{"id":30761,"date":"2025-07-31T14:59:11","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T12:59:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phoneenglish.es\/blog\/?p=30761"},"modified":"2025-08-01T08:45:53","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T06:45:53","slug":"seoul-tackles-loneliness-with-mind-convenience-stores","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phoneenglish.es\/blog\/2025\/07\/seoul-tackles-loneliness-with-mind-convenience-stores\/","title":{"rendered":"Seoul Tackles Loneliness with Mind Convenience Stores"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

B2 – Upper Intermediate<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seoul, one of Asia\u2019s busiest and most connected cities, is facing a growing challenge: loneliness. In response, the city is trying new ways to bring people together, improve mental health, and make the community more welcoming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s read the article and learn how Seoul is investing over $330 million in a five-year plan to help alleviate loneliness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/society\/2025\/jul\/16\/instant-noodles-foot-spas-and-counsellors-seoul-tackles-loneliness-with-mind-convenience-stores<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vocabulary Questions:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. What is the meaning of the phrase “to draw on a touchstone<\/strong>“? “The \u201cconvenience store\u201d concept deliberately sidesteps stigma while drawing on a touchstone<\/strong> of Korean culture.<\/em>” Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. What does “to pull oneself together<\/strong>” mean? “I became powerless and didn\u2019t want to do anything,\u201d she recalls. \u201cBut I had children to raise, so I had to pull myself together.<\/em>” Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. What does “to feel low<\/strong>” mean? “When you\u2019re feeling low<\/strong>, staying at home just makes things worse<\/em>.” Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Discussion Questions:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. What do you think about Seoul\u2019s mind convenience stores?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Will these mind convenience stores really help people feel less alone in a city like Seoul? Why or why not?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. How well do you think this kind of place fare in your own city\/country?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. How does your country\/the government addresses the issue of loneliness among the citizens?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. What’s your thought on this, “The idea is that even passive interactions can help combat the city\u2019s loneliness epidemic.<\/em>“?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    6. Share your thoughts on this, “62% of single-person households report experiencing loneliness, while city estimates suggest 130,000 young people suffer from social isolation.<\/em>“<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    7. Share your view on this, “The centre represents something that formal services often miss: genuine human connection. That\u2019s something money can\u2019t buy.<\/em>“<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      B2 – Upper Intermediate Seoul, one of Asia\u2019s busiest and most connected cities, is facing a growing challenge: loneliness. In response, the city is trying new ways to bring people together, improve mental health, and make the community more welcoming. Let’s read the article and learn how Seoul is investing over $330 million in a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[291,292,496,289,293],"class_list":["post-30761","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-homework","tag-b2-upper-intermediate","tag-first-certificate-fce","tag-people-and-human-interest","tag-reading","tag-text"],"yoast_head":"\nSeoul Tackles Loneliness with Mind Convenience Stores | phone english blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/phoneenglish.es\/blog\/2025\/07\/seoul-tackles-loneliness-with-mind-convenience-stores\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Seoul Tackles Loneliness with Mind Convenience Stores | phone english blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"B2 – Upper Intermediate Seoul, one of Asia\u2019s busiest and most connected cities, is facing a growing challenge: loneliness. 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