Intermediate

Japan’s move to end ‘death by overwork’ will drag economic growth: Deutsche Bank

2017年3月7日

Business - I

  Pre-reading questions: What do you think about working time? What do you do during your free time?   Deutsche Bank says that reducing overtime work could affect Japanese economic growth. Laborious industries are said to suffer the most due to manpower shortage. Reducing overtime was deemed as a solution to reduce cases of “karoshi” or death by overwork. Deutsche Bank expect companies to limit overime to avoid negative publicity. However, this move is directly proportional to profits as decreasing overtime work will also decrease profits and sales. The pursuit to cut extended working hours was strengthened after the suicide of an advertising firm employee who rendered more than 100…
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Intermediate

How insomnia impacts the body

2017年3月6日

Health - Beginner

  Pre-reading questions: Have you experienced sleeping for a few hours? What was the longest sleep you’ve had?   A recent study shows that sleeping habits of most people are at worst nowadays – sleeping between five to seven hours. One third of these individuals are having insomnia rooted from stress. It is now harder to doze off for eight full hours as anxiety and stress levels of each person increase. One can actually experience how insomnia can affect his or her body. Aside from anxiety increasing, a sleep-deprived person would either slump all afternoon or get hyper all night, munch carbs more than the norm, and crave for more…
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Intermediate

Researchers found a new organ in the human body

2017年3月6日

Health - Beginner

  Pre-reading questions: Is Science one of your favorite subjects in school? Are you fascinated with how our body works?   Researchers have discovered a new human organ hidden in our digestive system for a long time. This new organ is known as Mesentery. It is a double fold of the peritoneum, which is the lining of the abdominal cavity. It conjoins the intestine to the wall of our abdomen to keep everything in place. Mesentery has been mistaken to be made up of separated structures at first but research shows that it is a continuous organ although the function is still unknown. Further research will be conducted to determine…
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Intermediate

Hongkong’s Ghost Island comes to life

2017年2月21日

Lifestyle

  Pre-reading questions: Do you like to travel? Why? Where is your favorite country/town/city? Why? Do you like modern or historical art? Why?   An isolated island in Hong Kong previously named as Yim Tin Sai or “Ghost Island” is slowly returning to life. Yim Tin Sai also means “Salt Pan” in Cantonese. It was Hong Kong’s salt pan for over hundred years. Due to competition against nearby countries like Vietnam and Thailand, the pans slowly shut down. People from the island fled to seek for education in the city. Colin Chan, the previous village representative, saw a decaying island when he came back. He decided to dedicate his life…
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Intermediate

Teacherless university opens in California

2017年2月15日

  Pre-reading questions: What is your favorite subject in school/university? What do you like about your school/university? What are the unique characteristics of your school/university?   Ecole 42, France’s teacherless university, opened it’s branch in California last October. 42 originated from Paris 3 years ago. Unlike typical schools, students here take charge of their own learning. They have the freedom to work at their own pace on their preferred projects. 21 levels must be completed to graduate. However, they will not be granted any certificate. Without any professors to guide them, the students confide in peer learning. The students are also responsible for checking each other’s work. The benefactors of…
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Intermediate

Singer handles drunk man on Korean Air flight

2017年2月9日

World News - Intermediate

  Pre-reading questions: Who do you think is the most popular artist in your country? Why is s/he popular? How do you protect yourself in public? Do you post your activities on social media?   A drunk South Korean passenger attacked some airline staff during a flight from Hanoi, Vietnam to Seoul, South Korea last Tuesday, December 20. Female flight attendants spent four hours trying to calm the drunk man down. One of the passengers of the said flight were Richard Marx, a popular 80’s singer, and his wife. Marx, along with other male passengers, tried to restrain the drunk man. The drunk passenger became more aggressive and violent. The…
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Intermediate

Headmistress buys illegal jammer to block students’ internet use

2017年2月9日

  Pre-reading questions: Do you often use the internet? Does too much internet cause any bad effect? In what way? About how many hours a day do you use the internet?   It has been a concern for the headmistress of Wensleydale School and Sixth Form College that children were unable to concentrate in lessons because of the internet. For this reason, the headmistress wanted to utilize on mobile phone jamming to hinder the students from getting distracted. The headmistress of Wensleydale School and Sixth Form College was dismayed at student’s preoccupation with their smartphones. A letter was sent to parents by the headmistress, clarifying recent matters and that she…
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Intermediate

Pilot gives tips for coping with jet lag

2017年2月8日

  Pre-reading questions: Have you experienced jet lag during your flight? What happens to people who experience jet lag? How do you beat jet lag?   For pilots, managing jet lag is a job requirement since they are spending their days and nights flying across all kinds of time zones. According to R.J. “Dutch” Deutschendorf, system chief pilot at Southwest Airlines, pilots should know how to deal with fatigue. For this reason, their airline company’s training program incorporates ways pilots can cope with jet lag. To manage jet lag, passengers should stay hydrated at all times and limit their caffeine intake. It is best recommended to drink water instead of…
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Intermediate

Onsen adds sake into baths

2017年2月7日

  Pre-reading questions: Do you often visit hot springs? What are the benefits of bathing in a hot spring? Tell me about the last time you visited a hot spring.   Some ryokans (japanese inns) have introduced “furosshu”, which offers guests the experience of bathing in an onsen (hot spring) where local sake (rice wine) is combined. Visitors get the chance to soak in a sake-onsen every 26th of the month in ten onsen districts located in Niigata Prefecture. Sake-onsen guests will benefit from different skin treatments. Amino acid in sake is a potent moisturizer which is good for brightening the skin. Satisfied customers continue to rave about the positive…
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Intermediate

Modernization puts Chinese tea houses under threat

2017年2月6日

Pre-reading questions: How often do you visit a coffee shop/tea house? What do you enjoy doing while sitting in a tea house/coffee shop? Which do you prefer more: traditional tea house or modern coffee shop? Why? Traditional tea houses were built for relaxation and excitement during Qing Dynasty. Before, it was an exclusive place for males in politics and business. Nowadays, the common guests in tea houses are tourists and the older generation. Guests can enjoy scented teas and play card games or chinese chess. They can also experience traditional ear cleaning, eye brow plucking, and shoe shining. Today, tea houses in Chengdu, China are at risk from the country’s…
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Intermediate