English Listening Practice: Shopping Habits and Useful Vocabulary (B2 Level)

 

Vocabulary

A. Vary (verb) [French: varier, être différent]: To be different from one person, thing, or situation to another. Example: Children's interests vary according to their age. (Les centres d'intérêt des enfants varient selon leur âge.)

B. Greatly (adverb) [French: considérablement, beaucoup]: By a large amount or to a large degree. Example: Regular exercise can greatly improve your health. (Une activité physique régulière peut considérablement améliorer votre santé.)

C. Conscious shopper (noun) [French: consommateur responsable]: A person who thinks carefully about what they buy. Example: A conscious shopper avoids wasting food at home. (Un consommateur responsable évite de gaspiller de la nourriture à la maison.)

D. Locally sourced (adjective) [French: d'origine locale, provenant de producteurs locaux]: Obtained from producers or suppliers in the nearby area. Example: The school uses locally sourced ingredients for its meals. (L'école utilise des ingrédients provenant de producteurs locaux pour ses repas.)

E. Carbon footprint (noun) [French: empreinte carbone]: The total greenhouse gas emissions caused by a person or activity. Example: Taking the train can help reduce your carbon footprint. (Prendre le train peut contribuer à réduire votre empreinte carbone.)

F. Conversely (adverb) [French: à l'inverse, inversement]: Used to introduce an opposite or contrasting idea. Example: Some students learn better in groups; conversely, others prefer studying alone. (Certains élèves apprennent mieux en groupe ; à l'inverse, d'autres préfèrent étudier seuls.)

G. Tech-savvy (adjective) [French: à l'aise avec la technologie]: Having good knowledge of modern technology and how to use it. Example: My tech-savvy colleague quickly solved the computer problem. (Mon collègue, qui est à l'aise avec la technologie, a rapidement résolu le problème informatique.)

H. Electronics (noun) [French: appareils électroniques]: Devices that use electronic components to perform specific functions. Example: The company repairs electronics such as televisions and computers. (L'entreprise répare des appareils électroniques tels que des téléviseurs et des ordinateurs.)

I. High-end products (noun phrase) [French: produits haut de gamme]: Products designed for the upper end of the market. Example: The hotel offers high-end products in its luxury gift shop. (L'hôtel propose des produits haut de gamme dans sa boutique de luxe.)

 

English Listening Practice: Shopping Habits and Useful Vocabulary (A2 Level)

 

Vocabulary
A. Picking out (phrasal verb) [French: choisir, sélectionner]: To choose something from a group of things. Example: She is picking out a dress for her sister's wedding. (Elle choisit une robe pour le mariage de sa sœur.)

B. On the other hand (expression) [French: en revanche, d'un autre côté]: Used to introduce a different or opposite idea. Example: I enjoy living in the city. On the other hand, my brother prefers the countryside. (J'aime vivre en ville. En revanche, mon frère préfère la campagne.)

C. Discounts (noun) [French: réductions, remises]: Lower prices than usual for products or services. Example: Students can get discounts on train tickets. (Les étudiants peuvent bénéficier de réductions sur les billets de train.)

D. Special deals (noun phrase) [French: offres spéciales, offres promotionnelles]: Special offers that allow people to pay less. Example: The hotel offers special deals during the summer holidays. (L'hôtel propose des offres spéciales pendant les vacances d'été.)

E. Depending on (preposition) [French: selon, en fonction de]: Changing according to a particular situation or condition. Example: We can have a picnic tomorrow, depending on the weather. (Nous pouvons faire un pique-nique demain, en fonction du temps.)

F. Comfortable (adjective) [French: à l'aise, confortable]: Feeling relaxed and having no physical or emotional discomfort [inconfort]. Example: I feel comfortable speaking English with my colleagues. (Je me sens à l'aise pour parler anglais avec mes collègues.)

C1 Listening Practice: Minimalism - Living with Less, Living Better (2 parts)

 

Vocabulary 1
A. On a ___ basis (every __): on a [regular, hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, yearly) basis. Example: I exercise on a weekly basis (or: I exercise every week.)
Q: What do you do on a ____ basis? –

B. Inspire: inspirer. Example: Her kindness inspires everyone.

C. Bring about: provoquer. Example: Small changes can bring about success.

D. Conditioned: conditionné. Example: Children are conditioned by their environment. Q: As a French person, what are you conditioned to think? –

E. Owning: le fait de posséder. Example: Owning a bicycle saves money.

F. Equated (with): assimilé à.
Examples: Success is often equated with wealth. French products are equated with luxury.  Q: What is your company equated with? –

G. Afford: avoir les moyens de.

Pattern: afford + noun = Example: I can afford a new laptop with my bonus.
Pattern: afford + to + verb = Example: I can't afford to travel to Greece. I don’t have enough money.

