Tag: video

Disturbing Truth About Micromanaging People

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Many managers struggle to lead effectively because they focus too much on controlling every detail of their employees’ work. This behavior, known as micromanagement, can hurt creativity, stop growth, and push good employees to leave. Leadership experts say that to build strong teams, managers need to trust their people and let them learn from experience.

To understand why micromanagement leads to failure and what great leaders do instead, watch the full video.

Vocabulary Questions

  1. What does “stifle” mean? “When you micromanage somebody, you stifle their creativity.”? Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “hover over” mean? “Every time you hover over them and manage every single thing they do, they stop expressing themselves.”? Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “push beyond one’s limitations” mean? “All growth happens when we push beyond our limitations.”? Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions

  1. Why do you think some managers micromanage their employees?
  2. How can micromanagement affect a team’s creativity and motivation?
  3. What’s the best way for a manager to help employees grow without micromanaging?
  4. Have you ever worked with someone who micromanaged others? How did it feel?
  5. What can employees do if they feel their boss is micromanaging them?

Priceless Jewelry Stolen From Louvre

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A shocking heist place in Paris, where “priceless” jewelry was stolen from the world-famous Louvre Museum. The incident has raised serious questions about security in one of the most visited cultural landmarks on Earth. Authorities are investigating how the thieves managed to bypass tight security measures and escape with such valuable items. The theft has sparked global attention and concern over the protection of historical and artistic treasures.

Watch the video and be able to answer the question below.


Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the word ‘heist’ mean?“ The daring heist at the Louvre left authorities stunned, as thieves managed to escape with priceless jewelry from one of the world’s most secure museums. Make a sentence using the word.
  2. What does ‘in broad daylight’ mean? “The thieves stole the jewelry in broad daylight.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does the phrase “never see the daylight again’ mean? “The stolen jewelry may never see the light of day again.” Make your own sentence.


Discussion Questions:

  1. How could such a high-profile theft happen in one of the most secure museums in the world like the Louvre?
  2. What do you think motivates people to steal priceless jewelry that can’t easily be sold or displayed publicly?
  3. How might this incident affect the public’s trust in museum security and the way historical treasures are protected?
  4. In your opinion, should punishment for stealing cultural treasures be harsher than for ordinary theft?

Office Etiquette Tips

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Many companies have asked employees to return to the office after years of remote work. But with open office spaces becoming more common, employees need to be mindful of how their behavior affects others. Small things like keeping your voice down, eating neutral-smelling food, and keeping your desk clean can make the workplace more pleasant for everyone.


To learn more tips from corporate etiquette expert Thomas Farley, watch the full video.

Vocabulary Questions

  1. What does “to keep one’s volume down” mean in the sentence, “If you’re on the telephone, you really should keep your volume down.”? Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “to reflect on someone/something” mean in the sentence, “If you’ve got the desk that looks like Pig Pen works there, it really reflects on the company very poorly.”? Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “to be taken the wrong way” mean in the sentence, “You don’t want to have any calendars that might be taken the wrong way or might offend some other people in the workplace.”? Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions

  1. How do you feel about open office setups? Do they make work easier or more stressful?
  2. What office habits do you find most distracting?
  3. Why is it important to keep your workspace clean and organized?
  4. How can workers politely remind others to be mindful of noise or smells?
  5. What are some examples of office behavior that could be “taken the wrong way”?

What Does Resilience Mean

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In this short video, some people are asked what resilience means to them.

To see how people define resilience and why they consider it important, watch the full video.

Vocabulary Questions

  1. What does “to push through something” mean in the sentence? “Resilience is about pushing through through life’s hardships even when you don’t want to or you feel like you can’t.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “to keep one’s head up” mean in the sentence? “To me, resiliency is the ability to keep your head up when things aren’t looking great.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “to work through something” mean in the sentence? “If we don’t talk about it, then we can never bond over things. We can never work through problems.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions

  1. For you, what does resilience mean?
  2. Can you think of a time when you had to “bounce back” from a problem?
  3. Why do you think it’s important to teach resilience to young children?
  4. How can adults demonstrate resilience?
  5. What other examples can you think of that show resilience in everyday life?

