English Lesson (Listening C1): "Cheesecake Around the World - From Ancient Greece to National Cheesecake Day Celebrations"

Vocabulary
A. Beloved (adj): Well-loved or cherished
B. Staple (adj): Essential or basic
C. Dense (adj): Thick or heavy
D. Fluffier (adj): Light and airy
E. Puts its own spin: Adds a personal touch
F. Indulgent treat: Luxurious or rich dessert
G. Be traced back: Can be traced to origins
H. Adored (adj): Loved or highly regarded
I. Drawbacks: Negative aspects or disadvantages
J. Take a toll: Have a negative impact
K. In excess: More than needed or healthy

L. Light-hearted (adj): Cheerful or carefree
M. Dig into (phrasal verb): Start eating with enthusiasm
N. Memes: Humorous internet images or videos
O. Less refined (adj): Simpler or less elegant
P. Charm (verb): Attract or delight
Q. Taste buds: Sensory receptors for taste
R. Stand out (phrasal verb): Be noticeable or different
S. Culinary world: The world of cooking or food

The Chinese,  French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese translations are below the videos.

 

Guide Questions

1. What does the speaker say about cheesecake? What are the differences between New York cheesecake and Japanese cheesecake?
2. What is the origin of cheesecake?
3. What are the drawbacks of eating cheesecake?
4. What is June 30?
5. What does the speaker say at the end?

 American accent

 

British accent

TRANSCRIPT

Cheesecake, beloved across the globe, has become a staple dessert in many cultures. From New York’s famous dense, creamy style to Japan’s lighter, fluffier version, each country puts its own spin on this indulgent treat. The origins of cheesecake can be traced back to ancient Greece, where a simple version made from cheese, honey, and flour was enjoyed by many. Over time, it evolved, with various cultures adding unique ingredients. While cheesecake is widely adored, it does have its drawbacks, such as high sugar and fat content, which can take a toll on health when consumed in excess. Despite this, it remains a popular choice for celebrations. On July 30, National Cheesecake Day is celebrated in a light-hearted fashion, with many people digging into slices, sharing funny memes, or hosting cheesecake-eating contests. Though sometimes viewed as a less refined dessert, cheesecake continues to charm taste buds worldwide, proving that simple pleasures often stand out in the culinary world. (158 words)

TRANSLATIONS

Chinese (Simplified):

• Beloved (adj) - 备受喜爱的
• Staple (adj) - 主要的
• Dense (adj) - 浓厚的
• Fluffier (adj) - 更蓬松的
• Puts its own spin - 加上个人特色
• Indulgent treat - 奢华的享受
• Be traced back - 可追溯到
• Adored (adj) - 被喜爱的
• Drawbacks - 缺点
• Take a toll - 产生负面影响
• In excess - 过量
• Light-hearted (adj) - 轻松愉快的
• Dig into (phrasal verb) - 热情地吃
• Memes - 网络迷因
• Less refined (adj) - 更简单的
• Charm (verb) - 吸引
• Taste buds - 味蕾
• Stand out (phrasal verb) - 脱颖而出
• Culinary world - 烹饪世界

French:

• Beloved (adj) - Bien-aimé
• Staple (adj) - De base
• Dense (adj) - Dense
• Fluffier (adj) - Plus léger
• Puts its own spin - Apporte sa touche personnelle
• Indulgent treat - Délice indulgent
• Be traced back - Remonter à
• Adored (adj) - Adoré
• Drawbacks - Inconvénients
• Take a toll - Avoir un impact négatif
• In excess - En excès
• Light-hearted (adj) - Léger et joyeux
• Dig into (phrasal verb) - Se lancer dans
• Memes - Mèmes
• Less refined (adj) - Moins raffiné
• Charm (verb) - Charmer
• Taste buds - Papilles gustatives
• Stand out (phrasal verb) - Se distinguer
• Culinary world - Monde culinaire

Japanese:

