Tag: video

Building a Personal Brand

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Whether one has got a big online presence or not, that can still be considered as personal brand. How we shape it lies in our own hands. Going through the process of building a personal brand might be intimidating, but it can most definitely be a concrete path to not only professional, but also personal development.

It is important to know how to build a brand that encapsulates what you do, who you want to share your your talents and expertise with, and what kind of impact you wish to create in your industry.

Learn more on how to create a personal brand that you are happy about through this video.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define “personal brand”. “In our connected world, every single one of us has a personal brand, whether we like it or not.” Use this phrase in your own sentence.
  2. What does “stumped” mean, “If you’re stumped, think about how you can stand out from the crowd in your industry.“? Give a similar word or phrase and use ‘stumped’ in your own sentence.
  3. What does ”to stand out from the crowd” mean, “If you’re stumped, think about how you can stand out from the crowd in your industry.”? Give a similar word or phrase and use ‘to stand out from the crowd’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How important is personal brand important?
  2. People often think of personal branding as bragging, self-promotion, and all about yourself thing. Do you agree or disagree? Explain.
  3. What specific talents or expertise would you like to acquire and what impact do you think it will have on your career if you had them?
  4. What do you think is the biggest impact you’ve created on others so far in your years of being in your profession?
  5. Try to come up with your own mission statement containing the following: who you are, what you do, who you do it for, and the transformation you can create in people’s lives.
  6. What are your thoughts on this: “70% of hiring professionals have rejected a candidate because of something they found online.”?

The Hidden Life of Buffets

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Buffets have boomed a lot these past few years. Many people like going to buffets because they can eat as much as they want. Buffets are popular because they offer a lot of different types of food to choose from, in addition to unlimited servings.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript to learn more about buffets.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2023/ep-230112

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “knock your socks off” mean, “They need to ‘wow’ the guests, or knock their socks off“? Use this idiom in your own sentence.
  2. What does “vicious circle” mean, “It’s a very vicious circle“? Use this in a sentence.
  3. What does “get your money’s worth” mean, “If you’re paying $100, $200 a head for a buffet, you’re gonna pile it up high and take the most expensive things you can, and get your money’s worth.” Use this in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the hidden life of buffets?
  2. According to the article, what is the main problem with buffets?
  3. Do you think buffets will still be popular in the future given concerns about food waste and sustainability? Why or why not?
  4. Are buffets common in your country? Why or why not?
  5. What is your opinion on buffets?

Artificial Intelligence in Classrooms

B2 – Upper Intermediate

China is at the forefront of using artificial intelligence (AI) in classrooms and it has implemented various AI-based technologies to enhance education.

It aims to provide personalized and immersive learning experiences, improve teaching effectiveness, and enhance student engagement and achievement.

However, the use of AI in education also raises concerns about data privacy, bias, and ethical issues. These are some of the challenges that need to be addressed for AI to be used effectively in classrooms.

Watch the video to learn more about how AI tech is being used in the classrooms. Be able to answer the questions that follow.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the expression “a glimpse of something” mean? “Some schools offer glimpses of what the future of high tech education might look like.” Use the idiom in a sentence.
  2. What does the word “consent” mean? “School says it wasn’t hard for them getting parental consent to enroll kids into what is one of the world’s largest experiments in AI education.” Give an example sentence using this word.
  3. What does the expression “doze off” mean? “This fifth grader whom we caught dozing off in class, told us his parents punish him for low attention scores.” Use the phrase in your own sentence and give two synonyms of ‘doze off’.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of using AI in classrooms?
  2. Should AI tech be enforced in classrooms more? Explain your stand.
  3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using AI tech in education?
  4. Would you like your child to be immersed in this kind of education or would you prefer them having the traditional method? Explain your answer.

Unlimited Vacation

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Unlimited PTO (personal time off) is a type of employee benefit where an organization allows its employees to take as much time off work as they want or need, without a specific limit or maximum number of vacation days.

