ENGLISH

Robots and Society

Robots have increasingly become an important part of society. Engineers have designed many types of robots, such as industrial robots, medical robots, and service robots.

Japanese engineers have been particularly influential in the development of robots. For example, Softbank developed Pepper, a robot who can talk and assist businesses. See the video below to learn more about Pepper.

Today, many businesses are finding new uses for robots. For example, check out the article below about how a restaurant in the Netherlands is using robots during coronavirus to greet customers, take orders, and serve food, just like waiters.

In the future, engineers will continue to develop robots with various applications. What do you think about this? Are robots good for the future, or are there potential negatives associated with robots?

News article: “Dutch Restaurant Uses Robot Waiters”

In this news article, the writer introduces a restaurant in the Netherlands which uses robots as waiters. Read the article and consider the ways robots will change common businesses, such as restaurants or even schools, in the future.

Video: “We Interviewed Pepper”

Watch the following video in which a journalist introduces and “talks” with Pepper, the Softbank Robot. What do you think about robots like Pepper?

Important Vocabulary related to Robots

Application (noun – definition 2)	Electricity (noun)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) (noun)	High-tech (adjective)
Battery (noun)	Machine (noun)
Control (verb)	Robot (noun)
Develop (verb), Development (noun)	Robotic (adjective)
Digital assistant (noun)	Robotics (noun)

Questions to ask at English Lounge

Have you ever “met” a robot? What was the experience like?

What are some future applications for robots? In other words, what are some other ways robots can help humans in the future?

In your opinion, are robots helpful or harmful to society? Why?

Making Vacation Plans for the Summer

It’s June, which means summer has finally arrived! The temperature is increasing day-by-day, so people will soon be heading to parks and beaches to relax and enjoy this weather.

Since summer has just begun, it’s a great time to start thinking about our summer plans! Even though we may be limited this year due to coronavirus, we can still imagine what types of things we would like to do during the summer.

Check out the following articles, videos, and learning resources so you are prepared to talk about your summertime plans and vacations!

Video: Easy English 32 – Travel Destinations

In this video, a man asks people in Margate (a beach near New York City) the following question: “If you could go anywhere in the world for your ideal vacation, where would you go?”

Watch the video and listen to the answers. What kinds of places do these people want to visit? What are their reasons for wanting to visit these places?

If you could go anywhere in the world for your ideal vacation, where would you go? Why?

Article: Walt Disney World and the Coronavirus

Many people are looking forward to visiting Tokyo Disneyland this summer. However, although amusement parks like Disneyland are reopening, there are strict rules to ensure that the coronavirus does not spread.

Read this article to learn about some of the precautions that theme parks are taking to limit the spread of the virus!

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/walt-disney-world-level-1/

What kinds of precautions can you take to protect yourself from coronavirus this summer?

Useful Vocabulary to talk about Vacations

General Travel Vocabulary

abroad (adverb)	safari (noun)
adventure (noun)	sightseeing (noun)
backback (verb)	souvenir (noun)
excursion (noun)	stay (noun)
foreign (adj.)	traveler (noun)
postcard (noun)	voyage (noun)
road trip (noun)

Planning a Vacation

day trip (noun)	destination (noun)
tour (noun)	brochure (noun)
tourism (noun)	visa (noun)
travel agency (noun)	honeymoon (noun)
travel agent (noun)	package tour (noun)
reservation (noun)

Hotels and Accommodations

accommodation (noun)	double room (noun)
book (verb)	room service (noun)
card key (noun)	pack (verb)
check-in (noun/verb)	unpack (verb)
checkout (noun)	guest (noun)

Camping

camp (verb)	explore (verb)
campfire (noun)	trek (noun)
campsite (noun)	backpack (noun)
tent (noun)	sleeping bag (noun)
hiking (noun)

Day Trip to the Beach

sand (noun)	sunbathe (verb)
sandy (adjective)	sunscreen (noun)
seaside (noun)

Money and Travel

budget (noun)	exchange (noun)
currency (noun)

Possible Questions about Vacations to ask during English Lounge

If you could travel anywhere, where would you like to go and why?
What is your favorite part about traveling?
When you travel, where do you prefer to stay? For example, do you prefer a hostel, bed and breakfast, resort, or private villa?
Which do you prefer: going camping or going to the beach? Why?
Have you ever been on a cruise? What was that experience like?
When you travel, how do you budget your money? What do you spend the most money on? What do you spend the least money on?