Is It still Worth Going to University?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

With the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, many are rethinking the value of a university education. AI tools can now perform tasks once done only by highly educated professionals, raising questions about the role of traditional learning. Some believe university is still important for developing critical thinking and specialized knowledge, while others argue that practical experience and digital skills may now matter more than a degree.

Watch the video to know more and be able to answer the questions below.


Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrase “worth doing something”? “With the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, many are rethinking if it’s worth going to university.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym or similar expression.
  2. What does “to go far”? “One thing is for sure: a student with a variety of skills, a lifelong desire to learn, and a good attitude will go far.“ Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym or similar expression.
  3. What does the phrase “plug the gap” mean? “Online courses can help plug the gaps in what students don’t learn at university.” Make you own sentence. Give a synonym or similar expression.


Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you believe a university degree is still necessary to succeed in the age of AI? Why or why not?
  2. Should students focus more on developing practical digital skills instead of pursuing a traditional degree?
  3. In what ways do you think artificial intelligence is changing the skills that students need to learn in university?
  4. How can universities adapt their programs to stay relevant in an AI-driven world?

NEO The Home Robot

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

Are you sick of doing household chores? Your dreadful days of doing them might soon be over. NEO Home Robot is here!

Watch the video to find out more about NEO, the first humanoid robot for home use.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “human-level dexterity” mean? “But safe doesn’t mean limited. NEO’s hardware comes packed with features like human-level dexterity and a 55-pound carrying capacity so that it can handle all of your chores reliably.” Use the term in a sentence.
  2. What does “corrective intervention” mean? “If there is something that your NEO has not learned how to do, you can use expert mode where someone from 1X will supervise the session and provide corrective intervention to help NEO complete any task.” Use the term in a sentence. 
  3. What does “gesture” mean? “The gestures and the light rings express NEO’s intentions.” Use the word in a sentence. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. What can NEO do? What are its limitations for the moment?
  2. What do you think about humanoid home robots like NEO that has autonomy, can do chores, and function as a companion?
  3. Are you ready to have your very own NEO at your house? Why or why not?
  4. What are your thoughts on letting NEO take care of tasks around your house so you can focus on what matters to you? Do you think it can really do this for you?
  5. How do you feel about this: If there is something that your NEO has not learned how to do, you can use expert mode where someone from 1X will supervise the session and provide corrective intervention to help NEO complete any task.

Social Media and Screen Time Limits for Minors in China

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

China is considering limiting the amount of time young people spend online and on social media sites.

On the other side are those who believe that the only way to deal with today’s internet addiction of the youths is to lessen their burdens that impact the quality of their lives offline.

Read the article and also watch the video about limits on internet access for young people in China.

https://www.voanews.com/a/chinese-officials-look-to-limit-social-media-and-screen-time-in-china-/8010657.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “circumvent” mean? “However, all of these regulations can be circumvented through using or creating accounts belonging to adults, who are not subject to the restrictions.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “phone check-in” mean? “Schools should assign less homework that requires phone check-ins and online research.” Use the term in a sentence. 
  3. What does “a rare space for something” mean? “Amid the busy academic and personal lives of young Chinese, the internet provides them with a rare space for privacy, which Wang said is fueling high levels of internet use.” Use the idiom in a sentence. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on these regulations? 
  2. Do you think it is necessary to implement these limits in your own country too? How would the youths in your country react to internet access limits? 
  3. Do you think young people in your country use internet excessively? Why do you think this is? If so, what can be done to help them be less dependent on the internet or social media?
  4. Share your thoughts on this: Amid the busy academic and personal lives of young Chinese, the internet provides them with a rare space for privacy, which is fueling high levels of internet use.
  5. What is opinion on this: The real way forward is to lessen burdens impacting the quality of minors’ lives offline such as intense academic pressure.? 

