Tag: video

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?

Jeff Bezos Got Rich When He Understood This

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Career and passion go hand in hand when it comes to finding fulfillment and satisfaction in your professional life. While some people are fortunate enough to have a career that aligns perfectly with their passion, many others struggle to find the right balance between what they love to do and what they need to do to make a living.

Finding the perfect balance between career and passion can be a daunting task. It requires self-reflection, goal-setting, and a willingness to take risks. It may involve changing career paths, pursuing further education, or starting your own business. It may also require making sacrifices, such as working long hours, moving to a new city, or taking a pay cut.

Are you living your life on the correct path? Do you ever wonder where you’re headed? Watch this video and learn something.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “hot passion of the day” mean? “Do something you’re very passionate about and don’t try to chase what is kind of the hot passion of the day.” Make a sentence with this idiom.
  2. What does “bluff something out” mean? “Will you bluff it out when you’re wrong or will you apologize?” Make a sentence using this phrase.
  3. What does “dogma” mean? “Will you follow dogma or will you be original?” Make a sentence using this word.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What did you learn after watching the video?
  2. What choices have you made that makes you proud?
  3. What do you think is your calling?
  4. Share your thoughts on this, “If you don’t love your work, you’re never going to be good at it.“
  5. Why do you think Bezos said, “All the curious from the ages would have wanted to be alive most of all right now?“

How Singapore Got So Crazy Rich

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Singapore, a small island city-state in Southeast Asia, has grown to become one of the world’s most powerful economies. Despite its lack of natural resources, the country has managed to transform itself from a sleepy fishing village to a global financial hub in just a few decades.

Through its strategic location, business-friendly policies, and strong emphasis on education and innovation, the country has managed to become a global economic powerhouse. While challenges remain, Singapore is well-positioned to continue its economic success in the years to come.

Watch the video and learn how a small country grew into a prosperous one.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “knowledge-based economy” mean, “Singapore shifted emphasis to a knowledge-based economy that relies more on creativity and growing Singapore’s entrepreneurs.”? Make a sentence using this phrase.
  2. What does “land reclamation” mean, “It had embarked on an ambitious land reclamation project in the 1970’s.”? Make a sentence using this phrase.
  3. What does “politicking” mean, “There will be that politicking that will happen in much more intensely in the years to come than there was ever before.”? Make a sentence using this word.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What was Singapore’s formula for success?
  2. What are the respective economic policies of Singapore’s prime ministers? What are your thoughts on them?
  3. Tell the story on how your country’s economy grew to what it is now.
  4. What are your government’s current economic policies?
  5. What do you think your government should do and focus on economy-wise?

Spaving and How to Avoid this Financial Trap

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the world of handling money, there’s this thing called “spaving.” It’s a mix of “spending” and “saving.” It’s when people think they’re saving money by spending more upfront on things that seem better quality. Even though it might seem smart, it can actually cause money problems in the long run.

Watch this video about to know more about it and get some tips on making better choices with your money and reach your savings goals more easily.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrase “to rip off” mean? “Some big shot over at the weiner company and some big shot at the bun company got together and decided to rip off the American public.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  2. What does the word “entice” mean? “Buy one, get one” has enticed you to spend more.” Make a sentence using the word.
  3. What does the word “outsmart” mean? “The algorithms are coming after you, so you have to outsmart them.” Use the word in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think ‘spaving’ is a common financial strategy among people today? Why or why not?
  2. What are some potential advantages and disadvantages of the ‘spaving’ mindset?
  3. Share any personal experiences where you’ve encountered ‘spaving’ in your own life or observed it in others.
  4. What are some examples of products or services where ‘spaving’ might be particularly tempting, and how can individuals differentiate between genuine savings and falling into the ‘spaving’ trap?
  5. What alternative strategies can individuals employ to achieve their savings goals without resorting to ‘spaving’?

Stanley Cup a Viral Sensation

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Stanley has been around for more than a century. However, it is not until 2017 when the brand gained traction and became viral which lead to their annual sales going up from 73 to 750 million.

