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 (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)

Guide Questions
1. What does the speaker say about Japan’s population?
2. What does the speaker say about Yakult Ladies?
3. What does the speaker say about a Yakult Lady named Furuhata?
4. Besides making deliveries, what do Yakult Ladies in Japan offer?

 

Discussion:
1. Have you ever drunk Yakult or other probiotic drinks? If not, why? 
2. Are Yakult Ladies present in your country? If so, are they only women or have you also seen men? 
3. Why do you think Yakult sellers are only women? 
4. Would you enjoy having a job like a Yakult Lady? Why or why not? 
5. How might technology change the way elderly people stay connected in the future? 
6. Do you think similar systems could work in other countries? Why or why not?

TRANSCRIPT

In Japan, nearly 30% of the population is over 65, and many elderly people live on their own, leading to loneliness. “Yakult Ladies,” who deliver probiotic drinks to homes, have turned into an important form of social support. The system started off in 1963 and soon took off as local women won people over. Today, over 31,000 Yakult Ladies go around to many homes each day and build up long-term relationships with elderly residents. For example, one Yakult Lady named Furuhata has visited the same 83-year-old woman every Monday for 25 years. The woman says these visits cheer her up and lift her spirits, even when she feels under the weather. In addition to deliveries, Yakult Ladies offer friendly conversation and check on people’s well-being. In a country facing increasing isolation, their visits provide valuable human connection and support. (140 words)

Reference: BBC