#1 Role models which type of people are respected most in our society?

#1 ROLE MODELS

 Which type of people are respected most in our society?

A: I think that generally, the type of people that others look up to are mainly those with money and very expensive possessions. Like those who have homes that are lavish, luxury cars and designer clothes. Others may have more respect for those who do jobs that are difficult and rewarding, for example, doctors, nurses and teachers. Speaking for myself, I would say that I hold those in high regard who work for non-profit organisations, helping those who have nothing, like the homeless, refugees and animal shelters. 

Q: Do you agree with this situation?

A: I certainly do not agree that people should follow and respect those who flaunt their wealth. Obviously, most people who are rich have worked hard to get where they are. Wealth does not always equal happiness and respect should go, in my opinion to those who do jobs that perhaps are very difficult and keep society running smoothly. For instance, the road sweepers, the litter collectors, the people who run the animal shelters for free, they are the people who should have more respect from society. 

Q: What happens when young people lack good role models?

A: In my view, they can become difficult and have no direction in life. Without someone to look up to, they have no one to follow, to show them right from wrong and how to have a good life. Impressionable young people will then follow someone with a strong personality, even though they might not be the best example.

Q: What standards of behaviour should teachers set?

A: When students are in school, the teacher should be an exemplary role model for them to follow. They spend so much time with their teachers during this time, that the lessons they learn and the behaviour they see, will shape their own behaviours. For example, the teacher will create classroom rules, that all students have to follow. In my view, this is a good example of the teacher being a strong person that the students should look up to. 

Q: Do you agree that you should never meet your heroes?

I do agree with this, as meeting your heroes can ruin the image of them you have. You build them up in your imagination, into being who you want them to be. When you meet them and see how they really are, it shatters your view, thus ending your dreamlike state of how amazing this person is. The public persona that many 'heroes' have does not match what they may be like in real life, so thinking about them, how you have them in your imagination, is much better!

#2 Travel and transport

Q: How easy is it to travel around your country?

A: It is really straightforward to travel anywhere you want to go, whether it is in the country or to visit other countries. There are airports in every major city, national rail lines and nation bus services. The flights are often good value and make it convenient for people to travel to other countries. There are good roads too, which means that you can easily travel in your own car to anywhere you want to go. 

Q: Which method of travel do you consider safest?

A: I think that I consider flying to be the most secure way to get around. When you take a flight, everything is so well organised by the airport, air traffic control and other departments, that you know you are in good hands. I prefer travelling this way above going on a train, a boat or in the car, as more accidents happen on those types of transport. 

Q: Has travel become safer in recent years?

A: Actually, I think that travel has become safer because of the many terrorist attacks we have seen in the air and on the ground. Airport security has become more intense, with more checks on each person and biometrics introduced. There are also more checks on vehicles, on national train services and on public transport. This is an important measure to take, because of the dreadful attacks that have occurred recently. In the past, the rules were more relaxed, with some airports waving people through without proper papers or identity cards. 

Q: What are the pros and cons of low-cost air travel?

A: The main benefit of low-priced air tickets is that people can afford to visit more places around the world. Other benefits may include, travelling more frequently and saving money. The drawbacks, however, are that these airlines often add on extra charges for baggage and food. The prices of food and drink onboard the aircraft is high, along with any other extras that were not included in the flight price. They also have many cancellations and very uncomfortable seats. 

Q: How do you think people will travel in the future?

A: I think more people will opt to take a train to get to where they want to go. Some people enjoy a lengthy train ride as this gives them time to relax and unwind. I think they will make 'super' trains, with deluxe cabins and luxury facilities, encouraging travellers to want to travel by train on long journeys. Already in China, they have designed double-decker trains and luxury fast trains, with an idea to transport more people in higher quality surroundings in the future. 

#3 Universities

Q: Is higher education too expensive in your country?

