Tag: video

Why We Need Subtitles

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Do you enjoy watching TV shows and movies a lot? Have you ever felt the need for subtitles to fully grasp what the speakers are saying? If so, don’t you think subtitles should be a requirement and that relying on them would help us understand what we are watching more?

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

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “intelligibility” mean? “Naturalism isn’t always the best for intelligibility, though.” Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of “impede“? “Microphones don’t impede performance as much anymore.” Make your own sentence using this word.
  3. Do you know the meaning of “mumbler“? “Take Tom Hardy, an actor I personally love, but who famously is a mumbler.” Kindly make your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you rely on subtitles when watching movies or series? Why/why not?
  2. What are the advantages and disadvantages you could think of subtitle dependency?
  3. Why are subtitles considered an absolute necessity when watching movies or series?
  4. What factors do you believe most influence whether or not viewers in your country choose to watch movies or television shows with subtitles?

Spot a Phone Scammer

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Phone scams are quite prevalent these days. Although this may seem like a little problem, it has had a large-scale impact and made the fraudsters very wealthy and their victims forever scarred.

Check out this video to learn how to spot a phone scammer.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is a “cold-call“, “Cold-call scammers pretending to be from the HMRC are targeting households threatening legal action unless you call them back.“? Use this word in your own sentence.
  2. What does the idiom “out of the blue” mean, “The HMRC will never contact you out of the blue and threaten you with arrest.“? Use this expression in your own sentence.
  3. What does the phrase “at hand” mean, “The issue at hand is extremely time-sensitive.“? Use this phrase in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about cold-calls?
  2. Talk about some kind of calls such as this that you have received and how you handle it.
  3. If you had the ability to help stop these scam call centers, what would you do?
  4. How can you and others close to you prevent being phone scammed?
  5. Do you believe that law enforcement could do a better job in this type of situations? How so?

The Science Behind TikTok Brain

B2 – Upper Intermediate

TikTok is a social media platform that allows users to create and share short-form videos with a wide range of music, filters, and other effects. Studies have shown that its usage can activate the release of dopamine in the brain, which is associated with pleasure and reward. The fast-paced, highly-engaging nature of TikTok videos can make it difficult for users to look away and can lead to addiction.

Watch the video about TikTok’s impact on the brain, behavior, and mental health.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is “dopamine hit“? “They are getting these dopamine hits that feel good, just the way it does when people sometimes use drugs or they use alcohol, or they become addicted to other things.” Explain what it does to our body.
  2. What does the phrase “spike up” mean, “We see that it gets spiked up.“? Use it in a sentence. Ex. Running up the stairs spike up my heart rate.
  3. What does the idiom “take [ the bull ] by the horns” mean, “As an adult, I can take that by the horns and just make a change.“? Make one sentence using this expression. Ex. I took the bull by the horns and confronted him about his mistreatment of the workers.

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the video, what is a “TikTok Brain”?
  2. Do you have a “TikTok” account? If so, how do you feel when you’re engaged on it? How does it affect you?
  3. What are some negative effects of it and what do you think of this?
  4. What might be the positive effects of scrolling and scrolling through TikTok?
  5. While potential harmful effects of using TikTok exist, what should be done to curb its impact on mental health?

Voice Help Diagnose Illness

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Several studies have been conducted on and have proven how a person’s voice holds key information about their health. 

A team of 45 investigators from Europe and North America are working together to collect human voices as data. They hope to use this information to help identify a variety of medical conditions in patients just by analyzing their voices with the help of AI computer softwares.

Watch the video to know more about how one’s voice could help diagnose illnesses.

https://www.voanews.com/a/logon-could-your-voice-help-diagnose-your-next-illness/6941387.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “tackle” mean, “The study is one of four data generation projects funded by the National Institute of Health bridge to artificial intelligence program designed to use AI to tackle complex biomedical challenges.” Use this word in your own sentence.
  2. What does ”gap” mean here, ”They realized that there were such a big gap between the technology that we had available and the clinical knowledge and what we use in clinical care in our hospitals.”? Give two synonyms and use these words in sentences.
  3. What does the word “enroll” mean? “The study will start enrolling participants in the coming year.” Use this word in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on this study?
  2. In your own opinion, is our voice a good indicator of our underlying or imminent disease or condition? Explain your point.
  3. How would you like your voice to be used to diagnose an illness that you might have?
  4. What might be the good and bad things about using our voice to help diagnose some medical conditions?
  5. Would you be willing to participate in such a study? Why or why not?

Artificial Womb Facility

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Science has made it possible for humanity to advance significantly, as evidenced by the developments in delivery technology.

The first concept for artificial wombs has just been unveiled, showing an unthinkable way for humans to give birth in these pods.

However, this recent breakthrough has sparked much controversy, making many people afraid of its ramifications for the future.

