Tag: video

Your Family Tree Explained

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Let us explore the significance of terms like “great” and “grand” in describing your ancestors and their connections. Explore this fascinating topic and gain a deeper understanding of your familial bonds.

Here’s a video that unravels the mysteries of family tree relationships.

Vocabulary Questions:

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

1. Your siblings’ children are your nieces and nephews, collectively – niblings, and you are their aunt or uncle.

2. When you get married, you get everyone’s favorite in-laws.

3. The cousin number is the same as the “G” rule: it tells you how many in-betweeners until the connection on the family tree.

Discussion Questions:

1. Is it important for you to learn about your family tree and ancestors? Why or why not? 

2. How far back can you trace your family tree? Do you know any ancestors beyond your grandparents?

3. How can understanding one’s family tree help in developing a sense of identity and belonging? 

4. What are some common methods for researching and documenting a family tree?

5. Do you enjoy connecting with relatives or distant cousins? If yes, how do you go about it?

The Law You Won’t Be Told

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Did you know there’s more to the legal system than just guilty or non-guilty verdicts? Have you ever heard of ‘jury nullification’? In the thought-provoking video ‘The Law You Won’t Be Told,’ you’ll gain insights into this intriguing concept.

Take a moment to watch the video and contemplate whether some of the cases you’ve come across might fall into this category. Join us on this exploration of an often-overlooked aspect of the law.

Vocabulary Questions:

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

  1. Be warned: Simply watching the video may prevent you from ever serving on a jury.
  2. When the defendant is 100% beyond-a-reasonable-doubt guilty, but the jurors also think he shouldn’t be punished, then the jury can nullify the law and let him go.
  3. Jury nullification usually refers to the non-guilty version but juries can convict without evidence just as easily as they can acquit in spite of it.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What thoughts do you have about jury nullification?
  2. What are some potential benefits and drawbacks of jury nullification within the legal system? Discuss both sides of the argument.
  3. In your understanding, how can discussing jury nullification in the wrong circumstances can lead to arrest?
  4. Have you ever encountered a case where you believe jury nullification may have been at play? If so, what were your thoughts on the outcome?
  5. Is the legal system fair? Why or why not?

Change Jobs Without Fear

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Changing jobs when you are unhappy seems like a good idea, but not everyone has the guts to do so. Going out of your comfort zone and the fear of the unknown makes it really scary for others to change jobs.

Watch the video to learn how to change jobs without fear.

https://edition.cnn.com/videos/business/2023/06/15/nightcap-changing-jobs-clip-orig-jc.cnn

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “upheaval” mean? “Changing jobs can feel like this dramatic major upheaval.” Use this word in a sentence.
  2. What is a “grumbler“? “The people who are chronically dissatisfied, the grumblers, they keep on being unhappier and unhappier.” Use this in a sentence.
  3. What does “perch” mean? “People who are really looking for a new perch, a new place that’s going to be good for them, they start getting happier again.” Use this word in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why are some individuals afraid or hesitant to change jobs?
  2. What are the potential advantages of changing jobs for someone who is dissatisfied with their job?
  3. How can people overcome the anxiety or uncertainty that comes with changing jobs?
  4. Have you ever experienced dissatisfaction or unhappiness in your current job? If so, what were the main reasons?
  5. How do you typically handle fear or uncertainty when faced with major decisions or changes in your life?

Neuromarketing

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Neuromarketing is a fascinating field that combines neuroscience, psychology, and marketing to understand and influence consumer behavior. By studying the brain’s responses and subconscious processes, neuromarketers aim to uncover the underlying motivations and decision-making mechanisms that drive consumer choices.

