Tag: video

The Egg – A Short Story On Reincarnation

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever heard or seen someone saying that they are someone in their past life and puzzled you at some point as to what they are really trying to say? It is believed that this kind of phenomenon is called reincarnation when someone is reborn and have already experienced or had vision of their past life. The idea or possibility conveys both mystic and exotic sense.

Watch the video and learn more about reincarnation.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you heard of reincarnation? How does reincarnation occur?
  2. How is reincarnation viewed in your culture?
  3. Do you believe it could be true or not? Would you like to experience this phenomenon?
  4. If you were to be reincarnated, how would you like your new life to be?
  5. Can someone who experienced it be credible in claiming it to have happened? How could someone justify such mystic occurrence?

How Eating Out Keeps You Poor

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A lot of people are struggling with money because of different reasons; they may have student loans, health insurance, cost of housing, and many more. These are the costs that are already fixed but there is a way to lessen our expenses by cost-cutting on our luxurious habits like eating out in restaurants or drinking in bars. Although these are our ways to unwind from our busy day from work, we can also wind up with less money.

Let’s watch the video below to learn how eating out keeps you poor.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you bring brown-bagged lunches at work or eat out?
  2. How often do you eat out? How much do you usually spend?
  3. What are the pros and cons of eating in a restaurant?
  4. According to the video, what are the strategies to lessen eating out?
  5. How do you lessen your expenses or save more money?

Movie Theaters Are Reopening

B2 – Upper Intermediate

After five months of lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a popular chain of movie theaters, AMC Theatres, reopened its doors in certain locations. The chain said it would take all measures to enforce social distancing between seats, will mandate wearing masks and upgrade the theater air filters. However, is it worth the risk?

Watch the video and be able to answer the questions that follow:

Discussion Questions:

  1. Were you a moviegoer before the Covid-19 pandemic? How often did you use to see a movie?
  2. How do you feel about the reopening of movie theaters amidst the pandemic?
  3. If the movie theater provides adequate safeguards against the coronavirus, would you likely visit the cinema to see a movie again soon? Why or why not?

Why Fake Meat Is the Future

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Plant-based meat are becoming a more popular choice for many consumers even for the non-vegetarians. Over the last few years, the number of meat alternatives available on the market has been increasing with the rise in vegetarian and vegan eaters. As a result, the sales of meat alternatives are growing as well.

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

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you tried plant-based meat before? What do you think about these meat alternatives?
  2. What do you think are the reasons why some non-vegetarians or non- vegan consume plant-based meat?
  3. What do you think is the impact of consuming plant-based meat on our health and our world?
  4. Do you think fake meat will be the future food of the world? Why or why not?

Keep It To Yourself

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There are absolutely some things that we need to keep to ourselves. Privacy is something that everyone needs to cherish especially in this era when different social media platforms are everywhere. Privacy is not an option but a necessity because what people don’t know, they can’t ruin.

Here are some of the things in our lives that we should keep in private.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree that there are things that we should keep to ourselves? What are some of those things?
  2. Are you a private person or an open book? Why is that so?
  3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of keeping things private?
  4. What are the things that you share on your social media accounts?
  5. Talk about your top three picks on the things that you should keep in private from the video.

Silent People Are Successful

B2 – Upper Intermediate

They say silent people have the loudest minds because they rather think of ideas than talk. They rather plan productive things rather than engage in discussions. Do you agree with this?

Let us learn more about the reasons why it is said that silent people are successful.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the difference between introvert and extrovert?
  2. Are you an introvert or extrovert?
  3. According to the video, what are the three reasons why silent people are successful? Explain each reason.
  4. Do you agree that silent people are successful? Why or why not?
  5. Talk about a person you know who keeps it to themselves but is extremely successful.

Millions Are Connecting with Chatbots and AI

C1 – Advanced

Not surprisingly, Lexico’s 2020 Word of the Year is “quarantine,” or “cuarentena” in Spanish. It has dominated headlines and people’s lives, and it will endure in the stories we tell our grandchildren many years hence.

Part and parcel of the whole pandemic experience is the loneliness and overall impact on mental well-being experienced by a populace told to shelter in place for days on end. Restrictions on movement and reduced hours outdoors have led some to turn to technology to assuage their isolation in the new normal. Whether it’s reconnecting with loved ones on WhatsApp or attending an online class on Zoom, various communication platforms have come front and center as sensible solutions.

Now consider Replika, an artificial-intelligence app that was popular even in pre-COVID-19 times. Millions of users consider this chatbot a virtual friend whom they can connect with and share their feelings.

Given the possiblity of new lockdowns due to spikes in COVID-19 infections, are more downloads in store for these kinds of smartphone applications?

Get to know the Replika phenomenon further by watching the video below.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Describe the possible contexts in which people would turn to AI for companionship?
  2. What possible use cases for bots like Replika are mentioned in the video? Can you think of other uses?
  3. Why do chatbot users sometimes prefer talking with their virtual friends rather the humans around them?
  4. Do you believe it’s truly possible to develop an emotional connection with a chatbot?
  5. What are some ethical considerations that arise as this technology continues to evolve?

Ways Companies Can Support Grieving Employees

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We all have different means on how to cope up with pain and grief. Some would use their work to get back up while living with their anguish. It’s called productive destruction as work itself can restore one’s purpose after dealing with loss.

Watch as Tilak Mandadi talks about the importance of culture of empathy in the workplace and how it can support grieving employees.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Discuss the 3 tips on the video. How can they be helpful for grieving employees?
  2. What was the most painful thing you had experienced? Who helped you get through it?
  3. How do you deal with grief and pain?
  4. What can you say about your work environment?
  5. What are the things that your company offers to mourning employees?

Better Brain Health

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever heard of the phrase ” You are what you eat”? When we celebrate many special festivities like Christmas, New Year, and even Three kings or Los Reyes Magos in Spain, food has been, of course, one of the highlights of these events. However, not many of us care about the effects of food on our brain.

Let’s watch the video below to further understand better brain health.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyQY8a-ng6g

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the effects of food on our brain?
  2. Do you agree with the statement “You are what you eat”?
  3. Do you pay attention to what you eat? How important is it to pay attention on the food we eat?
  4. Are you following a strict diet? How easy/difficult it is to follow a strict diet?
  5. Can you describe your country’s food culture?

How Craving Attention Makes You Less Creative

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Joseph Gordon-Levitt explains why our creativity is becoming more of a means to an end and that end is to get attention. When social media exploded, suddenly everybody wanted to show-off and get attention.

If we let our creativity be driven by a desire to get attention then we’ll never be creatively fulfilled.

Watch this video to find out why paying attention could make us happier than getting attention.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you know people who love to show-off?
  2. Why do you think people like seeking attention?
    How can it be bad for them?
  3. How much attention do you give to your social media accounts?
    Why does social media somehow trains our mind to crave for attention?
  4. Why do you think it’s necessary to see other creative people not as your competitors but as collaborators?