©REUTERS/Maye-E Wong
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- bronze /bronz/
- intensely /in-TENS-lee/
- contest /kuhn-TEST/
- flawless /FLAW-lis/
- epee /EP-ey/
[noun] – a brown metal made of copper and tin
The artist created a beautiful statue using bronze.
[adverb] – extremely or strongly
The researchers worked intensely on the project to meet the critical deadline.
[adjective] – to compete for something
The debate was fiercely contested, with both sides presenting strong arguments.
[adjective] – perfect or without mistakes
Her performance was flawless, earning her a standing ovation.
[noun] – a type of sword used in fencing, where points are scored by hitting the opponent with the tip of the sword
He practiced his epee technique every day to improve his skills in fencing.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
Japan achieved a historic victory by winning the Olympic men’s foil team event for the first time at the Paris Games on Sunday. In a gripping match, Japan overcame Italy with a final score of 45-36. The competition saw Takahiro Shikine start the scoring against Italy’s Tommaso Marini, and Kazuki Iimura, who was fourth in the individual foil event, delivered the decisive touches to secure the win. France earned the bronze medal in the same event, setting a new post-war record for Olympic medals in a single Games.
The match was intensely contested, with Japan initially in the lead before Italy gained the upper hand. Key moments included Iimura’s seven critical touches against Filippo Macchi and substitute Yudai Nagano’s flawless round, which contributed five more touches against Alessio Foconi. This victory marks Japan’s fifth fencing medal and second gold in Paris, following Koki Kano’s triumph in the men’s epee. The successful strategy for Japan’s fencing team has been attributed to the expertise of their French coaches, Erwann Le Pechoux and Franck Boidin. In the quarterfinals, Japan defeated Canada 45-26 and advanced to eliminate France 45-37 in the semifinals. France, after their defeat to Japan, went on to win the bronze medal match against the United States, thanks to Enzo Lefort’s eight decisive touches. This bronze medal brought France’s total to 44 medals at the Paris Games, surpassing their previous record from the Beijing Games.
The match was intensely contested, with Japan initially in the lead before Italy gained the upper hand. Key moments included Iimura’s seven critical touches against Filippo Macchi and substitute Yudai Nagano’s flawless round, which contributed five more touches against Alessio Foconi. This victory marks Japan’s fifth fencing medal and second gold in Paris, following Koki Kano’s triumph in the men’s epee. The successful strategy for Japan’s fencing team has been attributed to the expertise of their French coaches, Erwann Le Pechoux and Franck Boidin. In the quarterfinals, Japan defeated Canada 45-26 and advanced to eliminate France 45-37 in the semifinals. France, after their defeat to Japan, went on to win the bronze medal match against the United States, thanks to Enzo Lefort’s eight decisive touches. This bronze medal brought France’s total to 44 medals at the Paris Games, surpassing their previous record from the Beijing Games.
Discussion Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever participated in a fencing competition? If so, what was your most memorable moment? If not, would you be interested in trying fencing? Why or why not?
- Have you ever been to a live sporting event? If yes, how did that experience compare to watching a match on TV? If not, do you prefer watching live events in person or on TV, and why?
- Do you agree that having experienced coaches, like Japan’s French coaches, is crucial for a team’s success in international sports?
- What do you think contributed most to Japan’s victory in the Olympic men’s foil team event: their individual skills, teamwork, or the coaching strategies?
- How might the success of Japan’s fencing team impact the popularity and development of fencing in Japan and potentially influence other countries’ approach to the sport?
Summarization
Please summarize the whole article using your own words and expressions. You will have one minute to prepare before you answer.
Describe:
Please explain the definition of each word listed below based on your understanding. You can provide example sentences if needed.
- medal
- victory
- strategy
- quarterfinals
- post-war record