English Listening Practice: Physical, Digital & Mental Clutter (B2 English)

 

Vocabulary 1
A. Straightforward (adjective) [French: simple, évident]: Easy to understand or deal with. Example: The instructions were straightforward and easy to follow.

B. Obvious (adjective) [French: évident, manifeste]: Easy to see, understand, or recognize. Example: It was obvious that she was tired.

C. Clear it up (phrasal verb) [French: débarrasser, désencombrer]: To remove unwanted things from a place. Example: I need to clear up my bedroom before my guests arrive.

D. Tidy (adjective) [French: rangé, ordonné]: Neat, clean, and well organized. Example: His apartment is always tidy and comfortable.

E. Overwhelmed (adjective) [French: débordé, accablé]: Feeling unable to manage everything at once. Example: She felt overwhelmed by all the work she had to do.

F. Packed with (expression) [French: rempli de, plein de]: Containing a large amount of something. Example: The museum is packed with interesting works of art.

G. Countless (adjective) [French: innombrable, d’innombrables]: Too many to count or calculate. Example: He has visited countless countries during his career.

H. Get around to + verb + ing (phrasal verb) [French: trouver le temps de, finir par]: To finally find time to do something. Example: I hope I can get around to painting the kitchen this weekend.
Q: What task have you not gotten around to doing? -

I. Take up space (expression) [French: prendre de la place]: To use or occupy an area. Example: That old sofa takes up too much space in the living room.

J. Get in the way of + noun or gerund [-ing] (expression) [French: gêner, empêcher]: To prevent someone from doing something easily. Example: Heavy traffic can get in the way of our plans.
Q: What usually gets in the way of your work? -

K. Get things done (idiomatic expression) [French: accomplir des tâches, faire avancer les choses]: To successfully complete tasks or activities. Example: She works quickly and always gets things done.

Guide Questions
1. What does the speaker say about clutter?
2. What does the speaker say about our desks and phones?
3. What does the speaker say about digital clutter?

TRANSCRIPT 1

At first, clutter seems like a straightforward problem. If your desk is covered with papers, coffee cups and old notebooks, the solution is obvious: clear it up. But what if your desk is perfectly tidy and you still feel overwhelmed? Look at your phone. It may be packed with old photos, hundreds of emails, unused apps, and countless files you never get around to organizing. You might think these things do not matter because they do not take up any physical space. However, digital clutter can get in the way of finding information, staying focused, and getting things done. (99 words)

Vocabulary 2
A. Sort out (phrasal verb) [French: trier, organiser, régler]: To organize or solve something that is difficult. Example: I need to sort out my travel plans before Friday.

B. Running through your mind (expression) [French: vous traverser l’esprit, vous trotter dans la tête]: To keep appearing in your thoughts. Example: Many questions were running through my mind before the interview.

C. Switch off (phrasal verb) [French: déconnecter, décrocher]: To stop thinking about work or problems. Example: I usually switch off by listening to music after work.
Q: How do you switch off from work or personal problems? -

D. In other words (expression) [French: en d’autres termes, autrement dit]: Used to explain something in a different way. Example: In other words, we need to leave earlier.

E. Lying around (phrasal verb) [French: traîner, être laissé çà et là]: Being left somewhere without being used. Example: There were several magazines lying around the waiting room.

F. Cut down on (phrasal verb) [French: réduire]: To use or have less of something. Example: I am trying to cut down on coffee during the week.
Q: What are you trying to cut down on? -

G. Get rid of (phrasal verb) [French: se débarrasser de]: To remove something that is unwanted. Example: We should get rid of these broken chairs.
Q: What do you want to get rid of? -

H. Distractions (noun) [French: distractions]: Things that take your attention away from something. Example: I turn off notifications to avoid distractions while studying.

I. Make room (expression) [French: faire de la place]: To create enough space for someone or something. Example: Can you make room for one more person at the table?

J. Deserve (verb) [French: mériter]: To have a good reason to receive something. Example: You deserve a break after working so hard.

K. Clear your head (expression) [French: se vider la tête, s’aérer l’esprit]: To relax and stop thinking about problems. Example: I go for a short walk to clear my head after a busy day.
Q: How do you clear your head when you are too stressed?

Guide Questions
1. What does the speaker say about phones?
2. What is mental clutter?
3. What is the solution to clutter? What is the key to fixing clutter?

 

TRANSCRIPT 2

So, you sort out your phone, delete unnecessary files, and organize your apps, but you still cannot concentrate. The problem may be mental clutter. When too many thoughts, worries, and unfinished tasks are running through your mind, it can be difficult to switch off and focus on important matters. In other words, clutter is not just about having too much stuff lying around. It can be physical, digital, or mental. The key is to cut down on what you need, get rid of unnecessary distractions, and make room for the things that deserve attention. Sometimes, when you clear out the clutter around you, you also begin to clear your head. (110 words)