H. Weird: bizarre. Example: That movie was really weird.

I. Rebellious: rebelle. Example: The boy became rebellious at home.

 

A2 English Listening Practice: Family and Everyday English Vocabulary

 

Vocabulary
A. Quite (adverb) [French: assez]: Used to mean fairly or rather. Example: The test was quite easy for me. (Le test était assez facile pour moi.)

B. Twice (adverb) [French: deux fois]: Two times. Example: I go to the gym twice a week. (Je vais à la salle de sport deux fois par semaine.)

C. Nearby (adverb) [French: à proximité]: In or to a place not far away. Example: There is a good restaurant nearby. (Il y a un bon restaurant à proximité.)

D. Big meal (noun phrase) [French: repas copieux]: A meal with a large amount of food. Example: We had a big meal before the long journey. (Nous avons pris un repas copieux avant le long voyage.)

B2 English Listening Practice: Leading Remote and Hybrid Teams

 

HYBRID TEAM [équipe hybride] = some employees work in the office, while others work remotely, or employees alternate between the office and home.

REMOTE TEAM [équipe entièrement à distance / équipe en télétravail] = employees work remotely, usually from home or another location, without regularly working in a central office.

 

Examples:

• Our company has a hybrid team, so employees work from home three days a week and come to the office twice a week.
• Our company has a remote team, so everyone works from different locations.

 

Discussion:

1. What kind of team do you manage or do you belong to? –

2. What are the challenges of being in a remote or hybrid team? –

Business English Speaking Practice: Questions for Business Negotiations

 

Questions

GENERAL EXPERIENCES AND OPINIONS

1. Have you ever been involved in a negotiation, either in your personal life or at work? If so, can you share the experience? [Avez-vous déjà été impliqué dans une négociation, que ce soit dans votre vie personnelle ou au travail ? Si oui, pouvez-vous partager cette experience?] 

2. Do you think negotiations are more challenging in a professional setting or in personal relationships? Why? [Pensez-vous que les négociations sont plus difficiles dans un cadre professionnel ou dans le cadre de relations personnelles? Pourquoi?]

3. Have you ever negotiated with people from other countries? If so, did you notice that the French negotiate differently? Please explain. [Avez-vous déjà négocié avec des personnes d'autres pays ? Si oui, avez-vous remarqué que les Français négocient différemment ?  Expliquez.]

4. Do you prefer face-to-face negotiations or negotiating through written communication (emails, messages)? Why? [Préférez-vous les négociations en face à face ou les négociations par le biais de la communication écrite (courriels, messages)? Pourquoi?]

5. Have you negotiated with a competitor? If so, what is the best approach? [Avez-vous négocié avec un concurrent ? Si oui, quelle est la meilleure approche?]

Answer: We approach negotiations with competitors cautiously, focusing on areas of potential collaboration or mutual benefit.

C1 English Listening Practice: 13 Negotiation Tactics & Business Vocabulary

 

Common Negotiation Tactics
When it comes to negotiation, there are several well-established tactics that can help you navigate a difficult conversation and, ideally, secure a favorable outcome.

Vocabulary 1

A. Give up (phrasal verb) [French: renoncer à, abandonner, céder]: To stop having or trying to get something. Example: I had to give up my seat to an elderly passenger. (J'ai dû céder ma place à une personne âgée.)

B. Rapport (noun) [French: bonne entente, relation de confiance]: A friendly and trusting relationship between people. Example: She quickly built a good rapport with her new colleagues. (Elle a rapidement établi une bonne relation de confiance avec ses nouveaux collègues.)

C. From the outset (expression) [French: dès le début, dès le départ]: From the very beginning of something. Example: We knew from the outset that the project would be difficult. (Nous savions dès le départ que le projet serait difficile.)

