Explore the complex issue of foreign land acquisition. This advanced listening practice (IELTS/TOEFL) examines ‘land grabbing’ and contrasts it with solutions like community ownership and legal frameworks.
The 1953 Iranian Coup: Operation Ajax and a Geopolitical Turning Point | Listening Comprehension
An advanced listening practice (IELTS/TOEFL) analyzing the 1953 Iranian coup (Operation Ajax). Understand the “how and why” behind Mossadegh’s overthrow and its long-term impact.
Beyond Brain Drain: The Rise of Global Brain Circulation | Listening Comprehension
An advanced listening practice (IELTS/TOEFL) exploring the “brain drain” phenomenon and the modern solutions, like remote work and “brain circulation,” that are changing global talent flow.
Tā Moko: The Resurgence of Māori Identity | Listening Comprehension
An advanced listening practice for IELTS/TOEFL focusing on the history, suppression, and powerful modern revival of Tā Moko, the Māori facial tattoo, as a symbol of identity.
Patrice Lumumba: The Congo Crisis and the Fight for Independence | Listening Comprehension
Explore the complex story of Patrice Lumumba, the Congo’s first PM. This advanced listening practice (for TOEFL/IELTS) covers the political forces behind the Congo Crisis.
The Empathy Gap: We’ve Learned All This. Now What?
We’ve explored the cognitive tax of poverty and the systems that perpetuate it. But what’s the point of knowing if nothing changes? This article is a call to action to bridge the empathy gap in our daily lives—transforming academic knowledge into compassionate action, one small, human interaction at a time.
The Selfish Reason to End Poverty: An Economic Case for a Better World
Fighting poverty isn’t just charity; it’s a smart investment. Discover how eradicating poverty boosts economic growth, creates new markets, and builds a more stable and prosperous society for everyone.
A Day in the Life of a Social Worker | Listening Comprehension
Test and improve your advanced English listening skills with this exam-style practice. Listen to a social worker’s audio diary and answer 10 comprehension questions to prepare for exams like TOEFL and IELTS.
The Luxury of Tomorrow: How Poverty Steals Your Future
Why is it so hard to plan for the future when you’re struggling today? This article explores the concept of poverty and time perception, revealing how scarcity shatters our relationship with tomorrow. Discover how poverty traps people in an endless present and what it means to give someone back the luxury of a future.
The Brain on Poverty: How Scarcity Taxes Our Mental Bandwidth
Poverty isn’t a character flaw; it’s a cognitive burden. Explore the science of how chronic stress and scarcity impact brain function, decision-making, and the ability to plan for the future.
Recent Posts
Can We Fix This? A Quiz on the Real Language of Climate Solutions
Go beyond the scary headlines. This interactive quiz teaches you the constructive, forward-looking vocabulary for the path forward, like ‘climate justice,’ ‘sustainable development,’ and ‘indigenous-led conservation.’
Where Did Your Shirt Come From? A Quiz on the Global Origins of Fashion
This fun fashion quiz helps you trace the global origins of textiles. Match patterns like Paisley, Kente cloth, and Batik to their home countries and celebrate our shared textile heritage.
Why Are Africa’s Borders So Straight? A Quiz on the “Scramble for Africa”
Compare the maps of Africa from 1880 to 1914. This quiz explains the “Scramble for Africa,” the Berlin Conference, and the lasting legacy of the borders that shape the continent today.
Can We Build Bridges with Art? A Quiz on the New Language of Cultural Heritage
Move beyond the old debates. This engaging quiz teaches you the positive, forward-looking vocabulary of cultural heritage, including ‘repatriation,’ ‘provenance,’ and ‘digital preservation.’
The Missing Pieces: How Cultural Repatriation Is Building a New Future
Move beyond the “stolen art” debate. Discover how cultural repatriation is not an end, but a beginning for healing cultural trauma, building mutual respect, and forging new, equitable global partnerships.
Am I a “Westernized” Version of Myself? (Or Just a “Modern” One?)
What shapes your modern identity? Is it “Westernization” or just… evolution? This column explores the feeling of being “in-between,” and asks if loving global art, ideas, and music means losing your roots—or simply building a more complex self.