Tag: video

Being Bilingual Is Good for the Brain

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Being bilingual is like having a mental superpower. It’s not just about being able to order a croissant in French or salsa dance in Spanish; it actually does wonders for your brain. Research suggests that bilingualism can enhance cognitive abilities, improve problem-solving skills, and even delay the onset of certain age-related diseases. So, it’s not just about knowing two languages; it’s about giving your brain a serious workout.

Watch the video and be able to answer the questions that follow:

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the word “suppress” mean? “Bilingualism has been shown to suppress the decline of cognitive functions as individuals age.” Use the word in a sentence.
  2. What does the phrase “the onset of” mean? “The onset of neurodegenerative diseases may be delayed by the cognitive benefits of being bilingual.” Make one sentence using this idiom.
  3. What does “cognitive reserve” mean? “Developing a strong cognitive reserve through bilingualism can provide a buffer against age-related cognitive decline.” Make one sentence using this phrase.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are some massive real-world implications of bilingualism?
  2. What’s your take on the idea that being bilingual can enhance problem-solving skills and cognitive flexibility?
  3. In your opinion, how valuable is the ability to suppress the onset of cognitive decline through bilingualism?
  4. Do you believe that developing a cognitive reserve through being bilingual is a significant advantage in today’s fast-paced and demanding world? Explain your thoughts.

What is Accounting?

B1 – Intermediate

In simple terms, accounting refers to recording and reporting financial information. It often involves measuring, summarizing, and analyzing a business or corporation’s sales figures and communicating them to tax authorities. 

Watch the video to know more about accounting and how it keeps a systematic and accurate record of company’s activities.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of the word “challenging”? “I think you could see that could be quite challenging“. Use it in a sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of the word “proficiency”? “However, if you had some proficiency in the foreign language your trip would likely be enjoyable”. Use it in a sentence.
  3. What is “immersion”? “So, how do students study for language classes? With practice and immersion.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the speaker, how should students study both languages and accounting?
  2. What is accounting for?
  3. Do you agree with the speaker when he said, “Accounting is really a foreign language class?” What do you think he meant by this? Share your points of view.
  4. How is accounting similar to any other subjects?
  5. Why is accounting important in a business?

Electric Roads Charge Cars as You Drive

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Buckle up for a glimpse into the future of electric vehicles, where the roads themselves are the charging stations. Imagine cruising along highways, not just as a driver, but as a participant in a dynamic energy exchange. The concept of electric roads is reshaping the landscape of sustainable transportation, offering a seamless and continuous charging experience as you journey from point A to B. In this electrifying revolution, the asphalt beneath your tires becomes a conduit for power, propelling us towards a greener and more efficient tomorrow.

Watch the video about electric roads and be able to answer questions that follow:

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What’s the meaning of the expression “take a spin”? “How about we take a spin on the newly upgraded highway with electric roads and experience the seamless charging as we drive?” Use it in a sentence
  2. What does the expression “give it a go” mean? “Curious about the future of electric cars? Why not give it a go and test drive on the electric roads to witness the revolutionary charging technology in action?” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What doe the phrase “tamper with” mean? “It’s crucial not to tamper with the delicate infrastructure of electric roads to ensure a smooth and safe charging experience for all drivers.” Make one sentence using the phrase.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you think electric roads that charge cars while driving could revolutionize the convenience and practicality of electric vehicles?
  2. In your opinion, what potential impact could electric roads have on addressing the range anxiety often associated with traditional electric vehicles?
  3. From an environmental standpoint, how do you see electric roads contributing to a more sustainable future compared to traditional charging infrastructure?
  4. In your view, what are the key factors that might influence the public’s acceptance and adoption of electric roads as a mainstream technology for electric vehicles?

TV Dinners Changed American Cooking

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the mid-20th century, a culinary revolution quietly unfolded in American homes, transforming the way families approached mealtime. Enter the TV dinner—a convenient, pre-packaged meal that brought together elements of innovation, efficiency, and, well, a dash of nostalgia.

No longer bound to the traditional confines of home-cooked dinners, Americans found themselves embracing the futuristic appeal of neatly compartmentalized trays filled with a medley of flavors. These frozen delights not only saved time, but also mirrored the changing dynamics of American life, where convenience became a key ingredient in the recipe for success. The TV dinner era not only changed the way America cooked, but also left an indelible mark on the cultural menu of the nation.

