Air Conditioning, Climate Change & Green Cities (B1-B2 English Listening & Discussion Lesson)

Pre-listening Discussion:

1. Which types of buildings in France are difficult to keep cool, and what could be done about them? Quels types de bâtiments en France sont difficiles à garder au frais, et que pourrait-on faire à ce sujet ?

2. What alternatives to air conditioning could homes and businesses use to stay cool? Quelles alternatives à la climatisation les maisons et les entreprises pourraient-elles utiliser pour rester au frais ?

Vocabulary
A. Green (adjective) [French: écologique]: Causing less harm to the environment. Example: More people are choosing green products.

B. Economic imperative (noun phrase) [French: impératif économique]: Something that is necessary for economic reasons. Example: Creating jobs is an economic imperative for the government.

C. Extremely (adverb) [French: extrêmement]: To a very high or unusual degree. Example: The exam was extremely difficult.

D. Weigh in (phrasal verb) [French: donner son avis]: To give your opinion about a subject. Example: She decided to weigh in during the meeting.

E. Grid (noun) [French: réseau électrique]: A system that supplies electricity to homes and businesses. Example: The electricity grid was damaged during the storm.

A2 English Listening Practice: Names, Ages, Countries and Nationalities

 

Vocabulary
A. Co-worker (noun) [French: collègue]: A person who works with you. Example: My co-worker helps me with my work. [French: Mon collègue m'aide dans mon travail.]

B. Colleague (noun) [French: collègue]: A person you work with. Example: I often have lunch with my colleagues. [French: Je déjeune souvent avec mes collègues.]

C. A bit of (expression) [French: un peu de]: A small amount of something. Example: I need a bit of water. [French: J'ai besoin d'un peu d'eau.]

D. Look forward to (expression) [French: avoir hâte de]: To feel happy about something that will happen. Example: I look forward to my holiday. [French: J'ai hâte de partir en vacances.]

The Glass Cliff - Why Are Women More Likely to Lead During Crises? - B2 Listening Exercise

 

Vocabulary 1
A. Cliff (noun) [French: falaise]: A very steep side of a mountain or rock. Example: We stood near the cliff and looked at the sea.

B. Tendency (noun) [French: tendance]: A usual way of behaving or developing. Example: He has a tendency to worry about small problems.

C. Raises (verb) [French: soulève / pose]: Brings a question or problem to people's attention. Example: This report raises several important questions about the project.

D. Discriminate (verb) [French: faire preuve de discrimination envers]: Treat someone unfairly because of who they are. Example: Companies must not discriminate against people because of their age.

E. Struggling (adjective) [French: en difficulté]: Having serious problems or difficulties. Example: The struggling restaurant may close next year.

The Glass Cliff - Why Are Women More Likely to Lead During Crises? - C2 Listening Exercise

 

Vocabulary
A. Cliff (noun) [French: falaise]: A steep rock face, often beside the sea. Example: We stood at the edge of the cliff and watched the waves.

B. Tendency (noun) [French: tendance]: A usual way of behaving or developing. Example: He has a tendency to arrive early for meetings. 

C. Attain (verb) [French: atteindre]: To successfully reach a goal or level. Example: She worked hard to attain her professional goals.

D. Raises (verb) [French: soulève]: Brings a question, problem, or issue to attention. Example: This decision raises several concerns about the new policy.

E. Prolonged (adjective) [French: prolongé(e)]: Continuing for a long time, especially longer than expected. Example: Prolonged exposure to sunlight can damage your skin.