ESL Podcast

The recent statistics show that numbers of illegal immigrants entering the U.S. have dropped since the president signed the executive order regarding a new immigration policy. Does this mean that the 'zero tolerance' policy works? Probably yes; however, there is another side of the coin, families get separated at the Mexico-U.S. border. According to a new immigration policy, children are considered unaccompanied minors, which means that they will be kept in custody without their parents while their parents are held in a detention center and prosecuted. After the prosecution procedures have been completed, they will either get deported or if they fear going back to their country, they can apply for a refugee status. Many Mexicans want to go to the U.S. to get a job and have a better future for themselves and their children. And the majority of illegal immigrants have no criminal record. However, they get locked in a detention center for up to two months. Additionally,

The Thai Whale story brought international attention and media coverage because plastic pollution is a serious issue and certain actions should be taken to prevent it.   The incident inspired the theme of the World Ocean Day and made people rethink the problem. It's sad that such amazing species die due to human activities. Pollution is not only harmful to animals but also to people since we eat them. Plastic can be broken down into small particles by heat although it isn't biodegradable. It means that even small plastic pieces can be harmful to animals and as a result to people. Some species are already at risk of extinction. Additionally, plastic is dangerous as it raises the risk of getting cancer. As eco-conscious people, we should reduce, reuse and recycle plastic. We should use substitutes for plastic such as paper, cloth or glass. It is incumbent upon authorities to offer solutions to prevent plastic pollution. They should encourage people to use less plastic and f

More than 8 million tonnes of plastic are dumped in the ocean every year. However big the clean-up, it won't solve the problem. Manufacturers need to design products that are easier to recycle, supermarkets must reduce plastic packaging and authorities should develop better ways of collecting and processing plastic waste. We as consumers also need to rethink our use of single-use plastic, and to redouble our efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle. Resouces: news.sky.com

The architecture of apartheid hasn’t really changed Apartheid legislation forced people of different races and ethnic groups to live separately. Today, many of those neighborhoods haven't changed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=71&v=PZFQBqTPsoo Who was Nelson Mandela? Nelson Mandela wanted the people in South Africa to be free from apartheid. He hated how black people in his homeland had to live separately from white people. He also hated that black South Africans lived in poverty and could not vote in elections. While many others felt that ending apartheid was an impossible challenge, Nelson Mandela did not give up. Mandela spent 27 years of his life in prison. When he was 

I’m featuring a new and exciting project that I’m involved in along with my ESL Podcast partner. Throughout my blog, you’ll discover upcoming session topics describing what we do. I hope you'll find the materials published in this blog useful and enjoyable. If you enjoy reading my posts, please encourage others to drop in and read them too because I feel that it is important for us to support each other and share ideas that work. Please leave your comments, suggestion, feedback....

When is World Oceans Day 2018 and what is it for? The annual celebration of the earth's oceans takes place every year on June 8. World Oceans Day aims to  create  greater awareness around plastic pollution - and get people to think about their environmental impact. What is the theme this year? This year's theme will be preventing plastic pollution and encouraging solutions for a healthy ocean. How is the date marked? The day is celebrated through the launching of new campaigns and initiatives, special events at aquariums and zoos, outdoor explorations and aquatic and beach clean-ups. There are also educational and conservation action programmes, art contests, film festivals and sustainable seafood events, from Hawaii to Islamabad. This year, participants are encouraged to think specifically about the plastic they use  - and if they can use less and recycle more. "You can make a difference today -and every day - by doing simple things like carrying y

Five things to know about the US immigration policy responsible for separating children from their families. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-44527286/zero-tolerance Conversation  Questions :  1.      What have you heard about children and their parents being separated and in jail at the U.S border?   2.      What are your thoughts and feelings about this situation? 3.      What do you think it is like for these children to be separated from their parents? 4.      What do you think it might be like for families to have to stay in detention centers? 5.      Is there a connection that we, as a family, have to the current situation on the border? 6.      What more do you want to know about what is happening? Family separation lawsuit offers chilling details https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=101&v=2CUlDdNT-hE Discussion questions Why did the decision to separate families cause such an emotional response? Why did the T

Plastic is one of the most common materials in the world. It can be found literally everywhere, from the grocery stores we frequent every day to the  most remote oceanic environments . An estimated  8.8 million tons  of plastic find their way into the oceans every year. Around  46,000 pieces of plastic  can be found in every individual square mile of the ocean, with  270,000 tons of plastic debris  floating around on the surface of our oceans alone. Sadly, approximately  700 marine species  are at risk of going extinct because of the waste we produce. Some experts have predicted that the oceans could contain  more plastic than fish  by the year 2050.                      One of the most encouraging developments has been the fact that cities all over the world are making an effort to cut down on their waste, or even become “ zero waste ” cities (a term used to describe cities that recycle and reuse all of their waste, rather than sending it to landfill).  Resources: http:/

The Thai Whale Story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LI3XhcefZg Comprehension Questions: Where was the sick whale found? What was found inside the whale? How does this story relate to World Oceans Day? Discussion Questions   Banning single-use plastic bags is one way to reduce plastic pollution in our oceans, and many cities have done this. Similarly, many eco-conscious people have stopped using plastic straws. Should single-use plastic bags and straws be banned everywhere? What other plastic pollution is a problem? Do you think that cities should have strategies to prevent against plastic pollution in oceans ?Why? Do you think that banning single-use plastic will prevent plastic pollution in our oceans? How much do you think this strategy is advantageous? Do you think that plastic pollution is a serious problem? Do you think those cities that started to use this solution could be successful in the future or not? What actions can people around the world t

1. The purpose of this blog is to provide the rules and guidelines for ESL Podcast hosted on Skype. 2. The overall goal of ESL Skype one-on-one discussions is to provide opportunities for learning, including the exchange of cultural information, the practice of English, and the consideration of a variety of interesting topics in a friendly, amiable and encouraging tone, and in a safe environment. 3.  It is the responsibility of all participants to ensure that any communication is conducted in a responsible, respectful and safe manner. 4. As a guest on the episode, you agree that, unless you opt out, ESL Podcast may put your first name and country of origin in a title. 5. If you want to participate in ESL Podcast discussions , please add the following address to your Skype contacts:  https://join.skype.com/invite/c4j5NjKD87Ti . 6. Before calling, select a discussion topic from my blog. 7. There is no charge for participating in ESL Podcast discussions.