Online Advertising

Warm Up: Discuss the question with your partner for five minutes.

1. What is advertising? Can you give some examples?
2. Do you know any good advertisements? Please explain.

Article:

Many companies like online advertising. It's cheaper than traditional advertising in magazines and newspapers. Online advertising reaches more people too. And lastly, marketing departments can easily look at the data from online advertising and make changes to the advertisements.

There are many forms of online advertising. There are banner ads at the top of web pages, pop-up ads, and email ads. There are ads on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn too. The search history is also used to target advertising. For example, if you visit sports sites, then you see sports ads.

Comprehension Questions: Answer the questions before/after your read the article.

1.  Why do companies like online advertising?

           a. It's cheap.

           b. It's seen by many people.

           c. Companies can target customers.

           d. All of the above.

2.  Where are banner ads?

           a. They are at the top of web pages.

           b. They are on all pages.

           c. They are in emails.

           d. They are on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Discuss: Discuss these questions with a partner. Remember to support your answers.

1. How often do you click website advertisements?
2. Do you buy anything on the Internet? Please explain.

Source: http://www.headsupenglish.com/index.php/beginner-english-students/beginner-mini-lessons/575-online-advertising

Music Makes Us Happy

Warm Up: Discuss the question with your partner for five minutes.

1. Do you like music? 
2. What kind of music do you like? Why?

Article:

Music has been a part of human history and culture for a very long time. Perhaps it has always been a part of our history and culture. And scientists now know the reason. Music makes us feel good.

It doesn't matter what kind of music people listen to. When we listen to music, our brains produce a chemical. The chemical increases our heart rate. It makes us breathe faster. We even get chills with some exciting music. The same chemical makes us happy when we eat delicious food, laugh with friends, or win at something difficult.

Almost everyone feels the same way about music. In fact, even babies reacted to music!

Vocabulary: Check the new vocabulary in a dictionary. Then match the words.

1. produce             a.  taste good
2. increase             b.  make
3. chill                    c.  become more or greater
4. delicious            d.  feel cold

Discuss: Discuss these questions with a partner. Remember to support your answers.

1. Does music make you feel good?
2. What kind of music gives you the chills?
3. What other things make you feel good?

Source: http://www.headsupenglish.com/index.php/beginner-english-students/beginner-mini-lessons/532-happy-music

Mars One

Warm Up: Discuss the question with your partner for five minutes.

1. Where have you traveled to? List all of the countries and/or cities you have visited.
2. What was your longest vacation? Where did you go? How long were you there?

Article:

Mars One is an exciting chance to go to the red planet. This isn't a trip for tourists. This trip will take a lot more than three or four years. The people who go to Mars will never come back to Earth!

More than 2500 people filled out an application and paid money. But only four people can go. They will leave in 2025, and it will take seven months to travel to Mars. Two years later, four more people will travel there. And then two years later, four more people will travel there. By 2033, Mars One wants twenty people living on Mars.

The trip to Mars will become a reality TV program too. The four travelers will be videoed all day during the seven months.

Comprehension Questions: Answer the questions before/after your read the article.

1. What is Mars One?
2. How many people will go in 2025? How about in 2027?
3. What will happen to the travelers during their trip to Mars?

Discuss: Discuss these questions with a partner. Remember to support your answers.

1. Do you want to go to Mars forever? Why/not?
2. Do you want to go to Mars but come back to Earth? Why/not?
3. Where do you want to go for a long time? How long do you want to go there?

Source: http://www.headsupenglish.com/index.php/beginner-english-students/beginner-mini-lessons/540-mars-one

Journey by Train

Warm Up: Discuss the question with your partner for five minutes.

1. Do you usually take the train?
2. How often do you take the train? Where do you go?

Reading:

Train journeys are a great way to discover the nature and people of a country. You travel at a slower pace. You see the cities, towns, and countryside. You meet and talk with many people. You try local foods.

Train journeys remind travelers about an older, more romantic way of travel too. There is the famous Orient Express, for example. It ran from Paris to Istanbul, and now runs from London to Venice and other cities in Europe. It is very luxurious. Or there is the Trans-Siberian Express. It runs more than 5000 miles from Vladivostok to Moscow, and it takes about one week!

Every continent and every country has a great train journey. Maybe you should take a train next time you travel.

Comprehension Questions: Answer the questions before/after your read the article.

1. Are train journeys a good or bad way to see a place? Why?
2. The article talks about two train journeys. Explain each journey.
3. Is the writer positive or negative about train travel? Why do you think so?