D. Receptive (adjective) [French: réceptif, réceptive, ouvert(e)]: Willing to listen to or accept new ideas. Example: The students were very receptive to the new teaching method. (Les étudiants étaient très réceptifs à la nouvelle méthode d'enseignement.)

English Listening Practice: Walking and Its Health Benefits | B1-B2 English

 

Vocabulary:

A. Cardiovascular fitness (noun) [French: forme cardiovasculaire]: The ability of the heart and lungs to work well during exercise. Example: Regular exercise can improve cardiovascular fitness. (Faire régulièrement de l’exercice peut améliorer la forme cardiovasculaire.)

B. Stroke (noun) [French: accident vasculaire cérébral (AVC)]: A serious condition caused by a problem with blood flow to the brain. Example: His grandfather had a stroke last year. (Son grand-père a eu un AVC l’année dernière.)

C. Type 2 diabetes (noun) [French: diabète de type 2]: A disease that causes high blood sugar levels. Example: A healthy diet can help prevent type 2 diabetes. (Une alimentation saine peut aider à prévenir le diabète de type 2.)

D. Anxiety (noun) [French: anxiété]: A feeling of worry, fear, or nervousness. Example: She felt anxiety before her job interview. (Elle ressentait de l’anxiété avant son entretien d’embauche.)

E. Brisk walking (noun phrase) [French: marche rapide]: Walking at a fast pace that increases your breathing and heart rate.

Verb form: Go for a brisk walk. Example: We went brisk walking (We went for a brisk walk) around the park after lunch. (Nous avons fait une marche rapide dans le parc après le déjeuner.)

F. Count (verb) [French: être considéré comme]: To be considered part of something. Example: Does a part-time job count as work experience? (Un emploi à temps partiel est-il considéré comme une expérience professionnelle ?)

G. Moderate-intensity physical activity (noun phrase) [French: activité physique d’intensité modérée]: Physical activity that makes you breathe faster but still allows conversation. Example: Cycling to work is moderate-intensity physical activity. (Faire du vélo pour aller au travail est une activité physique d’intensité modérée.)

H. Guidelines (noun) [French: recommandations]: Official advice about how to do something safely or correctly. Example: The company published new guidelines for working from home. (L’entreprise a publié de nouvelles recommandations pour le télétravail.)

I. Aerobic activity (noun) [French: activité aérobique]: Physical activity that makes your heart and breathing work harder. Example: Swimming is a good aerobic activity. (La natation est une bonne activité aérobique.)

J. At once (expression) [French: d’un seul coup / en une seule fois]: All at the same time or in one period. Example: I cannot answer all these questions at once. (Je ne peux pas répondre à toutes ces questions en même temps.)

K. Inactive (adjective) [French: inactif / inactive]: Not doing much physical activity or exercise. Example: He became inactive after he started working from home. (Il est devenu inactif après avoir commencé à travailler à domicile.)

English Listening Practice B1: Clutter, Mental Clutter and Feeling Overwhelmed

 

Vocabulary
A. Clutter (noun): [le désordre, l’encombrement, le fouillis]

B. Obvious (adjective) [évident, évidente]: Easy to understand or see immediately. Example: The answer was obvious to everyone in the room. (La réponse était évidente pour tout le monde dans la salle.)

C. Feel overwhelmed (expression) [se sentir dépassé(e)]: Feel unable to deal with everything you must do. Example: I feel overwhelmed when I have too many deadlines. (Je me sens dépassé(e) quand j’ai trop de délais à respecter.)
Q: Talk about the last time you felt overwhelmed.

Pronunciation: overwhelmed /o-veur-wèlmd/

D. Countless (adjective) [innombrable, d’innombrables]: Too many to count. Example: She has visited countless museums around the world. (Elle a visité d’innombrables musées dans le monde.)

E. Unorganized (adjective) [désorganisé, mal organisé]: Not arranged in a clear or orderly way. Example: His notes are unorganized, so they are difficult to use. (Ses notes sont désorganisées, donc elles sont difficiles à utiliser.)
Q: What things in your home or at work are unorganized? Why?

F. Matter (verb) [avoir de l’importance, compter]: Be important or have an effect. Example: Your opinion matters to me. (Ton opinion compte pour moi.)
Q: When you buy a product, does the brand matter to you? What matters the most

G. Thoughts (noun) [pensées]: Ideas or opinions that exist in your mind. Example: I write down my thoughts before going to bed. (J’écris mes pensées avant d’aller me coucher.)

