Tag: video

Artificial Womb Facility

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Science has made it possible for humanity to advance significantly, as evidenced by developments in reproductive and delivery technologies.

EctoLife is a conceptual, theoretical design for what could be the world’s first artificial womb facility. It was created by Berlin-based science communicator and molecular biotechnologist Hashem Al-Ghaili. The project exists only as a futuristic thought experiment and is not a functioning facility.

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

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is meant by “from the comfort of one’s zone“? “You can track your baby’s health from the comfort of your zone.” Use it in your own sentence. Give a synonym.
  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. Give a synonym.
  3. What 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?
  4. What ethical concerns do you think artificial wombs raise for society?
  5. How might artificial womb technology change the traditional concept of pregnancy and parenthood?
  6. Do you think governments should regulate or limit the use of artificial wombs? Why?
  7. How do you think society would change if artificial wombs became a normal part of childbirth?


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?

Ways to Increase Motivation and Get More Done

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Productivity largely depends on motivation because it’s challenging to complete tasks if you don’t have the desire to perform them.

However, a lot of people have trouble finding and maintaining motivation at work, which can result in a decline in productivity. How you boost motivation so that you accomplish more now presents a difficulty.

Watch this video on ways to increase motivation to get more done.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Give 1-2 synonyms of the word “plummet“. Use them in sentences.
    Many people struggle to get and stay motivated at work which can cause their productivity to plummet.
  2. What does the phrase “cut back” mean?
    Look for changes you can make in your daily routine to promote better sleep. These can be things such as cutting back on caffeine and powering down your devices.
  3. What does the phrase “carve out” mean? Use it in your own sentence.
    Try to carve out at least 30 minutes per day for exercise.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are you a motivated individual? How can you say so?
  2. What do you consider to be the most crucial of the methods described in the video?
  3. What are things that motivate you?

Buy the Dip

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Purchasing an asset when its price declines, often as a result of external events, is referred to as “buying the dip” in the context of investing. In expectation of a price recovery for that asset, investors then “buy the dip.”

People may tell you to “buy the dip” while the stock market is declining. Does it, however, make sense?

Watch the video about buying the dip.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. How do you interpret the term “blue chip” in trading?
    This is the last 12 months of a blue chip stock price.
  2. What does the idiom “bang for the buck” mean?
    Since the shares are essentially on sale, you get more bang for your buck.
  3. Use the phrase “in hindsight” in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you feel about investing in the stock market?
  2. If you are a trader, would you buy the dip?
  3. Which of the investing strategies mentioned in the video would you most likely employ if you were a stock market investor?

Steve Jobs’ Motivational Speech 

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Steve Jobs gives the listeners a reason to care. He talks about his own experience and is not ashamed to share his failure with his audience. He uses intriguing and provocative questions about getting fired from a company he himself founded. The question sparks the audience’s strong feelings such as confusion, annoyance, or even anger.

Watch this Steve Job motivational speech.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “devastating” mean? Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does this statement mean “Sometimes life’s going to hit you in the head with a brick.”?
  3. What does the expression “to dawn on (someone)” mean? Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Does the speaker use intriguing, provocative questions? Why does he use them?
  2. What do you find interesting/useful/helpful or useless/boring about the speech? Why?
  3. What does failure teach you?
  4. Share your thoughts on this statement, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.”.

Staying Calm When You Know You’ll Be Stressed

B2 – Upper Intermediate

To stay calm in a stressful situation is a hard thing to do. Sometimes, you cannot easily think of a solution since you are too focused on what’s stressing you out.

Let’s watch this video to know how to stay calm in a stressful situation.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. How is pre-mortem explained in the video?
  2. What about post-mortem?
  3. How does the hippocampus work?

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you easily get stressed when things are not going well?
  2. When was the last time you got stressed about something?
  3. How do you usually manage things when you are in a stressful situation?
  4. How do you wish you reacted to things when you were stressed about it in the past?
  5. How would you calm yourself now when you are stressed?