Tag: video

Instagram Traps Are Changing Art Museums

B2 – Upper Intermediate

New art installations in cities worldwide are shifting away from traditional exhibits and historical artifacts. Instead, these installations focus on providing picturesque backdrops for photos, particularly on Instagram. This trend reflects a changing landscape in the museum world. Both new temporary museums and traditional ones are adapting to the prevalence of smartphones, creating spaces designed for easy selfie-taking. As online experiences become more prevalent, these selfie-friendly spaces are becoming increasingly common.

Watch the video to learn more about pop-out museums and be able to answer the questions that follow.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of “installation art“. “You can see installation art‘s influence on today’s pop-up museums pretty clearly.” Make one sentence using the word.
  2. What is a “pop-up museum“? “Pop-up museums figured out that there was a business to be made out of that photographability.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “to put away” mean? “At Refinery29’s pop-up experience, that means having some rooms where phones are supposed to be put away.” Give 2 synonyms and use ‘to put away’ in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do Instagram traps enhance or detract from the traditional art museum experience? Share your opinion.
  2. How do you feel about art museums adapting to the trend of Instagram traps to attract a younger audience?
  3. Do you believe that the rise of Instagram traps in art museums is a positive evolution or a departure from the core purpose of these cultural institutions? Explain.
  4. How do you think the presence of Instagram traps affects the way people engage with and appreciate art within the museum setting?
  5. Do you think the popularity of Instagram traps might overshadow the significance of the artworks themselves in traditional art museums? Elaborate.

Make Smart Decisions More Easily

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Every single thing our bodies do — be it physical or mental— requires energy. We might not notice it, but making decisions, even if it is as simple as what to eat, what to wear, etc., takes up a lot of our energy. Imagine how much more exhausted our brains get when are constantly faced with complex matters that need our deciding prowess. 

Based on numerous research, some people tend to have a “daily threshold for making decisions”. Very long periods of time of making decisions can cause us to suffer from cognitive exhaustion or decision fatigue.

Watch the video to know more about decision fatigue and learn some ways on how to avoid it.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does it mean for “to meet the threshold“? “Once that threshold is met, most people make the conscious choice to “take it easy” and save serious thinking about any new decisions for another day.” Use this expression in your own sentence.
  2. What does “to save something for another day” mean? “Once that threshold is met, most people make the conscious choice to “take it easy” and save serious thinking about any new decisions for another day.” Use this idiom in your own sentence.
  3. What does the adjective “taxing” mean here, “For example, choosing what to eat for breakfast isn’t very taxing.”? Give two synonyms or similar expressions and make a sentence using ‘taxing’.

Discussion Questions:

  1. “Individuals have a daily threshold for decision-making.” In your opinion or personal experience, when is it the best time to just choose to “take it easy” and why so? In other words, what is your decision-making threshold?
  2. What is your process when it comes to decision-making?
  3. What factors affect your decisions, whether minor or big ones?
  4. What are ways we can avoid decision fatigue?
  5. Share your thoughts on this: “Many researchers are especially concerned about decision fatigue in medicine.”.

Food Expiration Dates

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We could all be guilty about one thing — tossing food on or before their sell-by dates. Part of the reason is because we do not fully understand what expiration date labels on them actually mean. As a result, massive amounts of food are wasted globally.

Watch the video about the truth about food expiration dates and how to solve food waste.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does ”go bad” mean,“So if the dates on our food don’t tell us that something’s gone bad, what do they tell us?”? Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and make a sentence using ‘go bad’.
  2. Explain “open dating”. “Many supermarkets adopted a system still in place today called ‘open dating’.” Use this term in a sentence.
  3. What does “gauge” mean? “But when supermarkets began stocking processed foods, product ages became harder to gauge.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and make a sentence using ‘gauge’.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on this, “Many foods are safe to eat far beyond their labeled dates.”?
  2. Do you use date labels to decide if food is still edible? Why or why not? Would the info in this video change your ways? Explain.
  3. What are some food preservation hacks you employ on your food items at home?
  4. How do you minimize your food waste?
  5. Should grocers remove date labels on produces and just let consumers use their own judgement? Explain your perspective on this.
  6. Should restaurants and grocers donate unsold food? Share your opinion.

Rules to Control Spending in Video Games 

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Based on recent data, the gaming market worldwide is hundreds of billions worth, besting the music and movie industries combined.

In attempts to battle rampant video games addiction in the country, the Chinese government has outlined new set of regulations to crackdown on spending and rewards in video games so as not to encourage people from playing them too much.

These new rules affect one of the world’s biggest gaming industries which has just started seeing growth again this year.

Watch the video about the new rules to control spending in video games in China.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does ”deal a blow to someone/something” mean,”The decision spooked investors and dealt a blow to the world’s biggest games market which returned to growth this year.”? Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and make a sentence using ‘deal a blow’.
  2. What does “take a hard/tough line on someone/something” mean? “Beijing has taken a tough line on video games over the years.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and make a sentence using ‘take a hard/tough line on someone/something’.
  3. What does “suspend” mean? “It also suspended the approval of new video games for about eight months citing gaming addiction concerns.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and make a sentence using ‘suspend’.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on these new regulations? Are they necessarily crucial at this point given that the gaming industry in China is just starting to gain momentum again?
  2. What impact do these new rules have on the gaming industry in China?
  3. Is video game addiction also a serious problem in your country? Elaborate on the situation.
  4. How else can video game addiction be controlled?
  5. Should video gaming be encouraged or otherwise? State your stance.

Cars Lose Their Value So Fast

B2 – Upper Intermediate

One of our largest lifetime investments may be a car. But unlike other investments like a house, a car’s value depreciates quite rapidly.

In what way and why?

