TOPIC 1

Bullying as an epidemic

Bullying in British schools has reached epidemic levels. Last week, England
Commissioner for Children said nearly every child was affected by the problem.
Education ministers are keen to reverse the worrying trend, especially as today
is the start of Anti-Bullying Week. Politicians are thinking about fining the
parents of bullies up to $1,700. Schools minister Jacqui Smith said ;This will
send a strong message to parents that schools will not tolerate a failure to
take responsibility for bullying Other proposals give teachers the right to
restrain students through reasonable force where necessary.

Vocabularies to be discussed

Epidemic reverse tolerate Restrain Bullying proposal

Discussion

a. Is bullying a big problem in your country? Did you see or experience bullying
at school?

b. What would you do if your child was being bullied? What would you do if
you knew who the bullies were?

c. Bullies often destroy the confidence and lives of their victims, who have
mental scars for life. Should bullies be punished?

d. Where do you think the kids get bully ideas? Do you think teachers should
have more powers to discipline bullies?
TOPIC 2

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is growing in popularity around the world. It is a technique in which very thin needles

are pushed into specific points on the body. Experts say each point has access to a special

energy flow. The needles can stop the flow of energy that causes pain. They also say

acupuncture is painless. Western doctors do not understand how or why these lines of

energy work. The WHO recommends acupuncture for over 20 different medical problems.

Researcher Dr Daniel Cherkin said all the varieties of acupuncture in the study

“had beneficial effects” when compared to usual treatment.

He said acupuncture was both safe and effective. Dr Cherkin’s study showed

acupuncture worked. After eight weeks, up to 69 per cent of the test patients

having acupuncture said their back pain improved. This compares to just 39 per

cent for the patients who received conventional care.

Vocabulary needs to be discussed

Beneficial Conventional Technique Access

Discussion

a. What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘acupuncture’? Have you ever tried, or

would you like to try acupuncture?

b. Do you think acupuncture is better than Western medicine? Are there any other Eastern
remedies you are interested in?

c. Do you suffer from any aches and pains?

d. Do you think there are any dangers in acupuncture? What other ancient remedies do you

know of?
TOPIC 3
PUNISHED BY MOZART

A school in England is using classical music to cut down on students’ bad behaviour. The
head teacher Brian Walker at the West Park School in Derby runs two-hour detention
Sessions after school on Fridays. He forces his students to listen to Mozart and other
classical music. He also makes them copy his favourite poems and they have to watch
educational videos. Mr. Walker says his main aim is to stop noisy pupils spoiling lessons for
well-behaved students who want to study. He said the students staying behind are “not
the smokers, the truants or the people who are late. Brian Walker believes the detention
reminds students that education is something to value. Music has had success elsewhere
in reducing bad behaviour. In 2004, it reduced crime on London’s subway by 25 per cent.

Vocabularies to be discussed

Detention pupils Truant Reduce Forces

Discussion

a. What do you remember about punishment at school? Do you think the 2-hour Mozart

sessions are a good idea?

b. What’s the most effective punishment for badly behaved students? Do you believe in

corporal punishment (hitting people)?

c. How can we get kids to value education more?

d. Do you think music can stop people behaving badly

TOPIC 4

Jaw surgery – the new beauty fad

Image-conscious South Koreans are trying the latest procedure in plastic surgery to
enhance their looks – double-jaw surgery. After having a nose job and eye reshaping,
those who want the "perfect" jaw can opt to go under the knife for what is a major
operation. Despite the surgery requiring months of painful recovery, dozens of South
Korean celebrities have appeared on television showing off their chiselled new look.
And "chiselled" is a key word to describe how surgeons cut away at the upper and
lower jaw bones to sculpt the coveted "V-shaped" jawline. Many of the celebrities
explained to chat show hosts how their reshaped chins have led to a "turning point"
in their careers.
 However, not everyone is recommending the operation. Many doctors are advising people
against having the surgery for cosmetic reasons. Dr Choi Jin-Young, from the Seoul National
University, talked to the AFP news agency of the dangers of the operation. There are many
reports of the surgery going terribly wrong.

Discussion

a. What do you think of the idea of having your jaw reshaped? Have you ever been under the
knife?

b. Do people care too much about their looks? How could a reshaped jaw be a career turning
point?

c. What laws should there be regarding cosmetic surgery? People do not need to be doctors to
administer Botox. Is this OK?
TOPIC 5
Anger over racist Chinese advert

There is anger on social media because of an advertisement for a Chinese detergent.

Newspapers are saying it may be the most racist advert ever. The commercial was for the
washing detergent company Qiaobi. In the ad, a young woman puts a detergent tablet into the
mouth of a black man. She pushes him into a washing machine, closes the lid and then turns it
on. The next scene shows that the black man has turned white. The woman looks happy when
she sees the light-skinned man. The ad is a month old but went viral 24 hours ago. It was
shared on social media.
Many websites are attacking the ad. The site Buzzfeed called it, the "most racist ad of 2016". It
wrote: "The commercial will likely leave you feeling like you need a shower." One blogger
complained that Chinese companies do not understand "the sensitivity of racism". The blogger
said it was a shame that racism was common in China. Another blogger asked: "How
can…marketing people have no knowledge of racism?" The owner of Qiaobi told the BBC that
he didn't realise the ad was racist.
Discussion

a. How racist is the detergent advert? How racist are people in your country? Why are people
racist?

B. How does racism damage society?What do you think the company of ad should do?

C. Should the marketing people lose their jobs?

TOPIC 6

Couple must lose pets or home

A couple in England could lose their home because of their pets. Clive and Rose Restall live in their
rented home with their 21 pet guinea pigs. The owners of the house, PCH, say the couple have too
many pets. PCH want the couple to get rid of the guinea pigs. PCH said the number of animals is
unacceptable. A PCH spokesperson said the number of pets is not allowed in the contract. The
couple signed a contract to rent the house. PCH warned Mr and Mrs Restall that they must move
out of the house if they do not get rid of the guinea pigs.Mr Restall, 57, said he needs his guinea
pigs. They helped him fight cancer. He found out about his cancer in 2010. He bought the guinea
pigs to help him forget about it. They made him happy. He told reporters that his guinea pigs are
mystic. This means they have special powers to help people.He said: "They've helped me through
my cancer. They've helped me cope." The animals have also helped his neighbours with personal
problems. He said: "The local community love them just as much as I do.
Discussion

1. How important are pets? What should Mr and Mrs Restall do?

2.Should there be a limit to the number of pets you can have?

3. How can pets help people who are ill? Why do people keep pets?

4. How do you cope with personal problems?