English Lesson (Listening) B2: "How Yakult Ladies Are Reducing Loneliness in Ageing Japan"

Vocabulary

A. Elderly - older people (高齢者 / personnes âgées / 老年人 / 노인)
B. Live on their own - live alone (一人で暮らす / vivre seul / 独自生活 / 혼자 살다)
C. Probiotic - good bacteria (善玉菌 / probiotiques / 益生菌 / 프로바이오틱스)
D. Turned into - became (〜になる / devenir / 变成 / ~이 되다)
E. Started off - began (始まる / commencer / 开始 / 시작하다)
F. Took off - became successful (related to business) (成功するようになる / décoller (réussir) / 迅速走红 / 성공하다)
G. Won people over - gained people’s trust (人々の信頼を得る / gagner la confiance des gens / 赢得人们的信任 / 사람들의 신뢰를 얻다)
H. Go around to many homes - visit many homes (多くの家を訪れる / visiter de nombreuses maisons / 走访许多家庭 / 많은 집을 방문하다)
I. Build up - develop over time (徐々に築き上げる / développer progressivement / 逐渐建立 / 점차 쌓다)
J. Residents - people who live there (住民 / résidents / 居民 / 주민)
K. Cheer her up - make her feel happier (元気づける / remonter le moral / 让她开心起来 / 기운 나게 하다)
L. Lift her spirits - make her feel happier (気分を明るくする / remonter le moral / 振奋她的精神 / 기분을 좋게 하다)
M. Under the weather - feeling unwell (体調が悪い / ne pas se sentir bien / 身体不适 / 몸이 안 좋다)
N. Well-being - health and happiness (健康と幸福 / bien-être / 身心健康 / 웰빙)

English Lessons (Speaking): "Friendships and Relationships" (B2)

with commonly used phrasal verbs, expressions and idioms.

Questions

1. Who do you consider your closest friend and why?
Sample answer: I consider my colleague Sarah my closest friend because she always has my back.
Explanation: “has my back” = supports or protects me
Follow-up: Can you describe a situation where she supported you?

2. How has your relationship with your friends changed over the years?
Sample answer: We used to hang out every day, but now we mostly catch up online.
Explanation: “hang out” = spend time together casually; “catch up” = talk to share news
Follow-up: What caused the biggest change in your friendships?

3. Do you think it is important to share the same interests with friends?
Sample answer: Yes, sharing interests makes it easier to get along and have fun.
Explanation: “get along” = have a friendly relationship
Follow-up: Can you give an example of a shared hobby with a friend?

4. How do you usually resolve disagreements with friends?
Sample answer: I try to talk things over calmly and work things out together.
Explanation: “talk things over” = discuss something carefully; “work things out” = find a solution
Follow-up: Can you describe a recent disagreement and how it ended?

5. Do you think friendships at work are different from friendships outside work?
Sample answer: Yes, work friendships can be more formal, but some really click.
Explanation: “really click” = form a strong and natural connection
Follow-up: Do you maintain close friendships with colleagues outside work?

English Lesson (Speaking): "Friendships and Relationships" (B1)

Questions

1. Who do you consider your closest friend and why?

Sample Answer: I consider my colleague Sarah my closest friend because she always supports me.

Follow-up: Can you describe a situation where she supported you?

2. How has your relationship with your friends changed over the years?

Sample Answer: We used to meet daily, now we mostly talk online.

Follow-up: What caused the biggest change in your friendships?

3. Do you think it is important to share the same interests with friends?

Sample Answer: Yes, shared interests make activities more enjoyable and conversations easier.

Follow-up: Can you give an example of a shared hobby with a friend?

4. How do you usually resolve disagreements with friends?

Sample Answer: I try to talk calmly and find a solution together.

Follow-up: Can you describe a recent disagreement and how it ended?

5. Do you think friendships at work are different from friendships outside work?

Sample Answer: Yes, work friendships are more professional but can also be supportive.

Follow-up: Do you maintain close friendships with colleagues outside work?

6. How do you usually celebrate special occasions with friends?

Sample Answer: We often have dinners or organize small parties.

Follow-up: Which celebration was the most memorable for you?

English Lesson (Listening): "How People Woke up Before Alarm Clocks" (B1)

Vocabulary
A. knocking - hitting a surface (like a window) to make a sound and get attention (frapper / taper à la fenêtre)
B. pea - a small round green vegetable seed (pois)
C. shooters - tools used to blow or shoot small objects (here, peas) (sarbacanes: “pea shooters” = sarbacanes à pois)
D. roosters - male chickens known for crowing at dawn (coqs)
E. pins - small thin metal objects used here to fall and make a sound (petites tiges métalliques / épingles)
F. circadian rhythm - the body’s natural 24-hour cycle that controls sleep and waking (rythme circadien)
G. over time - gradually, as time passes (au fil du temps)
H. mechanical clocks - clocks that work using gears and moving parts, not electronics (horloges mécaniques)
I. affordable - cheap enough for most people to buy (abordable)

English Lesson (Listening): "Health" (Easy Version, A2)

Vocabulary
A. balance – (equal on both sides) équilibre. Example: She tries to keep a balance between study and free time.
Question: Do you have a good balance between work and rest?

B. snacks – (small food between meals) collations. Example: He buys snacks at the cinema before the movie.
Question: What snacks do you like to eat at the cinema?

C. make a big difference – (change something, have an effect) faire une grande difference. Example: A smile can make a big difference in someone’s day.
Question: Can one kind word make a big difference for you?