| Level | Topic | Speakers | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intermediate | Hair Care | Man – Man | 02:50 |
Pre-Listening Exercise
What kinds of services, besides a haircut, can you receive at a beauty salon and barber shop? How is a barber shop different from a beauty parlor or salon in your area?
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- Expensive salons always give better haircuts than cheap ones.
- People should cut their hair at home to save money.
- Haircuts are more about style than practicality.
- Everyone should follow current hair trends.
- Barbershops are better than salons for men’s haircuts.
- Haircuts influence how others perceive you more than your personality does.
- It’s okay to change hairstyles drastically every few months.
- Hair care products are more important than the skill of the stylist.
- People should tip hairstylists generously, even if the service was average.
- Visiting a salon is more about relaxation and experience than the haircut itself.
Idioms
“second-rate” = poor quality
“If you go to a second-rate hair salon, you might end up with a second-rate hair cut.”
“hit the roof” = become very angry
“Tim hit the roof when he realized the hair stylist dyed his hair red.”
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:
- trim (verb): cut just a little off
– He got his hair trimmed yesterday at a beauty salon. - fancy (adjective): not plain, elaborate
– She has a real fancy perm. - massage (noun): the action of rubbing parts of the body to help with relaxation (also a verb)
– Some beauty salons give you a shoulder massage after they cut your hair. - Huh? (interjection): What?, showing slight surprise
– Huh? Did you say $50 for a simple hair cut? - adjustments (noun): small changes or modifications
– Please wait a minute. I need to make a few adjustments to the equipment before we begin. - lean back (also lean forward) (verb): to move the body backwards and down, recline
– Don’t lean back too far in your chair, or you’ll tip it over. - voila (interjection): an expression to indicate satisfied completion
– Finally, you should bake the cake for 20 minutes, and voila, you’ve made your first cake. - butcher (verb): to kill, and in this case, to cut without care
– My brother tried to cut his own hair with school scissors and without a mirror, and he really butchered it badly. - in charge (adjective): in control
– She is in charge of the new project. - decent (adjective): nice, acceptable, proper
– The students did a decent job on the class presentation.
Vocabulary Practice
Do the vocabulary quizzes with the words from the conversation for more practice:
Post-Listening Exercise
Do you get your hair done at a barber shop or beauty parlor? If not, do you do it yourself, or do you have someone cut your hair? Do you leave a tip for the hair stylist in your country? Are there specific rules on how you must have your hair cut in public schools or at a position in a company? Share your ideas with a partner.
Online Investigation
Use the internet to compare two or more hair salons in terms of price, service, and even the experience of those who work there. Which place would you recommend to a friend? Why?