In the past few years, the Stanley Tumbler has become super popular, not just for holding drinks, but also because it’s everywhere on social media and loved by lots of different people. Even though it was made for just being useful, it’s turned into a big trend that doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.

Watch the video to know why the Stanley Cups became famous so quickly and be able to answer the questions below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the idiom “a slow build” mean? “So it was a slow build over many months and then you could see that the waiting list began to grow.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘a slow build’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does “to take a liking to something” mean? “At first, the quencher was a flop. It wasn’t until a group of working moms running the popular blog ‘The Buy Guide’ took a liking to it in 2017.” Make a sentence using the phrase.
  3. What does the expression “to seize that opportunity” mean? “At this point, the quencher rise putting Stanley on the radar for more consumers and the company is looking to seize that opportunity.” Use this phrase in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What can other brands learn from Stanley’s rise to popularity?
  2. What do you think are the other key factors that contributed to the Stanley Tumbler craze becoming a viral sensation?
  3. How has social media played a role in amplifying the popularity of the Stanley Tumbler?
  4. Do you believe the design and functionality of the Stanley Tumbler played a significant role in its viral success, or was it primarily driven by social influence? Explain.
  5. What impact has the Stanley Tumbler craze had on consumer behavior and purchasing decisions?
  6. In your country, are there any similarities between the Stanley Tumbler craze and other viral sensations in recent years? If so, what are they?

Billionaires Try Hard to Look Poor

B2 – Upper  Intermediate 

The super-rich are people who are absolutely not like you and me. To say the least, they can pretty much afford anything in this world, including luxury clothes.

However, most of them try to make themselves look like they are just like any of us by wearing outfits that seem so plain and ordinary, having houses and cars that seem basic, and living a lifestyle that seem simple and frugal.

Do you ever wonder why some of the top billionaires in the world appear in public looking so simple in their regular-looking outfits like basic t-shirts instead of donning Italian custom-made suits?

Watch the video that explains the concept of poverty peacocking.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “folksy image” mean, “SBF and the rest of the gang were all frauds, but putting a lot of effort into crafting a folksy image is done by most prominent business leaders for three simple reasons.” Use this expression in your own sentence.
  2. What does “stealth wealth” mean? “Billionaires doing a Bloomberg or NAS Daily interviews featuring their basic car and geeky wardrobe is not the same thing as stealth wealth.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  3. What does “grift” mean? “An important element of any grift like this is that people need to believe that someone has become wealthy and that they can do it too.” Use this word in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are your thoughts on poverty peacocking?

2. Discuss each of the 3 reasons rich people try to look poor:

– It gets them what they want.

– It is an effective sales tactic.

– It helps them keep their workers in line.

3. Share your opinion on this, “Humble CEOs are the new fashion.”.

4. What are your thoughts on ‘Get Rich Quick Course’?

5. Talk about your insights on this, “Corporations became people, as people too, became corporations and every corporation needs a media relations department.”.

Retirement Feels Impossible Today

B2 – Upper Intermediate

How would your life be like if you can go without alarm clocks, when you are not under time constraints, and when you can enjoy the company of your loved ones, and live a carefree and leisurely life?

It sounds a lot like retirement, doesn’t it? But everything around us took a sharp turn for the worse, and now enjoying our later years seems like a pipe dream.

Watch the video, to find out more about why retirement seems unattainable these days and get some tips on how to prepare for it.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of “evolving landscape“? “The process of saving money has become more complex. Despite these obstacles, there are still ways to successfully navigate this evolving landscape.” Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What does “safety net” mean? “When you stop working, it’s kind of like a safety net for your older years.” Use this expression in your own sentence.
  3. What does “tucked away” mean?” “Graduating with a substantial student loan debt means that a significant portion of your earnings is dedicated to debt repayment rather than being tucked away for the future.” Construct a sentence with this term.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the 9 reasons mentioned in the video of why retirement is impossible today? Drawing from your experience or observation, do you concur with these reasons?
  2. How has retirement changed in your nation? and what are the factors that affect it?
  3. Do you think it’s necessary to make retirement plans? Why?
  4. Considering the various challenges people have when trying to save for retirement, are there any strategies you can think of to guarantee a better retirement?
  5. Do you find retiring to be bothersome at this time, given how drastically society is changing over time? How do you respond to it?

