Radio Stations - Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab

Level	Topic	Speakers	Length
Intermediate	Music	Man	01:21

Pre-Listening Exercise

Smartphones and other portable mobile devices are becoming popular to play music. Try and name at least 7 different types of music. Which are most popular in your country? Do you download music files from the internet? If so, do you download them to a portable device?

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. Online music services are better than traditional radio.
2. Radio is more reliable than online streaming for discovering new music.
3. People listen to music more thoughtfully on the radio than online.
4. Paid music streaming is better than free services with ads.
5. Online music services reduce the importance of live concerts.
6. Radio DJs are more influential than playlists on streaming platforms.
7. Music is more enjoyable when chosen by algorithms than by humans.
8. Radio will eventually disappear completely.
9. Online music services make it easier to appreciate a wide variety of genres.
10. Traditional radio keeps communities more connected than online music services.

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:

soothe (verb): to relax or calm
– You should try listening to classical music to soothe your nerves. It works for me.
sunup (noun): sunrise or the point where the sun comes up in the morning
– We’ll leave tomorrow before sunup, so please be ready.
identify (verb): to name
– Greg can identify the names of almost all the constellations in the sky.
tune (noun): usually, a song or musical number
– This radio station plays some really good tunes.

Vocabulary Practice

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

Mixed-Up Sentence | Multiple-Choice Questions | Sentence and Vocabulary Matching

Post-Listening Exercise

Discuss the following topics with a partner.

the most popular types of music in your country among different age groups
the influence of music on your culture, for example, fashion, hairstyles, behavior, ways of thinking, etc.

Online Investigation

Use the internet to gather information on two types of music and compare them:

historical background (where the music is from)
the types of instruments used in making the music
the types of people with whom the music is popular (children, teenagers, young adults, mature adults, and seniors)

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See Listening Script

Back to Intermediate Quizzes

General Listening Quiz