| Level | Topic | Speakers | Length |
| Intermediate | College Majors | Man – Woman | 02:11 |
Pre-Listening Exercise
How do people go about selecting a college major or future career? Are there job fairs in high schools in your area to help students learn about different careers? Is it a common practice for children to ask parents for guidance in choosing a college major?
- Choosing a major at 18 is too early for most students.
- Students should follow their passion when choosing a major, even if it doesn’t lead to a high-paying job.
- Some majors are a waste of time and money.
- Switching majors is a normal part of college life.
- Every major should require some basic courses in math, writing, and communication.
- Majors in science and technology are more valuable than those in the arts.
- Employers care more about skills than the specific major you studied.
- Students should choose a major based on job market demand.
- Double majors are always worth the extra work.
- Your major determines your career path.
Idioms
“whip through” = finish a job or study very quickly
“He whipped through the driving test without any problems.”
“have hard knocks” = have problems or trouble
“My sister had a few hard knocks during her first semester of college, but things settled down, and she did well the rest of the year.”
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:
Post-Listening Exercise
What are the most important factors in choosing a college major for you? Rank the following ideas in order of preference and discuss your opinions with a partner:
- job prestige
- earning potential of future job
- opportunities for advancement in the field
- availability of work
- personal interest
Online Investigation
Do an internet search to identify the top five college majors in your country or city based on any of the following criteria: employment outlook, earning potential, and working conditions/environment.