Tire Companies Love Electric Vehicles (EVs)

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The tire business is characterized by slow change and growth and low margins. Fortunately, electric vehicles (EVs) might be a gamechanger for the tire industry in the future.

Tire companies are looking forward to earning 50% more. They are also expecting more EV users to change their tires 20% more often.

Watch the entire video below about why tire companies love EVs.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define the phrase “regenerative braking”. “EVs, however, deliver about two thirds of their energy to the wheels, more if there are energy recovery technologies like regenerative braking.”? Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the term “differentiated product” mean in the sentence “One of the main ways that tire companies compete with each other is by creating a differentiated product.”? Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does the phrase “compound annual rate” mean? “Analytics form AlixPartners says the total market for EV tires is expected to grow at a 33% compound annual rate through 2031.”? Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the video all about?
  2. How do tire manufacturers view tires as commodities in the market?
  3. From a business perspective, should tire companies consider deliberately reducing the lifespan of tires to increase profitability?
  4. How do electric vehicles (EVs) impact the tire industry?
  5. As tire companies benefit from electric vehicles, which other industries do you think might be affected by this trend?

Japanese Cherry Blossoms May Disappear

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the peaceful scenery of Japan, every year, the blossoming of cherry trees marks the start of spring, enchanting many with their short-lived beauty. Yet, there is a serious danger lurking beneath their fragile petals: the possibility that these famous trees may vanish by the end of the century. With climate change on the rise, causing changes in ecosystems and upsetting delicate harmony, the future of Japanese cherry blossoms, also called “sakura,” is uncertain.

Watch the video to learn more and be able to answer the questions that follow.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the word “boon“, mean? “While it may be a boon for snap-happy tourists, the early spring foreshadows a darker reality.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘boon’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does the word “snap-happy” mean? “While it may be a boon for snap-happy tourists, the early spring foreshadows a darker reality.” Use this word in your own sentence.
  3. What does the word “foreshadow” mean? “While it may be a boon for snap-happy tourists, the early spring foreshadows a darker reality.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘foreshadow’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you feel about the potential disappearance of Japanese cherry blossoms by 2100? What impact do you think it would have on Japanese culture and identity?
  2. What do you believe are the main factors contributing to the decline of Japanese cherry blossoms, and how do you think this issue should be addressed?
  3. In your opinion, what role should governments, communities, and individuals play in preserving iconic natural landmarks like Japanese cherry blossoms?
  4. How might the loss of cherry blossoms impact tourism and the economy in Japan and other regions where they are cherished?

Quiet Quitting the Next Phase of the Great Resignation

B2 – Upper Intermediate

After the big changes in the job market caused by the Great Resignation, there’s a new thing called ‘Quiet Quitting’ that’s changing how people leave their jobs. Instead of making a big fuss, more and more workers are leaving quietly. This shows that people are thinking more about what really matters to them in their careers.

Watch the video and know why people are leaving quietly and what it means for how people think about work nowadays.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “quiet quitting” mean? “Quiet quitting is a trend that has been dominating social media especially TikTok.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “to go above and beyond” mean? “Quiet quitting is referring to a situation where employees are making a choice to not necessarily go above and beyond what they’re being asked to do.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does ” to stay under the radar” mean? “They are not giving their all anymore, they just stay under the radar.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think quiet quitting is a legitimate response to dissatisfaction with work or is it an irresponsible way of handling professional relationships? Why?
  2. In your opinion, what factors contribute to the increasing prevalence of quiet quitting in the context of the Great Resignation?
  3. What are some potential consequences of engaging in quiet quitting for both the individual and the organization they are leaving?
  4. What strategies can organizations employ to prevent or address the phenomenon of quiet quitting among their employees?