Articles to read for class discussions

Hello this is the thread where the 3 students each week will leave a link (as early as possible but definitely before Sunday evening) to their article which all of you must read/watch and think about. Everybody should be prepared to share their views and ask and answer questions about the articles. The discussions can be as broad as you wish and may stray from the topic. Remember these discussions are tools to improve your English - vocabulary, structures, fluency etc... try not to be offended by people's views. We live in a free country which wonderfully allows people free speech. We all become better people through discussion, by talking to and listening to others. Share and Grow!

I knew that I had forgotten something

The three group leaders each week need to post the link to their article but they also need to create a little vocabulary list to post with their article link. When you read your article pick out words that are important or unusual and give either an English meaning or a French translation to help your colleagues. Even if it is only 10 words each article it'll mean that you all increase your vocabulary by at least 180 words over the 6 weeks.

An improved knowledge of vocabulary is better for you in the "real" world than improved grammar.

Helloooo !

Hope everybody is enjoying the beginning of this week-end

The title of the article I chose is an affirmation but we'll debate on this subject as a question :
"How race and gender affect who looks like a winner"
(by Regina Bateson)
https://theconversation.com/how-race-and-gender-affect-who-looks-like-a-winner-145584

Here's a vocabulary list :
1) a poll = un sondage, un vote
2) to argue with = se disputer
3) contenders = prétendant(e)s, candidat(e)s, concurrent(e)s
4) rates = taux, tarifs
5) willing to = être disposé(e) à, être prêt(e) à
6) fellow = camarade, collègue, compagnon
7) nonetheless = néanmoins
8 ) delegates = délégué(e)s
9) resounding (applause) = retentissant
10) to prevail = prévaloir (avoir l'avantage)
11) hurdles = obstacles

See ya

Hi everyone !

Personally, I chose a BBC article which relate the american scandal concerning the Netflix poster's choice about "Cuties" and the Netflix excuse. "Cuties" is a new French film that criticise the hypersexualization of pre-adolescent girls.
[url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts
53846419#]https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-53846419#[/url]

Look at the vocabulary list :
- Skimpy outfits = short outfits
- Sparked = suscité
- Hypersexualization
- Crotch = entrejambe
- Skilfully refrains = s'abstient habilement
- Mimic = imiter/ reproduire
- Accolade = distinction
- Depictions = representations
- Shaky = delicate/ brittle

Good weekend !

Oups, I forgot something..
At the left the french version of cuties poster / At the right the american version

Hey Guys,

Hope you are all fine,

You will find below the link of my article.

I chose this article because it caused a buzz these days, it's about a feminist group who protested naked breast at the musee d'Orsay due to the woman who was denied because of her low-cut dress.

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/femen-stage-protest-musee-dorsay-1908260

The vocabulary list :

-Femen : Groupe féministe radical et engagé, les Femen sont un groupe fondé en Ukraine en 2008. Elles mènent, en France et dans le monde, des actions visant à alerter la société sur les droits bafoués des femmes.

-low-cut dress : robe décolletée

-Infamously disrobed : tristement déshabillé

-censorship : la censure

-acquittal : acquittement

-infringing : enfreindre

-to bar : interdire, refuser la permission

-a closely cropped : un plan rapproché

-onlooker : spectateur

See you ^^

Thanks ladies for posting so quickly and choosing 3 interesting topics.

Hi everyone,

So for next week, I wanted to find a subject about marketing and I finally found a marketing article but which also match with the news about the black lives matter movement so I hope it will interest you as much as me !

Mars rebrands Uncle Ben’s after criticisms over racial stereotyping : https://www.marketingweek.com/mars-rebrands-uncle-bens-racial-stereotyping/

Vocabulary :
- range: gamme
- drop : laisser tomber
- stakeholders : actionnaires, parties prenantes
- committed : engagé
- fuelled : alimenté
- to unveil : dévoiler
- amid pressure : sous la pression
- coming alongside : accompagnant
- outreach programmes : programme de sensibilisation
- to ensure : s'assurer

Hello !

Here is the article I have chosen:
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200923-the-hinge-of-history-long-termism-and-existential-risk

This article tries to answer the question: Could right now be the most influential time ever? Are we the most important generation of our species?

(I apologize for the length of the text but I hope you will find it interesting.)

Vocabulary:

Hinge – Charnière
Underlying – Sous-jacent
Annihilation – Anéantissement
Outstrip – Dépasser / Surpasser
Wisdom – Sagesse / Croyances
Treacherous – Traître / Traîtresse
Fate – Destin
Fishy – Louche / Suspect
Malevolent - Malveillant
Pull back – Se retirer/ battre en retraite

Hi everybody !

