Costa Rica Investment and construction

Business and Financial English students, especially those studying Advanced Market Leader (unit 7) can read this article and identify vocabulary and phrases to talk about trends and future predictions.
Costa Rican builders cautious despite sector growth / Business & Real Estate / Costa Rica Newspaper, The Tico Times
This could lead to a discussion on how these trends will affect the student's company and future investment opportunities.

Financial English Costa Rica

Business and Financial English students can read an article in English on the latest turbulence in the financial markets. Lots of good vocab related to trends and large figures.
Costa Rica braces for economic storm / Business & Real Estate / Costa Rica Newspaper, The Tico Times

USA Debt Clock

Statistics and very big numbers.
 How fast can you say them!
www.usdebtclock.org/
Thanks for the link James.

Credit crisis

For the short and simple story.
 Go to http://crisisofcredit.com/
Business and Financial English students can watch and listen and discuss the issues.
James, many  thanks for the link.

Cars and astronauts

Follow the link to an article that students can use to discuss choices of cars
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/8631908/My-other-car-is-a-Space-Shuttle....html

Business and Golf

From the BBC business website students can watch, read and listen to the business behind the sport of golf and the British Open Golf Championship. Then students can discuss their own experiences of corporate sponsorship and hospitality.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14042846

Vigilance -Travel and crime

U.S. Embassy video chronicles a really bad trip here

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff What can happen to a tourist here who does not pay attention to basic security precautions? That's the premise of a YouTube video produced by the U.S. Embassy here that seeks to promote vigilance. The answer is that the tourist could end up in the consular section of the embassy one morning wearing one sandal and stripped of all possessions. Johnathan Roy, a vice consul, has the only speaking role. He's a friendly Gringo giving safety tips to a forlorn man who has been victimized even before he left the airport. That is where he lost his luggage to a thief, according to the video. The man's visit goes downhill from there. He meets pretty girls in a bar, and when he wakes up, his backpack is gone. At the beach he leaves his car keys on the sand along with his few remaining possessions. That's where he loses a sandal as well as the car. Roy said the video was a joint effort between the Consulate staff and the Public Affairs Office. Actors were embassy staffers. Students can watch and listen and identify crime-related vocabulary. The video could generate a  discussion on their own travel and crime experiences.

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