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.

F. Look at the bigger picture (idiom) [French: prendre du recul]: To consider a situation as a whole. Example: You need to look at the bigger picture before making a decision.

G. Town planners (noun) [French: urbanistes]: People who plan and develop towns and cities. Example: Town planners are designing a new shopping area.

H. Get emissions down to nearly zero (expression) [French: réduire les émissions à presque zéro]: To reduce emissions until almost none remain. Example: New technology could help get emissions down to nearly zero.

I. Green spaces (noun phrase) [French: espaces verts]: Areas with grass, trees, and plants. Example: Our neighborhood has several green spaces for children.

J. Shade (noun) [French: ombre]: An area protected from direct sunlight. Example: We sat in the shade during our lunch break.

K. Urban heat island effect (noun phrase) [French: effet d’îlot de chaleur urbain]

The urban heat island effect happens when cities are hotter than the areas around them. During the day, roads, buildings, and concrete get hot from the sun. At night, they slowly release this heat, so the city stays hot. Cities also have fewer trees and green spaces, which help keep the air cool.

Guide Questions
1. What does the man say about Americans?
2. Why do many Americans use air conditioners?
3. What does the man say about France?
4. Are air conditioners bad for the environment?
5. What are the solutions according to the woman?

TRANSCRIPT

Man: Many Americans think Europeans believe they are more green because they use less air conditioning.

Woman: Yes, but I understand why Americans use it. In places like Washington, D.C., summer temperatures can become extremely high. Without air conditioning, some people might not be able to work, and children might not be able to go to school.

Man: This is also a big topic in France. Some people say cooling buildings is an economic imperative because very high temperatures can reduce productivity.

Woman: But installing air conditioning in old buildings can be extremely expensive.

Man: That's true. But are air conditioners bad for the environment?

Woman: It depends. We need to weigh in on several factors, such as the electricity grid and how energy-efficient the system is. For many people, air conditioning is also necessary.

Man: What can we do instead?

Woman: We should look at the bigger picture and think about what governments and town planners can do. We can get emissions down to nearly zero by using energy more efficiently and designing better cities.

Man: What changes could help?

Woman: More green spaces and shade could make cities cooler. They can also reduce the urban heat island effect, which makes cities hotter than nearby areas.

Man: So, better city planning could help people stay comfortable without using so much air conditioning.

Woman: Exactly. We need greener and better-designed cities. (231 words)

Discussion
1. How could the use of air conditioning affect productivity in companies during very hot weather? Comment l’utilisation de la climatisation pourrait-elle affecter la productivité dans les entreprises pendant les périodes de très forte chaleur ?

2. Should employers provide air conditioning when indoor temperatures become too high? Why or why not? Les employeurs devraient-ils fournir la climatisation lorsque les températures à l’intérieur deviennent trop élevées ? Pourquoi ou pourquoi pas ?

3. Do older and younger people have different opinions about air conditioning? Les personnes âgées et les jeunes ont-ils des opinions différentes sur la climatisation ?

4. What would influence your decision to install an air conditioner at home? Quels facteurs influenceraient votre décision d’installer un climatiseur chez vous ?

5. How could increased use of air conditioning affect your country’s electricity supply during very hot weather? Comment une utilisation accrue de la climatisation pourrait-elle affecter l’approvisionnement en électricité de votre pays pendant les périodes de très forte chaleur ?

6. How could businesses keep employees productive without using too much air conditioning? Comment les entreprises pourraient-elles maintenir la productivité de leurs employés sans utiliser trop de climatisation ?

7. Office temperatures can often cause disagreements among co-workers. Some people think the air conditioning is too cold, while others think it is not cold enough. What could be a good solution to this problem? Les températures dans les bureaux peuvent souvent provoquer des désaccords entre collègues. Certaines personnes trouvent que la climatisation est trop froide, tandis que d’autres pensent qu’il ne fait pas assez froid. Quelle pourrait être une bonne solution à ce problème ?

8. How could schools protect students from very high temperatures without installing air conditioning everywhere? Comment les écoles pourraient-elles protéger les élèves contre les températures très élevées sans installer la climatisation partout ?

9. Does air conditioning affect tourism in your country? La climatisation a-t-elle un impact sur le tourisme dans votre pays ?