Watch the video below to help you find out the answers to these questions.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to be underwater on a loan” mean? “A car owner is underwater on a loan if their loan is larger than what their car is worth.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and make your own sentence using the term ‘underwater on a loan’.
  2. How about the word “abate“? “A lot of those trends have abated since, but those odd times led to lasting changes in the post-pandemic world.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and make your own sentence using the term ‘abate’.
  3. Do you know what “rein in” means? “The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates in order to rein in inflation and that has made borrowing more expensive.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and make your own sentence using the term ‘rein in’.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the 3 main reasons mentioned in the video that causes car depreciation?
  2. Do you agree to these reasons why cars lose their value? Why or why not?
  3. Could you consider cars as investment? Why or why not?
  4. Which do you consider is the better choice between a new car or a used one? State your stance.
  5. What are different factors a buyer should consider before buying a car?

Human-Centered Design

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Human-centered design is a way of solving problems, and it’s getting a lot of attention. This video shows you what human-centered design is all about and why it’s making waves. It explains how focusing on people can make a big difference in different areas or industries.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the idiom “on the fly” mean in the sentence, “The inspiration phase is about learning on the fly, opening yourself up to creative possibilities, and trusting that as long as you remain grounded in the desires of people you’re designing for, your ideas will evolve into the right solution.”? Give two synonyms and use this phrase in a sentence.
  2. What does the phrase “shore up” mean in the sentence, “During the implementation phrase, you’ll build partnerships, shore up your business model, and get your idea out into the world.”?  Give two synonyms and use this phrase in a sentence.
  3. What does the expression “to get one’s idea/s out into the world” mean in the sentence. “During the implementation phrase, you’ll build partnerships, shore up your business model, and get your idea out into the world.”?  Give two synonyms and use this phrase in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What makes human-centered design effective?
  2. How does human-centered design uniquely benefit users?
  3. Share successful examples of human-centered design applications.
  4. Has your company adopted human-centered design in its projects? Cite examples on how.
  5. Do you think this method can work for personal projects? Why or why not?

A Japanese Method to Relax

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Life moves pretty fast. If you need a quick breather, these Japanese relaxation techniques could be your new go-to. The video spills the beans on a five-minute calming session that could be a game-changer.

Check out the full video and get ready to relax in no time.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrase “take a toll” mean in the sentence “Excessive stress can take a toll on your life.”? Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the word “decisive” mean in the sentence “The ring finger is responsible for making you more decisive.”?  Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does the idiom “hustle and bustle” mean in the sentence “Get peace of mind in the middle of hustle and bustle.”?  Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What’s the Japanese relaxation hack all about?
  2. What are the benefits of a quick relaxation routine that make it worth exploring?
  3. Have you ever tried a similar relaxation method? Share your experiences.
  4. What are your struggles in finding time for relaxation?
  5. In what other situations could a quick relaxation trick come in handy?

The Stress Bucket

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Stress hits everyone differently, and this stress bucket thing? It’s the real deal. This video breaks it all down, giving you the inside scoop on managing stress like a pro.

Check out the full video to wrap your head around the stress bucket and maybe find your own stress-busting strategy.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrasal verb “to break something down” mean in the sentence, “Make a list to break problems down.”? Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the word “tackle” mean? “Which smaller task should you tackle first?”  Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does the phrasal verb “fill up” mean in the sentence “Different problems and demands fill up your buckets.”?  Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What’s this stress bucket the video is talking about?
  2. Discuss about the tricks the video suggests for getting rid of stress.
  3. Share your own stress bucket stories.
  4. Spot the signs – when is your stress bucket about to overflow?
  5. Which stress-busting tip from the video would you like to try?

Positive Psychology at Work

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Ever feel like work is a bit of a rollercoaster? Well, positive psychology might just be the game-changer you didn’t know you needed. This video digs into how positive vibes can seriously shake things up in the workplace.

Dive into the full video here to get the lowdown on injecting some positivity into your 9-to-5 grind.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrase “core strength” mean, “By consciously engaging in work and activities that utilise your core strengths, you can become more confident and more productive.”? Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the phrase “tangible goal” mean in the sentence, “Set tangible goals for yourself.”?  Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does the phrase “take pride in something” mean in the sentence “Take pride in your accomplishments.”?  Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the key takeaways from the video about positive psychology at work?
  2. Can you pick out some practical tips from the video for keeping things sunny at work?
  3. How can positive vibes improve your work life (talk about your situation)?
  4. Do you agree or disagree that a happier workplace makes you more productive? Why or why not?
  5. What are some small changes you can think of to sneak some positive psychology into your work routine?

Viral Post Blew Up a Business

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In today’s digital age, social media has become an integral part of our lives. It has revolutionized the way we communicate, connect, and promote ourselves or our businesses. With just one social media post promotion, individuals and companies can reach a vast audience and make a significant impact.

When it comes to promoting a product or service on social media, suppliers can be valuable allies. By collaborating with suppliers and showcasing their contribution in the production process through engaging posts, companies can not only increase brand visibility, but also strengthen their supplier relationships.

Watch this video to find out how a single Facebook post transformed a business.

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/business-67692431

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does idiom “blow up” mean in the sentence? “A viral Facebook post nearly blew up our business.” Use this in your own sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of the phrase “supply chain“? “We quickly sold out of everything we had in the warehouse and we had to dial up our relationships with the whole of our supply chain.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  3. What is the meaning when “to change the game“? “We started the brand, launched it nationwide in 2014, but everything changed in 2017 when a viral Facebook post completely changed the game for us.” Use this in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How important is advertising for a company or a product?
  2. Do you advertise your business (the company you are working for) or its products? If so, in what ways?
  3. How significant is it to research a product’s supply and demand chain?
  4. Why should a company value its relationships with its suppliers?