FLYING BUSINESS CLASS
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WHAT DO GOOD HACKERS DO?
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3. Video: Is Retail Dying?
You are going to watch a video by CNBC Explains called “Is Retail Dying?”
Watch the video and answer the following questions
Multiple choice
1. There is no greater adrenaline rush than what?
a) a shopping spree b) a shopping trip c) a shopping mall
2. Approximately how many shops is Toys ’R’ Us closing in the US and UK?
a) 500 b) 700 c) 900
3. Sears pioneered ordering by what?
a) email b) phone c) catalogue
4. What became the largest online shopping day in US history?
a) Black Friday b) Cyber Monday c) Single’s Day
Sentence completion
5. China is the largest e-commerce in the world. .
6. Chinese spent more than $1 trillion in 2017.
7. There is a huge appetite around the world for shopping with a click of your
8. Online retailers are going from clicks to .
Short answer
9. What is the Chinese equivalent to Amazon?
10. Taobao’s Singapore shop only contains a selection of its what?
11. How many shops across China did Alibaba get to participate in Single’s Day?
12. Physical stores allow tech giants to obtain more of what from their customers?
WHAT DO GOOD HACKERS DO?
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WHAT DO GOOD HACKERS DO?
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WHAT DO GOOD HACKERS DO?
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3. Video: How To Take A Great Picture
You are going to watch a video by Joshua Cripps Photography called “How To Take Amazing Photos: 7
Simple & Powerful Photography Tips”.
Watch the video here: https://yourenglishpal.com/blog/esl-conversation-lesson-plan-photography/
While you watch the video, answer the following questions:
Multiple choice
1. What is the best zoom lens?
a) Nikon b) Cannon c) your legs
2. Once you have chosen a subject for your photo, what should you exaggerate?
a) its characteristics b) its contrasts c) its composition
3. Where should you place the subject of a photo?
a) in the centre b) at the top c) in one of the thirds
4. Where should you position a reflexion?
a) in the centre b) at the top c) in one of the thirds
Sentence completion
5. By having a foreground subject close to the camera and a background subject far away from the
camera, you create a and a context for the photo.
6. Taking a photo with a lens makes people think they are standing in the photo.
7. You should connect multiple subjects in a photo with leading .
8. You could use a to connect the foreground to the background.
MOVIES
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MOVIES
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MOVIES
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MOVIES
20
“Networking is not about just connecting people. It's about
connecting people with people, people with ideas, and people
with opportunities.”
Michelle Jennae, American writer
1. Networking Discussion
1. Do you have a large network?
2. Have you ever used a connection when looking for a job? What effect has your network had on
your career?
3. How do you use your network in your job?
4. Where are the best places to go to network?
5. Have you been to any networking events? How were they?
6. What questions would you want to ask to a person you had just met? What would you want
them to know about you?
7. How could you use technology to help build a network?
8. Why do people need to make connections and build networks?
2. Networking Vocabulary
• to hit someone up (verb) – to get in contact with someone, often to ask them for something.
• to mingle (verb) – to mix; to talk to many different people at a social event.
• to strike up a conversation (verb) – to start a conversation with someone.
• to reach out (to someone) (verb) – to make an effort to contact someone.
• icebreaker (noun) – a communication strategy used to relive tension, often when striking up a
conversation with someone.
• social capital (noun) – the positive value of human interaction in a particular context, such as in
society or in a business.
Using the vocabulary words above, complete the following sentences (remember to use the
correct form of the word, e.g. verb conjugation or plural noun)
1. There is no greater than talking about the weather.
2. After having separated seven years ago, my ex-husband to me, but I wasn't
interested in meeting him.
3. I love at social events; I talk to absolutely everyone!
4. If you need a place to stay when you visit London next month, and you can stay
in my spare room. with someone is not to ask what they do for a living, but to ask
5. The best way to
them about their passions.
6. is incredibly important if a company wants to forge great relationships in its
teams.
Networking vocabulary comprehension questions
1. Who would you hit up if you needed help finding a job?
2. Do you like to mingle with new people at business or social events? Why or why not?
3. How would you strike up a conversation with a person you'd never met before?
4. Who would you like to reach out to and why?
5. What are some common icebreakers you can think of?
6. How important is social capital where you work?
3. Video: Networking
You are going to watch a TEDx Talk by David Burkus called “How to Hack Networking”.
