Tag: video

Japan Keeps Its Elderly Employed

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Japan’s labor shortage caused by its aging population and declining birth rates has become a pressing issue. To address this challenge, many seniors are stepping into new roles within the workforce. This trend not only helps mitigate the labor gap, but also allows older adults to stay active and engaged in society. The involvement of seniors in various sectors is reshaping Japan’s labor landscape and prompting discussions on the potential benefits and challenges of an aging workforce.

Read this article and also watch the video on how elderly workers help Japanese companies make up for labour shortages.

https://www.dw.com/en/how-japan-keeps-its-elderly-employed-and-active/a-59516633

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “sprightly” mean? “A sprightly and energetic 68-year-old, Atsuko Kasa says she has absolutely no intention of slowing down.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘sprightly’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does the word “silver” mean here, ““However, elderly people today are so much more healthy and energetic than back then, and they simply do not consider themselves to be ‘silver‘.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘silver’ in the same context in your own sentence.
  3. What does “to forgo” mean? “Kasa, who used to work in the accounting department of a cosmetics company, is one of the legions of elderly Japanese citizens who have opted to forgo the traditional retirement hobbies of gardening, get-togethers with friends and looking after the grandchildren.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘to forgo’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on “gig work” for pensioners?
  2. What are the main factors contributing to Japan’s labor shortage?
  3. Do you think the integration of seniors into the workforce is a viable long-term solution to Japan’s labor shortage? Why or why not?
  4. How might the presence of seniors in the workforce influence workplace dynamics and intergenerational relationships?
  5. Do you believe there is an age limit beyond which individuals should not be expected to work? Why or why not?
  6. How can society balance the need for seniors in the workforce with the need to provide opportunities for younger workers?

Is MSG Bad for You

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Monosodium glutamate, commonly known as MSG, is a flavor enhancer often used in Asian cuisine, processed foods, and soups. It has been a topic of controversy for decades, with some claiming it causes adverse health effects, while scientific research largely indicates it is safe for consumption.

Watch the video to learn more about MSG and be able to answer the questions below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the word “hunch” mean? “Kwok’s connection between his headache and his common seasoning in American Chinese seasoning was just a hunch.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘hunch’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does “staple” mean? “By 1930’s, MSG was a kitchen staple across most of Asia.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘staple’ in your own sentence.
  3. What does the word “binge” mean? “It is possible that binging MSG produces headaches, chest pains and heart palpitation for some people.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘binge’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think MSG should be avoided to maintain a healthy diet? Why or why not?
  2. Have you ever experienced adverse effects after consuming MSG? How did it influence your view on it?
  3. Do you believe the negative reputation of MSG is justified? Why do you think it persists despite scientific evidence?
  4. Should restaurants and food manufacturers be required to disclose the use of MSG on their labels and menus? Share your thoughts.
  5. Would you choose a product labeled as “MSG-free” over one that contains MSG? Why or why not?

Origins of the Word “Lesbian” 

B2 – Upper Intermediate

“Etymology” is derived from the Greek word etumos which means “true”. It is the study of the origin of words and how its meaning has changed over time. There are so many fascinating histories of words. One of them is the word “lesbian”.

In ancient Greece, Sappho was a revered singer and erotic poets. She often wrote songs about love, passion, and longing. Coincidentally, Sappho was from Lesbos and people from there were called “Lesbian”.

Watch the video and know more about the surprising origins of the word “lesbian”.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the verb “enrapture” mean? “More than 2,500 years ago, one of ancient Greece’s most celebrated pop stars and erotic poets enraptured listeners.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘enrapture’ in your own sentence.
  2. Define the word “licentiousness“. “One 2nd century Christian leader called Sappho ‘a whore who sang about her own licentiousness.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘licentiousness’ in your own sentence.
  3. What does the idiom “to reach across time” mean? “Sappho’s words reach across time and resonate today.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘to reach across time’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your thoughts on Sappho’s story.
  2. Share your opinion about how only fragments of Sappho’s works survived.
  3. What were the gender and social inequalities in ancient Greece? And how does this compare to modern times?
  4. Talk about a famous person from your country and their works that have endured the test of time.
  5. Talk about an etymology of a word or phrase that you find rather interesting and explain why you thought this was amusing.

Transplanting a Head to Another Body

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As time moves forward, so as our technology. However, how far can this development go before we stray too far? We have been constantly finding new ways to extend the lives of those around us, and Robert White’s idea to do this is a head transplant.

Finding a way to perform a head transplant is one of the most controversial ideas in all of medicine. Provoking questions of possibility and feasibility, even if it were possible, is this transplant worth pursuing?

To find out more, watch this video:

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Explain “brain cooling”. “Brain cooling revolutionized the field of neurosurgery and put White one step closer to his body transplant goal.”  Create a sentence using this term.
  2. What does “fraught with something” mean? “But this vision was fraught with serious ethical concerns.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘fraught with something’ in your own sentence.
  3. What does “immune rejection” mean? “The brain appeared to survive a head transplant, and with high doses of drugs, could live without immune rejection.” Use this term to make your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your stance on the idea of a head transplant? Elaborate on your answer.
  2. What are the possible benefits of head transplantation?
  3. What are the problems with the idea of a head transplant?
  4. Do you think that a head transplant is possible? Explain your insight.
  5. Do you think scientists should pick up where Dr. White left off? Explain your thoughts.
  6. Do you believe that “part of the ‘self’ reside outside the mind”? Elaborate on your belief.

Colorado Springs Is Becoming a Smart City

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Smart cities are urban areas that utilize technology and data to improve the quality of life for their residents. These cities integrate various systems such as transportation, energy, healthcare, and communication to create a more efficient and sustainable environment. The goal of a smart city is to enhance the overall well-being of its citizens by providing better services and infrastructure.

One key aspect of a smart city is the use of IoT (Internet of Things) devices to collect data and analyze patterns. This data can then be used to make informed decisions about resource allocation and city planning. For example, sensors can monitor traffic flow in real-time, allowing for adjustments to be made to reduce congestion and improve air quality.

Watch the video and learn how Colorado Springs is turning itself into a smart city.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “hidden in plain sight” mean? “This is one of 40 smart trash cans in Colorado Springs, which since 2017, has been implementing different kinds of smart technology hidden in plain sight throughout the city.” Use this idiom in a sentence.
  2. What does “informed decision” mean? “And so by deploying these technologies, it enables us to get data from this infrastructure that’s out there and help us make more informed decisions.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  3. What does “micromobility” mean? “And we’re beginning to expand where scooters are throughout our community. Micromobility wasn’t even a concept 5-10 years ago.” Use this word in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What makes Colorado Springs a “Smart City”?
  2. Which forms of smart technologies are being employed in your city? Which ones do you think are needed to be added?
  3. Is there free wifi available everywhere in your city, and if so, how is it? If not, do you think they should equip the every area of the city with wi-fi?
  4. What technological advancement, in your opinion, can foster a stronger sense of community?
  5. Share your thoughts on this, “Technology won’t solve our problems, but the data that we’re collecting and the people that are utilizing that data will have an impact on improving that situation into the future.“

Europe’s Ludicrous Hydrogen Bet

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Recently, the world has reached an unprecedented state of destabilization as threats including global warming, wars, and material shortages grow more prevalent as we go through the 21st century. As such, nations and global superpowers have had to adapt in order to survive the chaos of our current world.

The global superpower, the EU, wants to address two major issues: economic problems and global warming. In order to do this, the leaders of the EU have begun to heavily invest in hydrogen as the fuel of the future. The EU claims that the hydrogen they produce will be enough to bring its emission rates to 0% by 2050.

But is hydrogen really the fuel of the future? Is hydrogen really the miracle gas that the leaders of the EU believe it to be?

Watch the video below to have a better understanding of how Europe plans to clean up its economy by way of clean hydrogen.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to sound like a broken record” mean? “If you asked EU leaders how to save the climate in the last few years, they sounded like a broken record.” Use this expression in your own sentence.
  2. What does ”the champagne of energy” mean? “Hydrogen has been defined as the champagne of energy.” Make your own sentence using this phrase.
  3. What does ”lobby register” mean? “Corporate Europe Observatory, an NGO, combed through lobby registers.” Use this to make your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the supposed benefits of using hydrogen as a renewable energy source?
  2. What are the problems with this supposed ‘miracle solution’?
  3. Do you think that the hydrogen strategy is worth being on EU’s top priority for subsidies and fast-track planning? Explain your insights.
  4. Do you believe that hydrogen will solve the economic and gas emission problems in Europe? Why do you believe your statement?
  5. Share what you know about and your thoughts on EU’s net zero goals by 2050.

When Feeling Angry, Venting Doesn’t Help

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It must be cathartic to let your negative emotions out. Somehow, it seems like you are actually feeling better after letting off some steam probably because sharing our emotions reduces our stress level.