To find out more about artificial wombs, let us watch this video.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is meant by “comfort of your zone“? “You can track your baby’s health from the comfort of your zone.” Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of “haptic“? “Using a wireless haptic suit connected to your baby’s growth pod, you will be able to sense their kicks in the womb.” Use it in your own sentence.
  3. What exactly is a “bioreactor“? “The second bioreactor is designed to eliminate any waste products created by the babies.” Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your initial thoughts about such growth pods?
  2. Do you believe that science has gone too far with this kind of tech? Explain your thoughts.
  3. In your opinion, what are the worst and best parts of an artificial womb facility?

Run Away and Join the Circus

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever considered drastically changing your career? Do you know anyone who has done it? Modern life requires constant change and flexibility. That is true for one’s career and any other aspect of life. 

Watch the video and hear an incredible story from a woman who has dared to make significant changes in her life.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of the phrase “to be on the road“, “I never looked back and I’ve been on the road ever since.“? Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.
  2. What is the meaning “on one‘s toes“? “You have to be ready for anything. You have to live on your toes because you never know what’s going to happen.” Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.
  3. What does “in one’s wildest dream” mean? “Whatever you want to do in your wildest dreams, do it. Anything is possible.” Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your thoughts on her story on how she became a trapeze artist.
  2. Do you know any stories of people who have given up their careers or profession and started something new? What do you think made them do that?
  3. Would you do the same? What career would you change your present one for?
  4. What do you think of this statement: “Whatever you want to do in your wildest dreams, do it!“?

Stay Positive at Work

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Having a positive mindset at work is beneficial. It can improve one’s mood, boost confidence, help focus on future goals, and thereby, increase productivity in the workplace. By maintaining a positive outlook, one can focus on areas of improvement rather than work challenges. Make daily tasks at work enjoyable as positivity can influence not only you but also your co-workers.

Watch the video to explore how you start incorporating more positivity in your work life.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the idiom “cut someone some slack” mean? “Cutting yourself some slack will be an aid in finding motivation to learn and grow from your mistakes.” Use it in your own sentence.
  2. Give 1-2 synonyms of the “drawback“. Use them in sentences. “If you focus on the drawbacks of your role, it’s going to seem impossible to stay positive at work.“
  3. What is the meaning of the phrase “to reap the rewards of something“? “Use these strategies to reap the rewards of staying positive at work.” Use this idiom in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What’s your attitude towards your work? Are you usually positive or the opposite? Why or why not?
  2. How do you stay positive and motivated to get things done at work?
  3. Which strategies mentioned in the video that you think are helpful in your work life?

Stockholm Syndrome

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever heard of Stockholm syndrome? It is a victim’s coping mechanism, but in many cases, it could eventually lead to many mental problems for them in the long run.

To find out more, let’s watch this video about Stockholm syndrome and its dark results on victims of abduction.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “coin” mean here, “Criminologist and psychiatrist Nils Bejerot first coined the term ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ in 1973.”? Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What is a “coping mechanism”? Use it in your own sentence.
  3. What does the expression “to go into a flurry” mean? “The media went into a flurry.” Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on Stockholm syndrome?
  2. Have you seen or heard of a case involving Stockholm Syndrome? Talk about it.
  3. How to help people currently dealing with Stockholm syndrome?
  4. What other coping mechanisms can one use during moments of hopelessness and frustration?

The Doughnut Economics

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In 1934, an American economist Simon Kuznets developed the concept of GDP. It is the monetary value of all products and services produced in a country each year. Today, it is now used as a means to measure the economic progress of a nation. Kate Raworth, an English economist, proposed a different approach in measuring and creating a better economy.

Let’s watch the video and know more about the “Doughnut Economics”.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrasal verb “run down” mean? “It tells us nothing about the living world, the forest and the mines that get run down in order to create this value.” Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What does “caveat” mean? Use it in a sentence.
  3. Give 1-2 synonym/s of the word “overshoot”. Use them in your own sentences.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the doughnut theory? How does it work and how is it different from the Peter Pan theory?
  2. Do you agree that endless growth is a sign of progress in economy? Why or why not?
  3. How can GDP alone not measure the economic progress of a country?

Inflation and Interest Rates

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Based on a general correlation, interest rates and inflation are inversely correlated. Lower interest rates normally result in more inflation, whereas higher interest rates typically result in lower inflation.

Watch the video to understand the logic behind this relationship.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the idiom “rainy day” mean? Use it in a sentence.
    “They don’t go out as much, they don’t have lots of holidays, and [sic] instead put their money away for a rainy day.”
  2. What does the word “subsequent” mean?
    “Subsequent supply chain problems have arisen.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does the word “inverse” mean? Use it in your own sentence.
    “Interest rates and inflation has an inverse relationship.”

Discussion Questions:

  1. In your own words, explain the inverse relationship between inflation and interest rates.
  2. What comes to your mind when you hear the words “inflation” and “interest rate”?
  3. Is inflation evident in your country? Cite examples of evidence.
  4. What policies has your government used to combat inflation?
  5. Has the interest rate increased in your country? How do you feel about it?