Watch the video and after, discuss the following questions
1. Why would networking make us feel dirty?
2. Does networking make you feel awkward? Why or why not?
3. Do you know the network that is already around you? Who are they?
4. Is it better to build a network around new people or people you used to know (dormant ties)?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of both?
5. Who are the most successful people you went to school with?
6. How much influence do you think your friends have had on your life?
4. Networking Conversation Questions
1. Do you know anyone who seems to be connected to everyone?
2. Do you have a business card? If so, who do you give these to? If not, why not?
3. What reasons can you think of to follow up with someone you just met? How would you
maintain contact with them?
4. How do you get people to like you?
5. What are the best ways to make a good first impression?
6. Is it really necessary to have a network to succeed in your career?
7. Is the main reason for networking to find someone to sell something to?
8. Are networking events a waste of time where people just exchange business cards and never
speak to each other again?
“The most important single thing is to focus obsessively on the
customer. Our goal is to be earth’s most customer-centric company.”
Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon
1. Online Shopping Discussion
1. What are some of the most famous online shops? Why are they so famous?
2. How popular is online shopping in your country?
3. Do you shop on the internet regularly? What do you buy?
4. Which websites do you use to shop? What do you like about the online shops you visit regularly?
5. What would you never buy from the internet? Why?
6. Do you feel happier when you buy something from a regular shop or from an online shop?
7. Do you think people buy more things than in the past because of online shopping?
8. What are the main advantages of shopping online? What are the main disadvantages?
2. Online Shopping Vocabulary
• brick-and-mortar shop (noun) – a traditional business in a physical shop.
• wishlist (noun) – a section of an online shop where you can create a list of things you want to buy at
a later date.
• shopping cart (noun) – a section of an online shop where you add items before buying them.
• shipping (noun) – the transport of goods.
• online auction (noun) – a website where items are sold to the buyer offering the most money.
• price comparison website (noun) – a website that allows you to compare prices in different
categories.
Using the vocabulary words above, complete the following sentences (remember to use the
correct form of the word, e.g. verb conjugation or plural noun)
1. I thought I was going to win a PlayStation5 on an for only $50, but in the last 10
minutes several bids were made pushing the price up to $350.
2. I used a to find a better deal for my gas and electricity supplier.
3. Linda and Graeme created a on John Lewis so all their friends could choose
which gift to buy them.
4. Once you’ve added all your items to the , click ‘complete purchase’ to pay for your
items.
5. One advantage of a is that you can physically inspect the items before you buy.
6. Small businesses should offer international to reach customers all around the
world.
Online Shopping vocabulary comprehension questions
1. What effect has online shopping had on brick-and-mortar shops?
2. What do you have on your wishlist?
3. Do you ever add things to your shopping cart but then never buy them? If so, why?
4. What improvements would you like to see happen to shipping?
5. What online auction sites do you know about? Have you ever used one?
6. Have you ever used a price comparison website? Did you find a better price?
4. Online Shopping Conversation Questions
1.What problems can people have buying items on the internet? Have you ever had a problem
shopping online?
2. What is your opinion of the security of buying things on the internet? How can you check to see if
a website is safe before you buy something on it?
3. Can a business survive these days if it does not sell online?
4. In what way is online shopping bad for the environment?
5. What makes a website easy or difficult to use?
6. How do online shops provide a more personalised shopping experience?
7. Will online shopping lead to job losses, or will it lead to a boost in employment? Why?
8. Will there be a time in the future when the only type of shopping that exists is online?
RA
“There are no bad pictures; that's just how your face looks sometimes.”
Abraham Lincoln (1809 – 1865), 16th American President
1. Photography Discussion
1. Are you interested in photography? What kind of photos do you like looking at?
2. Do you think you take a good photo? What are some of the best photographs you have taken?
When do you usually take photos? What do you usually take photos of?
3. Do you have a camera? Can you describe it? Is it better to have a separate camera or just to use
the one on your phone?