Watch the video to know more about it and be able to discuss the questions that follow.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the expression “take (someone) back to” mean? Ex.The subtle smell of grass near the dairy aisle could take consumers back to a simpler, more care-free time, and subconsciously remind them of the fields the products come from. Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the word “suffice” mean?. Ex. In clothing stores, the invigorating scent of the sea or romantic mix of roses and violets suffices the experience and makes purchasing a product associated with those memories powerful. Make one sentence using this word.
  3. What does “call to mind” mean? Ex. The rich, deep scents of polished leather calls to mind luxury, relaxation, and reward. Make one sentence using this idiom.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does neuromarketing contribute to the development of more effective advertising campaigns?
  2. In your opinion, do you think neuromarketing is an ethical practice or does it manipulate consumers’ decision-making processes?
  3. How important do you believe neuromarketing is in gaining a competitive edge in today’s saturated market?
  4. Do you think businesses should invest more in understanding consumer neuroscience through neuromarketing, or are traditional market research methods sufficient?
  5. What kind of neuromarketing have you been exposed to?

Apple and Nike Branded Your Brain

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Apple and Nike have successfully established powerful brands that evoke strong emotional connections with consumers. It delves into the psychological aspects of branding, highlighting the use of storytelling, symbolism, and association to create a sense of identity and loyalty among customers.

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

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrase “wreak havoc” mean? “So to what degree can the influence of brands wreak havoc on our ability to make rational spending decisions.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the word “underdog” mean? “The Nike thing is about performance. The Under Armour thing is about the underdog.” Use the word in a sentence.
  3. Explain “reverse empathy“. “The only evidence that Samsung users showed was reverse empathy for Apple news.” Make one sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the video, what are some of the techniques used by Apple and Nike to create a sense of identity and loyalty among consumers?
  2. In your opinion, how effective do you think Apple and Nike’s branding strategies have been in establishing a strong emotional connection with consumers?
  3. Do you believe that branding plays a significant role in shaping consumer preferences and loyalty? Why or why not?
  4. Share your thoughts on this: “We relate to brands the same way we relate to people.“.
  5. What is your reaction to the results of the brain scans of Apple and Samsung users?

The Cost of Fast Fashion

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The throwaway culture has meant an unprecedented number of people purchase clothes, wear them just once, and then discard them. It leads to fast fashion, where consumers seek less expensive clothing, which drives up sales globally, but has a significant negative impact on the environment.

Watch the video below to learn more about the true cost of fast fashion.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define the word “castoff“. “This is where wardrobe castoffs end up.” Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What does the word “swanky” mean, “Today she’s looking for a new outfit for a swanky industry event.” Could you think of an antonym and construct a sentence using the word “swanky”.
  3. What does “to get mileage out of” mean? “Rent the Runway is getting more mileage out of items of clothes, it’s also helping tackle an increasing number of throwaway culture.” Think and make your own sentence using the idiom.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is fast fashion a trend in your country? Talk about it.
  2. What effects do you anticipate it will have on the environment and the economy?
  3. Would it be preferable to stop this expanding industry? Explain your stance.
  4. How else can the throwaway culture be tackled?
  5. What do you think of Patagonia’s philosophy, “To buy once, buy well, and mend clothing”? Share your thoughts on this.
  6. What are your thoughts on Rent the Runway’s business model?

Dead and Cremated Animals in a Hoarder’s Home

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In this eye-opening video, we witness a distressing situation involving a woman who had way too many animals living in terrible conditions, with some of them even dead. The situation got totally out of control because she just couldn’t stop hoarding animals.

This sweet elderly lady lived alone and ended up with around 100 cats in her house. It’s sad because she’s a really caring person, but things went downhill after her husband passed away 12 years ago. Her house became a complete mess, filled with boxes and stuff everywhere, making it impossible to live in. The smell was so bad that it even bothered her neighbors.

Luckily, the authorities stepped in and rescued the animals that were still alive. But now, the woman’s house is considered unsafe and is red-tagged. You won’t believe the details until you watch the video!

Vocabulary Questions:

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

  1. It is an apparent case of animal hoarding that got out of hand.
  2. The smell would get pretty bad, it would linger over to our side.
  3. The home here was red-tagged.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What have you seen in the video?
  2. How would you feel in a situation where hoarding leads to poor living conditions?
  3. Can good intentions sometimes lead to uncontrollable and harmful situations?
  4. What could have been done earlier to stop the situation from getting worse?
  5. How important is neighborly awareness for overall well-being?

