Living Beyond Necessity – The Perils and Pleasures Of Luxuries

What defines a luxury and a necessity, and how do our personal values and societal norms shape our understanding of these terms?

What defines a luxury and a necessity, and how do our personal values and societal norms shape our understanding of these terms?

Luxuries And Necessities

Luxuries and necessities have always been a topic of debate, with some arguing that luxuries are essential for a good quality of life, while others see them as unnecessary indulgences. In this debate, we will explore both sides of the argument and determine whether luxuries are truly necessary or just frivolous expenses.

On the one hand, luxuries can provide a sense of comfort and enjoyment that is essential for a happy and fulfilling life. For many people, luxurious items such as fancy cars, designer clothing, and high-end electronics are not just status symbols but sources of pleasure and satisfaction. These items can boost one’s self-esteem and provide a sense of accomplishment, leading to improved mental health and overall well-being.

The Podcast version of this lesson plan is available on Spotify. It’s a great way to practice your listening skills and learn more about pronunciation. Press the button below.

Necessity

Moreover, luxuries can also be seen as investments in one’s future. For example, a well-made suit or a luxury car can last for many years and provide long-term benefits, such as impressing potential employers or clients. In this way, luxuries can be seen as essential tools for success and advancement in one’s personal and professional life.

However, on the other hand, many argue that luxuries are unnecessary and even harmful to society. In a world where millions of people struggle to meet their basic needs, spending exorbitant amounts of money on frivolous items can be seen as selfish and wasteful. Moreover, pursuing luxuries can contribute to a culture of materialism, where people are judged by their possessions rather than their character or abilities. Should society place more value on the concept of necessity?

Social Impacts

In addition, luxuries can also have negative environmental and social impacts. The production and disposal of luxury goods can contribute to pollution, waste, and exploitation of workers in developing countries. Pursuing luxury can also promote unsustainable lifestyles, where people consume resources at a rate that is not environmentally or socially responsible.

In conclusion, while luxuries can provide pleasure and satisfaction, they are not essential for a happy and fulfilling life. Moreover, the pursuit of luxuries can negatively impact society and the environment. Therefore, it is important to balance the desire for luxury with a sense of responsibility and awareness of the broader impacts of our consumption choices. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to determine their own values and priorities and to make choices that align with those values.

Challenging Questions

Here are some questions to challenge your language skills;

1. Are luxuries essential for a good quality of life, or are they just unnecessary indulgences?
2. Do luxuries contribute to a culture of materialism and superficiality, or do they enhance people’s sense of self-worth and confidence?
3. Should people be free to spend their money on whatever they desire, even if it means buying luxury items while others struggle to meet their basic needs?
4. Is investing in luxury items a smart financial decision, or is it a waste of money that could be better spent on necessities or investments?
5. Should governments regulate the production and consumption of luxury goods to reduce their environmental and social impacts?
6. Are necessities and luxuries subjective and dependent on individual circumstances, or are there universal standards that determine what is essential and what is not?
7. Do people have a moral obligation to prioritize necessities over luxuries, or is it up to each individual to determine their own priorities and values?
8. Is the pursuit of luxury a reflection of a healthy desire for pleasure and enjoyment, or is it a symptom of a deeper sense of dissatisfaction and emptiness?
9. Should businesses prioritize the production of luxury goods over the production of essential goods, or should they focus on meeting people’s basic needs first?
10. Is the pursuit of luxury a form of privilege that is only available to a select few, or is it a universal desire that transcends social and economic boundaries?

Remember that a conversation works both ways. You should ask questions too. Learning about question formats in the English language is a valuable tool to help develop your conversation skills.

Conversation Course

If you need practice, take a look at our conversation course. Our course is an excellent way to improve communication skills and language proficiency. This type, of course, provides a structured environment for you to practice speaking and listening, as well as to develop your vocabulary and grammar. In this course, you are encouraged to participate actively, engaging in discussions and debates on various topics. We create a supportive and engaging atmosphere where you can feel comfortable expressing your opinions and ideas, even if you make mistakes. With regular practice, you can build confidence in your ability to communicate effectively. A conversation course is an effective way to improve language proficiency.

Toxic – social media

Toxic is a One2one Academy conversation-based podcast about the impact of social media on society. Learn how to express yourself in English.

Podcast

The world has experienced a dramatic change over the years in terms of the impact of social media. Some say that the younger generation is slowly losing their social skills and that we have passed the point of no return.