4. Have you ever been to any photography exhibitions? If so, can you describe the exhibition? Did
you enjoy it?
5. Do you prefer colour or black and white photography? How are they different?
6. Do you have any photos on display in your house? Can you describe them? Do you have any
photo albums?
7. Do you have a special pose for photos? How do you look on your passport photo?
8. Have you seen any embarrassing photos? Have you ever appeared in one?
2. Photography Vocabulary
• selfie (noun) – a photo taken of oneself.
• (to) snap (noun, verb) – alternative word for picture or photo; to take a photo.
• to zoom (verb) / zoom lens (noun) – to make something far away appear closer than it is; the
equipment on a camera to perform the action of zooming.
• camera-shy (adjective) – describes someone who does not like to have their photo taken.
• photogenic (adjective) – used to describe someone or something that looks attractive in a photo.
• the camera never lies (saying) – used to say photos always capture a true image, particularly when
people are unhappy with the results.
Using the vocabulary words above, complete the following sentences (remember to use the
correct form of the word, e.g. verb conjugation or plural noun)
1. The Prime Minister is not usually , but following the news of his affair, he's been
rather eager to avoid the cameras.
2. In order not to scare the eagle away, Gary used his to capture the image.
3. My wife is angry with me because when she said she looked terrible in our family photo, I made
the mistake of saying “ .”
4. Madeline took a in front of the Eiffel Tower but all you can see is her head
blocking the view.
5. Brad Pitt is so ; I've never seen a photo of him looking bad.
6. George took a wonderful of the sun setting over the beach.
Photography vocabulary comprehension questions
1. What do you think of people that take lots of selfies and post them on social media? What stupid
things are people doing to take the perfect selfie?
2. What was the last thing you snapped?
3. What would you use a zoom lens for?
4. Do you know anyone who is camera-shy?
5. Who is the most photogenic person you know?
6. Is it true that the camera never lies?
3. Video: How To Take A Great Picture
You are going to watch a video by Joshua Cripps Photography called “How To Take Amazing Photos: 7
Simple & Powerful Photography Tips”.
While you watch the video, answer the following questions:
Multiple choice
1. What is the best zoom lens?
a) Nikon b) Cannon c) your legs
2. Once you have chosen a subject for your photo, what should you exaggerate?
a) its characteristics b) its contrasts c) its composition
3. Where should you place the subject of a photo?
a) in the centre b) at the top c) in one of the thirds
4. Where should you position a reflexion?
a) in the centre b) at the top c) in one of the thirds
Sentence completion
5. By having a foreground subject close to the camera and a background subject far away from the
camera, you create a and a context for the photo.
6. Taking a photo with a lens makes people think they are standing in the photo.
7. You should connect multiple subjects in a photo with leading .
8. You could use a to connect the foreground to the background.
Short answer
9. Our lives are spent looking at things from which perspective?
10. Which time of the day is the worst for taking photos?
11. Which times of the day have the best light for taking photos?
12. Digital cameras are excellent at capturing detail in what?
4. Photography Conversation Questions
1. Do you think you have to be artistic to take a good photo, or can anyone take a good photo these
days?
2. Is there a difference between a photographer and someone who simply takes photos?
3. Do you know how to edit photos? If not, is this a skill you would like to have?
4. What do you think of photos that have been edited with software or other filters? Are they
always better than the originals? When would it be unacceptable to edit a photo?
5. Do you agree that a picture is worth a thousand words? Why or why not?
6. Do you like photos of different people? Would you be comfortable taking a photo of a random
person in the street? How would you feel if someone took a photo of you without your
permission?
7. Should people have the right to take a photo of anything they like? What shouldn't they be able
to take photos of?
8. In some countries, a person can take a photo of anything and anyone as long as they are in a
public place. Do you agree with that?
“You can make more friends in two months by becoming
interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to
get other people interested in you.”
Dale Carnegie (1888 – 1955), American self-improvement writer and speaker
1. Business Relationships Discussion
1. What relationships do people have at work/in business?
2. Are you good at making relationships? Why or why not?
3. Which colleagues and/or business partners do you have a great relationship with?
4. What personal qualities are necessary for building good relationships?
5. How do you identify potential business partners? How do you make contact with them?
6. What are the best ways to build relationships between business partners?
7. What are the best ways to strengthen relationships between colleagues?
8. Is it always important to trust a business partner? Can you think of any exceptions?
2. Business Relationships Vocabulary
• to foster (verb) – to encourage the development of something.
