Student Loans - Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab

Level	Topic	Speakers	Length
Intermediate	Student Loans	Man – Woman	01:05

Pre-Listening Exercise

How do students go about getting a loan for college (e.g., from family, school, a bank, or other)? What expenses can such loans cover for a university student? Why are such loans needed for some people, but not for others?

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. Student loans are necessary for everyone who wants a college education.
2. Students should avoid loans and only attend school they can pay for.
3. Governments should forgive all student loan debt.
4. Student loans encourage people to choose expensive schools unnecessarily.
5. Taking student loans teaches financial responsibility.
6. Student loans are unfair to low-income families.
7. Students should prioritize their future career earnings over avoiding debt.
8. Scholarships are more valuable than student loans for financial planning.
9. Paying off student loans should be a top priority over other expenses.

Idioms

“a walking encyclopedia” = someone who seems to know everything
“My roommate would do well on a trivia game show. He’s a walking encyclopedia.”

“have the right stuff” = have the needed skills to succeed
“Susan has the right stuff to get into any school she chooses.”

Listening Exercise

Listen to the recording and answer the questions. (See transcript)

Vocabulary and Sample Sentences

Here are some words and expressions that appear in the recording:

drop out (verb): quit school
– Why did your brother drop out of college last semester?
room and board (noun): housing and food in exchange for a fee
– My scholarship covers tuition, books, and room and board.
desperate (adjective): very sad with little hope
– Some of these students feel desperate because they don’t have jobs to pay for school.
figure out (verb): understand or find meaning to something
– I couldn’t figure out why Brandon was so upset.

Post-Listening Exercise

How do you (did you or will you) pay for your college expenses? Explain your experiences.

Online Investigation

Use the internet to answer some of these questions:

What expenses do student loans cover?
What are the ins and outs (good and bad points) of taking out a student loan?
What are the interest rates on student loans?
What other grants or scholarships are sometimes available at schools in your area?

◄ Previous Activity Next Activity ►

See Listening Script

Back to Intermediate Quizzes

General Listening Quiz