First Date - Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab

Level	Topic	Speakers	Length
Easy	Dating	Man – Girl	01:17

Pre-Listening Exercise

Imagine that your 16-year-old daughter is about to leave on her first date. What questions do you ask her before she leaves? Are you concerned at all? Why or why not?

Agree or Disagree? Let’s Spark Some Conversation!

These statements are designed to get everyone thinking, exploring ideas, and sharing opinions.

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?
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.
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.

1. First dates should always be short.
2. It’s okay to feel nervous on a first date.
3. You should always be yourself on a date.
4. Talking a lot is better than staying quiet.
5. People decide too quickly if they like someone.
6. It’s okay to talk about your ex on a first date.
7. You can build a good relationship without dating first.
8. Sharing hobbies helps build a strong relationship.
9. Trust is more important than love at the beginning.
10. You should know a person well before starting a relationship.

Idioms

“hit it off” = get along well
“My daughter and her boyfriend hit it off well from the first date.”

“call it quits” = end a relationship
“Hey. I’m your father, and I don’t like that boy. You need to call it quits, or else!“

Listening Exercise

Listen to the recording and answer the questions. (See transcript)

Vocabulary and Sample Sentences

Here are some words that appear in the recording:

cool (adjective): someone who is good-looking or attractive
– She thinks the guy is really cool, but she doesn’t know him like I do.
PG (noun): parental guidance
– The movie is rated PG, so I think we should watch it before we take the kids to see it.
come on (phrasal verb): used to express that something said is unreasonable
– Come on, Mom. You can’t expect me to clean up my room before I go out tonight, can you?

Vocabulary Practice

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

Gap-fill Exercise

Post-Listening Exercise

What can children and parents do to make each other feel more comfortable when they talk about dating? How can parents improve relationships with their children?Where do people go on dates in your country? Does the boy pick up the girl from her house or do they meet somewhere? What is your image of the “ideal” date?

Online Investigation

Use the internet to find out about the dating customs in three different countries. Answer these questions:

At what age do people date, if they do at all?
Where do people go on dates?
What other unique views do people have on dating in these countries?

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See Listening Script

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Language Games

General Listening Quiz

“First Date”