• to jeopardise (verb) – to put in danger.
• to see eye-to-eye (verb) – to be in agreement.
• to sever (verb) – to cut; to end.
• to sour (verb) – to go bad.
• ups and downs (noun) – a mixture of good times and bad times.
Using the vocabulary words above, complete the following sentences (remember to use the
correct form of the word, e.g. verb conjugation or plural noun)
1. For a new local business, it's vital that they relationships with the local
community.
2. After disagreements over the retail price of their product, the company decided
its partnership with the supermarket chain.
3. Despite their over the years, the two companies generally enjoy a good working
relationship.
4. The two companies didn't ; their valuations were miles apart.
5. When Paula was chosen over Mark as head of the Finance Department, the relationship
between the two .
6. The scandal over the basketball player's social media comments has the
relationship the team has with its main sponsor.
Business Relationships vocabulary comprehension questions
1. Which relationships are important for your company to foster?
2. What can jeopardise a business relationship?
3. When have you not seen eye-to-eye with someone at work?
4. When should you sever a business relationship?
5. When has one of your business relationships soured?
6. What ups and downs can business relationships have?
3. Video: How to Build Trust
You are going to watch a TED Talk by Frances Frei called “How to build (and rebuild) trust.”
Watch the video and after, discuss the following questions:
1. What makes you trust someone? What makes you distrust someone?
2. Have you ever thought somebody was not paying attention to you at work?
3. Have you ever been distracted when somebody is telling you about themselves?
4. Do you sometimes have trouble understanding other peoples' logic? Do you have difficulties
explaining your own logic?
5. When have you thought someone, or an organisation, was not being authentic?
6. Do you ever find yourself not being yourself at work?
4. Business Relationships Conversation Questions
1. How would you describe the relationship your company has with its customers/clients?
2. How are business-to-business (B2B) relationships different to business-to-consumer (B2C)
relationships?
3. Do you think the way we build relationships is the same across different cultures, or is it
different?
4. If you are meeting a potential business contact, would you prefer to talk about the business you
could do together or unrelated topics of conversation?
5. What is more important in your culture when building trust: socialising with a potential partner
or by being punctual with deadlines?
6. What kind of ethical issues can put a strain on business relationships?
7. Why do relationships break down between colleagues or business partners?
8. Has the internet changed the way we make relationships at work?
“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to
the imagination, and life to everything.”
Plato (428BC – 348BC), Greek philosopher
1. Music Discussion
1. How many different genres of music can you think of? What is your favourite type of music?
Which types of music do you hate?
2. What is your opinion of the following genres: jazz, rock, hip-hop/rap, electronic, classical,
country, reggae, pop music?
3. What was the last song you listened to? Who are some of your favourite bands or singers? What
is the greatest song of all time?
4. Which era does the best music come from? Which countries produce the best music?
5. When do you like to listen to music? What do you like to do whist listening to music?
6. Do you play any instruments? Did you play an instrument at school? Which instrument would
you like to learn?
7. Do you think you're a good singer? Have you ever sung karaoke?
8. Have you been to any music festivals? If you could go to any music festival in the world, which
one would you like to go to? What music festivals take place in your city/country?
2. Music Vocabulary
• to be into something (verb) – to have an interest in something or to enjoy something.
• to get [a song] stuck in one’s head (verb) – when you hear a song, and you repeatedly sing it to
• yourself in your head.
• to go clubbing (verb) – to go out dancing in nightclubs.
• (to have a good/bad) taste in music (noun) – the type of music a person likes.
• gig (noun) – a live musical performance, especially when playing more modern music.
one-hit wonder (noun) – an artist or band that is famous or successful only for one song.
Using the vocabulary words above, complete the following sentences (remember to use the correct
form of the word, e.g. verb conjugation or plural noun):
1. My colleague claimed to be really techno, but when I asked what his favourite
DJs were, he said David Guetta, Calvin Harris and Tiesto.
