Blood Donations - Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab

Level:	Topic:	Speakers:	Length:
intermediate	blood donations	man	01:16

Pre-Listening Exercise

What are some common situations when blood donations are needed? Have you ever donated blood, and if so, what was the experience like?

Speak Up, Take a Stand! Instructions for Getting the Conversation Started

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 self-assess your progress.

Donating blood is a responsibility everyone should take seriously.
People should be paid for donating blood.
Fear of needles is a good reason not to donate blood.
Blood donation rules should be the same in every country.
Schools and universities should encourage students to donate blood.
People who are afraid to donate should still be educated about its importance.
It’s better to give blood to a local hospital than a national organization.
Donating blood is more valuable than donating money.
Healthy people should donate blood regularly.

Idioms

“have bad blood between people” = have bad or unfriendly feelings
“Oh, don’t invite Sarah and Amber to the party. There is a lot of bad blood between them, and I don’t want there to be problems.”

“be too rich for my blood” = something that is too expensive for you
“I really like that car, but it is way too rich for my blood.”

Listening Exercise

A. Listen to the recording and answer the questions.

Vocabulary Practice

Try this activity to practice the vocabulary from the conversation:

Mixed-Up Sentence | Sentence and Vocabulary Matching

Post-Listening Exercise

Have you ever donated blood? If so, what was your experience like? If not, what are reasons for not doing so (health condition, age, medical history, etc.)?

Online Investigation

Use the Internet to answer these questions?

What is the best way to prepare to donate blood?
What are three reasons why people sometimes can’t donate blood?
Is there an age requirement to donate blood in your city or country? If so, when can a person start donating blood?
What things should you do (or not do) the day after you donate blood?

See Listening Script

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