This aptly named podcast refers to social media’s impact on our society. So, if you are studying English as a second language, then the first thing you should do is research this topic. Finding new phrases and words that can be used to express an opinion is critical to improving your conversation skills. 

Statements

There are plenty of resources online; perhaps that’s a great place to start. Let me introduce some statements to think about at this stage.

1. Children’s communication skills have evolved and are now more efficient and effective.
2. There is a divide between how the younger and older generations use social media.
3. Social media has created a wealth of new types of jobs that have contributed to stronger global economies.
4. The education sector has benefited from how social media is used. 
5. Social media platforms are contributing towards stronger relationships between friends and family members. 

Expressing an opinion on topics with more than one point of view will help you improve your conversation skills. I have mentioned a few alternative forms you can use in other podcasts. 

Interaction

I wanted to focus on how people interact when they speak to each other. Firstly it would be strange not to give a signal that we are listening to someone. By a signal, I mean some form of sound or, indeed, a sentence to at least acknowledge that you are in a conversation.

This can vary in response, but for now, here are a few different ways that we use when conversing:

1. That’s interesting
2. I see
3. Hmm 

You can use many more, but they are considered indicators that you are listening and participating in a conversation. Unfortunately, many students wait to be asked a question rather than ask questions. This can be a fatal mistake since asking questions will help to promote or extend a conversation with someone. Therefore, introducing some questions is good practice to prompt a response.

Voice Tones 

The impact of voice tones can indicate emotional content. For example, a louder voice could mean aggression or how strongly you feel about something, whereas a softer voice could be considered more empathic.

On the one hand, learning how to apply voice tones to influence meaning in English is a skill. On the other hand, it will take some time to perfect, so don’t get frustrated and keep practising. 

English exams

If you are taking an exam in English, then you should consider some of these styles of questions:

1. How has the use of social media changed in the last five years?
2. Which platforms do you use and why?
3. How often do you post something on a platform?
4. In your opinion, what types of new jobs have been created directly from social media?
5. Do you think that how we buy products and services is impacted by social media? Why?
6. How have you personally benefited from social media? Why?
7. Is social media considered a babysitter for the younger generation? Why?
8. Do you believe that social media is now a key influencer in the business sector? Why?

The Metaverse – Podcast

Welcome to this edition of one2one podcasts. Today I will discuss the Metaverse as a conversational topic. You will need to be at an intermediate level.

Work smarter. Not harder!

– One2one

If you want to improve your level of spoken English, there are a few things that you should consider. First, expressing yourself can often depend on your voice tone and the strength of opinion used.

Conversation Lesson Plan

Welcome to this edition of one2one podcasts. Today I will discuss the Metaverse as a conversational topic. You will need to be at an intermediate level.

Although there is room for concern, many of the traditionally rooted jobs may, in fact, give rise to new job scape. One that will see the creation of new employment in emerging sectors.

So precisely what is this new dimension in internet evolution? Well, imagine a virtual landscape that would see a 3D space where people can live and work, where there are no boundaries between society, and a global economy could flourish. Of course, this is a simplistic view, but it’s a serious consideration and a brainchild of those decision-makers who want this dream to become a reality.

To access this technology will require augmented reality glasses, otherwise known as “AR glasses” and a virtual reality headset that will assist with sound and communication. 

Facebook is a company that wants to accelerate the concept and start producing revenue streams—effectively coined an ecosystem that will provide a platform mirroring our physical world.

Considerations for a class based on this topic are the following:

Conversation questions

Should we fear this type of technology or embrace it? Why?

Do we need an alternative world? Why?

Would the older generation find this technology to navigate? Why?

Will there be more job opportunities or fewer? Why?

What would an alternative future look like if humanity moved towards this type of technology? Why?

What kind of new jobs do you think will be created? 

Would life be simplified or more complex? Why?

Can you visualise a future where both the physical and virtual worlds coexist? Why?

Is it possible to work in one country but live in another? 

Would trading between countries be simplified? Why?

Would education be more accessible? Why?

Conversation Lesson Plan

If you want to improve your level of spoken English, there are a few things that you should consider. First, expressing yourself can often depend on your voice tone and the strength of opinion used. 

Use different vocabulary to become more confident using words you have never used. Practice is essential. You need to be aware of pronunciation and interaction. Remember that speaking and listening work together in harmony.

That’s all we have time for today. Join us next time on one2one podcasts. Please remember to like and share, and there is a link to our website in this podcast description. Till next time,

Bye for now.

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