Hello and welcome to English with Languissimo®, the podcast in English where I share stories of my week and that of the world with you.
My name is Vanessa Rocket. I’m the founder and CEO of Languissimo®.
Let’s go!
The Voice of Moscow (La voix de Moscou)
Last Friday to this day was the terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall which took place in the outskirts of Moscow.
The attack was carried out by four members of the Islamic State Group (IS) who shot people and set the place on fire using flammable liquids.
The roof collapsed soon after.
About a hundred people were killed and another hundred were injured in this bloody attack.
The Voice of Baltimore (La voix de Baltimore)
On Tuesday March 26th, a cargo ship called the Dali lost power and immediately issued a Mayday as it was veering off course.
It hit one of the pillars of the Francis Scott Key bridge which collapsed immediately like a house of cards.
Fortunately, the Mayday call allowed authorities to stop traffic on the bridge.
Unfortunately, eight construction workers who were fixing some potholes on the bridge at the time of the collapse (about 1:20 am) fell in the water.
Two were rescued, two died and four are still missing.
The bridge had been built in 1977, was 1.6 miles long and it connected the south side of Baltimore to the north.
It was an important route for the economy of the eastern coast of the United States which is now weakened by this terrible incident.
The Voice of Good Friday (La voix du Vendredi Saint)
Today March 29th is Good Friday.
It is a Christian holy day which observes the crucifixion and death of Jesus-Christ.
It’s a statutory holiday in France and in Canada and in other countries as well.
On this holy day, the Catholic Church recommends to fast (or at least not to eat meat) if you’re in good health between the age of 14 and 65.
Some Study Points
- “To this day” means “jour pour jour”.
- “A terrorist attack” means “un attentat terroriste”.
- “In the outskirts of” means “aux alentours de”.
- “To set a place on fire” means “mettre le feu à un endroit”.
- “To collapse” means “s’effondrer”.
- “Bloody” means “sanglant”. It comes from the noun “blood” (le sang).
- “A cargo ship” means “un porte-conteneurs”. “A container ship” is a synonym.
- “To issue a Mayday” means “lancer un appel à l’aide”.
- “To veer off course” means “dévier de sa trajectoire”.
- “A pillar” means “un pilier”.
- “A house of cards” means “un château de cartes”.
- “Fortunately” is an adverb which means “heureusement”. You generally form adverbs by adding “ly” to the adjective (in this case “fortunate” – chanceux).
- “Traffic” means “la circulation”.
- “Unfortunately” is an adverb which means “malheureusement”. You generally form adverbs by adding “ly” to the adjective (in this case “unfortunate” – malchanceux).
- “A construction worker” means “un ouvrier”.
- “To be rescued” means “être sauvé(e)(s). It comes from the noun “rescue” (le sauvetage).
- “A pothole” means “un nid de poule”.
- “To still be missing” means “être toujours porté(e)(s) disparu(e)(s).
- “To be weakened” means “être fragilisé(e)(s)”. It comes from the adjective “fragile” (fragile).
- “A statutory holiday” means “un jour férié”.
- “To fast” means “jeûner”.
Some Practice Questions
- Is Good Friday a statutory holiday in your country?
- Are you fasting today?
Tada! That’s it for today! I hope you enjoyed this podcast. Subscribe to English with Languissimo®, practice, take care and have a great weekend! Big hugs 😊