Raising Children Today: 30 C1 English Speaking Questions on Modern Parenting Challenges, Education, and Child Development

- with French translations

Questions
1. What are the biggest challenges of raising children today? (Quels sont les plus grands défis pour élever des enfants aujourd’hui ?)

Model answer: Technology, education pressure, and social media influence children strongly.
Follow-up question: Which challenge affects parents the most in daily life?

2. How has parenting changed compared to the past? (Comment l’éducation des enfants a-t-elle changé par rapport au passé ?)

Model answer: Parenting is more focused on communication and emotional support now.
Follow-up question: What change do you see as most important?

3. What role does technology play in children’s lives today? (Quel rôle joue la technologie dans la vie des enfants aujourd’hui ?)

Model answer: Technology is central for learning, entertainment, and communication.
Follow-up question: Is technology more helpful or harmful for children?

4. How much screen time is healthy for children? (Quel temps d’écran est sain pour les enfants ?)

Model answer: Limited screen time is important for healthy development and focus.
Follow-up question: How can parents control screen time effectively?

5. What values are most important to teach children today? (Quelles valeurs sont les plus importantes à enseigner aux enfants aujourd’hui ?)

Model answer: Respect, responsibility, and empathy are essential values today.
Follow-up question: Which value is hardest to teach?

Common Grammar Mistakes French Speakers Make (B2–C1) - Answers and Explanations

1. I ____ him since yesterday.
didn’t see
haven’t seen 

2. It depends ____ the situation.
on
of

3. I am married ____ a teacher.
to
with

4. I explained ____.
the problem to him
him the problem

* Explain is followed by a noun (what thing or information?)
Pattern: explain + what + to whom
I explained to him the problem (explain + to whom + what) is informal

 

Common Grammar Mistakes French Speakers Make (B2–C1)

1. I ____ him since yesterday.

2. It depends ____ the situation.

3. I am married ____ a teacher.

4. I explained ____.

5. He has ____ in finance.

6. I ____ the meeting.

7. The ___ proposal is better than the last one.

8. I ____ an interview yesterday.

9. I ____ a decision.

10. We ____ sport.

11. I am used to ____ late.

12. Employees must ____.

13. I suggested ____ earlier.

14. He made me ____ it.

15. He said he ____ tired.

16. She told me she ____ come.

17. He ____ that he would be here early.

18. Marie ____ that she was late.

19. I don’t know ____.

20. I didn’t see ____.

21. I ____ escargot so I don’t know how it tastes.

22. Can you tell me ____?

23. I ____.

24. The new software is ____ than the previous one.

25. I don’t have ____ to say.

26. Taking the subway is ____ than the bus.

27. Choose the correct option(s).

28. The technician ____ yesterday moved to a different department.

29. The manager ____ called me didn’t leave a message.

30. She has ____ as a manager.

31. Five ___ were absent.

32. Choose the correct option(s).

33. Choose the correct option(s).

For the complete explanations, click this. 

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?