I wanted to know your opinion on the story of Edward Snowden. He worked for the CIA and decided to reveal confidential informations to the public and expose government surveillance activities.

Here is the article to read: https://ethicsunwrapped.utexas.edu/case-study/edward-snowden-traitor-hero
(you don't have to read the questions part or what's next)

The article is quite short, but if you are interested in the story, you can watch the Netflix movie "Snowden" : https://www.netflix.com/search?q=snowden&jbv=80064514 

> Vocabulary : 

‘former CIA system administrator’ = ancien administrateur système de la CIA
‘released’ = publié
‘the Espionage Act of 1917’ =  The Espionage Act of 1917 prohibited obtaining information, recording pictures, or copying descriptions of any information relating to the national defense with intent or reason to believe that the information may be used for the injury of the United States or to the advantage of any foreign nation.
‘the leak’ = la fuite
‘whistleblowing’ = dénonciation
‘duty’ = un devoir
‘Government Accountability Project’ = The Government Accountability Project is a nonprofit whistleblower protection and advocacy organization in the United States. It was founded in 1977
‘oath’ = un serment 
‘The Attorney General of the United States’ = Le procureur général des Etats-Unis
‘Op-ed’ = « opposite the editorial page »
‘assets’ = atouts

Good reading !

Hello !  

I saw a publication on Instagram and it grabs my attention. Here's the picture in question, with the following argues and the description: "Trump rejecting the science around COVID goes hand in hand with climate denial. Swipe to read about how toxic masculinity is hurting the planet "


So I decided to check the source to learn more about "the relationship between toxic masculinity and climate denial".
I found this article from 2016 but still it's topical : https://journalistsresource.org/studies/environment/sustainability/going-green-environment-gender-stereotypes-recycling/

Hope this topic will interest you, have a good weekend !

Vocabulary :
gas-guzzling : qui consomme beaucoup d'essence
likely : probable
make up : composer, constituer
going green : se mettre au vert, devenir écolo
unmanly : efféminé, peu viril
scholar : chercheur.se, intellectuel.le
litter : jeter des détritus, jeter des déchets
sought : recherché
overtly : ouvertement
safeguard : protéger, sauvegarder

Hi everyone !

I decided to choose a very topical subject, I hope you will interested by it!

Find the link below :
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54353907

Enjoy reading !

Vocabulary :
to ban : Interdire
travelling circuses : Cirques itinérants
welfare : bien-être
leading animal rights groups : les principaux groupes de défense des animaux
minks : visons
hailed : acclamé
timetable : calendrier
to breed : élever
anger : colère

Hi everyone !

My article for this week is about Oxfam and the Second-Hand market. I hope you’ll like it!

Here is the link to read my article:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/brookerobertsislam/2019/08/31/second-hand-is-the-answer-to-sustainable-fashion-says-oxfam/#4cf269549832


Vocabulary list:

- Oxfam: Oxfam is a global movement of people who are fighting inequality to beat poverty together. Oxfam was founded in 1942 and there are more than 750 Oxfam charity shops around the UK.

- Landfill: décharge

- Second-Hand September: Second-Hand September is a campaign encouraging people to avoid buying new clothing for the entire 30 days of the month.

- Downturn: ralentissement

- Sobering facts: des faits qui font réfléchir

- Sustainability: durabilité

- Seeking : à la recherche de

- Savvy shoppers : acheteurs avertis

- Seemingly: apparement

- The guilt: la culpabilité

The above was from Marie

Hello hello

I hope you are not too hungover

Follow this little link to read my article, I hope it will inspire you : https://www.dw.com/en/genetically-edited-babies-an-ethical-transgression/a-51836243

Set off = déclencher
Fierce = féroce
Unfulfillled desire = désir non satisfait
Carry out = effectuer
Germ-line = ligne germinale (cellules qui transmettent à la descendance les mutations génétiques qu’elles ont subies
Offspring = la progéniture
Strive = s’efforcer
Breake out = éclater, rompre
Doubts = des doutes

Have a good week end !

Hi there,
hope you wake up in a good mood today !  

Here's a new article that I propose to read! it's about au pairs, a subject that could concern us all
>>>> https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-42037507 <<<<


Some vocabulary you may need =>

"free-for-all" : gratuit pour tous
light domestic work : travaux domestiques légers
regulation : règlement
mistreated : maltraité
host families : familles d'accueil
current set-up: configuration actuelle
struggling : luttait, se débattait
compulsory work : travail obligatoire

Have a nice Sunday, see you tomorrow

Hi Everyone !  
I'm so sorry but the article I chose is a little bite too long. You don’t have to read all the article, but just think about it  

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35380469

I hope my subject will interest you !

