Tag: video

Why Can’t We Stop Eating Certain Foods?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Why do we struggle to stop eating certain foods? Many processed foods are carefully designed to be irresistible, using a mix of science, psychology, and strategic marketing to keep consumers coming back for more. These foods are engineered to enhance taste, texture, and even how they feel in our mouths, tricking our brains into craving them while making us feel less full than we actually are.

To explore how these factors influence our eating habits, watch the video and prepare to answer the questions below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “sonic branding” mean? “Even the sound of food matters. When you open a fizzy soda, you’ve got two noises. You’ve got the click and the tear. Sound engineers and manufacturers work really hard to get that sound just right and that’s sonic branding.“ Use this term in a sentence.
  2. What does “scurrilous” mean? “Clearly, there’s an opportunity there for some kind of scurrilous behavior in making food softer, so that people will eat more and therefore you sell more of your product.” Give two (2) synonyms and use it in a sentence.
  3. Explain “vanishing caloric density“. “There’s an industry term for this light, puffy foods that melt in the mouth. It’s called ‘vanishing caloric density’. “ Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does “sonic branding” influence consumer behavior, and can you think of other examples where sound is used to shape brand identity?
  2. In what ways do food companies use science and psychology to encourage overconsumption, and how can consumers become more aware of these tactics?
  3. How does “vanishing caloric density” impact public health? What health risks could it pose, and how might different stakeholders—such as food manufacturers, health professionals, and educators—help mitigate its effects?
  4. How does multi-sensory eating influence our food choices? How might companies apply this knowledge to make products both appealing and healthier? Can you give some specific examples?
  5. Is consumer education enough to protect people from the negative effects of processed foods? What challenges do they face in making healthier choices? Should stronger measures be taken? If so, what specific actions could help?

Full Body Scans to Keep Us Healthy

B2- Upper Intermediate 

There has been a growing interest on how life-threatening diseases could be detected early on and therefore, be prevented sooner. 

Neko Health offers low cost full body scans that enable patients to receive comprehensive medical consultations.

Watch the video to know more about Neko Health and their full body scans. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0k48k60/can-full-body-scans-help-to-keep-us-healthy-

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “at the core” mean? “Neko Health was co-founded by Spotify founder Daniel Ek, so unsurprisingly, has tech at its core.” Use this phrase in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.
  2. What does “a good nose” mean? “Apart from my grip strength needing some work, I had a screen of optimal readings. Then, came a good nose inside my veins.” Use this idiom in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.
  3. What are “wearables”? “I think what we should be promoting isn’t these scans, but is actually people getting wearables.” Use this idiom in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about this kind of consultation? Would you be interested to go to one?
  2. Talk about clinics such as this in your country. 
  3. Speak about a typical comprehensive medical consultation in your country.
  4. What is your opinion on this, “If someone is healthy, it’s unnecessary to check things.”?
  5. In your opinion, do you agree or disagree that wearables are better than body scans? Explain.

We Are All Connected

B2- Upper Intermediate 

The things we use every day come from all over the world. Your phone might have parts from different countries, and your clothes could be made in factories thousands of miles away. Even the internet connects us across borders, linking us to people and places we may never visit. But with this connection comes responsibility. Our choices such as what we buy, how we live, and so on can affect people on the other side of the world.

Watch the video below for more details.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “obsessed with” mean? “And those jeans you’re obsessed with cause they’re fierce, but affordable.” Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.
  2. What does “force” mean? “The climate blazes, rages, rising, forces people from their homes and so they move.” Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.
  3. What does “cross borders” mean? “And so they move, crossing borders when they do as you watch them on that phone in your pocket.” Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does globalization affect our daily lives?
  2. Do you think we should be more aware of where our products come from? Why or why not?
  3. What are some positive and negative effects of being connected to the rest of the world?
  4. How can we make more responsible choices as global consumers?
  5. In what ways do you think technology has made the world feel smaller?

