Washer and Dryer - Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab

Level	Topic	Speakers	Length
Intermediate	Washing Machine and Dryer	Man – Woman	01:15

Washer and dryer set. There are two laundry baskets, laundry soap, and cleaning rags.

Pre-Listening Exercise

What are some basic ideas or tips for washing and drying clothing without a problem? What temperature water do you use to clean white clothing and colors? Do you sometimes take your laundry to the dry cleaners?

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.

Owning a washer and dryer at home is essential for every household.
Laundromats are better than having a washer and dryer at home.
Energy-efficient washers and dryers are always worth the extra cost.
Clothes dryers damage fabrics more than washing machines.
People should air-dry all clothes instead of using a dryer.
Washer and dryer brands make a big difference in quality.
Sharing a washer and dryer in an apartment building is inconvenient.
Washing machines are more important than dryers for laundry.
Automatic settings on washers and dryers make doing laundry too easy.
People rely too much on machines instead of learning traditional washing methods.

Idioms

“clean out” = to remove things from something
“I’m going to clean out the washer before I put more clothes in. I think someone left paper in some clothing, and it caused a real mess.”

“wash/air your dirty laundry in public” = to talk about personal information in front of other people
“If you want to talk about this matter more, let’s do it at home. You shouldn’t air dirty laundry in public like this.”

“It’ll all come out in the wash” = everything will all be okay in the end
“I know you said some pretty bad things to your husband, but it’ll all come out in the wash. Just apologize for anything you have done, and everything will be okay.

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

What percentage of people use washers and dryers to clean clothes in your area in your home country? Does your family do this themselves, or do they have another person wash their clothes for them?

Online Investigation

Use the internet to learn about laundry customs around the world.

How has washing clothes changed over time in different parts of the world?
Do people always use washers and dryers, or do they do their laundry by hand?

See Listening Script

Back to Intermediate Quizzes

General Listening Quiz