Discuss: Discuss these questions with a partner. Remember to support your answers.

1. Do you like train travel? Why/not?
2. Did you take the train in another country? Where did you go?
3. Do you want to take the Orient Express, Trans-Siberian, or another journey? Why/not?
4. What is the best way to travel? Why do you think so?

http://www.headsupenglish.com/index.php/beginner-english-students/beginner-mini-lessons/521-train-journeys

Internet Addiction

Warm Up: Discuss the question with your partner for five minutes.

1. How often do you use the Internet?
2. Why do you use the Internet? Please explain.

Reading:

Almost everyone uses the Internet these days. It's a very useful invention. In fact, some people think the Internet is the most important invention ever.

People surf the Internet for information, movies, and music. They study and read books. They play games. They talk with friends on social media websites like Facebook or Twitter.

However, some people are addicted to the Internet. In other words, they use the Internet too much and cannot stop. For these people, they don't go outside, do chores, or meet with friends because the Internet is more exciting. They feel uncomfortable when they cannot surf the Internet or check email. In fact, about 6% of people are addicted, and it is a very serious problem.

Are you addicted to the Internet?

Comprehension Questions: Answer the questions before/after your read the article.

1. What do some people think about the Internet?
2. How do people use the Internet?
3. For people who are addicted to the Internet, what problems do they have?

Discuss: Discuss these questions with a partner. Remember to support your answers.

1. Did you like this article? Why/not?
2. Are you addicted to the Internet? Why do/don't you think so?
3. Is the Internet the most important invention ever? Please explain.

http://www.headsupenglish.com/index.php/beginner-english-students/beginner-mini-lessons/537-internet-addiction

Hamburger History

Warm Up: Discuss the question with your partner for five minutes.

1. What is your favorite food? Why do you like it?
2. What food do you hate? Why?

Reading:

You can buy a hamburger in almost anywhere in the world. But do you know anything about the history of this simple sandwich?

There are several people who claim to have invented the hamburger. However, the honor probably goes to a small diner in Connecticut named Louis' Lunch. According to history, a customer wanted a quick hot meal to take home for dinner. Unfortunately, the diner was out of steaks, so the owner grilled ground beef and placed it between two slices of toast. There wasn't any ketchup, mustard, or cheese, though. This was 1900.

Since the simple beginnings, the hamburger has become the world's most famous sandwich.

Comprehension Questions: Answer the questions before/after your read the article.

1. Everyone agrees that Louis' Lunch invented the hamburger. T / F
2. The customer wanted dinner, so he ordered a hamburger. T / F
3. The first hamburger was plain. T / F

Discuss: Discuss these questions with a partner. Remember to support your answers.

1. Do you like hamburgers? How often do you eat them?
2. What are some popular foods in your country? Please explain.
3. Are there any popular foreign foods in your country? Please explain.

http://www.headsupenglish.com/index.php/beginner-english-students/beginner-mini-lessons/574-hamburger-history

Fast Food is Unhealthy

Warm Up: Discuss the question with your partner for five minutes.

1. Are you healthy? Why/not?
2. Do you want to be healthier? Why/not?

Reading:

Healthy food is very important. Unfortunately, many people are very busy, so they eat fast food. It is an easy and convenient choice, but it can be very unhealthy. Fast food has a lot of fat, sugar, and salt. It has a lot of calories too. For example, just a large order of fries might have more than 500 calories, and more than half of the calories come from fat.

It is possible to make good choices with fast food, though. For example, you shouldn't order the largest drink or dish. Salad dressing and mayonnaise has a lot of unhealthy calories, so you should only use a little. Many restaurants also serve healthier side dishes, such as fruit cups. You should order these instead of fries or chips.

Comprehension Questions: Answer the questions before/after your read the article.

1.  What does the first paragraph talk about?

           a. It talks about how many calories are in the food.

           b. It explains why people eat fast food.

           c. It introduces fast food and why it is not healthy.

           d. The first paragraph talks about people who are unhealthy.

2.  What does the second paragraph talk about?

           a. It recommends drinks and salad dressings.

           b. It talks about healthy food at fast food restaurants.

           c. The second paragraph also talks about unhealthy food.

           d. It talks about restaurants with only healthy food.

Discuss: Discuss these questions with a partner. Remember to support your answers.

1. How often do you eat fast food?
2. What fast food restaurants do you usually eat at?
3. Do you have a favorite fast food meal? Why is it so good?

http://www.headsupenglish.com/index.php/beginner-english-students/beginner-mini-lessons/536-fast-food-health