Topic #6 How Do Movies and TV Affect People's Lives?

Question for Discussion: TV

1. Are you going to watch TV tonight?

2. If so, what will you watch?

3. What did you watch on TV yesterday?

4. What is one of your favorite TV shows?

5. Why do you like it?

6. When is it on?

7. Does you father like it, too?

8. Do you prefer listening to the radio or watching TV?

9. Do you think it is good for children to watch TV?

10. Do you think TV is educational?

11. Do you think that there is too much violence on TV?

12. Do you think that TV is a good thing?

13. If you could design a new television show to boost ratings, what kind of show would it be?

14. How often do you watch TV.

15. What are the advantages of watching TV?

16. What are the disadvantages of watching TV?

17. What do you usually watch on TV?

18. What kind of TV shows do you not like? Why?

19. What TV commercials do you like? Which ones do you hate?

20. Do you think that TV makes people lazy?

21. Does TV make a person passive? Does TV take away a person's ability to think for himself or herself?

22. Do you think that TV prevents people from communicating?

Topic #6 How Do Movies and TV Affect People's Lives?

Question for Discussion: Movies

1. What is your all-time favorite movie?

2. Are there any kinds of movies you dislike? If so, what kinds? Why do you dislike them?

3. Do you like to watch horror movies?

4. Do you prefer fiction or nonfiction books? How about movies?

5. Do you usually watch movies at home or at a movie theater?

6. Have you ever seen the same movie more than once? If yes, name it (or them).

7. How often do you go to movies?

8. How often do you rent videos?

9. If a book has been made into a movie, which do you prefer to do first, see the movie or read the book? Why?

10. What do you think of people who talk during movies at a movie theater?

11. What is the best movie you have ever seen?

12. Who was in it?

13. Why did you like it?

14. Who was the director?

15. What is the scariest movies you have ever seen?

16. What's the funniest?

17. What's the most romantic?

18. What is the worst movie you've ever seen?

19. What was the last movie you saw?

20. Was it good?

21. Who did you see it with?

22. Which do you like better, action movies or comedy movies?

23. Which movie star would you most like to meet?

24. Who is your favorite actor or actress?

25. What do you think of reality shows?

26. Do you think that films can be educational?

27. Is there a movie you could watch over and over again?

28. Who's your favorite director?

29. How much does it cost to see a movie in your country?

30. Do you usually rent DVD's or videos when you rent movies?

Topic # 5 Should a factory be built in your community?

Questions for Discussion:

1. Are there any factories or industrial areas where you live?

2. Is there a lot of pollution?

3. How has the world changed since you were a child? (technology, values, environment, health)

4. What is the most important issue facing the environment today?

5. Do you support or oppose the factory? Explain your position.

6. What kind of factories are there in your city?

7. What are the benefits of having a factory in your community?

8. What are the disadvantages of building a factory in your community?

9. If you are in favor of having a factory built in your community, what kind of factory is safe?

10. If you are opposed to this, what kind of factory is dangerous?

11. What kind of jobs do people in your community have?

12. What other improvements can you recommend for your community to have?

13. Is your local government doing its best to improve your area?

14. Have you ever been inside a factory?

15. How do you think factories can improve their technology more?

Topic # 4 Are books more important than experience?

Questions for Discussion:

1. Which is more important, the essential skills in life you've learned to develop on your own or the artificial structure in college about the "real" life?

2. What kind of world do you think this would be if people never went to school?

3. Does education guarantee a good job?

4. Do you know anyone who does not know how to read or write?

5. Does your country provide a good public school system?

6. Do parents home-school their children in your country?

7. What do you think of home-schooling?

8. Do you know anyone who was home-schooled?

9. Once you graduate from a university should you stop learning?

10. What are some ways a person can continue to learn?

11. How many books do you read per year?

12. What sort of books do you enjoy reading?

13. Which book have you read recently?

14. Some people don't read books or read very rarely, Why?

15. Do you know any famous person who didn't have a university degree?

Topic # 3 Has the ease of cooking improved life?

Vocabulary and Expressions:

1. advancement noun [U]

meaning: improvement/development

ex. All she was interested in was the advancement of her own career.

2. radically adverb

meaning: complete or extreme

ex. Barker introduced some radically new ideas.

3. errand noun [C]

meaning: a short journey either to take a message or to deliver or collect something

ex. I'll meet you at six, I've got some errands to do/run first.

4. does not come without a price.

meaning: if you can get something at a price, you have to accept something unpleasant in order to get it

ex. Progress has been achieved, but at a price. Many who worked on farms and in factories are now without jobs.

5. nutrition noun [U]

meaning: the food that you eat and the way that it affects your health

ex. Some snacks have little nutritional value.

6. minerals FOOD

meaning: a chemical that your body needs to stay healthy

ex. calcium and iron

7. preservatives noun [C,U]

meaning: a substance used to prevent decay in food or in wood

8. artificial adjective

meaning: NOT NATURAL not natural, but made by people

ex. an artificial flower/lake /an artificial heart

9. tasty adjective

meaning: Food which is tasty has a good flavour and is nice to eat.

ex. They do a really tasty chicken and mushroom soup.

10. devoted adjective

meaning: loving or caring very much about someone or something

ex. She's absolutely devoted to her grandchildren.

11. illustrations noun [c/u]

meaning: EXAMPLE an example that explains or proves something

ex. This is another illustration of the power of the media.

12. neglect verb [T]

meaning: to not give enough care or attention to something or someone

ex. Some of these kids have been badly neglected in the past.