Watch the video to know how TV dinner changed the American cooking and be able to answer the questions below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is flash frozen meat? “Imagine opening a box of TV dinner and marveling at the flash frozen meat, perfectly preserved to retain its flavor and texture as if it was just prepared in a chef’s kitchen.” Make a sentence using this term.
  2. What does “pitch” mean in this sentence? “Borrowing from the concept of the ‘Strato-Plate’, Swanson salesman Gerry Tomas pitched an idea – preserve the turkey through flash freezing and sell it to consumers as a meal in a box.” Make a sentence using this word.
  3. What does expression “lauded” mean? “The innovation of TV dinners deserves to be lauded with praise for revolutionizing the way we approach mealtime, providing a quick and easy solution for busy households. Make a sentence using this word.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you think the advent of TV dinners impacted family dynamics around mealtime?
  2. In your opinion, do TV dinners represent a positive or negative shift in our approach to cooking and dining as a society? Explain your answer.
  3. What are your thoughts on the cultural significance of TV dinners and their influence on American culinary habits?
  4. How have TV dinners influenced the way we perceive and value traditional cooking skills in contemporary culture?
  5. In your opinion, do TV dinners promote a healthy or unhealthy relationship with food and eating habits?

Sugar Doesn’t Make Kids Hyper

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Trick-or-treating gets more popular as the spooky season draws near and kids roam the neighborhood gathering sweets. Sadly, many kids become very hyper after eating the collected sweets. One might conclude that sugar is causing this effect. However, a number of researches challenge the notion of sugar rush.

Watch the video to learn more about hyperactivity, which apparently, has nothing to do with consuming sugary treats.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What’s the meaning of “to put something to bed”? “And today, we’re putting this long-standing food myth to bed.” Make a sentence using this idiom.
  2. What does “to keep something in check” mean? “Glucagon’s job is to tell our bodies to release some of our stored-up sugar supplies to balance out our blood sugar levels. Our bodies are extremely good at keeping these things in check when they’re healthy.” Use this idiom in a sentence.
  3. What does “to bounce off the walls” mean? “But as you get older, the season’s less about TPing* the house of that one neighbor that gives away healthy apples and toothbrushes during trick-or-treating and more about dreading your five-year-old bouncing off the walls after consuming half of their body weight in Kit Kats.” Create your own sentence using this expression.

*TP stands for ‘toilet paper’ which means to cover (trees, buildings, etc.) with toilet paper as a prank.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree to the theory presented in this video? Explain.
  2. Have you experienced the sugar rush effect mentioned in this video? Talk about that instance.
  3. What were your thoughts about children becoming hyperactive after taking/eating sugary foods before seeing this video?
  4. What might be reasons many people turn to sugary food when they feel tired?
  5. Are you aware of how your body reacts to food and how it relates to the prevailing knowledge in society? Cite concrete examples.

More Education Is Not Always Better

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It has been demonstrated that education has the greatest impact on one’s economic success. Does this imply that increased education has more positive economic effects, taking into account the numerous factors brought about by technological development that influences the skill set needed by the economy.

Watch the video below to learn more why more education is not always necessarily better.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define “skilled migration“. “Finding the right balance is going to be hard, especially as new technologies are constantly changing the skill sets that are demanded by the economy and that’s before considering variables like skilled migration, which can add or subtract skills to the labor market very quickly.” Please create your own sentence using the phrase.
  2. What does “too much of a good thing” mean? “Are our modern economies becoming overeducated and if they are, what are the consequences of having too much of a good thing?” Use this expression in a sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of “egalitarian“? “In some highly egalitarian countries, education is paid for by the government.”

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree that more education isn’t always better? Why or why not?
  2. What are the consequences of an overeducated population?
  3. Should we slow down the trend of people becoming more and more overeducated? Share your thoughts on this.
  4. Do you believe that the “Labor Theory of Value” is a perfect way of measuring value? Explain.
  5. What is the importance of subjective value?
  6. Talk about the balance of research and labor in your country.

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?