2. I’ve got “Cruel Summer” by Taylor Swift . I can’t stop singing it, but it’s fine
because I love Taylor Swift!
3. My friend went to one of the first ever Arctic Monkey in Sheffield and hasn’t
stopped mentioning it since.
4. My neighbour has a terrible . He’s spent all morning listening to Justin Bieber’s
“greatest” hits.
5. The Rembrandts are a due to their song “I’ll Be There For You” that became
famous as the theme song to the TV show Friends, but the band never achieved success with any
other tracks.
6. We last night, but instead of dancing, everyone just filmed the DJ on their
phones.
Music vocabulary comprehension questions
1. What music were you into when you were at school?
2. Which songs have you got stuck in your head?
3. Do you like to go clubbing? Which are the best clubs in your city?
4. Has your taste in music changed over your lifetime?
5. Have you been to many gigs? Do you have a favourite?
6. Can you think of any one-hit wonders?
3. Video: The Beatles
You are going to watch a video by WatchMojo called “The History of The Beatles.”
While you watch the video, answer the following questions:
Multiple choice
1. What was the nickname of The Beatles?
a) the famous four b) the fab four c) the furious four
2. In which year did the Beatles form? c) 1970
a) 1950 b) 1960
c) 4
3. How many of the Beatles sang?
a) 2 b) 3
4. ‘Beatles mania’ was a frenzied reaction by whom?
a) band managers b) fans c) their parents
Sentence completion
5. The Beatles’ first number one hit, and their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, paved the way
for the of America.
6. On their in 1964, the band were chased by screaming fans.
7. The Beatle’s number one from their film Help! featured the song Yesterday.
8. In 1966, John Lennon caused when he made comments about the Beatle’s
popularity.
Short answer
9. Where did the band go after releasing the song All You Need Is Love?
10. What category of film was Yellow Submarine?
11. What is the Beatle’s self-titled album also known as?
12. By the time of Let It Be, what had Lennon and McCartney started to release?
4. Music Conversation Questions
1. What are people listening to right now in your country? What musical styles is your country
known for? Who are the most famous musical artists from your country?
2. What music do you listen to if you're depressed? How about when you're happy? What would
you listen to to energise yourself?
3. Which bands or artists defined their genres?
4. Would you like to live a rock and roll lifestyle?
5. Is music with violent lyrics to blame for violence in society?
6. How has downloading and streaming music changed the industry? Has it made it better or
worse?
7. How important is music in your life? Could you live without music?
8. What is the point of music? Why have humans always created music?
5. Music Writing Task
Write a review of a music album. Try to use some of the vocabulary you learned earlier in this lesson. In
your answer, you could include some of the following topics:
• Give a brief explanation of the artist/band (their genre, style, history, etc).
• Give your opinion on the individual songs and the album overall (music, lyrics, etc).
• Explain how you felt listening to the music.
Alternative exam practice question:
Some people say that a country’s traditional music is more important than music from other countries.
Others, however, say that music that is popular all over the world is clearly more important than
traditional music. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
“Products are made in a factory, but brands are created in the mind.”
Walter Landor (1913 – 1995), founder of the Landor brand consulting firm
1. Brands Discussion
1. What is a brand?
2. What are some of your favourite brands?
3. What are the most famous brands in the world?
4. What does it take for a brand to become famous?
5. What are some important brands in your country? Are they well-known around the world?
6. Name the best brands in the following sectors: technology, fashion, automobile, food,
aviation/travel. What makes them the best?
7. Consider the following adjectives: stylish, timeless, upmarket, classic, trendy, sexy, cool, durable.
Which brands do you associate with these adjectives?
8. Why is it so important for brands to create a strong image? Is it important?
2. Brands Vocabulary
• logo (noun) – a small image or design representing an organisation.
• brand loyalty (noun) – positive feelings towards a brand that lead to customers repeatedly buying
that brand’s products or services.
• brand awareness (noun) – how familiar consumers are with a particular brand.
• brand equity (noun) – the extra value a company can gain just from their brand awareness.
• premium brand (noun) – a brand that sells products at higher prices due to the perception of better
quality or higher status; ‘super premium’ (adjective) would be even higher than ‘premium’.