Questions for Discussion:

1. Can you cook?

2. Do you like cooking?

3. Do you like fast food?

4. What is your favourite food?

5. What is your favourite dessert?

6. Which foods are good for you?

7. Is obesity a problem in your country?

8. Which foods make you fat?

9. What foods are traditionally eaten at: births / weddings / funerals in your country?

10. Which food could you NEVER give up?

11. What is the best meal you have ever eaten and where was it?

12. What is the worst meal you have ever eaten and where was it?

13. What's your favourite cuisine (Chinese/Thai etc...)?

Topic # 2 Are parents the best teachers?

Useful Expressions:

1. Obviously,

2. Almost for sure...

3. In addition...

4. ...for instance

5. On the other hand...

6. Thus,

Vocabulary:

1. corresponds verb [I]

meaning: to match or be similar or equal

ex. The money I've saved corresponds roughly to the amount I need for my course.

2. committed adjective

meaning: loyal and willing to give your time and energy to something that you believe in

ex. a committed socialist/Christian/teacher

3. instinct noun [C or U]

meaning: the way people or animals naturally react or behave, without having to think or learn about it

ex. Her first instinct was to run.

4. implicit adjective

meaning: suggested but not communicated directly

ex. Implicit in the poem's closing lines are the poet's own religious doubts.

5. unconsciously adverb

meaning: An unconscious thought or feeling is one that you do not know you have

ex. my unconscious desire to impress him

6. notorious adjective

meaning: famous for something bad

ex. one of Britain's most notorious criminals

7. rebellious adjective

meaning: If someone is rebellious, they are difficult to control and do not behave in the way they are expected to

ex. Her teachers regard her as a rebellious, trouble-making girl.

8. intrude verb [I]

meaning: to go into a place or situation in which you are not wanted or not expected to be

ex. I didn't realise your husband was here, Dr Jones - I hope I'm not intruding.

9. biased adjective

meaning: showing an unreasonable like or dislike for a person based on personal opinions

ex. I think she's beautiful but then I'm biased since she's my daughter.

10. maturation noun [U]

meaning: MAINLY APPROVING the process of becoming completely developed mentally or emotionally

ex. He matured a lot while he was at college.

11. well-rounded adjective

meaning: involving or having experience in a wide range of ideas or activities

ex. She describes herself as a "well-rounded person" who works hard but has a varied social life.

Questions for Discussion:

1. Do you think teenagers today should show more respect for adults? (teachers, parents etc)

2. What do you think about teenagers who dye their hair blue, green, or another crazy colour?

3. What type of punishment did your parents use when you were a teenager?

4. What would you do if your teenage son or daughter got a tattoo?

5. What would you do if your teenage son or daughter shaved his or her head?

6. How do you feel about swearing? Does it matter if teenagers sometimes use bad language?

7. What do you think parents can do to help teenagers avoid depression?

8. Do you think teenagers today have it 'too easy'?

9. Did you have a good relationship with your parents? Why or why not?

10. Do you think it's a good idea to give teenagers a lot of freedom? (example: come home when you like)

11. Do teenagers in your former country have problems with drugs or alcohol?

12. Is teenage suicide a problem?

13. Why do you think some teenagers do good things and others (in the same family often) do bad things?

14. What can society do to help teenagers who have problems at home?

15. Do you think that advertising plays an important role in how teenagers think?

Topic #1 Why go to the university?

Useful Expressions:

1. I strongly believe that...

2. I will try to examine below the specific reasons for... (topic)

3. First, let us look at...

4. Another important reason is that...

5. Apart from the points I made above...

6. Finally, I cannot oversee the fact that...

7. In contrast...

8.One thing is for sure though,

9. Last but not least, ...

Vocabulary:

1. promising - adjective.

Something which is promising shows signs that it is going to be successful or enjoyable

ex. A: "How's your new venture going?"

B:"It's looking quite promising."

2. accompanied - verb [T]

To go with someone or to be provided or exist at the same time as something

ex. The course books are accompanied by four cassettes.

3. distinction - noun [C or U]

A difference between two similar things

ex. There's a clear distinction between the dialects spoken in the two regions.

4. diversity - noun [S or U]

When many different types of things or people are included in something

ex. Does television adequately reflect the ethnic and cultural diversity of the country?

5. spectrum - noun [C] plural spectra or spectrums

A range of opinions, feelings, etc

ex. A wide spectrum of opinion was represented at the meeting.

6. diploma - noun [C]

A document given by a college or university to show that you have passed a particular examination or completed a course

ex. a high school diploma

7. crave - noun [C]

A strong or uncontrollable desire

ex. I have a craving for chocolate.

8. in-depth - adjective [before noun]

Done carefully and in great detail, or discovering the real reasons which cause something

ex. an in-depth report/interview/analysis

9. imperative - adjective

Extremely important or urgent; needing to be done or given attention immediately

ex. It's imperative to act now before the problem gets really serious.

10. drawbacks - noun [C]

A disadvantage or the negative part of a situation

ex. One of the drawbacks of living with someone is having to share a bathroom.

Questions for Discussion:

1. Are college tuitions reasonable?

2. Are women encouraged to pursue education?

3. Do you have difficulty with school work?

4. Do you think your school is a good one? Why/why not?

5. How long must you go to college to get a degree?

6. Is it difficult for people without a college education to get good jobs where you live?

7. What are some important factors in determining which college to attend?

8. What are the qualities of a good student?

9. What are the qualities of a good teacher?

10. What is your favorite class?

11. What was (or is) your favorite subject? Why do you like it?

12. Who selects the college you will attend -- you or your parents?

13. Once you graduate from a university should you stop learning?

14. Does education guarantee a good job?

15. Which is more important, the essential skills in life you've learned to develop on your own or the artificial structure in college about the "real" life?