A Hiking Family - Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab

Level	Topic	Speakers	Length
Intermediate	Family Activities	Man – Woman	01:52

Pre-Listening Exercise

What things can parents do to strengthen the relationship with their children? Some people go hiking or do outdoor activities; other people watch movies or go to amusement parks. Discuss your ideas.

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.

Hiking in the mountains is better than hiking near the beach.
Hiking alone is more enjoyable than hiking with a group.
Modern hiking gear is not really necessary for most hikes.
National parks should limit the number of hikers each day.
Hiking is more about enjoying nature than about exercise.
Technology (like phones and GPS) makes hiking safer, but also less adventurous.
Camping overnight makes a hiking trip better than a day hike.
It is more important to protect hiking trails than to make them easier to use.
Some people say hiking is boring compared to other outdoor sports.
Hiking should be free for everyone, with no entrance or park fees.

Idioms

“get ahead” = become successful in your business or career
“Often, people give up time with their families to get ahead in life.”

“control/hold the purse strings” = control the money in a family
“My wife is much better at managing our finances, so she controls the purse strings.”

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 | Sentence and Vocabulary Matching

Post-Listening Exercise

Are there outdoor activities like hiking, biking, or camping that you enjoy doing with your family? What things can families do together to strengthen the family relationship? Discuss these topics with a partner and see if your families do similar activities.

Online Investigation

Use the internet to find five places where families can spend time together in your area or in a city or country where you want to visit. Answer these questions:

What are the names of these places?
What activities can you do there?
How much does it cost to visit these places?

See Listening Script

Back to Intermediate Quizzes

General Listening Quiz