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April 26, 2020 

Lesson 3/10  60min

Hello Sergei,

​

Today, we'll read and discuss another ted talk by Anand Giriharadas.  It is the dramatic reading of "A Letter to All Who Have Lost In This Era".  Presented in 2016,  how appropriate  for us to read it now since this era seems to be coming to an end as we speak!

https://www.ted.com/talks/anand_giridharadas_a_letter_to_all_who_have_lost_in_this_era?language=en

1. In whose voice is Anand reading this letter, and whom does he address?

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2. Talk about the fear that the speaker of the letter refers to:  the return of the 1930s and the fear of each other 

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3. The letter is a lament because the writer of the letter sees that he has failed to avert the chaos which is coming.

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4. Talk about the distractions of the elite, a colony on Mars (or luxury bunkers) and immortality, which prevent them from addressing the problems on earth.

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5. Is part of the problem that companies are global and the elite are global, too, having little patriotism or care about the citizens of their home country?

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6. Where is government is this divide between the citizens?  What is their role?

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7. Talk about the challenge which is given at the end: to listen to and value each other above material wealth.

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8. What questions do you have for Anand?

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April 19, 2020 

Lesson 1/10    60 Min

Hello Sergei!

​​​

This lesson we're talking about the ten biggest myths in fitness.

​

If we need to do more discussion, we can talk about fitness trackers.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1705/170528-fitness-trackers.html

April 16, 2020 

Lesson 10/10 60 Min

Hello Sergei!

​​​

Love it or hate it, Marmite is having a massive foodie moment.  Chefs are adding it to everything!​

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If we have time:

Breaking News English on British food:

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/0504/050422-britishfood.html

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From Project Britain:

​http://projectbritain.com/food/index.htm

April 12, 2020 

Lesson 9/10  60 Min

Hello Sergei!

​​​

Space austerity: plane seats and changing rooms needn’t bring out our worst

 

Standing room only is a possibility on airplanes.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/0907/090709-air_travel.html

April 8, 2020 

Lesson 8/10  60 Min

Hello Sergei!

​​​

As a follow up to our lesson about adding gender to voice assistants, I was reminded of this ted talk which examines why people tend to form emotional attachments to robots.

https://www.ted.com/talks/kate_darling_why_we_have_an_emotional_connection_to_robots?language=en

Japan has android robot news readers! 

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1406/140628-robots.html

April 5, 2020 

Lesson 7/10  60 Min

Hello Sergei!

​​​

Why do we gender AI? Voice tech firms move to be more inclusive Gender-neutral voice assistants and accent recognition among projects in the pipeline.

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For more discussion we can discuss the  gender-neutral pronoun 'they' which is often used by technology.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1909/190920-the-pronoun-they.html

March 30, 2020 

Lesson 6/10  60 Min

Hello Sergei!

​​​

A college in London (UCL) has been running an architecture workshop for people with visual impairments.

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And, an old BNE article about a blind pilot!

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/0705/070502-blind_pilot.html

March 26, 2020 

Lesson 5/10  60min

Hello Sergei,

​​

Today: Frank Abagnale whose life was depicted in the 

film "Catch Me If You Can" starrring Leonardo Dicaprio.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsMydMDi3rI

Here's the transcript:

https://singjupost.com/frank-abagnale-catch-me-if-you-can-talks-at-google-transcript/

Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catch_Me_If_You_Can

 

  1. What did you think when you read the headline?

  2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word fraud?

  3. What do you think of airport security?

  4. How much more secure are airlines today?

  5. Have you watch the movie based on Abagnale's life?

  6. Do you think you could fool an airline?

  7. Abagnale talks about the power of the uniform. 

  8. What can you say about this?

  9. Should lie detector tests be used in other places?

  10. Have you ever met a con man?

  11. How bad is lying and fraud?

 

​Then, we'll discuss lie detectors in airports.​
https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1811/181105-lie-detector-tests.html

Quizlet: 
https://quizlet.com/336689724/lie-detector-tests-at-airports-are-coming-flash-cards/

March 23, 2020 

Lesson 4/10  60min

Hello Sergei,

​​

Our  lesson today is about a 101 year old man which the British government thought was a year old because of a computer glitch!

​​​

Malaysia's leader is 92 years old!

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1805/180512-oldest-leader.html

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