This means that employees are free to take as much time off as they want, as long as they meet their work responsibilities and performance goals. Unlimited vacation policies are usually focused on results and outcomes rather than hours worked, giving employees more autonomy and flexibility to manage their own schedules and workloads.

Watch the video about the pitfalls of unlimited PTO. Be able to answer the questions that follow.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “talent retention” mean? “Unlimited time off policies help employees with their talent retention.” Use the word in a sentence.
  2. What does “backfire” mean? “Unlimited PTO(personal time off) can backfire if the company culture looks down on taking time off.” Use the word in a sentence.
  3. What does the word “pitfall” mean? “There are potential pitfalls that can make time off with no limits too much of a good thing.” Give 2 synonyms and use the word ‘pitfall’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What’s your opinion on unlimited PTO (personal time off) for employees?
  2. Do see this taking off even further in your country and in the whole world? Why or why not?
  3. What do you think are the benefits and drawbacks of introducing an unlimited vacation policy in the workplace?
  4. What are your company’s vacation policies and how do you feel about them? Share some of your thoughts.
  5. Do you agree/disagree that ’employees desire for flexibility is stronger now than ever before’? Share your opinion.

Fewer Teens Learn to Drive

B2 – Upper Intermediate

According to statistics, fewer and fewer young people do not rush to learning how to drive nowadays. Economic factors, public transportation, and social media are contributing to the decline in the number of teens learning to drive.

Watch the video as NBC reporter Jacob Soboroff takes a look at why young people are losing the drive to get behind the wheel:

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the word “to break the/one’s bank” mean, “She says even signing up for driver’s ed can break her bank.” Use the expression in a sentence.
  2. What does the phrase “behind the wheel” mean? “I was nervous the first time I was behind the wheel.” Use the expression in a sentence.
  3. What does the word “rodeo” mean in this sentence, “First car is usually rodeo.”? Use the word in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are some reasons why fewer teens learn to drive?
  2. One of the reasons mentioned in the video is that social media is replacing in-person get-togethers. What is your reaction and your opinion on this?
  3. In your own personal opinion, how important is driving?
  4. On the other hand, what do you think when someone doesn’t know or want to learn how to drive?
  5. Share your experience driving for the first time.

Eliminating Procrastination Habit

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The primary threat to productivity is procrastination. Procrastination is a terrible habit that can interfere with you achieving your objectives as well as create anxiety and negatively influence your health and quality of life, according to experts.

Despite the fact that it can be challenging to break the practice, it is very important to kick your procrastination habits to the curb.

Watch the video for some procrastination-busting advice.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does ”to live up to something” mean, “Do I feel like I need to live up to the previous work I’ve done in the past”? Use this expression in your own sentence.
  2. What does “to dive deep/deeper into something” mean, “Take a moment to dive deep into your own thoughts and feelings about your work.”? Give 2 similar words or expressions to this and use them in your own sentences.
  3. What does “in one’s tracks” mean, “Stop your habit in its tracks.”? Use this phrase in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your thoughts on the link between procrastination and anxiety or depression.
  2. Explain the difference between procrastination and laziness.
  3. How can managers help team members who struggle with procrastination?
  4. What are some of your intrinsic motivation for what you do at work?
  5. What do you think is the relationship between procrastination and success in life?
  6. How do you feel/What are your thoughts about strictly sticking to a to-do list or schedule?

Reasons Unemployment Is Scary

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Unemployment always sounds familiar to each and every one of us. Due to the fact that it is an issue that many people can relate to, it has long been one of society’s most pressing problems and a top concern for many governments all over the world.

Please watch the video below to find out why unemployment is so scary.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “scarce resource” mean, “All of this is done with the aim of allocating scarce resources.” Use this in your own sentence.
  2. What does “inner workings” mean, “Behind this definition, there is something much bigger going on, something that teaches us about the inner workings of the economy.” Use this in your own sentence.
  3. What is “free market“? “Free market economics does miraculously work quite well to get people paired up with jobs all over this country and world.” Use this in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of unemployment? Should we be concerned about it?
  2. Is unemployment one of your nation’s most pressing societal issues? Why or why is it not the case?
  3. Explain ‘natural unemployment’. Share your thoughts on it.
  4. Have you ever been without a job? Talk about this situation.
  5. How does unemployment impact our lives and the country’s economy?