A: I think that it is very costly to go into higher education in my country. They recently hiked the prices up, making it extremely difficult for most people to afford it. On the one hand, spending thousands on an education is worth every penny, but on the other hand, it can bring years of debt to a student and their family. In today's society, no one is guaranteed to get a good job straight after university, so these course fee debts often continue to follow people around for life. 

Q: Should all students pay for their university education?

A: In my view, many students should be entitled to have a free higher education, especially if they can't afford the fees but have consistent high grades. For those who are high achievers getting a paid tuition to the university of their choice could be life-changing. For example in many countries in Europe, they offer free higher education to those who obtain high grades in high school, which encourages them to develop their learning and progress into a good profession.

Q: What advantages do universities bring to society?

A: I think that there are many positive things that universities can offer the communities around them. They bring students into the area for one, which means housing will be in demand. They will spend money on food, go out and books for their course, making the town or city a buzzing hub of student life. For the students they benefit from having a high level of education, which can then be translated into skills in the workplace, keeping society going with their knowledge.  

Q: Which is more important, research or teaching?

A: I think that for those who prefer to research, they enter programmes for further education, like completing a Master's degree or a PhD. This can develop a further understanding of a subject and allow the person to develop their research skills. Many people who complete these higher levels of education, also teach as a way of sharing their knowledge and gaining respect from their peers. You can't really teach at that level without undertaking some sort of extensive research, therefore I see them of equal importance. 

Q: How should students spend their summer vacations?

A: In my opinion, I think that students should spend some time relaxing during the summer break but should also continue to study and read. A better way to make use of all of that time off is to get an internship or other work experience that will be useful for their CV. They could also have a paid part-time job so that they can save money for the forthcoming school year. When completing a degree, it is really useful to gain experience from internships, save money and continue to study. Making the most of all of that free time is important. Being idle during that time period is not really going to help them to go anywhere in the future. 

#4 SPORT

Q: Why are some sports fans so passionate?

A: I think that they really connect with the sport and their hometown, so it has a special meaning for them. I know that in my home city, the people who live there are so supportive of the football team and they have a huge following. They are so proud of the team and love the fact that they are ambassadors for the city, representing it on an international level. 

Q: Is there any violence at sporting events in your country?

A: Unfortunately, there is, and there now has to be a heavy police presence at most football games. The worst cases in the past have been the home games, when the neighbouring city rivals play and the fans want to cause trouble, by fighting and causing harm to city property. The police deploy the horse guards to keep the peace and sometimes send in the armed police if things get really bad. I always avoid going into the city if I know there are any football games on that day. 

Q: Should athletes be better role models?

A: I think so yes, many people including children look up to these sports stars and when they do reckless things, it has an impact. For example, if they are seen driving dangerously in their sports cars, then people seem to think this is ok and that other people can act like this. There are good role models there too, for instance, David Beckham does a lot for charity and has a children's football academy.

Q: What benefits do international sporting events bring?

A: They can bring a huge influx of tourism into the country, boosting the economy. This has happened many times recently with the recent boxing match in Las Vegas is an example, many people visited and wanted to see that fight. I think that they also promote the country they are in, allowing people to see what it is like if the event is televised. 

Q: Is it important for a country to win lots of medals?

A: I haven't really thought about that before, but I think that it does give a country status and can help to raise its profile in the media. For example, when the UK wins any gold medals, it is always heavily promoted in the news and those athletes are given star status. They help to raise the profile of the country and show other places that they can win and be on top. 

#5 Work

Q: Is it better to make important life decisions on your own or is it better to consult other people?

A: I think that for anything important you should discuss it with your nearest and dearest. For instance, if you were thinking about leaving your job you may want to talk that through with your partner or parents. The people who are close to you will be able to support you and offer you both positive and negative views. Getting a second or third opinion before making a huge decision is better than going through that on your own. 

Q: Do you think good decision-making can be taught?

A: In my view, I think that many people who are successful have good instincts to make decisions on their own. However, I do think that with the right experience good decision-making can be taught. Depending on the situation and the type of decisions you have to make. 

Q: Is watching TV a good way of forgetting about work or study?

