Monthly Archive: July 2017

Muirfield votes to allow female members

Sports

Pre-reading questions: Have you ever played golf? Do you think golf is a good hobby? Vocabulary: vote [verb] – to express your choice or opinion in something In the meeting, I voted yes to buying a new office door. membership [noun] – being in a group or club or belonging to a group or club I would like to continue my membership in the Tokyo Book Club. policy [noun] – a set of ideas or plan of what to do; this is agreed by members and officials of a group or business organization Our hiring policy is very strict. criticism [noun] – the act of giving your opinion on the…
Read more

Saudi Arabia’s government adds 5% tax on some goods

Business - I

Pre-reading questions: Do you think it is useful to know a bit about the economic status of other countries? Why do you think some people find it difficult to discuss the economy? Vocabulary: exporter – someone who sells goods to another country India is a major exporter of rice. drastic – something that has a very big effect on another Our budget has been drastically reduced. impose – to force something to be accepted or to be done The chairman of the board imposed his decision on his team. adhere – to believe in and follow the practices of something It is our duty to adhere to the law. revoke – to…
Read more

Easier learning through smartphones

technology

Vocabulary: unconventional – out of the ordinary; not based on what is generally done or believed This is an unconventional school as teachers don’t give students homework. utilize – use; make use of I would like to utilize my time doing more productive things. gadget – a small device or machine with a particular purpose Before, I used different gadgets to listen to music, watch movies and call someone. Now, I can do all of those with just one. noteworthy – deserving attention because of being important or interesting It is noteworthy that nobody in this room is interested in taking a day off. Unconventional forms of learning and instruction…
Read more

Easier learning through smartphones

technology

Pre-reading questions: Do you find smartphones more advantageous or more disadvantageous? What would your life be like without smartphones? Vocabulary: effortless – easy; natural English is not her first language but her speech is effortless. instantly – immediately I was so tired that when I got home, I fell asleep instantly. extend – increase in scope; to include more Please extend the scope of your research to cover environmental issues in the countryside. mere – no more than; only I want nothing more than mere friendship. accessible – reachable; attainable The Internet has made information more accessible. Communication has been made effortless by smartphones. Through smartphones, people can instantly exchange…
Read more

Saudi Arabia’s government adds 5% tax on some goods

Business - B

Pre-reading questions: Would you like to travel to Middle East? What do you want to see in Saudi Arabia? Vocabulary: product [noun] –  something that is made and sold Japanese products are very popular nowadays. source [noun] –  is the person, place, or thing which you get something from The source of the fire in the building is unknown. tax [noun] –  amount of money that you have to pay to the government so that it can pay for public services. The taxes in the Philippines are too high. economy [noun] –  the money and resources of a country Japan is hoping for a better economy this year. Value Added Tax (VAT) – [noun] a…
Read more

Easier learning through smartphones

technology

Pre-reading questions: Do you like using smartphones? What do you usually do with your smartphone? Vocabulary: record [verb] – to put sounds or pictures onto a computer or other electronic device so that they can be heard or seen later I want to record my tutor’s class so I can study again later. share [verb] – tell someone about something Maria wants to share a story today. feedback [noun] – opinion about something; what someone thinks of something My boss gave me a good feedback on my report. application [noun] – a program in a computer or smartphone I use a smartphone application to call my mother everyday. convenient [adjective]…
Read more

Mediterranean food for a healthier brain

Health - Intermediate

There’s enough evidence and scientific research that support a healthy diet for a sound body and mind. A recent study not only substantiates this, but also specifically identifies Mediterranean diet as being key to keeping a healthy brain through old age. If we’re not careful with the food we eat, our brain will suffer as we get older. Thanks to a recent research, now we know that adding Mediterranean food like olive oil, salad, and more fruits helps conserve our brain into old age. As we age, our brains get smaller; but if we keep our brain healthy, the shrinkage will amazingly be slower. According to research, bigger brains have…
Read more