H. Worries (noun) [inquiétudes, soucis]: Problems or fears that make you feel anxious. Example: Talking to a friend can help you forget your worries. (Parler à un ami peut vous aider à oublier vos soucis.)

I. Lead to (phrasal verb) [mener à, entraîner]: Cause something to happen or develop. Example: Lack of sleep can lead to serious mistakes at work. (Le manque de sommeil peut entraîner de graves erreurs au travail.)

English 360 Speaking Test Practice: B1, B2 & C1 Questions and Sample Answers

 

The following are speaking exercises designed to help you prepare for the English 360 test. The actual test questions may vary. This material is not endorsed or provided by English 360; it is only an approximation of the types of questions and tasks you may encounter in the speaking section.

Les exercices d’expression orale suivants sont conçus pour vous aider à vous préparer au test English 360. Les questions du test réel peuvent être différentes. Ce matériel n’est ni approuvé ni fourni par English 360 ; il s’agit uniquement d’une approximation des types de questions et de tâches que vous pourriez rencontrer dans la partie d’expression orale.

English Listening Practice (English 360 Test): "Test 1 - Workplace Problems" - Business English Listening Test

 

TEST 1

Direction: Listen to the conversation and answer the questions below.

1. What did the employee examine?

A. Customer invoices
B. Warehouse records *
C. Production costs
D. Staff schedules

2. What problem has been identified?

A. Parts are unavailable.
B. Products are being damaged.
C. Replacement parts are arriving late. *
D. Customers receive incorrect invoices.

3. Where does the employee think the problem may be?

A. In production
B. In the shipping process *
C. In customer service
D. In the warehouse

4. What will the employee compare?

A. Prices
B. Customer complaints
C. Delivery times *
D. Production figures

5. When will the employee report back?

A. Tomorrow
B. Thursday
C. Friday *
D. Next month

B2 English Listening: Different Ways of Being Smart (Complete Version)

For the 2-part version, click this 

Q: Do you consider yourself intelligent? Why or why not?

Vocabulary
A. Three dimensions (noun phrase) [French: trois dimensions]: Length, width, and height of an object. Example: The box is easy to carry because its three dimensions are small.

B. Visualize (verb) [French: visualiser / se représenter mentalement]: To create a clear picture of something in your mind. Example: The artist could easily visualize the finished painting in her mind.

C. Constructed (verb, past participle) [French: construit]: Built or made by putting different parts together. Example: The bridge was constructed over several years.

D. Coordination (noun) [French: coordination]: The ability to control different body movements together. Example: Good hand-eye coordination helps when playing tennis.

E. Hypotheses (plural noun) [French: hypothèses]: Ideas or explanations that can be tested. Example: The scientists developed several hypotheses about the cause of the problem.

F. Pitch (noun) [French: hauteur du son]: How high or low a sound is. Example: The singer changed the pitch of her voice during the song.

G. Tone (noun) [French: sonorité / timbre]: The particular quality or character of a musical sound. Example: The guitarist changed the tone of his instrument for the next song.

H. Tone (noun) [French: ton]: The particular quality or character of a sound. Example: Her tone became more serious when she discussed the problem.

I. Timbre (noun) [French: timbre]: The quality that makes one sound different from another. Example: I recognized his voice because of its unique timbre.

Making Beef Stew: English Cooking Vocabulary and Listening Practice B1 (Slow and Fast versions)

 

Vocabulary 1: Verbs
A. Dice (verb) couper en dés: Cut food into small square pieces.
B. Fry (verb) faire frire: Cook food in hot oil or fat.
C. Sauté (verb) faire revenir: Cook food quickly in a little oil. 
C. Boil (noun) ébullition: A state when a liquid bubbles strongly.
D. Simmer (verb) faire mijoter: Cook food slowly in hot liquid.
E. Stir (verb) remuer: Move food around with a spoon.
F. Add (verb) ajouter: Put something together with other things.
G. Pour (verb) verser: Make a liquid flow into something.
H. Season (verb) assaisonner: Add salt, pepper, or spices to food.
I. Thicken (verb) épaissir: Make a liquid thicker.
J. Serve (verb) servir: Give food to someone to eat.
K. Set aside (phrasal verb) mettre de côté: Put something somewhere to use later.
L. Turn the heat down (expression) baisser le feu: Reduce the cooking temperature.