A: On the one hand, watching a TV show or movie can be a good way to relax or have background noise while you are cooking or doing other things. This can help you to unwind and forget about any work stress or study projects you are doing. You can switch your mind off and focus on something else for a while, to take a break from it. On the other hand, you should do everything in moderation and not let your Netflix binge distract you for many hours, affecting your work or study negatively.

Q: Should coworkers also spend their leisure time together?

A: In my opinion, I think that it depends on the type of job you have and how well you get on with your colleagues. In some professions, it is common for workers to go out together for drinks or dinner after work at least once per week. Often people who work together for many hours develop long-lasting friendship that last years and years. I think that if you enjoy your time with your teammates then you should see them as often as you want. 

Q: Do you agree that English should be the main language of international exchange?

A: From the places, I have been to I agree that it already is, as many people who can't communicate in their native language can talk to each other in English. My niece, for example, has many friends from Spain, Poland and Greece who all communicate with each other in English. It is already a very commonly taught language and it does make it easier for people to communicate when travelling. 

Q: What are the difficulties in creating a universal language?

A: I think that having a language for everyone to use all over the world, will cause some people to be excluded. For instance, many old people may find it difficult to learn or those from poor socio-economic backgrounds will feel left out of this, as they will not have the ways and means to learn. Others may rebel against this and cause trouble because they do not want to conform to having one language to be used by all. 

#6 Restaurants

Q. Why do you think people go to restaurants when they want to celebrate something?

A: In my opinion, I think that dressing up to go somewhere with your friends and family is a great way to celebrate a special event. Booking a table in a favoured restaurant is a one way to have a night out and socialise for a birthday or other occasion. This takes the party out of your own hands so that everyone can enjoy the food and not have to do any of the work themselves. Restaurants have a good atmosphere and you can pre-order cakes or other desserts which may be popular if you are celebrating a birthday. 

Q. Which are more popular in your country: fast food restaurants or traditional restaurants? Why do you think that is?

A: Where I live, traditional restaurants are favoured because the people who live here and come to visit want to enjoy the home-cooked food of the Med. They want to try delicious dishes prepared with the local produce. The restaurants here are mainly family-owned, with all of the ingredients used bought on the island. Fast food restaurants do not do very well here, with only one available in the town centre. This is mainly frequented by teenagers, as it is cheap. 

Q. Some people say that food in an expensive restaurant is always better than food in a cheap restaurant – would you agree?

A: Not really, as I think it depends on where you go and who is cooking it. Everyone has their own personal tastes and if you like a place that serves good food at a good price, then it will be very popular. For example, you might visit a fish restaurant right on the beach, which serves deliciously cooked fresh fish with seasonal vegetables. This could be a small taverna with basic decor and a low-cost menu. This might be quite cheap in comparison to some other so-called 'a la carte' restaurants, where the food is very expensive, comes in small portions and does not always live up to expectations.

Q. Do you think there will be a greater choice of food available in shops in the future, or will there be less choice?

A: I think there will continue to be more choice, as the supermarkets seem to be getting bigger and bigger. There is a supermarket next to my parent's house which is as big as the airport building. The sheer number of products on offer is amazing, they even have employees on roller skates working there, so that they can find what you are looking for and assist you faster. 

#7 The Environment

Q. What causes environmental problems?

A: I think that there are many things that are harming the environment, including greenhouse gases, fossil fuels and pollution. One of the main causes that I have an interest in is pollution caused by plastic. This is a huge issue that is making the environment suffer, on beaches, in the sea and in other places. People not choosing to use reusable shopping bags is having a huge effect on the amount of plastic that is going to waste.

Q. What should the government do to protect the environment?

A: In my opinion, they should make more incentives for people to learn about how they can help at an individual level. If they could educate people and make more rules about recycling or using plastic bags, then perhaps we would see a difference. I read in the news recently about how Kenya has passed a law, making it illegal to use plastic bags. In the UK they have a price for a plastic bag. But maybe this type of law, making them illegal should be implemented everywhere. The governments should unite and work together to combat these problems before it is too late. 