• Beloved (adj) - 愛されている
• Staple (adj) - 基本的な
• Dense (adj) - 濃厚な
• Fluffier (adj) - ふわふわした
• Puts its own spin - 独自のアレンジを加える
• Indulgent treat - 贅沢なごちそう
• Be traced back - 遡る
• Adored (adj) - 崇拝されている
• Drawbacks - 欠点
• Take a toll - 影響を与える
• In excess - 過剰に
• Light-hearted (adj) - 気軽な
• Dig into (phrasal verb) - 食べ始める
• Memes - ミーム
• Less refined (adj) - より素朴な
• Charm (verb) - 魅了する
• Taste buds - 味覚
• Stand out (phrasal verb) - 目立つ
• Culinary world - 料理の世界

Korean:

• Beloved (adj) - 사랑받는
• Staple (adj) - 필수적인
• Dense (adj) - 진한
• Fluffier (adj) - 더 부드러운
• Puts its own spin - 개성을 더하다
• Indulgent treat - 사치스러운 간식
• Be traced back - 거슬러 올라가다
• Adored (adj) - 사랑받는
• Drawbacks - 단점
• Take a toll - 부정적인 영향을 미치다
• In excess - 과도하게
• Light-hearted (adj) - 가벼운
• Dig into (phrasal verb) - 열심히 먹다
• Memes - 밈
• Less refined (adj) - 덜 세련된
• Charm (verb) - 매혹하다
• Taste buds - 미각
• Stand out (phrasal verb) - 두드러지다
• Culinary world - 요리 세계

Portuguese:

• Beloved (adj) - Amado
• Staple (adj) - Essencial
• Dense (adj) - Denso
• Fluffier (adj) - Mais leve
• Puts its own spin - Dá seu toque pessoal
• Indulgent treat - Guloseima indulgente
• Be traced back - Ser rastreado até
• Adored (adj) - Adorado
• Drawbacks - Desvantagens
• Take a toll - Ter um impacto negativo
• In excess - Em excesso
• Light-hearted (adj) - Descontraído
• Dig into (phrasal verb) - Começar a comer
• Memes - Memes
• Less refined (adj) - Menos refinado
• Charm (verb) - Encantar
• Taste buds - Papilas gustativas
• Stand out (phrasal verb) - Destacar-se
• Culinary world - Mundo culinário

Spanish:

• Beloved (adj) - Querido
• Staple (adj) - Básico
• Dense (adj) - Denso
• Fluffier (adj) - Más esponjoso
• Puts its own spin - Le da su toque
• Indulgent treat - Golosina indulgente
• Be traced back - Ser rastreado hasta
• Adored (adj) - Adorado
• Drawbacks - Desventajas
• Take a toll - Tener un impacto negativo
• In excess - En exceso
• Light-hearted (adj) - Alegre
• Dig into (phrasal verb) - Empezar a comer
• Memes - Memes
• Less refined (adj) - Menos refinado
• Charm (verb) - Encantar
• Taste buds - Papilas gustativas
• Stand out (phrasal verb) - Destacar
• Culinary world - Mundo culinario

Vietnamese:

• Beloved (adj) - Được yêu mến
• Staple (adj) - Cơ bản
• Dense (adj) - Dày đặc
• Fluffier (adj) - Mềm mịn hơn
• Puts its own spin - Thêm phong cách riêng
• Indulgent treat - Món ăn xa xỉ
• Be traced back - Có thể truy nguyên
• Adored (adj) - Được yêu thích
• Drawbacks - Nhược điểm
• Take a toll - Có tác động xấu
• In excess - Quá mức
• Light-hearted (adj) - Vui vẻ
• Dig into (phrasal verb) - Bắt đầu ăn
• Memes - Meme
• Less refined (adj) - Kém tinh tế
• Charm (verb) - Lôi cuốn
• Taste buds - Lưỡi vị giác
• Stand out (phrasal verb) - Nổi bật
• Culinary world - Thế giới ẩm thực