phone english blogB1 – Intermediate
Scientists have created a robot that can build and fold by itself in just 4 minutes. A researcher suggested that the self-building robot could be applied to a variety of different problems.
http://www.newsinlevels.com/products/self-building-robot-level-3/
Discussion Questions:
1. How do you think this robot can be useful in space explorations?
2. What do you think of robots in general?
3. How else can this robot be useful?
B2 – Upper Intermediate
Lego had a partnership with Shell and made toys that had Shell logo on them. There were over a million people who emailed Lego asking it to end its deal with Shell that brought pressure to finally end its contract with the oil company.
Read the article about Lego ending its tie-up with Shell.
http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1410/141012-lego.html
Discussion Questions:
B1 – Intermediate
We are in the high technology age. Technical devices get upgraded almost every time.
However, did we consider those people still living in the past? If they have the same knowledge of technology as the people of this generation?
This article contains a video and an audio clip. Feel free to to watch and listen.
http://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/teen-senior-bridge-technology-gap/2451596.html
Discussion Questions:
B1 – Intermediate
Fear is an emotion observed by living things particularly among humans and animals. Fear may take place in response to a certain stimulus or that provokes response.
Find out what some people are afraid of:
Discussion Questions:
1. What is your greatest fear?
2. How do you usually respond to fear? Can you think of good ways to handle fear?
3. Do you think psychiatric intervention is necessary to address issues concerning fear?
4. Share some of your scary experiences.
B1 – Intermediate
Jealousy is an emotion which is often comprised of negative thoughts, possessiveness, anxiety and fear. It is also often referred to by people as ” green-eyed monster”.
Discuss:
1. Have you ever been jealous? How do you manage such emotion?
2. Is being jealous okay? When is it wrong to be jealous?
3. Would you consider yourself to be an emotional person?
B2 – Upper Intermediate
(CNN) — More than a quarter of young adults are unable to meet physical requirements to join the military, creating a potential threat to national security, a group of retired armed forces leaders said Tuesday.
“It’s not drug abuse, it’s not asthma, it’s not flat feet — by far the leading medical reason is being overweight or obese,” said retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Norman Seip at a news conference.
About 27 percent of young adults are medically ineligible for the military, according to Mission: Readiness, a group of retired admirals, generals, and other senior military leaders.
Mission: Readiness’ report, “Too Fat to Fight,” said that 75 percent of young Americans between the ages of 17 to 24 do not qualify for the military because of failure to graduate [from high school], criminal records or physical problems. The study cited Department of Defense and health data.
Different branches of the military have their own policies, but they all measure strength, body fat, aerobic capacity, weight and height, Seip said.
A person must pass the physical fitness standards at the time he or she signs up for enlistment. These standards include sit-ups and push-ups.
“The logic is pretty obvious,” said retired Army Brig. Gen. Clara Adams-Ender. “The troops need to be in excellent physical condition because of the demands of the important jobs they do in defense. Rigorous physical and mental standards are critical if we are to maintain the fighting readiness of our military.”
The maximum weight depends on the person’s sex, height and age. The Army allows a woman who is between 21-27 years of age, with the height of 5 feet 3 inches and no prior service, up to 137 pounds. A man between 21-27 years of age, height of 5 feet 8 inches and no prior service can weigh up to 186 pounds. The weight allotment increases with age and height.
The Army’s body fat limit for women in the 21-27 age range, with no prior service is 32 percent body fat and for males, 26 percent.
Once enlisted, individuals also have to pass annual physical tests.
“We lose upwards to 12,000 young men and young women a year before they even finish up the first term of enlistment,” Seip said. “That’s another person, who has been recruited, trained and left because they’re not able to maintain standards and can’t pass the physical fitness test.”
Retired officials said it’s not about looking good in uniform, but ensuring the future health of the nation.
“We cannot wait until our young adults reach enlistment age to do something about it,” said retired Navy Rear Adm. James Barnett Jr. “By that time, they may have already developed a chronic and lifelong weight problem.”
Mission: Readiness urged Congress to pass a new childhood nutrition law to remove school junk food, improve nutritional standards and quality of school meals, and to open access to anti-obesity programs for children.
“If we do something about it, school can become a terrific environment for proper meals,” Barnett said.
The retirees referred to a similar push military leaders made in 1945, when concerns about poor nutrition in potential recruits resulted in the creation of a national school lunch program.
The retired military leaders were joined by Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.
“The reality that so many youngsters are not fit for military service is indeed a wake-up call for this country,” Vilsack said.
Discussion Questions:
B1 – Intermediate
A restaurant owner in Mexico is offering tacos topped with insects. He has wild items added to his menu such as scorpions and spiders too.
Discuss:
1. What exotic kinds of food do you know or have tried?
2. Are there exotic foods in Spain?
3. For you, is it okay to use and put insects in our food? Why or why not?
B1 – Intermediate
A footage shows native people emerge from the Amazon rain forest and make contact with the outside world. Brazilian experts said the indigenous people likely crossed the border from Peru facing pressure from illegal logging and drug trafficking at home.
http://www.newsinlevels.com/products/people-from-a-rainforest-level-3/
Discussion Questions:
1. Is drug trafficking happening in Spain? How about illegal logging?
2. Have you ever taken a trip to exotic places?
3. Are there still places in your country that are still “untouched” by civilization?
A2 – Elementary
Most people drink coffee or tea to jump-start their day. It works as stimulant. It gives them energy and keeps them awake. But, according to the study conducted by Mike Yassa, together with the University of California in Irvine, caffeine also helps improve long term memory.
Discuss:
1. Are you a coffee or tea drinker?
2. How does caffeine affect you in a daily basis?
3. What is the best coffee for you?
B2 – Upper intermediate
One in seven American families suffer from food insecurity. Inflation is low but the population’s ability to get healthy food is decreasing. Eating unhealthy food can cause illness such us diabetes and hypertension and food insecurity can lead people to committing crimes such us robbery and stealing.
Discuss:
1. What do you think people can do to address this issue in their own little ways?
2. Can you think of alternative ways to get healthy food in cheaper cost?
3. Has your country experienced such difficulty? Do you see this happening in the future?
4. How secure are the citizens of your country when it comes to their employment?