Intermediate

Hello all,

Please watch this video and do your best to understand it. We will be discussing this topic on Wednesday.

Thanks!

Matthew

Hello Everybody!

This is the post for May 30th, 2018.

Here is the link for a video. I think it is a fun video. Enjoy!

https://vimeo.com/253334732

1) Do you take many pictures when you travel? What kind of pictures do you take? Why or why not?

2) Do you look at vacation pictures after the fact? Do you think others do?

3) When I see many people taking pictures, I often think that they are missing the real moment. What do you think?

4) Are there any original pictures anymore?

5) Why do you think people post pictures on sites like Instagram?

6) Do you recognize any of the places in the video?

7) Are you comfortable with the fact the pictures can never really be removed from the internet? Why or why not? Do you have any regrets?

Have a good week!

Matthew

Hello All!

Please be ready to discuss this topic in class. Here is the video!

See you soonish,

Matthew

Hello all,

Please read the article and be prepared for the discussion. This is a hot topic in Canada.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/declawing-ban-1.4438082

1. How do you feel about de-clawing cats? Is it unethical?
2. Are cats de-clawed in your home country?
3. Would you de-claw your cat for any reason? Why do you think some people de-claw cats?
4. Last week, we talked about animal rights. Do you think de-clawing goes against animal rights?
5. Some dogs have been de-barked. Please think about this and consider the same questions above (1, 2, 3, 4).
6. What are other things pet owners do to their pets? eg. a strange haircult
7. Do you think any of these things make pets unhappy? Do you think they care?
8. Should the government ban things like de-clawing and de-barking? Why?

Hello All,

Here is the video for this week. You only need to watch about the first five minutes of it. Please make sure you understand the questions so that we can discuss them in class. Thanks!

An Epiemic of Beauty Sickness

Renee Engeln

1) Which do you think is more important, health, or appearance?

2) Would you take medicine to cure an appearance problem (for example, acne or serious pimples) even though it might negatively affect your health?

3) Do you think our culture is too worried about appearance?

4) If someone dies because they were taking a prescribed drug, whose fault is it? The company that makes the drug, the government for allowing the drug to me prescribed, the doctor for prescribing the drug, or the patient for choosing to take the drug?

5) Who puts more pressure on girls to be beautiful? Men or Women?

6) Would you rather be fat or injured in an accident (eg. a car accident)?

7) In this modern time, do men face the same pressure to look good as women do?

8) Tell about a time that you ignored your health and a time you really cared about your health.

Hello Everybody!

Here is the topic for today. The article is a little bit hard, so just understand it the best you can. Make sure to concentrate on understanding the questions so we can discuss them.

Thanks!

What Can Workers and Employers Actually Do About Burnout?

https://slate.com/human-interest/2018/04/burnout-what-can-workers-and-employers-do-about-it.html

1) Have you ever suffered from worker burnout? Is this a topic that is discussed in your country? Why or why not?

2) Why do you think work stress has increased so much in the last 20 years? (A 32% increase).

3) What do you think about talking to your boss about worker burnout? Would you do it? Why or why not?

4) If you are feeling really stressed from work or school, how do you relax?

5) Worker burnout results in reduced productivity and quality, and increased turnover. Why do you think bosses are not more worried about this?

6) Would you quit your job because you felt burned out? Have you ever?

7) Do you think your country and your future is to be ” a society full of overworked, tired zombies cosplaying as humans.”

8) What other effects do you think worker stress is causing in your country?

9) If you were being paid a lot of money, would you be okay with long days, almost no holidays, and high worker stress? Why?

Hello All,

Please read this article and maybe watch the video. Then you will be ready to discuss the topic. Living in a van…

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/well-you-gotta-have-a-home-inside-the-private-lives-of-van-dwellers-1.3613398

• Could you live in van? For a short time? For a long time? What do you think the benefits and drawbacks would be?
• Do you trust people who live in their vehicles?
• Is this a common situation in your home country?
• Should cities allow vans to park for free in certain areas of the city?
• Housing prices are getting very high in many parts of Canada. Do you think the government should get involved?
• Do you consider yourself and adventurous or cautious person?
• What is something adventurous that you dream of doing? Remember, ‘dream’ means you might never do that thing but you wish you could.
• What changes are happening in your home culture?

Hello all!

Here is the video for Wednesday’s discussion. Enjoy!

Please be ready to discuss the questions in class.

1) Do you or have you played video or board games?

2) In general, thinking of board games or video games, do you like hard or simple games?

3) If life was as easy as it is in the game, would you like that? Why?

4) Do you believe that video game addiction is read? Compare it to alcohol or drug addiction.

5) What have you become obsessed with in your past? What are you currently obsessed with?

6) If your friend kept ignoring your texts, what would you do?

7) I think the video is commenting on how life is just the same tasks repeated over again. Do you feel this way? Why? Is life exciting?

Hello everybody!

Here is the video for Wednesday’s class. Try to watch as much of it as you can, but don’t worry if you can’t watch it all. The most 4-5 minutes are the most important.

See you in class!

Matthew