English Lesson (Listening B2): "How Social Media Impacts Adult Life (Balancing Professional Success and Personal Well-Being)"

Vocabulary 1

A. Stay up to date – Keep current, remain informed. Example: I always try to stay up to date with the latest technology news to keep my skills sharp.

B. Personal brand – Reputation, self-image online. Example: As a photographer, your personal brand is important because it shows clients your style and professionalism.

C. Take its toll – Cause harm, create stress. Example: The long hours of work take their toll on my health, and I’m always feeling tired.

D. Peers – Colleagues, equals, contemporaries. Example: In school, I always compare my grades to those of my peers to see if I’m doing well.

E. Fall behind – Lag, be left behind. Example: If you don’t keep learning new skills, you may fall behind in today’s fast-changing job market.

F. Measure up to – Reach the standard, compare to. Example: After the presentation, I wondered if my work would measure up to my boss's expectations.

Guide Questions
1. What does the speaker say about social media?
2. What are the good and bad things about social media?

American Accent

British Accent

For the complete transcript, click this. 

Vocabulary 2

A. Stay in touch with – Keep connected, maintain contact. Example: I try to stay in touch with my grandmother by calling her every Sunday.

B. Fall into the trap – Be deceived, make mistake. Example: I fell into the trap of buying things I didn’t need during the sale.

C. Highlight reels – Best moments, curated content. Example: People only post their highlight reels on Instagram, so it often looks like everyone else’s life is perfect.

D. Scroll – Move through, browse feed. Example: I like to scroll through my favorite news app every morning while drinking my coffee.

E. Feel down – Feel sad, low in mood. Example: After the bad weather ruined my weekend plans, I started to feel down.

F. Miss out on – Not participate, lose opportunity. Example: I was missing out on a great concert because I had to work that night.

G. Get caught up in – Become absorbed, lose control. Example: I got caught up in a long conversation and lost track of time.

H. Set boundaries – Establish limits, define rules. Example: I decided to set boundaries with my friend and told them I needed some alone time this weekend.

Guide Questions
1. What does the speaker say about social media regarding our personal life?
2. What are the downsides of social media in our personal life? Talk about the speaker’s example.
3. What is the speaker’s conclusion?

American Accent

British Accent

For the complete transcript, click this.