DVD Movie Rentals - Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab

Level	Topic	Speakers	Length
Easy	Movies	Man – Woman	00:32

A stack of VHS tapes in front of a DVD in an open case

Pre-Listening Exercise

Online movie rentals are very popular as a form of fun entertainment. Write down as many types of movies that you can. Discuss your preferences for each type of movie (e.g., love, like don’t like, can’t stand, hate).

Agree or Disagree? Let’s Spark Some Conversation!

These statements are designed to get everyone thinking, exploring ideas, and sharing opinions.

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?
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.
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.

1. Renting movies online is more convenient than going to a store.
2. You should always rent movies from trusted websites.
3. Watching movies at home is better than going to the theater.
4. People should watch movies on a big screen, not on a phone.
5. It’s better to pay for a movie rental than to watch free movies online.
6. Streaming services have more movies than movie rental stores.
7. It’s okay to download movies for free from the internet.
8. People should return rented movies on time to avoid extra fees.
9. Online reviews are helpful when deciding which movie to rent.

Idioms

“movie buff” = someone who knows a lot about movies
“If you want to know anything about the movie industry, ask Phil. He’s a real movie buff.”

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:

have in mind (verb): to think about
– What activities do you have in mind for tomorrow’s picnic?
crazy about (phrasal verb): to like something very much
– Carla is crazy about rock music.

Vocabulary Practice

Do the vocabulary quizzes using the words from the conversation for more practice:

Post-Listening Exercise

How do your own movie preferences compare with the woman’s likes and dislikes in the conversation? Think of words or phrases to describe these genres types of movies:

action, anime, classics, comedy, drama, documentary, foreign, horror, musicals, romance, science fiction, thrillers

Example: documentary – interesting and informative

Online Investigation

Research two online movie rental services and compare them in terms of price, service, movie selection, and delivery. Discuss your findings.

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See Listening Script

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Language Games

General Listening Quiz

“Movie Rentals”