ESL Grammar: Business Debate

Instructions: Choose one of the following topics to debate with your teacher. Choose one side of the argument and explain your opinions. Use the compare and contrast phrases below while debating 

Topics: 

Companies shouldn't look at prospective employee's social media profiles 

Employees that work from home are more productive 

There should be gender quotas for women on boards of directors 

Open floor plans are better than cubicle farms

Companies should have strict policies against dating at work 

Happy employees do a better job 

Compare: similarly, likewise, also, as well as, just as, in the same way 

Contrast: although, however, but, actually, even though, on the other hand 

ESL Vocabulary: Visualization

1. Mystical - adjective - inspiring a sense of of spiritual mystery, awe, fascination

2. Outcome - noun - a way a thing turns out; consequence 

3. Parameters - noun - a limit or boundary which defines the scope of a particular process or activity 

4. Deliberate - adjective - done consciously and intentionally 

5. Reflective - adjective - relating to deep thought; thoughtful 

6. Invigorate - verb - give strength or energy to 

ESL Phrasal Verbs: Set

1. Set on - determined to do something 

2. Set up - to establish a business, institution or other organization 

3. Set apart - make someone seem distinctive or superior 

4. Set aside - save or keep something, typically money or time, for a particular purpose 

5. Setback - a reversal or check in progress 

6. Set out - to begin a journey 

ESL Phrasal Verb Conversation Questions 

1. What goal are you set on completing this month? 

2. What sets apart popular people at your job from the non popular? 

3. How much time do you set aside for solitude per week? 

4. Are there any setbacks that companies like Amazon or Metaverse could not overcome? 

5. Do you like to listen to music before setting out on an overseas journey? 

6. What business would you recommend someone not set up today? 

ESL Conversation Questions: Visualization

1. What is visualization? 

2. Do you believe visualization works? 

3. The 34th law of power states that if you act like royalty people will treat as if you were royal. Do you agree with this idea? 

4. Are there any negatives of using the visualization technique to create better outcomes in life? 

5. " Everything you can imagine is real." - Pablo Picasso. Do you agree with this quote?

6. If you practiced the visualization technique what future achievement would you like to visualize today? 

ESL Phrasal Verbs: Check

1. Check by - to visit a place to see if everything is ok 

2. Check into - register on arriving at a hotel or at the airport 

 

3. Check off - Mark something on a list as done 

4. Check out - get information about or inspect something to see if it is satisfactory 

5. Check over - to examine something very carefully 

6. Check up on - to see if someone is ok or doing what they should be doing 

ESL Phrasal Verb Conversation Questions 

1. How many hours before your flight do you usually check into the airport ? 

2. Do you find it exciting to check off something from your to-do list ? 

3. When you want to check out some news related information do you use social media or traditional news? 

4. How important is it to check over your writing before sending an email? 

5. How often should people check up on their health at the doctor's office? 

6. Do you check by your local tech store for the latest gadget releases?

Idiom of the Day: To Talk Out The Side Of One's Neck

 

Idiom of the Day 

to talk out the side of one's neck 

Everyone knew that Jack Ma was talking out the side of his neck when he said  in a conference that people should call artificial intelligence Alilbaba intelligence. 

Definition: to give an uninformed opinion to talk unwisely or foolishly 

ESL Vocabulary: Consumerism

1. Flee - verb - run away from something or someone 

2. Extravagant - adjective - lacking restraint in spending money or resources 

3. Prism - noun - used to refer to the clarification or distortion afforded by a particular viewpoint 

4. Indicator - noun - a thing that indicates the state or level of something 

5. Dim - adjective - not giving cause for hope or optimism 

6. Pinpoint - adjective/verb - find or identify with great accuracy or precision 

ESL Conversation Questions: Consumerism

1. What is consumerism? 

2. What are the benefits of consumerism? 

3. How does social media affect consumerism? 

4. What are some of the negatives of consumerism? 

5. "Consumerism thrives on emotional voids." - Caroline Knapp . Do you agree with this quote? 

6. Do you believe consumerism hurts the environment and nature? 

ESL Expressions: Advertising

1. In the pipeline 

2. Sold on (Something) 

3. All it's cracked up to be 

4. Out of the gate 

5. Put (something/somoene) on the map 

6. Fish where the fish are 

A. to make famous 

B. as good as claims or reputations would suggest 

C. Being prepared for the marketplace, being worked on 

D. immediate or from the start 

E. use resources where the highest results will be 

F. convinced of something 

ESL Vocabulary: Advertising

ESL Vocabulary 

1. Viewership - noun - the audience for a particular television program or channel 

2. Metrics - noun - a system or standard of measurement 

3. Interstitial - noun - an advertisement that appears while a chosen website or page is downloading 

4. Imperative - adjective - of vital importance; crucial 

5.  Potent - adjective - having great power, influence, or effect 

6. Cement - verb - to settle or establish firmly 

ESL Conversation Questions: Advertising

1. What is your definition of advertising? 

2. Do you think advertising is an art or a science? 

3. Does your industry rely heavily on advertising? 

4. Has an advertisement ever made you upset? 

5. "Advertising is legalized lying." H.G. Wells - Do you agree or disagree with this quote? 

6. What would the world be like without advertising? 

ESL Speaking Exercise: Battle of the Isms

Instructions: Match the definition with the correct term. 

Communism or Capitalism 

A. a theory or system of social organization in which all property is owned by the community and each person contributes and receives according to their ability and needs 

B. an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than the state

Idealism or Pragmatism 

A. the unrealistic belief in or pursuit of perfection  

B. An approach that evaluates theories or beliefs in terms of the success of their practical application 

Realism vs Romanticism 

A. a movement in the arts and literature emphasizing inspiration, subjectivity and the primacy of the individual 

B. the quality or fact of representing a person or thing in a way that is accurate and true to life 

ESL Vocabulary: Pragmatism

ESL Vocabulary (Pragmatism )

1. Expedient - noun/adjective - doing something convenient and practical although possibly improper and immoral 

2. Calculated - adjective - doing something with the full awareness of the likely consequences 

3. Hindrance - noun - a thing that provides resistance, delay, or obstruction to something or someone

4. Cajole - verb - persuade someone to do something by sustained flattery 

5. Ruthless - adjective - having or showing no pity or compassion for others 

6. Pragmatic - adjective - dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical