Smartphones - Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab

Level	Topic	Speakers	Length
Intermediate	Phones	Young Man – Woman	01:23

Pre-Listening Exercise

In today’s world, is a smartphone a necessity for people of all ages, or is it just a luxury item? Why or why not? How do people who grew up without mobile phones feel about this?

Agree or Disagree? Let’s Spark Some Conversation!

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 check your progress.

Smartphones make people more productive than they used to be.
Smartphones are more harmful than helpful for social relationships.
Children under 12 should not have their own smartphones.
Smartphones have replaced computers for most daily tasks.
People spend too much time on smartphones instead of interacting face-to-face.
Smartphones are essential for education in the modern world.
Social media on smartphones is more addictive than video games.
Smartphones should be banned in schools.
Owning the latest smartphone model is unnecessary.
Smartphones make people less creative.

Idioms

“phone someone” = call someone
“Why don’t you phone him and see if he’s coming to the party?“

“call it day” = finish work and leave your workplace
“Let’s call it a day. We can finish this project tomorrow.”

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:

Mixed-Up Sentence | Sentence and Vocabulary Matching

Post-Listening Exercise

Many teachers have concerns about students’ use of cell phones at school and in the classroom. Think of three reasons for and against this issue and explain your ideas from your own experience.

Online Investigation

Write one of your teachers an email about one of the topics or questions below. Then, summarize the teacher’s response and compare his or her answer to your own opinion.

At what age is it appropriate for a child to have his or her own phone?
How important is it for parents to track their children’s phone calls, text messages, or internet use on the phone?
Should children pay at least a part of their phone bill, and if so, how much?
Which method is better to ask someone out on a date: sending a text message or calling the person?
Which method is better to end a relationship: sending a text message or calling the person?
Is it illegal to text and drive in your city or region? If so, what is the penalty?
If a student cheats on a test by taking pictures of it and sending them to a friend, how do you handle the situation?

See Listening Script

Back to Intermediate Quizzes

General Listening Quiz