BBC Learning English
After a change in the law people in Japan no longer have to wear masks, so some people have been taking lessons to learn how to smile again.
The story
People in Japan have been taking lessons on how to smile again. The law’s now changed so you don’t have to wear a mask any more. But many people have complained they’ve forgotten how to smile. ‘Smile coaches’ have been helping people to get used to smiling again.
Key words and phrases
🔎 grin – a big smile
– Why have you got that grin on your face? What’s made you so happy?
– After the teacher caught her, she had a sheepish grin on her face.
🔎 ditches – throws away
– No-one liked the plan, so we ditched it!
– My old laptop was terrible, so I ditched it for a new one.
🔎 life after – a future without
– Life after college is going to be hard. You need to study.
– I thought life after teaching would be hard – but I find work much easier now.
(Images: Getty)
Download the audio and pdf document 👉 https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/course/newsreview-2023/unit-1/session-20
✔️ 0:00 – Introduction
✔️ 0:21 – Story
✔️ 1:12 – Headline 1: Grin and bare it: as mask mandates end Japan turns to tutors to relearn how to smile – The Guardian
✔️ 2:35 – Headline 2: ‘Smile practice seminars’ popular in Japan as country ditches masks – The Mainichi
✔️ 4:00 – Headline 3: Remembering how to smile? Japan training sessions help prepare for life after masks – The Japan Times
✔️ 5:00 – Language summary
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We like receiving and reading your comments – please use English when you comment 😊
#learnenglish #bbclearningenglish #smile
grin and bear it
idiom
Add to word list
C2
to accept something bad without complaining:
I really don't want to go, but I guess I'll just have to grin and bear it.
Life after I ditched my overthinking habit I always grin.
😄
Why Japanese ditched masks
I was ditched stressss.When i was ditched stress,i feel lucky
I am grinning now.Because i watch grinny movie 😂
Life after= a future without
Why Japanese take masks
Ditches=gets rid of
Grin=smile
What is the grin?
Why Japanese forgot smile?
I grinned on my birthday
Could anyone explain to me the usage of the phrase "life after" which means the future without. Because in some cases I saw they use after as a preposition which turn the phrase to another sense. For example: I don't believe in the life after the loss of the loved one, but things do carry on. Here, Life after does not mean future without, doesn't it?
hahaha, have to be trained for smiling.
Learning to smile again ?
The world is worst soceity for last 2-3 years.
i love neil & shawn🥰
Thank you
I'm Japanese. I have never heard of such ridiculous seminars. There may be some, but I'm sure 99 percent of Japanese people don't know anything about these stupid seminars.
I am Japanese, but I do not want to take off my mask. I don't want to be exposed to the dangers of a virus that is still poorly understood and controlled.
As a Japanese, I'm very sorry to watch "strange Japan"news….I can't believe the seminar really exists.
I will never let ditch this channel, it helps me to improved my vocabulary and expand my knowledge as well. What would my life after losing this, I need to be active.
I grinned when I receive my cash prize.
You made me grin with this video
This is a biased stupid theme.
Don't mislead us.
I will never ditch this great channel . After spending one week in England and one week in Iceland recently, I decided to ditch the mask , but will mask up when I go to the nursing home. Thank you for all your useful videos.
I am glad you picked up on the Japanese topic.
I'm a Japanese and I "ditched" masks, yet people around me still wear masks.
Probably they are embarrassed to show their faces, or feel make-up or shaving is bother so wear masks to avoid it.
My english skills improved after your useful videos. Thank you bbcle. Greeting from Turkey
grin: smile
ditch: get rid of
life after: a future without
picking up new vocabs !!
From experience my life, every human grin to me.But sometimes i just think about it is usefull for communucate.Before starting school, i ditched my smile but now i have big grin.If i had a choose in my country as same as japan, i would like to go smile lessons for life after
What's wrong with being stern, stoic? A smile should be genuine and only displayed when absolutely worth it
Is Japanese PR pushing such peculiar stories to the media? While the economy is collapsing, and social problems growing, at least they can spark interest this way. Maybe it is a way to attract tourists.
1. She was grining at her graduation ceremony.
2. I'm going to ditch my job to continue my studies.
3. You need to prepare for life after college.
Actually even before covid they teached people how to smile. BUT ONLY THE ONES WHO GOT ENROLLED IN A JOB RELATED TO DEALING WITH PEOPLE.
I know this from a documentary
I'm Japanese but I've almost never worn a mask during the pandemic. I don't care about what others think of me😂
i am not ready to stop wearing masks because i am ugly lol