Chapter 1 - Your Mind/How old is your Brain
What does “educated” mean to you?
What is the key to success, and what ways of failing can you suggest?
In what ways can you make the most of your mind?
What makes a good teacher, what makes a good student and how do the two interact?
What is your motivation for learning English? How important is motivation to the learning process?
What advice would you give to someone starting to learn English, so as to be successful?
How closely linked is physical age and mental age? What can we do to keep our brains young?
What do you think about the games and tasks which are supposed to increase the capacity of the brain? Would you employ such methods? What other ways can you think of to improve your mental capacities?
Chapter 2 – Severe Weather/Living dunes
Tell us about the types of severe weather you can think of, and about their effects on people and places.
How does weather affect people’s moods?
What are the possible effects of global warming?
What are the causes of global warming, and what can we do to stop it – both as individuals and on the governmental level?
How does Poland cope with the severe weather it sometimes experiences?
In what way are the singing dunes unique? How exactly do they sing? Can you think of some other natural phenomena that are extraordinary and worth preserving?
Chapter 3 – Do you want to be efficient?/Next please
What are the best stress-busters?
Do computers really save time – or do they eat it?
Why do people procrastinate?
What ways of wasting time can you mention? Which do you consider positive or negative, and why?
What are the biggest interruptions while studying? What can be done to manage them?
What modern gadgets save time, and which waste it, in your opinion?
The Internet is the biggest waste of time ever invented. Do you agree with this statement?
How can queues be made more bearable? What do you do to while away the time when waiting in a queue?
Chapter 4 – Stress
What harmful effects does stress have?
Would you like a completely stress-free life?
How can stress be used productively?
What extreme sports can you name? Which have you done, or would like to do? Which wouldn’t you like to do, and why?
Why are extreme sports so popular nowadays?
What level of stress do you have in your life? What causes it, and how do you deal with it?
What are the major causes of stress in Poland today?
Almost everyone would say life is more stressful today. Why is that? What was so relaxed about the past?
What can the effects of stress be on the mind and body?
What is the connection between stress and diet? Describe certain good and bad habits.
Chapter 5 – Globe Trotting/Cappucino in Chinese
Is it better to travel or to arrive?
Will Planet Earth be the same all over with globalisation? Will there be any point in travelling?
You read about a travel scheme called ‘Servas’ (Focus on Advanced English, p.69). Explain briefly how the system works and describe its pros and cons. Would you use it? Why/why not?
What are the benefits of travelling?
In what ways is the travel industry damaging to the environment?
How does tourism benefit local communities and economies?
What kinds of things can go wrong on holiday, and what can be done about them?
Is an Italian restaurant run by a Chinese still an Italian restaurant? Doesn't globalisation destroy national characteristics?
Has Poland benifitted or suffered as a result of foreigners coming to work here?
Chapter 6 – Language Matters
Is a man who is ignorant of foreign languages ignorant of his own, as Goethe says?
How is Polish being corrupted by English? How do you feel about this? Should the Polish language be protected better than it is now?
How aware are you of the differences between British and American English? Is it important?
Is it important to preserve languages, or is it only natural that languages die?
Chapter 7 – The Ages of Man
What is good about your age now? What is bad about it?
What things do elderly people do that you like or that drive you mad?
Do you fear old age or welcome it? Explain why?
What are some of the physical and psychological effects of ageing, and why do some people try and disguise these effects?
How can people try and slow down the negative effects of ageing?
Are there certain jobs which suit elderly people? Why?
At what age do you think people are old enough to make important decisions e.g. voting in elections or consenting to sex?
Do you agree with the current retirement ages for men and women? Why/why not?
Chapter 8 – Your True Colours/Snooping bosses
Do you believe that personality tests prove anything?
What is your opinion of personality tests? Do they provide any useful insight into our personalities?
Why do you think that psychological tests are so popular? Are they any different from horoscopes?
How can the study of colour preferences be useful to businesses? Should business decisions be based on such tests?
What kinds of surveillance are bosses able to carry out? What sorts of information can they gather?
Do surveillance systems at work violate our right to privacy? Which ones, and in what ways?
In what ways can surveillance at work be said to be indispensable and justified?
What privacy are you entitled to at work?
What can employees do about a snooping boss?
Chapter 9 – Mind Your Manners
Are children less respectful today? Why? Weren't you just as bad at their age, if you are honest with yourself?
Do manners free or constrict us?
Informality and good manners. Is it easier to be well mannered in a formal society where the rules are clear?
Which is better: good manners or political correctness?
Do you think that manners are important in Poland? Give examples to support your view.
What in your view is ‘the height of bad manners’?
If you were hosting a foreign guest in Poland what cultural rules do you think it would be important to tell them about?
Are there any cultural rules which you think are universal?
Chapter 10 – State of the Union/The Intimate Life of Einstein
Is it becoming harder in the modern age to maintain a successful long-term relationship? Why/why not?
What in your view are the ingredients necessary for a successful relationship?
Are the differences between men and women a result of biological differences or social conditioning?
What are the main differences in the way men and women view relationships?
Is the text in the book right to claim that women and men speak a different language?
Einstein's letters do nothing to help us understand his theories, so are we invading his privacy by reading his private correspondence? What famous people's private correspondence would you like to read, and why?
Chapter 11 – Last Chance to See/ The Ecofootprint Test/ Saving the Tiger/Eat your greens
Is it possible to live in a Western society without causing pollution?
Should government force people to be cleaner and greener?
The exact causes of global warming have not been proved. Whose opinion do you trust concerning the various theoretical causes? Is there one idea that you favour?
You have been given supreme power to stop mankind from destroying the planet: what will you do?
How serious is the problem of poaching in India? What can be done to fight it?
What are some of the main environmental problems facing the world today? Which of these do you think is the most serious?
What can people do in their everyday lives to help protect the environment?
Is economic development compatible with a healthy environment?
Would you consider yourself to be an environmentally conscious person?
Is it realistic in modern Poland to expect people to be interested in environmental issues?
Why is vegetarianism increasing in the West?
Do we have a right to kill and eat animals?
Are there any dangers associated with being vegetarian?
Have you ever considered becoming a vegetarian? What are the advantages and risks connected with vegetarianism?
Article – The left-handed club
Do you think that left-handed people are neglected by society? Should they be given any special treatment?
It is sometimes said that left-handed people are often geniuses? Do you agree with this opinion, do you know any examples of such people?
General question:
What is the most useful, interesting or compelling thing you have learned or discussed on this course?