Digital Price Tags Are Changing Food Shopping

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As the world continues developing in this day and age, digital devices and tools become more and more common. Recently, electronic shelf labels have begun spreading more rapidly in North American grocery stores, increasing consumers’ concerns about dynamic pricing.

If companies can change the price of their products easily with digital price tags, will prices of products become higher for certain individuals, or will it be used to lower the prices of products near expiry?

To learn more, watch the video below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “dynamic pricing” mean? “Some lawmakers fear that electronic shelf labels (ESLs) will lead to dynamic pricing that could hurt consumers.” Use this term in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  2. What does “year over year growth” mean? “It’s definitely an industry that is looking at significant double digit year over year growth for the foreseeable future.”  Use this term in a sentence.
  3. What is “a devil’s advocate”? “There’s definitely a strong devil’s advocate argument to be made that having some sort of surge pricing in those kind of contexts would actually be useful because it discourages hoarding.” Use this idiom in a sentence and give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the promises and pitfalls of electronic shelf labels? Do you believe that electronic shelf labels and digital price tags will influence companies to use dynamic pricing?
  2. How is dynamic pricing good and bad? You may cite examples.
  3. Do you think consumers are more likely to benefit or suffer from ESLs? Share your insights.
  4. In your opinion, should more big companies be switching to electronic shelf labels? Why or why not?

College Grads Struggle to Find Jobs

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Earning a college degree has long been viewed as a reliable pathway to a stable career and financial security. However, in recent years, many U.S. college graduates are finding that the job market is anything but guaranteed.

A significant number struggle to land full-time positions, face a high degree of underemployment, or end up in jobs unrelated to their fields of study. This challenging reality raises urgent questions about the value of higher education, the readiness of graduates, and the alignment between academic programs and the evolving demands of employers.

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


Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “stand out” mean? “Jaimee del Piano thought her credentials would stand out.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “turbulent” mean in this sentence, “Graduates are entering a turbulent economy with more competition for entry-level positions.” Use the word in your own sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What is “grit“? “Many successful people achieve their goals not just through talent, but through grit and persistence.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think a college degree still guarantees a good job in today’s economy? Explain.
  2. Should universities focus more on teaching practical job skills rather than theory? Elaborate.
  3. How can the education system and employers work together to better prepare students for the job market?
  4. What are the main reasons many U.S. college graduates struggle to find stable employment after graduation?
  5. Do fresh graduates in your country share the same struggles? Talk about the situation.

Emotional Intelligence

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Emotional intelligence, often called EQ, is the ability to understand, manage, and express emotions effectively. It also involves recognizing and responding to the emotions of others. People with strong emotional intelligence can handle stress, communicate well, and build healthy relationships. In today’s world, EQ is just as important as IQ because it helps individuals succeed both personally and professionally.

Watch the video to know more and be able to answer the questions below.


Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the word “discern” mean? “A person with high emotional intelligence can easily discern how others feel, even when they don’t say anything.” Use the word in a sentence. Give 2 synonyms.
  2. What does the phrase “to align the heart with the head” mean? “Using Emotions is the ability to align our hearts with our heads.” Make one sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “correlate” mean? “Stress levels often correlate with how well a person manages their emotions.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think emotional intelligence is more important than academic intelligence in achieving success? Share your thoughts.
  2. Can emotional intelligence be learned, or is it something people are born with? What is your opinion?
  3. How can emotional intelligence help improve relationships at school or in the workplace?
  4. In what ways does emotional intelligence influence a person’s ability to handle stress and conflict?
  5. Peter Salovey concluded that “People in good moods are better at inductive reasoning and creative problem-solving.”. Why do you think this is?
  6. What are ways we can improve our EI? How do you try to improve yours?