| Level | Topic | Speakers | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Difficult | Gardening | Man – Woman | 02:47 |
Pre-Listening Exercise
What types of gardens do people grow in your area? Do people raise flowers and/or vegetables?
- Gardening is a relaxing hobby for people of all ages.
- Growing your own vegetables is better than buying them at the store.
- Some vegetables grow better in certain countries because of the climate.
- Using natural fertilizers is always better than using chemicals.
- Gardens should be designed differently depending on cultural traditions.
- Sharing gardening tips with neighbors helps the whole community.
- Gardening is easier in the city than in the countryside.
- Everyone should learn how to grow at least a few vegetables.
- Traditional gardening methods are better than modern technology.
- Gardens can teach children about healthy eating and nature.
Idioms
“let the grass grow around your feet” = wait, waste time, or delay in doing something
“Don’t let the grass grow around your feet. Stop sitting at home and get out and apply for a job.”
“turn a new leaf” = change one’s behavior
“I don’t think he’ll turn over a new leaf just because he is getting married.”
Listening Exercise
A. Listen to the recording and answer the questions.
Post-Listening Exercise
What are the benefits or challenges of trying to raise your own fruits, vegetables, and even herbs?
Online Investigation
Imagine that are moving to Denver, Colorado, in the United States for a couple of years, and you are into gardening. Because you are concerned about maintaining a healthy diet, you want to look into what edible plants you can grow in the area. Use the internet to identify two vegetables and two fruits/berries that can be raised in that area. Then, answer the following questions:
- What are the names of the plants you found?
- When is the best time to plant them?
- What is the growing season for each?
- When are the vegetables ready for harvest?
- In what kinds of recipes can the food items be used?