| Level | Topic | Speakers | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | Families | Man – Man | 01:10 |
Pre-Listening Exercise
What five questions could you ask someone about his or her family (e.g., What does your father do?)?
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- Family members should always support each other.
- It’s important to talk to your family every day.
- Brothers and sisters always fight when they’re young.
- Parents should be their children’s best friends.
- Grandparents give the best advice.
- It’s easier to be honest with family than with friends.
- Family problems should stay private.
- You can be close to your family even if you live far away.
- It’s okay to disagree with your parents.
- Spending time with family is more important than making money.
Idioms
“get under someone’s skin” = annoy or bother someone
“My brother gets under my skin when he enters my room without knocking.”
“stay-at-home mom” = a mother who doesn’t have a job outside the home
“My sister finds satisfaction in being a stay-at-home mom.”
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:
- support (verb): give help or assistance
– Does your family support you with your college expenses? - run (verb): be in charge of
– My brother is going to run our business when my father retires. - kind (noun): type
– What kind of work does your mother do? - mainly (adverb): for the most part
– We mainly spend time at home and watch TV in the evenings.
Vocabulary Practice
Do the vocabulary quizzes with the words from the conversation for more practice:
Post-Listening Exercise
Ask a partner five questions about his or her family. Then introduce your partner to another student using the information you learned about that person. Who are you closest to in your family: mother, father, brother, sister, or another relative? Why?