we make sure AI image generators are used ethically and not for spreading fake or harmful content?

Airlines Demand for First-Class Seats Delayed Production

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Airlines are enhancing their first and business class cabins with luxurious features, such as heated seats and privacy doors, to attract high-spending customers. However, the certification process for these new seats is delaying aircraft deliveries from Boeing and Airbus, contributing to ongoing supply chain issues. Despite these challenges, the increase in premium passenger revenues indicates a strong demand for improved travel experiences. Airlines are making significant investments in cabin upgrades, expecting continued growth in premium seating, but they are encountering hurdles in getting these innovations approved.

Watch the video to explore more about airline innovations and challenges, and be prepared to answer the questions below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “bottlenecks” mean? “The bottlenecks are bad news, not just for airplane makers, but for airlines trying to grow profits.” Give two (2) synonyms and use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “outfit” mean here, “That means outfitting their planes with first and business class pods and suites that are more luxurious than ever.”? Give two (2) synonyms and use it in a sentence.
  3. What does the phrase “to skate to where the puck is going to be” mean? “For premium, we think that, that’s going to continue to grow, and we’re skating to where the puck is going to be.” Use this expression in a sentence. Give two (2) synonyms.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you ever flown in business class? What was it like? If you haven’t had the chance to experience it yet, what is your impression of flying in business class, and would you want to try it if given the opportunity? Why or why not?
  1. What do you think are the main reasons airlines are investing heavily in premium seating? Give specific examples of features that might attract big spenders.
  2. In what ways do you believe the pandemic has changed the airline industry’s approach to customer service and luxury? Can you provide examples of how airlines have adapted their services post-pandemic?
  3. What are your thoughts on the price differences between premium and economy class tickets? Do you believe these differences are justified, or do you think that practicality should take precedence in today’s travel market? Please explain.
  4. How do you envision the future of air travel in terms of luxury and technology? Can you elaborate on what advancements you think will be made in aircraft design and passenger experience?
  5. Do do you think it’s important for airlines to continue innovating premium seating and overall passenger experience? Why or why not? Explain.

Gen Z is Quitting Alcoholic Beverages


B2 – Upper Intermediate

For at least a century, alcoholic beverages have been an important part of social events, rites of passage, and the economy. However, the consumption of alcoholic beverages has gone down significantly amongst Gen Z.

To find out more about this topic, watch the video below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define “designated driver”. “Since when did Gen Z become the designated driver of society?” Use this term in a sentence.
  2. What does “cornerstone” mean? “For generations, drinking has been a cornerstone of social life, adulthood, and even celebrations.” Use this word to make your own sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What is the meaning of “on the rage“? “Yes, I did say mocktails because that is what’s all on the rage.” Use this idiom to make your own sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on Gen Zs dropping alcoholic beverages?
  2. What is your opinion on the current state of the alcohol industry? Is it going in a positive direction because of Gen Z’s preference to ditch drinking alcohol?
  3. Do you think that Gen Z’s awareness of alcohol has a positive effect on their health? Explain.
  4. How is the economy affected by less consumption of alcohol?

Why Can’t We Stop Eating Certain Foods?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Why do we struggle to stop eating certain foods? Many processed foods are carefully designed to be irresistible, using a mix of science, psychology, and strategic marketing to keep consumers coming back for more. These foods are engineered to enhance taste, texture, and even how they feel in our mouths, tricking our brains into craving them while making us feel less full than we actually are.

To explore how these factors influence our eating habits, watch the video and prepare to answer the questions below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “sonic branding” mean? “Even the sound of food matters. When you open a fizzy soda, you’ve got two noises. You’ve got the click and the tear. Sound engineers and manufacturers work really hard to get that sound just right and that’s sonic branding.“ Use this term in a sentence.
  2. What does “scurrilous” mean? “Clearly, there’s an opportunity there for some kind of scurrilous behavior in making food softer, so that people will eat more and therefore you sell more of your product.” Give two (2) synonyms and use it in a sentence.
  3. Explain “vanishing caloric density“. “There’s an industry term for this light, puffy foods that melt in the mouth. It’s called ‘vanishing caloric density’. “ Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does “sonic branding” influence consumer behavior, and can you think of other examples where sound is used to shape brand identity?
  2. In what ways do food companies use science and psychology to encourage overconsumption, and how can consumers become more aware of these tactics?
  3. How does “vanishing caloric density” impact public health? What health risks could it pose, and how might different stakeholders—such as food manufacturers, health professionals, and educators—help mitigate its effects?
  4. How does multi-sensory eating influence our food choices? How might companies apply this knowledge to make products both appealing and healthier? Can you give some specific examples?
  5. Is consumer education enough to protect people from the negative effects of processed foods? What challenges do they face in making healthier choices? Should stronger measures be taken? If so, what specific actions could help?

Full Body Scans to Keep Us Healthy

B2- Upper Intermediate 

There has been a growing interest on how life-threatening diseases could be detected early on and therefore, be prevented sooner. 

Neko Health offers low cost full body scans that enable patients to receive comprehensive medical consultations.

Watch the video to know more about Neko Health and their full body scans. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0k48k60/can-full-body-scans-help-to-keep-us-healthy-

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “at the core” mean? “Neko Health was co-founded by Spotify founder Daniel Ek, so unsurprisingly, has tech at its core.” Use this phrase in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.
  2. What does “a good nose” mean? “Apart from my grip strength needing some work, I had a screen of optimal readings. Then, came a good nose inside my veins.” Use this idiom in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.
  3. What are “wearables”? “I think what we should be promoting isn’t these scans, but is actually people getting wearables.” Use this idiom in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about this kind of consultation? Would you be interested to go to one?
  2. Talk about clinics such as this in your country. 
  3. Speak about a typical comprehensive medical consultation in your country.
  4. What is your opinion on this, “If someone is healthy, it’s unnecessary to check things.”?
  5. In your opinion, do you agree or disagree that wearables are better than body scans? Explain.

