Tag: audio

Instagram for Children

B1 – Intermediate

Facebook is working on launching a new version of Instagram for kids under 13.

This version of Instagram will allow kids to safely use the app. The current Instagram policy prohibits children under the age of 13 from using the service.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript about Instagram for children.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/instagram-for-children-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree or disagree with US politicians opinion about Instagram for children? Support your stand.
  2. What are the good and bad things about children using social networks?
  3. Are social networking sites dangerous to children? Why or why not?
  4. If you are a parent, would you let your child use this version of Instagram? Why or why not?
  5. What child-friendly features would you like to see on social networking sites?

Marriage Preparation

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Weddings are major celebrations that require a lot of time, energy, and money from the would-be couples and their families. Most of the time, people are so absorbed in the wedding preparation that they forget the more important preparation, the marriage preparation. After all the bliss and glamour of the wedding, couples have to endure the challenges of the married life. For future brides and grooms, better be ready for the marriage life too.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript on this conversation about wedding preparations.

Marriage Preparation

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on marriage prep classes?
  2. What is Randall’s big news? How does his sister find out about it?
  3. Who is Jasmine? How does his sister describe her?
  4. What pieces of advice does she have for them about the marriage preparation? Do you agree with these?
  5. How do would-be couples in your country usually prepare for marriage?

Texting and Driving

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Driving requires focus and attention. You need to pay attention to the road, to the car in front of you, and to pedestrians crossing the road. Texting while driving is not advisable and in fact, against the law. You won’t be able to focus on your surroundings and immediately react to different situations. Worse, you might get into an accident and hurt other people too.

Click the link and listen to the audio about texting while driving.

Texting and Driving

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the dangers of texting while driving?
  2. Is it against the law in your country to text and drive?
  3. Have you seen someone texting while driving? What do you think of people doing this?
  4. Have you gotten into and accident before? If yes, what happened?
  5. What are some important things to remember when you are driving?

Store Returns

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Store return policy is considered one of the most important factors in customer’s purchasing decision. Customers want the guarantee that they can return the product they bought with no hassles. Therefore, it is necessary for companies to set reasonable return policies. However, do customers really take the time to understand them?

Listen to this audio and read the transcript on store returns.

Store Returns

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is wrong with the sweater according to the customer?
  2. Why isn’t the customer allowed to return the product?
  3. Have you returned a product before? How did it go?
  4. What is the usual return policy in your country? Do you carefully read the terms and conditions in a return policy?
  5. Have you ever had any other problems returning products and getting a refund?

Car Accidents

B2 – Upper Intermediate

If you have been driving for awhile, you’ve probably already realized that not everyone drives well, although, most people think they do. Some drivers change lanes without paying much attention, some drive too fast, others drive too closely to other vehicles on the road and some make sudden turns causing road accidents.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript on car accidents.

Car Accidents

Discussion Questions:

  1. What happened to Katie? How did it happen?
  2. What’s wrong with the car? How did this accident affect Katie’s plans for the weekend?
  3. What solution does the mother provide?
  4. Have you ever been in or witnessed a car accident before?
  5. What driving safety measures do you always follow?

How False Information Spreads

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Today, almost everything we do has something to do online; may it be our pastime or our jobs. Sometimes, we feel the need to be connected online for fear of missing out on a lot of things.

As a result, different industries have adapted to this trend and have increased their online presence. This includes news media. Now, it’s more common to see people reading news articles online than in a newspaper. With so much information available at our fingertips, we need to be careful about the things we read online.

Click the link and listen to the audio to learn more about how quickly false information can be spread online.

https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/listening/advanced-c1-listening/how-false-information-spreads

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the reasons false information spread so easily with the help of technology?
  2. How can false information be prevented from being spread on the internet?
  3. Share a hoax you have heard of before that many people believed right away.
  4. Do you read the news online? Which websites do you get your news from? Why do you get info from these websites?
  5. Do you use Wikipedia? What is your opinion about it or the information on it?

Playing with Fire

B1 – Intermediate

We often hear this idiom “playing with fire”. Literally, we know that fire is dangerous and we could get hurt or destroy stuff. Thus, this phrase means doing something risky or dangerous.

We can also relate this to the story in Prometheus. In Greek religion, he is one of the Titans and also called the God of Fire. He disobeyed the Gods and stole fire to give it to humans. This is a good deed but he was still punished by Zeus in the end.

Let us hear more about the expression “playing with fire” in the audio below.

http://www.idioms4you.com/complete-idioms/playing-with-fire.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does “if you play with fire, you might get burned” mean?
  2. Are you always cautious or do you like doing taking risks? Why is this?
  3. What is the most risky thing you have ever done in your life? Did you end up “getting burned”? Given a chance, would you do it again? Why or why not?
  4. What do you do when you can not achieve your objectives?
  5. What fun activities can we do that are not dangerous at all?

The Ideal Woman

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Although there are times when it is not easy to know the reasons why we fall in love, the reasons why we stay in love are easier to recognize. Perhaps looking for a perfect partner is unrealistic that is why we must settle with the next best thing — an ideal partner.

Let’s listen to Ed and Rocky as they talk about Rocky’s ideal woman.

The Ideal Woman

Discussion Questions:

  1. What kind of woman does Rocky like?
  2. What do you think of his ideal woman? Do you agree with his thoughts on household responsibilities?
  3. What is your idea of the perfect man/woman?
  4. Is it good to have high expectations in a relationship?

Divorce Lawyers

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Marriage is a commitment. It’s a commitment to do whatever is necessary to make the marriage work. There are times when it just won’t work despite the compromise the couples make. When is it right to surrender?

Let’s listen to Phil’s potential divorce story.

Divorce Lawyers

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is going on between Sharon and Phil?
  2. What reasons does Phil have to justify his divorce? What does Tonya think about them?
  3. What does “call it quits” mean?
  4. Do you think Phil is ready for a married life?
  5. Do you have high divorce rate in your country? What are the common reasons couple get divorced?
  6. What do you think of divorce lawyers? Are they in demand and highly paid in your country?

Insect Ice Cream

B1 – Intermediate

Ice cream is a popular dessert among kids and adults. It has many flavors. But have you heard of an insect ice cream?

Despite a long tradition of eating insects in some countries, the image of eating insects is not for everyone.

However, a restaurant in South Africa is becoming popular because of an interesting dessert on their menu: maggot ice cream!

Listen to the audio and read the transcript about insect ice cream.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/insect-ice-cream-level-1

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of this ice cream? Would you like to try it?
  2. What is your favorite dessert? Do you like ice cream?
  3. Have you tried any exotic ice cream flavors before?
  4. Have you eaten insects before? What did it taste like?
  5. In general, what is your opinion on extremely strange flavors/food?