A Student Credit Card - Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab

Level	Topic	Speakers	Length
Intermediate	Student Credit Cards	Man – Woman	02:00

Pre-Listening Exercise

Student credit cards are becoming more and more popular, and a number of websites can provide information on comparing your options. With these ideas in mind, what are the advantages and disadvantages of using credit cards, particularly for people your age and in similar financial situations?

Agree or Disagree? Let’s Spark Some Conversation!

These statements are designed to get everyone thinking, moving, and talking! The goal is to explore ideas, share opinions, and get ready for the next part of the lesson.

In a face-to-face classroom: Read each statement aloud. If you agree, move to one side of the room; if you disagree, move to the other. Talk with your group—why do you feel that way? Then, pair students with members of the other group and have students explain their reasons. Rotate partners for more practice.
In an online classroom: Use polls, emojis, or the chat box in your online platform to show your opinion. Then, join the conversation as a group or in breakout rooms. What do others think? Do you agree or disagree with them?
For independent learners: Read each statement and think about your opinion. Then say your answer out loud and explain your reason, as if you’re talking to a classmate. This helps you get ready to speak and join real conversations in English. Consider recording your ideas and check your progress.

A student credit card is a good way to build credit early.
Students should only use credit cards for emergencies.
Having a credit card makes students spend more money than they should.
Credit cards are safer to carry than cash.
Students should be required to take a class on money before getting a credit card.
Credit cards give students too much financial freedom.
Parents should help their children manage their first credit card.
A debit card is better than a credit card for most students.
Credit cards with rewards (like cashback) are useful for students.
A student without a job should not have a credit card.

Idioms

“dough” = informal for money
“I need more dough to pay off my credit card bill.”

“have money to burn” = have a lot of money
“Sara’s dad always gives her a big allowance, so she has money to burn.”

Listening Exercise

A. Listen to the recording and answer the questions.

Vocabulary Practice

Do the vocabulary quizzes with the words from the conversation for more practice:

Mixed-Up Sentence | Multiple-Choice Questions | Gap-fill Exercise | Sentence and Vocabulary Matching

Post-Listening Exercise

A few decades ago, getting a credit card was somewhat difficult and almost impossible for students with no credit history. Now, many students have their own. However, finding the best card is often difficult. What do you think are the dangers of having a credit card?

Online Investigation

Conduct research on two different credit cards offered online that are specifically aimed at students and compare them based on credit card fees, interest rates, and benefits of each. As part of your investigation, check to see if these companies provide credit monitoring which is one component of identity theft protection services. Furthermore, examine whether there are any hidden costs that credit card users might not be aware of when using the card. Are there any other options besides credit cards that students can use to make purchases?

See Listening Script

Back to Intermediate Quizzes

General Listening Quiz