We Are All Connected

B2- Upper Intermediate 

The things we use every day come from all over the world. Your phone might have parts from different countries, and your clothes could be made in factories thousands of miles away. Even the internet connects us across borders, linking us to people and places we may never visit. But with this connection comes responsibility. Our choices such as what we buy, how we live, and so on can affect people on the other side of the world.

Watch the video below for more details.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “obsessed with” mean? “And those jeans you’re obsessed with cause they’re fierce, but affordable.” Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.
  2. What does “force” mean? “The climate blazes, rages, rising, forces people from their homes and so they move.” Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.
  3. What does “cross borders” mean? “And so they move, crossing borders when they do as you watch them on that phone in your pocket.” Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does globalization affect our daily lives?
  2. Do you think we should be more aware of where our products come from? Why or why not?
  3. What are some positive and negative effects of being connected to the rest of the world?
  4. How can we make more responsible choices as global consumers?
  5. In what ways do you think technology has made the world feel smaller?

Electronic Cigarette Dispute

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Tobacco is a leading cause of life-threatening diseases like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory illness, and more. Despite efforts to regulate tobacco products, the industry continues to evolve, introducing new products such as electronic cigarettes. While some argue these alternatives reduce harm, concerns remain about their long-term effects and appeal to young people. Governments and health organizations worldwide face challenges in balancing regulation and public health while considering industry influence and consumer choices.

Watch the video using the link below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “non-communicable” mean? “While these non-communicable diseases, or NCDs for short, cannot be spread from person to person, they have still become the single leading cause of death worldwide.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “geared around” mean? “By and large, U.S. trade policy is geared around making sure that markets are open so that U.S. goods, U.S. farm products, U.S. services can all be traded outside of the United States.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “intervene” mean? “It really only has one exception, which is that if those restrictions are only applied on foreign products, it allows those executive branch agencies to intervene in that case.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do tobacco regulations impact public health?
  2. Should governments impose stricter laws on electronic cigarettes? Why or why not?
  3. What are some challenges in balancing industry interests and public health?
  4. How do young people get influenced by tobacco marketing?
  5. What measures can individuals take to reduce tobacco consumption in their communities?

Going Through Security at Airports

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Why do travelers have to go through all the security checks at airports?

Watch the video using the link below to learn about a major event that changed air travel security forever.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “hijacked” mean? “In 1972, three men with guns and hand grenades hijacked a plane from Birmingham, Alabama.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “ransom” mean? “They threatened to crash the plane into a nuclear reactor in Tennessee unless they were paid a $10 million ransom.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “screening” mean? “Airports began screening passengers and their carry-on luggage like they still do today.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do you think airport security needs to become stricter after incidents like this?
  2. How do security screenings help prevent dangerous situations?
  3. Do you think security screenings at most airports are thorough enough? Why or why not?
  4. What other safety measures can airports implement to ensure passenger safety?
  5. How have security procedures changed over the years?

Regions of the World

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The world is home to nearly 8 billion people, spread across seven continents and almost 200 countries. But even with modern technology making global connections easier, where you live still shapes how you experience the world.

Watch the video below to explore how different regions are studied through various lenses.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “sprawling” mean? “These people inhabit seven sprawling continents and almost 200 different countries.” Use it in a sentence and give 2 synonyms.
  2. What does “legacy” mean? “The spread of democracy in the Americas and the legacy of colonialism across several regions.” Use it in a sentence and give 2 synonyms.
  3. What does “navigate” mean? “We’ve created a road map to cut through the complexities and to help you navigate the regions of the world.” Use it in a sentence and give 2 synonyms..

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do you think different regions are studied through different lenses?
  2. How do modern advancements make the world feel smaller?
  3. How does geography influence the way people live and interact?
  4. In what ways do economic and political factors shape a region?
  5. Why is it important to understand global issues beyond our own country?

Trump Wants to End Penny Production

B2 – Upper Intermediate

President Donald Trump recently proposed ending the production of the penny, reigniting a long-running debate. Supporters argue that eliminating the one-cent coin could save the government money and reduce inefficiencies, while opponents believe it could lead to rounding issues and impact charitable donations. Is it time to say goodbye to the penny, or does it still have a place in our pockets?

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


Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is “seigniorage“? “The coin has had a negative seigniorage for almost 20 years and part of the reason for the increased production cost is the metal, in this case, zinc, has gotten more expensive.” Use the word in a sentence.
  2. What does the phrase “round off ” mean? “Canada rounds off all cash transactions to the nearest 5 cents interval.” Make a sentence using the phrase.
  3. What does the word “mint” mean here, “Last year, the mint lost more than $85 million to make more than 3 billion pennies.“? Use the word in a sentence.


Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think eliminating the penny would have a significant impact on everyday transactions? Why or why not?
  2. Should sentimental or historical value be a factor in deciding whether to keep the penny? Explain.
  3. Would rounding prices to the nearest nickel be fair to consumers and businesses? Explain.
  4. How do the costs of producing pennies compare to their actual usefulness in today’s economy?
  5. What potential effects could removing the penny have on low-income individuals and cash-based transactions?
  6. How have other countries handled getting rid of low-denomination coins, and what lessons can the U.S. learn from them?