Tag: video

Is It Safe to Travel This Summer?

C1 – Advanced

Travel has drastically changed around the world during the Covid-19 pandemic. As borders reopened and barriers lifted, people feel the need to go on a getaway. While the pandemic still exists, there is so much uncertainty, leaving us with no clear-cut answer to our questions on traveling and safety.

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

Discussion Questions:

  1. What things do you need to consider if you plan to travel these days?
  2. Do you think it is worthwhile to book a trip now or is it better to wait a little longer before doing so?
  3. Have you planned your summer vacation? If so, where and why have you picked out this travel destination?
  4. What are your safety precautionary measures when you travel in the midst of Covid-19?
  5. What kind of places do you think are safe to travel to nowadays?

Doing This at an Airport Will Land You in Prison

C1 – Advanced

Airports are known to have tight security measures. This is a major nuisance for passengers because they need to arrive hours earlier before their flights in order to breeze through airport security.

To avoid any delays or inconveniences, it pays to be aware of airport security rules.

Let’s watch the video and find out about these airport rules some countries impose.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you like traveling by plane? How often do you do so?
  2. Which of these airport rules were you not aware of?
  3. Which rules did you find to be unreasonable?
  4. Do you have unique airport rules in your country?
  5. Share an airport mishap you’ve experienced.

Weirdest Phobias People Suffer From

B2 – Upper Intermediate

One of the basic human emotions is fear. It is natural to be fearful in situations we feel unsafe in. However, there is also ‘phobia’ which means an extreme or irrational fear of something. Experts say having a phobia isn’t a sign of weakness.

Let’s watch the video and find out more about phobias you probably never knew existed.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Which of the phobias in the video did you find most outrageous? Why?
  2. Which of the ten phobias do you think is the least weird?
  3. Do you know anyone who has any of these phobias?
  4. Do you agree with the last statement, “all we have to fear is fear itself”?
  5. How would you feel about being without your device?

Bus in Forest

B1 – Intermediate

Some of us want to live an adventurous life. In 1992, a man decided to live in the forest in Alaska. He found an abandoned bus. He lived in that bus but the conditions in this forest were extremely difficult.

After the life of this man was made into a novel and movie, this bus where the man lived became very famous.

Read the transcript and listen to the audio from the link below.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/bus-in-forest-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you know about Alaska?
  2. Would you have wanted to see this bus and experience the hard life in the forest?
  3. How do you think this bus got there?
  4. Why do you think the bus was removed? 
  5. What was your reaction to the removal of the famous bus from the forest?
  6. Have you read the novel or watch the film “Into the Wild”? What do you think of it? If not, just talk about a similar story.

Circus Has Problems

B1 – Intermediate

Cirque du Soleil was founded in 1984 and it has become very famous all over the world since then. They’ve had very successful shows in many different countries. 

However, due to the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the company had faced a lot of money problems.

Read the transcript and listen to the audio from the link below.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/circus-has-problems-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What comes to your mind when you hear ‘circus’?
  2. Have you ever seen any Cirque du Soleil performances? Talk about it.
  3. Now that they might never see them perform again, would you have liked to watch their show or would you like to get the chance to see their show again?
  4. What was your reaction to this news?
  5. Do you think there is still a possibility for this circus group to have shows again in the future? Why or why not?

A Leopard Can’t Change Its Spots

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A philosopher once said, “the only constant in life is change”. Change is inevitable that’s why we should be able to adapt to changes in our lives. However, some things never change; such as bad habits.

Let’s watch the video and learn a new expression.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/course/experiment/unit-1/session-1

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does “a leopard can’t change its spots” mean? Do you agree with this?
  2. What are some bad habits that you would like to get rid of?
  3. Do you agree or disagree that people can change for the better? Why or why not?
  4. How do you say the same expression in your language and explain what it means.
  5. Share an experience when a leopard couldn’t change its spots.

Cross Cultural Communication

C1 – Advanced

Given different cultural backgrounds, people are faced with a challenge communicating with each other through verbal or non- verbal way of communicating, greetings, body language, and tone.

Let us watch a short clip on how to communicate with people from different cultural backgrounds.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on cross culture communications?
  2. How do people from different cultures communicate? How can we better communicate with individuals and groups whose first language, or language of choice, does not match our own?
  3. Which do you think is a better way to communicate – body language or verbal expressions?
  4. Do you think intercultural communication is easy or difficult? What problems have you had communicating with different cultures?
  5. Is basic understanding of cultural diversity a key to effective cross-cultural communications? Support your stand.

Where Superstitions Come From

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Superstitions have come a long way in our history. It may be classified roughly as religious, cultural, and personal. Despite the modernization, superstitious beliefs still persist in our society and to some extent, some people believe in such irrational and absurd beliefs.

Watch the video to know its origin and be able to answer the questions that follow:

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on superstitions?
  2. Are you/people in your country superstitious? Why do you think this is?
  3. Why do some people believe in superstitions?
  4. What superstitious beliefs do you know and/or believe?
  5. Talk about some Spanish superstitious beliefs.

World’s First AI Humanoid Robot

C1 – Advanced

For some, the idea of artificial intelligence, of programmed machines that seem capable of independent thought, is easily the stuff of fiction. Imagine, a non-living thing that is capable of learning and interacting with humans. But as the technology behind AI continues to push the envelope of what we thought possible, there are significant implications for the future.

Listen as renowned author and speaker Tony Robbins converses with Sophia. See how human and humanoid don’t pull any punches and ask each other thought-provoking questions that yield deep answers.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts and feelings about this interaction between Tony and Sophia?
  2. Which parts of the conversation stood out in your mind?
  3. If you could ask Sophia three questions of your own, what would they be?
  4. Do you think Sophia will eventually live up to the meaning of her name?

Once Bitten, Twice Shy

B2 – Upper Intermediate

When we get hurt, it’s normal to cut off ties with the people who inflicted harm on us. It is human nature when we try to avoid a harmful situation to happen again. Oftentimes, we build armor around us to prevent ourselves from getting hurt again. But is it always good to react in such way?

Let’s watch the video and find out more about this expression.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/course/experiment/unit-1/session-6

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does the expression ‘once bitten, twice shy’ mean?
  2. What cases of ‘once bitten, twice shy’ have you had in the past? Has it brought you better results or did you miss out on certain opportunities?
  3. What other languages have a similar expression as mentioned in the video? How are they translated into English?
  4. Do you have a similar expression in your language? How do you say it?