Electronic Cigarette Dispute

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Tobacco is a leading cause of life-threatening diseases like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory illness, and more. Despite efforts to regulate tobacco products, the industry continues to evolve, introducing new products such as electronic cigarettes. While some argue these alternatives reduce harm, concerns remain about their long-term effects and appeal to young people. Governments and health organizations worldwide face challenges in balancing regulation and public health while considering industry influence and consumer choices.

Watch the video using the link below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “non-communicable” mean? “While these non-communicable diseases, or NCDs for short, cannot be spread from person to person, they have still become the single leading cause of death worldwide.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “geared around” mean? “By and large, U.S. trade policy is geared around making sure that markets are open so that U.S. goods, U.S. farm products, U.S. services can all be traded outside of the United States.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “intervene” mean? “It really only has one exception, which is that if those restrictions are only applied on foreign products, it allows those executive branch agencies to intervene in that case.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do tobacco regulations impact public health?
  2. Should governments impose stricter laws on electronic cigarettes? Why or why not?
  3. What are some challenges in balancing industry interests and public health?
  4. How do young people get influenced by tobacco marketing?
  5. What measures can individuals take to reduce tobacco consumption in their communities?

Going Through Security at Airports

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Why do travelers have to go through all the security checks at airports?

Watch the video using the link below to learn about a major event that changed air travel security forever.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “hijacked” mean? “In 1972, three men with guns and hand grenades hijacked a plane from Birmingham, Alabama.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “ransom” mean? “They threatened to crash the plane into a nuclear reactor in Tennessee unless they were paid a $10 million ransom.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “screening” mean? “Airports began screening passengers and their carry-on luggage like they still do today.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do you think airport security needs to become stricter after incidents like this?
  2. How do security screenings help prevent dangerous situations?
  3. Do you think security screenings at most airports are thorough enough? Why or why not?
  4. What other safety measures can airports implement to ensure passenger safety?
  5. How have security procedures changed over the years?

Regions of the World

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The world is home to nearly 8 billion people, spread across seven continents and almost 200 countries. But even with modern technology making global connections easier, where you live still shapes how you experience the world.

Watch the video below to explore how different regions are studied through various lenses.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “sprawling” mean? “These people inhabit seven sprawling continents and almost 200 different countries.” Use it in a sentence and give 2 synonyms.
  2. What does “legacy” mean? “The spread of democracy in the Americas and the legacy of colonialism across several regions.” Use it in a sentence and give 2 synonyms.
  3. What does “navigate” mean? “We’ve created a road map to cut through the complexities and to help you navigate the regions of the world.” Use it in a sentence and give 2 synonyms..

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do you think different regions are studied through different lenses?
  2. How do modern advancements make the world feel smaller?
  3. How does geography influence the way people live and interact?
  4. In what ways do economic and political factors shape a region?
  5. Why is it important to understand global issues beyond our own country?

Trump Wants to End Penny Production

B2 – Upper Intermediate

President Donald Trump recently proposed ending the production of the penny, reigniting a long-running debate. Supporters argue that eliminating the one-cent coin could save the government money and reduce inefficiencies, while opponents believe it could lead to rounding issues and impact charitable donations. Is it time to say goodbye to the penny, or does it still have a place in our pockets?

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


Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is “seigniorage“? “The coin has had a negative seigniorage for almost 20 years and part of the reason for the increased production cost is the metal, in this case, zinc, has gotten more expensive.” Use the word in a sentence.
  2. What does the phrase “round off ” mean? “Canada rounds off all cash transactions to the nearest 5 cents interval.” Make a sentence using the phrase.
  3. What does the word “mint” mean here, “Last year, the mint lost more than $85 million to make more than 3 billion pennies.“? Use the word in a sentence.


Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think eliminating the penny would have a significant impact on everyday transactions? Why or why not?
  2. Should sentimental or historical value be a factor in deciding whether to keep the penny? Explain.
  3. Would rounding prices to the nearest nickel be fair to consumers and businesses? Explain.
  4. How do the costs of producing pennies compare to their actual usefulness in today’s economy?
  5. What potential effects could removing the penny have on low-income individuals and cash-based transactions?
  6. How have other countries handled getting rid of low-denomination coins, and what lessons can the U.S. learn from them?

Why We Need Rites of Passage

B2 – Upper Intermediate

By the time we take our first steps and say our first words, we are leaving a mark of our time in this world. Each culture around the globe has identified certain events or achievements to commemorate life-changing moments, which we refer to as “rites of passage”.

To find out more about the rites of passage we commemorate, please watch the discussion below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Explain “radar of consciousness”. “This is something that often ends up on my radar of consciousness because I have many males in my audience.” Use this term to make your own sentence.
  2. What does “twiddling of thumbs” mean? “It’s not about the twiddling of thumbs. We are passing on to you the obligation of adulthood.” Create a sentence using this idiom.
  3. What is the meaning of “frown upon“? “This has become rather you know frowned upon in our kind of politically correct woke world.” Use this phrasal verb in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How important is it to commemorate the transitions in life? Explain.
  2. What are your thoughts on involving pain as part of the rite of passage?
  3. What are rites of passage do you know and celebrate?
  4. How does your community and family celebrate or honor the important milestones in your life?
  5. What kind of celebration of coming of age would you like to have? Which customs, themes, rituals, or activities would you like to incorporate in your culture? Why these rites?

How Coca-Cola Used You To Win

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Coca-Cola’s “Share a Coke” campaign brilliantly transformed a simple idea—printing popular names on Coke bottles—into a viral marketing phenomenon. By making the experience personal and shareable, Coca-Cola not only boosted sales, but also reconnected with young adults, turning an ordinary product into a social experience.

Watch the video to know more about it and be able to answer the questions below.


Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrase “fizzle out” mean? “In early 2010, Coca-Cola’s sales were fizzling out particularly in Australia where young adults weren’t drinking Coke.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the idiom “cherry on top” mean? “Every single word was reviewed and approved by Senior Management and the cherry on top, they had to design a brand new font specifically for this campaign.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “strike gold” mean? “Among young adults, consumption of Coke jumped by 7%. It wasn’t long enough that Coca-Cola realized they had struck gold.” Use it in a sentence.


Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think the success of the “Share a Coke” campaign was primarily due to personalization, or were other factors equally important? Why?
  2. Some critics argue that Coca-Cola’s campaign was clever but didn’t lead to long-term brand loyalty. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
  3. In your opinion, should more brands adopt similar personalized marketing strategies, or does this approach lose its impact when overused?
  4. How did the “Share a Coke” campaign change consumer behavior, and what lessons can other brands learn from it?
  5. What role did social media play in making the campaign go viral, and do you think it would have been as successful without it?





How Banks Magically Create Money

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Everyone was curious about the origins of money and how it flows through our economy. Did you know that a government facility in Washington, DC, converts paper into cash every hour of the day in order to meet demand? But there’s a catch: most of the money exists digitally.

See the video below to learn more about how banks magically create money.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Explain “type into existence“. “Before it ever reached your bank account, it changed hands countless times, passing through people, governments and businesses all after being simply type into existence.”  Create a sentence using this term.
  2. What does “hard to come by” mean? “To make transactions easier, people started to pay using more commonly used items like cattle, grain and salt. Everyone needed these things, but they were hard to come by and that’s what made them valuable.” Use this idiom to make your own sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of “intrinsic value“? “The paper itself has no intrinsic value but it became as good as gold.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘intrinsic value’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does money work and evolve?
  2. When did the entire idea of money started to change?
  3. What’s the bank role in money processing?
  4. What does “new money” mean?
  5. How do banks actually generate revenue?
  6. What are “bonds,” and what role do they play in the banking system?