• attitude branding (noun) – brands that evoke emotions or feelings in customers, especially in relation
to their sense of identity, rather than feelings about their products.
Using the vocabulary words above, complete the following sentences (remember to use the
correct form of the word, e.g. verb conjugation or plural noun)
1. Even if Levi’s jeans are not as good as their competitors’, people are willing to pay the extra due
to the company’s .
2. Nike’s of “Just do it” conjures up feelings of athleticism and a healthy lifestyle
without needing to advertise specific products.
3. Creative advertising strategies involving interactive content are a great way for a company to
increase its .
4. The golden arches forming an “M” is one of the most recognisable in the world.
5. Paying special attention to customer service is one of the best ways of creating .
6. There has been an increase in gins over the last decade, usually costing double
the price of regular gin.
Brands vocabulary comprehension questions
1. What are some of the most recognised logos in the world? What does an effective brand logo
look like?
2. Do you have brand loyalty to certain brands? Which brands and why?
3. How can companies improve brand awareness?
4. Can having a high brand equity lead to a reduction in standards? Can you think of an example
when this has happened?
5. What are some premium brands you know? What qualities do they have? What sets these
brands apart from the competition?
6. What examples of attitude branding can you think of?
“Networking is not about just connecting people. It's about
connecting people with people, people with ideas, and people
with opportunities.”
Michelle Jennae, American writer
1. Networking Discussion
1. Do you have a large network?
2. Have you ever used a connection when looking for a job? What effect has your network had on
your career?
3. How do you use your network in your job?
4. Where are the best places to go to network?
5. Have you been to any networking events? How were they?
6. What questions would you want to ask to a person you had just met? What would you want
them to know about you?
7. How could you use technology to help build a network?
8. Why do people need to make connections and build networks?
2. Networking Vocabulary
• to hit someone up (verb) – to get in contact with someone, often to ask them for something.
• to mingle (verb) – to mix; to talk to many different people at a social event.
• to strike up a conversation (verb) – to start a conversation with someone.
• to reach out (to someone) (verb) – to make an effort to contact someone.
• icebreaker (noun) – a communication strategy used to relive tension, often when striking up a
conversation with someone.
• social capital (noun) – the positive value of human interaction in a particular context, such as in
society or in a business.
Using the vocabulary words above, complete the following sentences (remember to use the
correct form of the word, e.g. verb conjugation or plural noun)
1. There is no greater than talking about the weather.
2. After having separated seven years ago, my ex-husband to me, but I wasn't
interested in meeting him.
3. I love at social events; I talk to absolutely everyone!
4. If you need a place to stay when you visit London next month, and you can stay
in my spare room. with someone is not to ask what they do for a living, but to ask
5. The best way to
them about their passions.
6. is incredibly important if a company wants to forge great relationships in its
teams.
Networking vocabulary comprehension questions
1. Who would you hit up if you needed help finding a job?
2. Do you like to mingle with new people at business or social events? Why or why not?
3. How would you strike up a conversation with a person you'd never met before?
4. Who would you like to reach out to and why?
5. What are some common icebreakers you can think of?
6. How important is social capital where you work?
3. Video: Networking
You are going to watch a TEDx Talk by David Burkus called “How to Hack Networking”.
Watch the video and after, discuss the following questions
1. Why would networking make us feel dirty?
2. Does networking make you feel awkward? Why or why not?
3. Do you know the network that is already around you? Who are they?
4. Is it better to build a network around new people or people you used to know (dormant ties)?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of both?
5. Who are the most successful people you went to school with?
6. How much influence do you think your friends have had on your life?
4. Networking Conversation Questions
1. Do you know anyone who seems to be connected to everyone?
2. Do you have a business card? If so, who do you give these to? If not, why not?
3. What reasons can you think of to follow up with someone you just met? How would you
maintain contact with them?
4. How do you get people to like you?
5. What are the best ways to make a good first impression?
6. Is it really necessary to have a network to succeed in your career?
7. Is the main reason for networking to find someone to sell something to?
8. Are networking events a waste of time where people just exchange business cards and never
speak to each other again?
