Tag: video

What to Expect at the World’s Biggest Tech Show

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever been to a smart city before? Can you imagine living in a city where almost everything is operated by AI and technology?

In this year’s biggest tech show, there will be variety of advanced gadgets that you can find from TV to cars. It is expected to draw more than 170,000 people and there will be 4,000 exhibitors.

If you are curious like me, let’s read the full article below and discuss it later.

https://www.voanews.com/a/ces-las-vegas/4199977.html

Discussion:
1. What are your thoughts on the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas?

2. Which of the technologies featured in the article are you most excited about? Why?

3. Why do you think voice-controlled devices are becoming increasingly popular?

4. Would you like to be able to “order around” your household appliances? Why? Why not?

5. How do you feel about the prospect of “smartening up entire cities”?

Light Pollution

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As far as history goes, night time has always been associated with darkness. Nowadays, it hasn’t been the case anymore.

We’re lighting the world up at an alarming rate and we don’t know it.

Watch the video about increasing light pollution.

https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/world/2017/11/22/were-lighting-up-earth-alarming-rate/107945254/

Discussion Questions:

1. What was mentioned about Spain’s radiance in the video?
2. What do you know about light pollution?
3. What are the pros and cons of overly brightly-lit towns/cities?
4. Talk about light pollution in your city.
5. What can you do to reduce light pollution?

Why People Join Cults

C1 – Advanced

By definition, a cult is a group or movement with a shared commitment to a usually extreme ideology that’s typically embodied in a charismatic leader.  Have you ever wondered why thousands of people join cults?

Let’s watch this video to check how cults work, how people are recruited and why they stay in these groups.

Let’s Talk:

Explain what a cult is in as much detail as possible.

Are cults dangerous?

How does a cult differ from religion? How similar are they?

Should the government try to eliminate cults and other fringe or unconventional religious groups?

Would you sacrifice your relationships or morality for the greater good?

 

Useful words:

GRISLY (adj) –  causing horror or disgust.

INDOCTRINATION (n) –  the process of teaching a person or group to accept a set of beliefs uncritically.   [indoctrinate -verb]

 

Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Sports

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Doping means to administer drugs, known as performing-enhancement drugs (PED), to an animal or athlete in order to inhibit or enhance sporting performance. There are numerous reports of the use of PEDs in various sporting events, which led to banning of the condemned players.

Let us take a look at these incidents.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/06/us/performance-enhancing-drugs-in-sports-fast-facts/index.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What are some examples of performance-enhancing drugs (PED) and their effects?

2. What is your opinion about the use of PEDs?

3. Who is your favorite athlete? What would you do if s/he were found and convicted of doping?

4. Should the use of PEDs be allowed to a sick athlete who would need to perform in one sporting event? Why or why not?

Introverts vs Extroverts

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Do you get energized when in an outer world or inner world? Are you outgoing or inward? Do you prefer a wide range of friends or are you reflective? Or maybe, you could do both things and be one and the other at the same time. Watch the video to get down pat.

Discussion questions:

1. What are the differences of extroverts and introverts?

2. Do you think one personality is better than the other? Give the advantages and disadvantages of the two types of personalities.

3. Do you consider yourself an extrovert, introvert, or ambivert?
Try this personality test with the student: https://www.quietrev.com/the-introvert-test/

4. What do you think the world would be like if extroverts were the only ones living in it? Only introverts?

How Does Caffeine Keep Us Awake?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Each year, around a hundred thousand metric tons of caffeine are consumed around the world. That’s as heavy as 14 Eiffel Towers! A lot of people consume caffeine because it helps them feel alert, focused, and energetic, even if they are actually lacking sleep.

Discover how caffeine works and what happens when we withdraw from it. Watch the video below.

Discussion Questions:

1. Aside from coffee, what are the other sources of caffeine?

2. What are the side effects of caffeine?

3. Do you believe that caffeine can really help a person to stay awake? Explain your answer.

4. How would you describe Adenosine’s relationship with caffeine?

5. What symptoms do people usually experience upon quitting caffeine?

Can a Computer Teach Children to Read and Write?

B1 – Intermediate

Global XPrize aims to help the poorest children of the world to learn how to read and write by developing a user-friendly app.  They will test the winning app with thousands of children in Africa by using a tablet to learn.

Let us know your opinion after reading the full article and watching the video.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/can-a-computer-teach-children-to-read-and-write/4055194.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on the Global XPrize competition?
  2. Do you think that children will be able to teach themselves basic educational skills with only a tablet? Why or why not?
  3. Is the U.N.’s goal to provide “universal primary and secondary education by 2030” realistic? Why or why not?
  4. Do you think that computers will play a major role in education in the near future? Why or why not?
  5. Would you say that teachers are an essential part of the education system? Why or why not?

Winning the Lottery Make You Happier

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Times are hard these days. Something most people think that can help make things so much better is getting very fortunate one day and winning the lottery.

The million dollar question is, “Will winning the lottery make you happier?”.

Watch the video to find out.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Discuss your opinion on this, “Our emotional well-being do not improve with wealth or status beyond a certain point.“.
  2. Explain the concept of “hedonic adaptation” or “hedonic treadmill”. How do you jump off it?
  3. In your own view, can a huge of influx of money guarantees joy? Explain.
  4. Which do you think cause more happiness: extrinsic and material things or novel experiences? Defend your stand.
  5. How could winning a million dollars/euros change your emotional well-being? How about your life in general? Do you think it will make you happier for the rest of your life?

How to Become More Disciplined?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We all have bad habits that we want to get rid of. Have you ever tried changing your behavior and end up going back to it again after few days or months? Then, perhaps you are not doing it right.

There are certain tricks we can employ in order to be more disciplined. Willpower is the key in this case.

Let’s watch this video and learn from the life story of Lucas. Prepare to discuss your thoughts after watching.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How did Lucas become more self-disciplined?
  2. What kind of behaviors do you want to change and be more disciplined in?
  3. Would you consider yourself disciplined. How did you become so?
  4. Are you consistent with your good habits? If no, why? If yes, then how do you remain consistent?
  5. How can one resist temptations so we may be able to stick to our habits?

Avoiding the Post-Vacation Blues

C1 – Advanced

After few weeks or a month-long holiday some employees feel sad and depress of the workload that they left.  This sensation is called post-vacation syndrome (PVS) or post-vacation blues it is a type of mood that persons returning home from a long trip (usually a vacation) may experience.

In this video, we will tackle how to overcome Post-Vacation Blues and bounce back immediately after your summer vacation. Watch the video below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are the symptoms of post-vacation syndrome?
2. What are the ways to prevent PVS according to the video?
3. Do you sometimes spend time working for few hours during your vacation?
4. Do you have a lot of work load after your vacation?
5. What do you think are the pros and cons of “Workcation” (working from a vacation destination)?