CanPacific

Hello all,

Please read the article and be prepared for the discussion. This is a hot topic in Canada.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/declawing-ban-1.4438082

1. How do you feel about de-clawing cats? Is it unethical?
2. Are cats de-clawed in your home country?
3. Would you de-claw your cat for any reason? Why do you think some people de-claw cats?
4. Last week, we talked about animal rights. Do you think de-clawing goes against animal rights?
5. Some dogs have been de-barked. Please think about this and consider the same questions above (1, 2, 3, 4).
6. What are other things pet owners do to their pets? eg. a strange haircult
7. Do you think any of these things make pets unhappy? Do you think they care?
8. Should the government ban things like de-clawing and de-barking? Why?

Hello All,

Here is the video for this week. You only need to watch about the first five minutes of it. Please make sure you understand the questions so that we can discuss them in class. Thanks!

An Epiemic of Beauty Sickness

Renee Engeln

1) Which do you think is more important, health, or appearance?

2) Would you take medicine to cure an appearance problem (for example, acne or serious pimples) even though it might negatively affect your health?

3) Do you think our culture is too worried about appearance?

4) If someone dies because they were taking a prescribed drug, whose fault is it? The company that makes the drug, the government for allowing the drug to me prescribed, the doctor for prescribing the drug, or the patient for choosing to take the drug?

5) Who puts more pressure on girls to be beautiful? Men or Women?

6) Would you rather be fat or injured in an accident (eg. a car accident)?

7) In this modern time, do men face the same pressure to look good as women do?

8) Tell about a time that you ignored your health and a time you really cared about your health.

Hello Everybody!

Here is the topic for today. The article is a little bit hard, so just understand it the best you can. Make sure to concentrate on understanding the questions so we can discuss them.

Thanks!

What Can Workers and Employers Actually Do About Burnout?

https://slate.com/human-interest/2018/04/burnout-what-can-workers-and-employers-do-about-it.html

1) Have you ever suffered from worker burnout? Is this a topic that is discussed in your country? Why or why not?

2) Why do you think work stress has increased so much in the last 20 years? (A 32% increase).

3) What do you think about talking to your boss about worker burnout? Would you do it? Why or why not?

4) If you are feeling really stressed from work or school, how do you relax?

5) Worker burnout results in reduced productivity and quality, and increased turnover. Why do you think bosses are not more worried about this?

6) Would you quit your job because you felt burned out? Have you ever?

7) Do you think your country and your future is to be ” a society full of overworked, tired zombies cosplaying as humans.”

8) What other effects do you think worker stress is causing in your country?

9) If you were being paid a lot of money, would you be okay with long days, almost no holidays, and high worker stress? Why?

Hello All,

Please read this article and maybe watch the video. Then you will be ready to discuss the topic. Living in a van…

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/well-you-gotta-have-a-home-inside-the-private-lives-of-van-dwellers-1.3613398

• Could you live in van? For a short time? For a long time? What do you think the benefits and drawbacks would be?
• Do you trust people who live in their vehicles?
• Is this a common situation in your home country?
• Should cities allow vans to park for free in certain areas of the city?
• Housing prices are getting very high in many parts of Canada. Do you think the government should get involved?
• Do you consider yourself and adventurous or cautious person?
• What is something adventurous that you dream of doing? Remember, ‘dream’ means you might never do that thing but you wish you could.
• What changes are happening in your home culture?

Hello all!

Here is the video for Wednesday’s discussion. Enjoy!

Please be ready to discuss the questions in class.

1) Do you or have you played video or board games?

2) In general, thinking of board games or video games, do you like hard or simple games?

3) If life was as easy as it is in the game, would you like that? Why?

4) Do you believe that video game addiction is read? Compare it to alcohol or drug addiction.

5) What have you become obsessed with in your past? What are you currently obsessed with?

6) If your friend kept ignoring your texts, what would you do?

7) I think the video is commenting on how life is just the same tasks repeated over again. Do you feel this way? Why? Is life exciting?

Hello everybody!

Here is the video for Wednesday’s class. Try to watch as much of it as you can, but don’t worry if you can’t watch it all. The most 4-5 minutes are the most important.

See you in class!

Matthew

Hello Everybody!

Here is the link for the discussion topic.

Please watch it and enjoy. The video is a little strange, but pretty awesome!

I will provide the questions in the class.

Video: https://vimeo.com/channels/staffpicks/254773777

Matthew

Time for the battle of the sexes! Get your opinions ready.

Please read the article below and then read the questions too. Remember to read the article more than one time. The first time, do not use a dictionary or worry about unknown words. The second time, it is a good idea to look up the unknown words.
When you read the questions, please make sure you understand their meaning and are ready to discuss them on Wednesday.

Thank you!

Matthew

His and Her Diary from the Same Day

Her Diary:

Tonight, I thought my husband was acting weird. We had made plans to meet at a nice restaurant for dinner. I was shopping with my friends all day long, so I thought he was upset at the fact that I was a bit late, but he made no comment on it. Conversation wasn’t flowing, so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet so we could talk. He agreed, but he didn’t say much. I asked him what was wrong; He said, ‘Nothing.’ I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset. He said he wasn’t upset, that it had nothing to do with me, and not to worry about it. On the way home, I told him that I loved him. He smiled slightly, and kept driving. I can’t explain his behavior I don’t know why he didn’t say, ‘I love you, too.’ When we got home, I felt as if I had lost him completely, as if he wanted nothing to do with me anymore. He just sat there quietly, and watched TV. He continued to seem distant and absent. Finally, with silence all around us, I decided to go to bed. About 15 minutes later, he came to bed. But I still felt that he was distracted, and his thoughts were somewhere else. He fell asleep – I cried. I don’t know what to do. I’m almost sure that his thoughts are with someone else. My life is a disaster.

His Diary:

Motorcycle won’t start…can’t figure out why.

http://imgur.com/6icZ3

Discussion questions

1. Do you think this was posted by a man or a woman? Why? What point do you think that he or she was trying to make?
2. Who do you sympathize with most, him or her?
3. Have you had similar misunderstandings with your significant other?
4. Why are men and women so different?
5. Is it possible for a men and women to really understand how the other thinks?
6. Would you like to be able to think like a member of the opposite sex? Might there be any advantages in being able to do so?
7. What does/did your significant other do that really infuriates you? What are the most frustrating habits that men/women have?
8. Do you have any advice on how to understand and get along with the opposite sex better?
9. Imagine you could switch gender for one day? Would you like to try it? What would you do? What would you like to find out?

We talked a little bit about kids and health in class. It is time to discuss how schools handle this problem.

Please read the article and prepare to discuss the questions. I look forward to the discussion.

http://www.thestar.com/yourtoronto/education/2016/04/11/phys-ed-experts-alarmed-by-program-cuts.html

1) Is it important to students/children to be physically active?
2) Do you think physical education class is more important or equally as important as some other subjects? Which ones? No? Why?
3) Does exercising or just taking a walk help you to study better?
4) How much TV or internet do you watch each day?
5) Which is more important, physical health or high academic achievement (good grades)?
6) How many hours of physical activity each day do students in your country get? Is it enough? How many hours do you think they should get?