Social Media and Plastic Surgery

B1 – Intermediate

Social media has a been a tool for people to be exposed to plastic surgery. Apparently, beauty standards are a thing on social media. Hence, people are wanting to get cosmetic procedures to conform to these so-called beauty standards.

Read the article to learn more about social media and plastic surgery.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/social-media-and-plastic-surgery-level-3/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “alter” mean, “Social media have built-in filters that alter face shape or facial features to fit current beauty trends.”? Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “undergo” mean, “Experts remind us that cosmetic surgery is still surgery, and although it’s very unlikely, the person undergoing plastic surgery can die.”? Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “ditch” mean, “They also warn that doctors with less training ditch their chosen profession to perform procedures.”? Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do you think plastic surgery has become more popular in recent years?
  2. How popular has plastic surgery become in your own country?
  3. How do you think social media influences people’s decisions about plastic surgery?
  4. What are some positive and negative effects of social media on beauty and self-image?
  5. What is your opinion on plastic surgery?
  6. Have you ever considered getting any cosmetic procedures done? Why or why not?

The Billion-Dollar eSports Industry

B2 – Upper Intermediate

More and more teenagers now prefer playing computer games to doing traditional sports. For them, it would be a dream job if they could play video games for a living.

Watch the video to know more about the billion-dollar eSports industry.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrase “on the cusp” mean, “We haven’t really had our biggest victory yet, but we are really on the cusp of it and I’m certain there we’re going to have it very soon.“? Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What does “fit for a king” mean, “When they’re not on the road, most American teams go back to Los Angeles, the unofficial home of eSports in the US, where their franchises pay for them to live in mansions fit for [a] king.“? Use this idiom in your own sentence.
  3. What does the idiom “rise (up) through the ranks” mean, “I would describe it like we’re playing like the NBA or something and you rise up through the ranks.”? Use this expression in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of eSports?
  2. What can you say about how professional egamers’ life was presented in the video?
  3. The popularity of games at times even surpasses the popularity of traditional sports. Do you see this as a problem? Explain.
  4. Do you agree that perseverance is very important in eSports? Is it true about every sport?
  5. What might be reasons parents don’t support their children getting involved in egaming?
  6. Is it possible to become a successful gamer even if you haven’t started at an early age? Explain.
  7. Why do you think the life of a pro gamer requires discipline?

Tip Culture Reaches Tipping Point

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Tip culture refers to the custom of leaving a gratuity or “tip” for service workers in certain countries, particularly in the United States. It is customary to leave a tip for a variety of service providers, such as servers in restaurants, bartenders, hairdressers, and taxi or ride-share drivers, among others.

Tipping culture in the United States can be controversial. Some people argue that tipping culture is out of control and places an undue burden on consumers, while others believe that tipping is an important way to ensure that service workers are fairly compensated for their work.

Watch the video to learn more about it and be able to discuss the questions below:

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrase “tipping point” mean? “The pressure to tip has reached its tipping point.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the word “tab” mean in this sentence, “Patrons often feel guilted into adding a few bucks to the tab.”? Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does the phrase “strike back” mean, “Some service workers are striking back.” Make one sentence using the phrase.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you give tips or have you given tips before? Is tipping customary in you country? What do you think of tipping?
  2. What are your thoughts on pre-set tipping options?
  3. What is your reaction to delivery people waiting for orders to pile up for those people who do not tip upfront?
  4. What is your opinion that some service workers are taking into account whether you tip or not upfront and that could impact the quality of their service?
  5. Do you agree with what the etiquette experts say about tipping? Why or why not? Explain your answer.
  6. Which workers do you think should be given tips? Explain why.