Tag: video

What is Life Really Like in North Korea?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There is a growing curiosity and intrigue about how life goes on in North Korea. A handful of reporters and journalists have attempted to record and document the existence of settlers from the other side of the border.

Watch the video below then be ready for a discussion.

Discussion Questions:

1. After watching the video, how would you describe living conditions in North Korea? Why do you think it is called the Hermit Kingdom?
2. Describe education of children in North Korea.
3. What punishment does a North Korean citizen get if he or she talks against the government?
4. How did you react after watching the video?
5. Why do you think some citizens still choose to stay in North Korea despite the harsh living conditions?

When Did Americans Lose Their British Accents?

B2 – Upper intermediate

It’s interesting how we can have one language and have more than one way of pronouncing the same words. Whether you’re American, British, Irish or Chinese, the way we speak English will have differences.

Read the article below to learn how American accent and British accent came to be.

http://mentalfloss.com/article/29761/when-did-americans-lose-their-british-accents

Discussion Questions:

1. According to the article, how did the American accent become different from the British accent?
2. What are the differences between the American accent and the British accent?
3. Which accent do you find easier to understand?
4. What other accents do you know of?
5. Does your country also have different accents depending on the region?

What Happens to the Plastic You Throw Away?

C1 – Advanced

Plastic is considered one of the greatest material produced that has helped companies and individuals alike. But how has plastic played a role in harming our environment? Watch the video below to find out more about the journey of a plastic bottle.

Discuss:

1. Explain where plastic bottles end up once we throw them away. What is leachate?
2. What is the Great Pacific garbage Patch? What danger does this pose?
3. Are you aware of where your garbage goes when you dispose of them?
4. Does your city have good programs related to recycling and disposing of trash properly?

What Would Happen If You Didn’t Drink Water?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Water is an essential part of life. Whether for our own consumption or for the environment. As with any substance, there is a danger of having too much and too little.

Watch the video below and be ready to answer the questions that follow about the effects of not drinking water.

Discussion Questions:

1. Discuss the facts about water presented in the video. How important is it to our bodies?
2. What are the dangers of dehydration? How about overhydration?
3. Who are usually the victims of over-hydration? Why are they prone to overhydration?
4. Do you think you’re getting enough water on a daily basis?
5. What are the other kinds beverages you enjoy drinking? What are some fruits and vegetables that you like?

Sewing Teddy Bears for Sick Kids

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Campbell is not your average kid. He is one of the everyday heroes trying to make a difference not only in sick children’s lives but also those who are dealing with grief.

Find out more about his unusual hobby and prepare to talk about your thoughts on this topic on being an everyday hero.

https://youtu.be/8pzcROVg8ic

Discussion Questions:

1. How is Campbell different from other kids? How did he start creating teddy bears?

2. What do you think of his efforts?

3. Why is it important to have heroes?

4. Who is your country’s biggest national hero and why?

5. Who is the local hero of your town? What did he do?

6. Who was your childhood hero?

7. What is the most charitable thing you’ve ever done?

Huggable Robots

C1 – Advanced

For kids, going to the hospital can be a terrifying and sometimes boring experience. An interesting innovation from researchers and roboticists may be a good solution- a robot companion.  This robot’s creators aim to know if it can can have therapeutic value for hospitalized children. Can it really alleviate sick children’s anxiety, pain, and isolation?

Let’s meet this blue bear who’s making sick kids less blue.

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think of “Huggable”? How does a child respond to it?
2. What suggestions did one of the kids give to make it a better robot companion?
3. How else can we make a doctor’s visit less dreadful for children?
4. Did you enjoy hospital visits when you were a kid? How about now?

Women Try Manspreading for a Week

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There are some things we do that we are probably not very aware that they could be a nuisance to others. One example is manspreading.

Watch the video below about manspreading and how three women decided to conduct an experiment related to gender differences. Express your thoughts afterwards.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How did the women feel about this experiment?
  2. What is manspreading? What is your viewpoint on this?
  3. Is this behaviour natural or is it just an I-can-do-what-I-want attitude
  4. How do you react when a woman beside you spreads her legs when sitting? How about if it’s a man? What’s the difference?
  5. Is there such thing as gender-based accepted behavior?

Working Abroad

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Migrating to another country would be a breeze if we all spoke one language and had similar cultures. However, once you leave your home country, you start to realize that things are actually very different.

There are many differences among various cultures across the globe. Your ability and willingness to cope with these differences determine how your experience will be like living and working in a foreign country.

Watch the video below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

Discussion Questions:
1. Do you agree with the speaker that the best way to compete and succeed in today’s economy is to move to other countries?
2. What are the main reasons people move abroad?
3. What are some of the benefits of working in another country?
4. What do you think are the main challenges people face when working abroad?
5. When is the best time and What’s the ideal amount of time to work abroad? Why?

Facebook Plans to Combat Fake News

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Facebook has been under a lot of criticism for being a portal for posting and spreading fake news particularly on the altered results of the recently concluded US elections.

Read the article on Facebook’s plans on fighting against fake news on their website.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38039506

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “arbiter” mean? “He noted Facebook did not want to discourage the sharing of opinions or become ‘arbiters of truth’.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym or similar expression.
  2. What does “uncharted territory” mean? “What Facebook’s challenges over fake news reveal, I think, is that we’re in completely uncharted territory.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym or similar expression.
  3. What does “astute” mean? “Zuckerberg’s global ambitions will live or die on his ability to be an astute political operator.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym or similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the measures that Facebook is taking in order to stop the spread of fake news on their site?
  2. What do you think Dave Lee meant when he said, “we’re in completely uncharted territory”?
  3. Why is addressing this issue crucial?
  4. How can we spot fake news?
  5. Tell us about fake news you read or heard of recently.

Less Stuff, More Happiness

C1 – Advanced

Can having less material things in a room lead to more happiness?
Watch this 5-minute video to get the answer and tips on how you can edit your life.

Discuss:
1. Fill in the blank: In 2013, American homes were about ________ bigger than they were in the 1950’s and 60’s.
2. To which has the accumulation of “stuff” led to in the past 50 years?
3. Discuss the 3 rules mentioned in the video.
4. In your personal life, how can you practice “less is more”?
5.  What is the most important reason to edit your life?