 

B2 English Listening: Different Ways of Being Smart (2 parts)

Q: Do you consider yourself intelligent? Why or why not? –

Vocabulary 1
A. Three dimensions (noun phrase) [French: trois dimensions]: Length, width, and height of an object. Example: The box is easy to carry because its three dimensions are small.

B. Visualize (verb) [French: visualiser / se représenter mentalement]: To create a clear picture of something in your mind. Example: The artist could easily visualize the finished painting in her mind.

C. Constructed (verb, past participle) [French: construit]: Built or made by putting different parts together. Example: The bridge was constructed over several years.

C1 English Listening (Conversation): Open-Space and Flex-Desk Offices - Pros and Cons and Solutions

 

Vocabulary
A. Enhance (verb) [French: améliorer, renforcer]: To improve something or make it more effective. Example: Good lighting can enhance the appearance of a room.

B. Counterproductive (adjective) [French: contre-productif]: Having an effect opposite to what was intended. Example: Skipping meals can be counterproductive when trying to lose weight.

C. Distracting (adjective) [French: distrayant, perturbant]: Making it difficult to give your full attention. Example: The loud music was distracting while I was studying.

D. Sustained concentration (noun phrase) [French: concentration soutenue]: The ability to focus for a long time. Example: Writing a long essay requires sustained concentration.

E. Weaken (verb) [French: affaiblir]: To make something less strong or effective. Example: Lack of sleep can weaken your ability to concentrate.

Air Conditioning, Climate Change & Green Cities (B1-B2 English Listening & Discussion Lesson)

Pre-listening Discussion:

1. Which types of buildings in your country are difficult to keep cool, and what could be done about them? Quels types de bâtiments dans votre pays sont difficiles à garder au frais, et que pourrait-on faire pour y remédier ?

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.

A2 English Listening Practice: Names, Ages, Countries and Nationalities

 

Vocabulary
A. Co-worker (noun) [French: collègue]: A person who works with you. Example: My co-worker helps me with my work. [French: Mon collègue m'aide dans mon travail.]

B. Colleague (noun) [French: collègue]: A person you work with. Example: I often have lunch with my colleagues. [French: Je déjeune souvent avec mes collègues.]

C. A bit of (expression) [French: un peu de]: A small amount of something. Example: I need a bit of water. [French: J'ai besoin d'un peu d'eau.]

D. Look forward to (expression) [French: avoir hâte de]: To feel happy about something that will happen. Example: I look forward to my holiday. [French: J'ai hâte de partir en vacances.]

The Glass Cliff - Why Are Women More Likely to Lead During Crises? - B2 Listening Exercise

 

Vocabulary 1
A. Cliff (noun) [French: falaise]: A very steep side of a mountain or rock. Example: We stood near the cliff and looked at the sea.

B. Tendency (noun) [French: tendance]: A usual way of behaving or developing. Example: He has a tendency to worry about small problems.

C. Raises (verb) [French: soulève / pose]: Brings a question or problem to people's attention. Example: This report raises several important questions about the project.

D. Discriminate (verb) [French: faire preuve de discrimination envers]: Treat someone unfairly because of who they are. Example: Companies must not discriminate against people because of their age.

E. Struggling (adjective) [French: en difficulté]: Having serious problems or difficulties. Example: The struggling restaurant may close next year.

The Glass Cliff - Why Are Women More Likely to Lead During Crises? - C2 Listening Exercise

 

Vocabulary
A. Cliff (noun) [French: falaise]: A steep rock face, often beside the sea. Example: We stood at the edge of the cliff and watched the waves.

B. Tendency (noun) [French: tendance]: A usual way of behaving or developing. Example: He has a tendency to arrive early for meetings. 

C. Attain (verb) [French: atteindre]: To successfully reach a goal or level. Example: She worked hard to attain her professional goals.

D. Raises (verb) [French: soulève]: Brings a question, problem, or issue to attention. Example: This decision raises several concerns about the new policy.

E. Prolonged (adjective) [French: prolongé(e)]: Continuing for a long time, especially longer than expected. Example: Prolonged exposure to sunlight can damage your skin.

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

 

Vocabulary 1
A. Straightforward (adjective) [French: simple]: 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 (Similar to "full of."). 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 (Similar to accomplish). Example: She works quickly and always gets things done.