Tag: video

How Adidas Turns Plastic Bottles Into Shoes

B2 – Upper Intermediate

According to studies, there will be more plastic bottles in the seas than fish in thirty years. This prediction could spell trouble for both humans and animals. By turning plastic bottles into shoes, Adidas, a multinational corporation, helps prevent such plastics from getting to the ocean.

Watch this video to learn how Adidas uses plastic bottles to manufacture shoes.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think Adidas is successful in reducing marine pollution? Explain your answer.
  2. Recycling is one of the topics covered in the video. Talk about some recycling ideas that you see in your community.
  3. Aside from Adidas, do you know any other companies that have exerted effort to help the environment? Talk about these companies.
  4. Have you ever tried purchasing any Adidas sportswear? If so, what can you say about its quality?
  5. What recommendations do you have for Adidas relative to sustainability initiatives?

What Did Dinosaurs look like?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Although humans have lived on Earth for a long, long time, there are still many species of animals that go undiscovered and may be lurking in the shadows for long.

Therefore, consider how many myths from the past still exist now. For instance, how did dinosaurs actually look like?

As a result of movies like Jurassic Park, people have compared dinosaurs to lizards, crocodiles, and other animals, which has shaped our concept of these prehistoric creatures.

Recently, scientists have discovered that dinosaurs are actually more feathery than reptilians, and although this information has been spread a lot more recently, many still think dinosaurs are scaly beasts.

What other aspects of the past are unknown to us if many people are mistaken about what they believe dinosaurs to be?

To find out more, let’s watch this video.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How many animals or species do you think we’ll never discover?
  2. Based on the information from this video, would we know if humans were to go extinct?
  3. What other animals do you think would disappear from history if they went extinct?
  4. How do you imagine the world would be like if we shared one environment with these extinct animals?

Opera Singer by Day, Janitor by Night

B2 – Upper Intermediate

What if part-time jobs hide some information about the people who are doing them? A janitor who is actually an opera singer during the day? Do you think it’s possible? Well, for Keanon Kyles, it is.

Watch the video about Keanon Kyles, the internationally touring opera singer and janitor.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What’s your reaction to this video?
  2. Have you ever had an unusual job? What about your friends or relatives? What are your thoughts on these odd jobs?
  3. How do you explain to others what your job is about?
  4. If you could take on an odd job, what would it be and why?
  5. Why do you think people tend to be so judgemental about what others do for a living?

Burn the Candle at Both Ends

B1 – Intermediate

There are times when we have to do more than what our body and mind can handle. It could be working long hours everyday in order to pay the bills or to stay up late every night to study so that we pass an exam. Whatever our reason may be, this is not a good practice and doing so will eventually affect our health.

Watch the video and listen to what Randall has to share about an idiom that describes this attitude.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does burn the candle at both ends mean? Have you burned the candle at both ends before? What happened?
  2. What was the most exhausting moment of your life?
  3. What are some reasons people burn the candle at both ends?
  4. Can someone be so stressed out without having to burn the candle at both ends? How?
  5. How do you manage mental and/or physical exhaustion?

Japanese Man Gets Paid to ‘Do Nothing’

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Imagine getting paid to do nothing. Sounds like the perfect job, right? Shoji Morimoto, a 38-year-old Tokyo resident, gets paid 10,000 yen ($70) by simply meeting up with clients who hire him just to be with them.

Let’s read the article below to know how this man made a career out of doing absolutely nothing.

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/dream-job-japanese-man-gets-011509342.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What’s your reaction to this video?
  2. Do you know people who gets paid to do absolutely nothing at their jobs?
  3. Would you like to get paid to do nothing? Why or why not?
  4. Do you enjoy spending time alone or with friends?
  5. Would you take a less-paying job with far less stress and live paycheck to paycheck or high-paying but high-stress job? Explain your answer.

Angola’s Tightly Contested Presidential Election

B2 – Upper Intermediate

After the civil war in 2002, Angola has remained politically stable. Recently, they have concluded their elections giving the country’s ruling party a wafer-thin victory. However, the opposition party believes there are irregularities in the election result.

Let’s watch the video know more about the 2022 Angola elections and the controversies surrounding it.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why is the Angola elections being contested?
  2. What do you think of one-party system of government?
  3. What is the form of government in your country? What are the good and bad things about this form of government?
  4. What kind of voting system do you have?
  5. What elections-related controversies have you had in your country?

The Currency of Clout

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As the internet becomes more prevalent and its technology more and more developed, clout on the internet is also becoming more important than ever.

But what is clout? Clout is a measurement of how much influence or power someone has.

However due to recent circumstances, clout on the internet has become synonymous to bad people; although, it still has some good uses.

Watch this video as David Castain talks about the currency of clout.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your thoughts on how far some people are willing to go just so they could establish their reputation online?
  2. How can clout on the internet influence different sectors?
  3. Name some instances when your digital footprints can help to your advantage?
  4. Talk about some “clout chasers” you know of?
  5. Also name some “clout makers” and what they have done.
  6. How do you portray yourself on social media and/or LinkedIn?

Divorce Affects Your Finances

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Divorce is not pleasant. It is, nevertheless, the appropriate decision at times. But regardless of whether it occurs in your lifetime, everyone should be aware of what would happen to a couple’s money in the event of a divorce.

It might be challenging but crucial to have a clear grasp of finances throughout a divorce. You have power over your future when you have control over your finances.

Here are some things to consider if you’re thinking about getting a divorce, are already going through one, or rebuilding your life.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is the divorce rate high where you are from? Why do you think that is?
  2. How do you view divorce?
  3. In your country, how are marital assets divided after a divorce? What about the repayment of loans obtained prior to the divorce?
  4. How does divorce affect a person’s taxes?

Building Credit from Scratch

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In several nations, credit is a crucial part of everyday financial life, so if you’re just getting started, building your credit history will be your first step.

The issue is that before approving you for a loan or credit card, many businesses want to verify your credit, and they can be wary if you don’t already have a credit history. Fortunately, there are a few methods to get over this possible obstacle.

You may learn how to start developing your credit by watching the video.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What comes to your mind when you hear the word ‘credit’?
  2. How does the credit system work in your country?
  3. In your country, is it necessary for you to have a credit history to be able to borrow money from the bank?
  4. What is the process for obtaining a bank loan for a property in your country?
  5. How have you built your credit score?

Criticism Can Hurt

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It’s never easy to receive criticism. We find it upsetting when we have to read a negative social media post about ourselves, receive critical comments on a project, or learn that we are the subject of rumors spread by complete strangers.

However, the answer to the issue of how much criticism needs to hurt hinges on a factor that has nothing to do with the particular assault we happen to be subjected to. It validates a deep-seated notion that we are unworthy.

Watch the video about why criticism cuts like a knife.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does it mean to criticize someone?
  2. How do you respond to criticism?
  3. Is constructive criticism necessary for someone to advance?
  4. Are improvements possible without criticism?
  5. Personally, how do you deal with criticisms?