Psychologists have recommended people to “let it all out” when we have this overwhelming feeling of anger. However, new studies reveal that venting does not actually help in this case.

Let’s watch the video and know more about this myth and other helpful tips on how to release your anger in a more positive way.

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0hqff54/feeling-angry-venting-doesn-t-actually-help

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to feed” mean in this context, “When you are doing activities that have the same effects, on your body, you are feeding the anger. You’re putting more wood on the fire.“? Use it in a sentence in the same context.
  2. How about “to put more wood on the fire“. “When you are doing activities that have the same effects, on your body, you are feeding the anger. You’re putting more wood on the fire.” Use it in your own sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of “physiological arousal“? “Basically, anything that reduces physiological arousal can be worth trying.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why does venting not help reduce anger?
  2. Aside from venting, what other activities are not effective for anger management? Why is that?
  3. What are some ways to manage one’s anger?
  4. Do you have the tendency to vent when you get angry? If yes, did it make you feel any better? Talk about it.
  5. How do you respond when someone vents to you?

Only 10 Percent of the Population Is Left-Handed

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Determining the cause of left-handedness has long been a scientific mystery. Experts in neuroscience have been working hard to come close to an understanding of this trait.

At present, there are approximately 708 million left-handers. This is a little less than 10% of the world population.

Let’s watch the video and know more details on a recent study conducted by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics on the correlation between having rare gene variants and being left-handed.

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0hsy12y/why-is-only-10-percent-of-the-population-left-handed-

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrase “strong bias towards something/someone” mean? “The human genome encodes a kind of strong bias towards right-handedness, but it doesn’t completely determine it.” Use it in your own sentence.
  2. Define the word “asymmetry“. “The asymmetry is important in the brain for various functions, including language and hand and motor control, and also visual attention.” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.
  3. What is the meaning of the word “suppression“? “The strongest environmental effect that we know of on handedness is actually the suppression of left-handedness in children.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the video, what factors cause left-handedness?
  2. Share some thoughts that went through your mind as you watched the video.
  3. What are the negative views of left-handedness?
  4. Are you a lefty? If not, do you know anyone who is? What do you think are the struggles of left-handed people?
  5. Do left-handed people have advantages over right-handed people? If so, what are they?

Rare Condition that Makes Faces Appear Demonic

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We can tell a lot by looking at a person’s face. You can easily identify their emotions simply by looking at them.

However, there are people whose perception of other people’s faces aren’t exactly accurate.

Let’s watch the video and know more about the demon face syndrome.

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0htvclc/the-rare-condition-that-makes-faces-appear-demonic-

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Explain the expression “to see the world through someone’s eyes“. “Thanks to one patient’s pioneering work with researches at Dartmouth College, we now have an interesting insight into what it’s like to see the world through his eyes.” Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of the word “distortion“? “He wouldn’t see distortions to faces on screen.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does the verb “depict” mean? “That visualization also depicts a face.” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the visual disorder PMO all about? Explain in your own words.
  2. What were your thoughts upon knowing about this condition?
  3. What do you imagine are the struggles of people with PMO?
  4. What other rare neurological conditions have you heard of? Talk about them.

Why Can’t Prices Just Stay the Same?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Seeing the prices of goods rise in our preferred supermarket is probably no longer shocking, as it is just the way things are these days. Even if we are aware that it is inflation, we nevertheless find ourselves wondering why because the majority of us are looking for solutions, particularly, relief from the strain that inflation has placed on our finances.

To understand why prices can’t stay the same, watch the video below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Explain “virtuous cycle” in economics. “When supply chain interruptions created product shortages and some companies artificially drove up prices to increase their profits, which along with some other causes, effectively turn this virtuous cycle into a vicious one.” Construct your own sentence.
  2. What does “deflationary spiral” mean? “Falling prices sound pretty good, but they can also introduce another kind of cycle: a deflationary spiral.” Make your own sentence using this term.
  3. What is the meaning of “in no small part“? “Japan is finally emerging from decades of chronic deflation, but that’s thanks, in no small part, to the high inflation that most of the world battled over the last few years.. Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘in no small part’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the factors mentioned in the video as to why prices can’t stay the same? 
  2. Share your thoughts on this, “A little inflation is a good thing.“.
  3. How is inflation affecting the people in your country? Across the globe?
  4. Do you agree with this assertion, “It’s okay if prices rise so long as wages rise too. You’ll still be able to afford the same goods if your wages keep pace with inflation.“? Explain your stance.
  5. What strategies can you recommend to counteract the strain that inflation has placed on our finances?