Tweaking = Ajustement
Self-esteem = Estime de soi
Labiaplasty = Opération esthétique de la vulve
Ubiquitous = Omniprésent
Prevailing = Dominant
Achondroplasia / Dwarfism = Nanisme (maladie constitutionnelle de l'os)
Chubby = Potelé
Limb-lengthening = Allongement des membres
Microdermabrasion =  Régénération cellulaire, réduction des taches pigmentaires ou de certaines imperfections de peau.
Ashamed = Honteux

See you on Thursday !

It's not too long. It's good practice for serious students.

Hello everyone!
Here is my article for this week about beauty pageants and their consequences, including on the self-esteem of women: https://youthincmag.com/the-unpleasant-reality-of-beauty-pageants-that-must-change

Enjoy the article and have a good weekend!  

Vocabulary
o Beauty Pageant : Concours de beauté
o To aggrandize : Glorifier
o Welfare : Bien-être
o God gifted Bodies = les corps naturels
o Seldom appreciated: Rarement apprécier
o Brainwash: Lavage de cerveau
o Endorsement : Promotion, publicité
o High-end fashion: Mode haut de gamme
o Mainstream beauty: Beauté “grand public"
o Self-worth = self-esteem :  Amour-propre/ Estime de soi

Hi everyone !

Hope everyone is fine and that you are having a great day !

Here's my article :

https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/10/1075452

Some words of vocabulary :
- rape = viol
- perpetrators = auteur de
- surgical castration = castration chirurgicale
- Fallopian tubes =trompes de fallope
- Salpingectomy = salpingectomie (Salpingectomy is the surgical removal of one (unilateral) or both (bilateral) fallopian tubes.)
- public hanging = pendaison publique
-  entrenched  = enraciné
- myriad = innombrable


Thank you ! See you next Thursday !

From Adeline:

Hello everyone!

Here is my article. I hope you will be interested in the debate, even if the theme is not very joyful...

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/14/dutch-government-backs-euthanasia-for-under-12s

A few words of vocabulary :

unbearable suffering : souffrance insupportable
parental consent : consentement des parents
incurably ill children : enfants aux maladies incurables
Assisted suicide : assistance au suicide
Advance directives : directives anticipées
Use of intensive medication : acharnement thérapeutique

Hello everyone, I hope you are enjoying your vacations !
I know you are all gourmet and always connected so here is my English topic for the back-to-school : The Evolution Of Instagram And Its Impact On Food Culture

https://www.forbes.com/sites/abigailabesamis/2020/10/06/the-evolution-of-instagram-and-its-impact-on-food-culture/#42df6b1d69b0

Vocabulary :
Scrumptious = délicieux
Spread : diffusion
Overhead shot : prise de vue aérienne
From scratch : a partir de rien
The forefront : au premier plan
Deeper connection : un lien plus profond
Catch up : rattraper
Growth : croissance
Underrepresented : sous-représenté
Have a fair shot : avoir une chance équitable

Hi girls,
Hi John! (I'm sure you are in a good mood with the goal of Vardy yesterday )

I hope you are all well! I propose you my article for the back-to-school week.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2020/oct/26/marcus-rashford-shows-how-football-can-be-a-force-for-unity-and-good


Vocabulary :

statesman = homme d’état
a shoo-in = someone who is certain to win an election or a competition.
wield = se servir de quelque chose
vanguard = avant-garde
reached = parvenu
togetherness = unité
urge = encourager
wider society = société en général
huckster = profiteur
public spiritedness = civisme

Hope you enjoy it! Good "holidays" !

Adrien Roucairol wrote:Hi girls,
Hi John! (I'm sure you are in a good mood with the goal of Vardy yesterday    )

I hope you are all well! I propose you my article for the back-to-school week.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2020/oct/26/marcus-rashford-shows-how-football-can-be-a-force-for-unity-and-good


Vocabulary :

statesman = homme d’état
a shoo-in = someone who is certain to win an election or a competition.
wield = se servir de quelque chose
vanguard = avant-garde
reached = parvenu
togetherness = unité
urge = encourager
wider society = société en général
huckster = profiteur
public spiritedness = civisme

Hope you enjoy it! Good "holidays" !

I thought this was going to be a revenge of the boys article when I saw Rashford's name but no. Adrien is too nice.

And yes Adrien , the match wasn't that interesting but the goal was sheer class.