Lab-Grown Steak

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Whether we like it or not, most of us are carnivorous. Are we not? Most of the time, we visit restaurants to order our preferred rare, medium, or well-done steak. Can you imagine living a life without meat on our tables? Probably not, right? No worries. That’s so normal for most of us meat lovers.

According to experts, the global beef industry has been broken. Hence, the attempt to produce meat in laboratories. Although this sounds wonderful, it still might have a rather strange ring to it.

Please watch the video below to learn more about lab-grown meat.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to make room for someone/something” mean? ” “On average, tropical rainforests the size of El Salvador are cleared every year to make room for cattle.” Use this idiom in your own sentence.
  2. Explain what ” to hop/jump on the bandwagon” means? “It’s like everyone wants to hop on to that bandwagon.” Kindly make your sentence.
  3. How about “pour in“? “It wasn’t until 2020 that funding for lab-grown food really started to pour in. ” Give a similar expression and make your own sentence using the phrase “pour in”.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you believe that this could resolve the current problems, particularly in the broken supply chain? Elaborate on your opinion.
  2. What are your thoughts on lab-grown meat? Would you be so interested in giving it a try? Why/why not?
  3. In general, what are your thoughts on other meat/beef alternatives?
  4. Share reaction to this statement, “Beef is one of the most damaging foods for the planet.“.
  5. Do you enjoy eating meat? How much meat do you consume per week and why is that?

Your Brain When Someone Breaks Your Heart

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Someone breaking your heart can have an enormously detrimental impact on your mental wellbeing. Heartbreak can cause a variety of responses and physical sensations, whether it’s brought on by the conclusion of an intimate connection or a major loss. Heartbreak itself is primarily an emotional experience, but it also has an assortment of neurological consequences.

Gain deeper insights into the impact of heartbreak on the brain through this informative video.

https://edition.cnn.com/videos/health/2023/04/28/brain-heartbreak-rejection-lbb-orig.cnn

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “into tomorrow” mean in the sentence, “Find the right partner and send your DNA into tomorrow.”? Use this in a sentence.
  2. What does “time does heal” mean in the sentence, “We’ve been able to prove that time does heal.”? Use this in your own sentence.
  3. What does “jeopardize” mean in the sentence, “This jeopardized your ability to send you DNA on into tomorrow.”? Give 2 synonyms for this word and use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your stance on this matter?
  2. Are there specific regions of the brain that are more active or less active when someone has their heart broken? Tell me more.
  3. Can heartbreak lead to changes in cognitive functions, such as attention and memory? Explain.
  4. Are there differences in brain activity between individuals who experience intense heartbreak versus those who handle it better? Elaborate.
  5. Can heartbreak have long-term effects on brain health and emotional well-being? Explain.

Crooked Teeth Our Ancestors Didn’t Have

B2 – Upper Intermediate

According to studies, ancient people had all of their teeth, including their wisdom teeth, and they were all perfectly aligned, even though orthodontic braces didn’t exist back then. This seems to be in contrast with modern humans’ crowded, crooked teeth.

As a matter of fact, this led to dental conundrum because of the increased demand for braces and tooth extractions, which are among the most current advancements in dentistry.

Kindly watch the video below to learn more about this topic.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “subsistence” mean? ” A couple million years ago, the ancestors of modern humans lived a subsistence lifestyle.” Make your own sentence using this word.
  2. How about “vye“? “…while teeth stayed roughly the same size, meaning they’re left vying for limited space.” Construct a sentence using this word.
  3. Do you know what “jostle” means? “When they grow in, they may displace others and get jostled into some eccentric positions. ” Use this in your words.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree with the findings of this study on teeth? Explain.
  2. What do you think about this statement, “Dental crowding has been caused by people’s less chewy foods, smaller jaws, and dental crookedness”?
  3. How important are teeth to a person?
  4. How can we take care of our teeth?
  5. Talk about your experience visiting the dentist.