The video owner has disabled playback on external websites.
This video is no longer available on YouTube.
This video cannot be played right now.
Watch on YouTube
Unlock AI-Powered Learning Tools
Sign up to access powerful tools that help you learn faster from every video.
“The Minister of Loneliness” | Sarah Kay | TED
AI Summary
In this TED talk, poet Sarah Kay imagines a world where Japan's Minister of Loneliness takes creative, whimsical steps to fight isolation — from tin-can telephones to nationwide buddy systems. Learners will encounter poetic, metaphorical language and rich imagery that builds vocabulary around emotions, community, and human connection. This is an excellent resource for practicing listening to lyrical English and understanding figurative speech.
Learning Stats
CEFR Level
Total Words
Unique Words
Difficulty
Subtitles (31 segments)
DownloadIn the country of Japan, in the month of October 2020, more people died by suicide than had died from COVID-19 in all of 2020 up to that point.
In response, the Japanese government instituted a new position of a minister of loneliness.
The Minister of Loneliness has abolished email.
He is installing tin cans on every windowsill with a piece of string to someone else's window.
Not several, just one. Each person, of course, does not need a lot of people to speak to.
Just the one. But the one must be reliable, must be available when needed.
We are employing a buddy system now. Every day is a field trip to the Adulthood Museum, and we don't go home until everyone has been accounted for.
Full subtitles available in the video player
Key Vocabulary (19)
Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
People refers to a group of human beings or the general public. It is the standard plural form of the word 'person'.
A window is an opening in a wall, door, or vehicle that is usually filled with glass to let in light and air. It allows people to see outside while remaining inside a structure.
Grammar in This Video
Practice with Exercises
Generate vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension exercises from this video
Comments (0)
Login to CommentSign up to unlock full features
Track progress, save vocabulary, and practice exercises
Interactive Mode
Quiz
Correct answer:
Categories
Related Videos
ENGLISH SPEECH | EMMA WATSON: Gender Equality (English Subtitles)
How to Power the World 24/7 — Without Oil | Cindy Taff | TED
3 Possible Futures for AI — Which Will We Choose? | Alvin W. Graylin | TED
ENGLISH SPEECH | R. MADHAVAN: India in 2030 (English Subtitles)
How to See (and Stop) Deforestation from Space | Tasso Azevedo | TED
TED
Quiz
Correct answer:
Quizzes appear as you watch the video
Memory Tip
From this video
Start learning languages for free