Q. What should we do to protect the environment?

A: Obviously we all have a responsibility to do something to prevent the deterioration of the environment. Ever little bit that we can do as individuals could help, for example by recycling our household waste, donating clothes to charity, going on litter clean-ups and using reusable shopping bags. I always use cotton bags for my grocery shopping instead of plastic bags and recycle as much as I can. 

Q. What other measures can you think of to protect the environment?

A: We can all do something to help, for instance, get together with groups of friends to collect litter from beaches or other public places. We can also walk or cycle more, rather than driving, use less electricity, recycle waste and limit the use of plastic bags. On a wider level, the government should impose more laws that protect the environment.

Q. How should we educate children to protect the environment?

A: Children should be taught in school about the effects of things we do that can be harmful to the environment. They can complete projects and work together to learn about how to recycle and the importance of it. They could also complete work outside, looking at how to preserve wildlife, plants and flowers. It is really important that they learn about this at an early age so that they can grow up with some awareness of the impact their actions can have. 

#8 The Internet

Q: Which websites are popular among your generation?

A: I think that websites with information about how to do things are really trendy, for example, recipes and how to make certain dishes or how to make clothes with tutorials to follow. People are finding new hobbies through looking at websites and learning how to develop new skills. 

Q: Is using the internet a social or solitary activity?

A: In my opinion, I think that it depends on what you are doing, for instance, if you are at university and working on a group project, then you may have to work with your peers to find information. However, for most people it is a solitary experience, working with your desktop, tablet or phone to find out whatever information you are looking for. 

Q: How has the internet changed social behaviour?

A: Before the internet people interacted much more when meeting up and going out together, now you see people glued to their phone screens. Their focus is on their social media apps looking at what their friends and family are doing through photos and status updates, rather than actually talking to them. Communication is mostly through social media, with instant chat cutting the need for face to face meetings. 

Q: Should companies check job applicants’ online profiles?

A: It's not unreasonable for employers to do this, however, I think that what people share online may not be the whole picture of how they behave at work. For example, seeing photographs of a person on a night out with friends acting silly, does not mean that they will act like that in the workplace. It can give the employer a wider sense of the persons personality and interests so that they can see if they really are who they say they are. 

Q: What will be the next big development online?

A: In my view, I think that more and more people will be able to work online from home in the future. Companies will make it easier for employees to take work home with them, giving them a hard drive or a company modified super tablet, with everything they need to work productively from anywhere. It has already happened with many companies, including Apple and Amazon. It makes sense that this trend will continue and we will see more of it. 

#9 Music

Q: What kind of music is popular in your country?

A: In my country, there are many different types of music that people like to listen to. Pop music is always fashionable and so is folk music. People have many different tastes and there are always concerts for classical, rock, pop and folk. Traditional music is still much loved for weddings and baptism celebrations, as well as village festivals in the summer months. 

Q: What do old people like to listen to?

A: They like to hear music from when they were younger, traditional music and sometimes classical. I don't think they like to listen to pop songs or anything heavy, maybe they listen to the radio but something that is more relaxing. For instance, my grandma like to listen to a radio station that has a mixed programme of stories, interviews, plays and classical music. 

Q: Do you play any musical instruments?

A: Yes, I play the piano and I started to learn when I was about 6 years old. I had lessons every Saturday in my house from a great teacher called Mr Haris. I loved learning and developing my skills. I like to play classical music and at Christmas love paying traditional Christmas carols. I think that it is important for children to learn how to play an instrument if they like it of course. It can help them to develop creative skills and give them much enjoyment.   

Q: What might be the best age to start learning to play a musical instrument?

A: In my view starting to learn when you are young is the best option. Children's minds are so impressionable when they are young, they retain information and soak it up like a sponge. They can develop their musical skills and see if they have a talent for it. if you start learning later in life, it will probably be more difficult to find the time, to have lessons and to practice.