Tag: video

Should We Ban Hate Speech

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Each person has their own opinion and often finds it necessary to share it with other people. However, this opinion is not always positive and tolerant, and often it can easily become hate speech. What does it mean? Should we always just be silent about certain matters?

Watch and get acquainted with censoring hate speech.

Discussion Questions:

  1. In your opinion, should hate speech be censored? Support your stand.
  2. How can a person’s inner state be related to their disposition to hate speech?
  3. Why is it important to monitor the mental health of society while studying the phenomenon of hate speech?
  4. Is it possible to create organizations that work with victims affected by hate speech?
  5. How do social networks and the Internet, in general, affect the spread of hate speech?

Learning a New Job

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Choosing a degree or getting into a university can be scary and challenging for young people. This is a big decision that affects one’s future. For some, the family’s financial situation is a huge factor.

However, apprenticeships are a good option for choosing a path that you want to take. It provides hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of the field.

Watch the video about this woman’s experience with apprenticeship and how it has given her a good working opportunity.

Discussion Questions:

1. Is an apprenticeship as effective as a college education? Please explain.
2. Should apprenticeship be more available? Why or why not?
3. What are the pros and cons of apprenticeship?
4. Was an apprenticeship something you considered? Why or why not?
5. What industries offer apprenticeship programs?
6. What are your experiences in learning a new task or skill in your current work?
7. What are your thoughts on career changes?
8. What were your top 3 career choices as a teen?
9. Were/Are you interested in working abroad? Why or why not?

Why Do Humans Cry?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

All animals cry just like humans so that they can clean their eyes tor lubricate their eyes, but only Humans cry emotionally, why is this?

Babies crying makes sense because they can’t speak, so they have to find another way to show emotions and this carries on to adulthood, and during this time, people also want to comfort us, like when we used to cry as a baby.

There are a few reasons this can happen, in order to find out these reasons, let us watch this video:

Discussion Questions:

  1. When you see another person cry, how do you feel about it/them?
  2. What are other reasons we cry?
  3. In your opinion, is emotional crying beneficial to humans? Explain why or why not.
  4. Which moments make you cry your heart out?

Voluntourism: More Harm than Good?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Teaching English in foreign countries, helping to build schools and orphanages, working on conservation projects … These are all examples of voluntourism. It’s a combination of visiting other countries while doing some volunteer works too.

Dedicating time and effort to doing volunteer activities seems great and fulfilling. But is it all what it’s cracked up to be? 

Watch the video about voluntourism and its downsides.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to what’s discussed in this video?
  2. Has anyone shared their volunteering experience with you? What did they tell you? Talk about some of your volunteer works too.
  3. Would you prefer to volunteer with animals or do some administrative work?
  4. Do you think that all job positions are suitable for volunteering? What other jobs can you do as a volunteer?
  5. Have you ever been in a situation where you had to abandon your responsibilities?
  6. What do you think the pros and cons of so-called “voluntourism” are?

Freeganism: A Solution to Food Waste?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We work, earn money, buy food, eat, and repeat the cycle. It is what most of us know. We get a job or run a business to put food on the table. Not many people are aware of, more so, care for freeganism.

Freegans do not believe in capitalism,and they strive to reduce the amount of food waste on the planet. Interestingly, freegans can eat food for free. Discover how and why they do it.

Watch the short clip about freeganism.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Which part of the video appeals to you?

2. Tell me about a time when you or anyone you know wasted food?

3. Do you agree that freeganism is the solution to food waste?

4. If given a chance, would you eat in freegans’ mobile kitchen? 

5. Most freegans don’t believe in the money economy. What are your thoughts on this?

6. Do you know any other unconventional lifestyles like freeganism? Describe such lifestyles.

What It Feels Like to Sleep on the Side of a Mountain

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever been in a situation where your friends wanted to do something extreme but you didn’t or maybe the other way around? Let’s compare your experience with the experience of the guy from the video.

Watch the video about a blogger who sleeps suspended on the side of a mountain and answer the questions.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What’s the most extreme place you have ever been to? What did you do during the trip? Would you like to do it again?
  2. Why, despite the fact that such a vacation can be unpleasant, do people choose to spend time like this?
  3. How do you think it would be like for you to sleep on a portaledge?
  4. What is something you do that makes you feel empowered?

Central Banks Can’t Print Unlimited Money

C1 – Advanced

The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 has caused a great shock to the global economy. Governments’ solution was to release huge amounts in the form of stimulus packages.

Perhaps the biggest question in everyone’s mind is, where was this money from? How come banks do not produce as much money as we need in times of need? Instead, their response is quantitative easing.

Though the monetary policy quantitative easing has become common in the recent years, it is still in its nascency and the governments and economies have yet to uncover the extensive scope of its consequences.

Learn more about quantitative easing and why central banks can’t print unlimited amount of money even during severe economic crisis.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why can’t central banks just print unlimited money even if it is to help an economy in crisis?
  2. Explain quantitative easing, buying bonds, and treasury bonds.
  3. Treasury bonds are considered as a safe form of investment. What is your opinion on this?
  4. In your opinion, when central banks buy government bonds/debts, does it only undermine a system that is designed to protect the economy or do you think these measures are actually necessary and helpful in stabilizing economies?
  5. Talk about the economic relief packages by your government as a response to the pandemic crisis.
  6. Share your thoughts on this statement by John Kenneth Galbraith, “The process by which banks create money is so simple the mind is repelled”.

Trickle-Down Economics

C1 – Advanced

Tax cuts for the wealthy is implemented in order to ideally boost the economy by creating more jobs. Thus, providing income for everyone else. As the wealth tax continues, more and more economists hypothesized that these wealth from 1% of the population has not been able to reduce poverty.

Let’s watch the video and know more about the trickle-down economics.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is trickle-down economics and does it actually work?
  2. Do you have tax cuts for the wealthy and big corporations in your country? What do you think of this?
  3. Does increasing workers’ take-home pay translate to increased household demand? Explain.
  4. What do you think would improve the circumstances of the less wealthy?

Child Prodigies

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Some people are called geniuses for their exceptional intellect or abilities. Who do you consider to be the geniuses of our time? It can be someone known for their accomplishments in science, art, politics, music, cinema, or any other sphere.

Do you ever wonder what becomes of these child geniuses when they become adults?

Please watch the video about what happens to child prodigies when they grow up.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of child geniuses? What do you think it is like to be a prodigy?
  2. Do you agree that talented children need separate schools? Why or why not?
  3. Is it easy to see that a child is a genius? How can parents spot it?
  4. Is it normal for geniuses to fail at certain things?
  5. Do all people have an innate flair for something? Explain your thoughts on this.
  6. Is it enough to work hard to develop one’s skills? Explain.
  7. If you could have been a prodigy at something, what would you like it to be and why?

The Interview

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Oftentimes, we are faced with the challenge of working with a person or a group with totally opposing views or personalities whether at work or in other circumstances in life. This may cause tension and perhaps also a lot of pressure, but it may also be the push that some need to work or perform better. Working alone sounds like a great idea, but you also have to be flexible to work in pairs or teams should need arises.

Watch the video to see how this new assignment was handled.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/lets-learn-english-level-2-lesson-2/3960471.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are you ready to take on any task your manager gives you? Is there any task you wouldn’t want to do? Why?
  2. Have you ever teamed up with someone? How was it working with that person?
  3. Have you ever worked with someone that is different from you? How was it?
  4. Talk about your personal skills. For example, are you a people person?
  5. What work of yours are you most proud of?