Talking about the Corona Virus

Lately, the corona virus is often in the news…

Some questions you can ask in English:

What would you do if you were on that cruise ship?
Are you washing your hands properly?
Are you hoarding anything?
Did you buy a lot of masks or hand sanitizer?
Do you have any friends or family in (city name)?
Are you scared? Are you worried?
What are you doing with so much time at home?
Are you taking any precautions?
Do you think they will cancel the (event)?
Are you having trouble buying anything?
How are you staying in touch with (friends)?

Some things you might hear:

“I heard that many people don’t even know they have it”
“I heard that it’s only dangerous for the elderly“
“I’m worried about all the people in (city name) “
“I hope they find a vaccine soon”
“I miss my friends”
“I can’t find any (toilet paper)”

Some useful words for this topic:

ache 動詞	serious 形容詞
ache 名詞	severe 形容詞
attack 名詞	severely 副詞
bacteria 名詞	sickness 名詞
be sick 慣用句	sneeze 動詞
catch 動詞	sneeze 名詞
collapse 動詞	spot 名詞
condition 名詞	spread 動詞
cough 動詞	stomach ache 名詞
crisis 名詞	suffer 動詞
develop 動詞	sufferer 名詞
fever 名詞	suffering 名詞
germ 名詞	symptom 名詞
headache 名詞	temperature 名詞
ill 形容詞	toothache 名詞
illness 名詞	transfer 動詞
infection 名詞	trouble 名詞
pain 名詞	unconscious 形容詞
painful 形容詞	unfit 形容詞
painfully 副詞	unwell 形容詞
pale 形容詞	upset 形容詞
react 動詞	upset 動詞
reject 動詞	upset 名詞
seasick 形容詞	virus 名詞

https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/

Here’s a good news article about the corona virus:

Why everything is closing for Coronavirus:
It’s called “flattening the curve”

Newsela.com

“All the closures are costing money. So are the delayed events. Still, sporting events and businesses are being canceled. This shows how serious the spread of coronavirus is. “

Talking about Thanksgiving

When we talk about the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, we often talk about shopping and food. Here are some questions and words to help you have a good conversation about shopping and food:

Questions:

What does your family do for Thanksgiving?
What are your favorite Thanksgiving foods?
Where do you go shopping on Black Friday?
Do you buy a lot of stuff on Black Friday?
- What will you buy on Black Friday?
Do shop online? Do you shop on Cyber Monday?
- What are you gonna get?
Do you watch any football games on Thanksgiving?
- Who’s playing this year?
Do you go to see a parade at Thanksgiving?
What do you miss the most about Thanksgiving?
How long do the leftovers last?
What do you want for Christmas?

Words:

In stores…	At the table…
bargain	bowl
bargain	butter knife
barter	carving knife
basket	chopstick
browse	cloth
buy	crockery
carrier bag	cutlery
discount	dessertspoon
discount	dish
haggle	doily
high street	finger bowl
impulse buying	fish knife
mall	fork
mallrat	glassware
plaza	knife
queue	ladle
queue	napkin
receipt	place mat
reduction	plate
retail therapy	serviette
sale	setting
sample	side plate
saving	silverware
shopaholic	table mat
shoplifting	tablespoon
shopping	teaspoon
special offer	tureen
spendthrift	roast
splurge	salad
splurge	side dish
spree	side salad
steal	snack
store	starter
tester	supper
trolley	sweet
try on	takeaway
window-shopping

Oxford Learner’s Dictionary

Talking about Travel

When was the last time you stayed in a hotel?
Do you know what a hostel is?
Have you ever stayed in a Bed & Breakfast?
Have you ever done a homestay? How was it?
What’s your favorite place to stay?

Come to the English Lounge and talk about places to stay when you travel.

These words will help you:

all-inclusive	foyer	room service
bed and breakfast	front desk	single
board	full board	star
book	half board	suite
check in	housekeeping	twin bedroom
checkout	lounge	upgrade
desk	reception	vacancy
double room	reservation	visitors’ book
en suite	room	wake-up call

(www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com)

Talking about Business Deals

Google is one of the largest technology companies in the world, and Fitbit is a popular health and fitness watch that many people wear. Recently, Google purchased Fitbit for about $2 billion dollars. Do you think this was a good idea? What will Google do with its new fitness technology? What should Google do next? What Google products do you use? What fitness products do you enjoy? Come to the English Lounge and tell us what you think.

You might need some of these words below:

accept	dissolve	offer
acquisition	draft	plug
approach	draft	pressure
bargaining power	fall through	proposal
bid	hardball	pull
bid	horse-trading	pull out
broker	hostile	reject
broker	ink	schedule
buyout	leverage	table
contract	meeting	take over
deal	merger	takeover
dealing	negotiation