| Level |
Topic |
Speakers |
Length |
| Intermediate |
Detective Agencies |
Man – Woman |
01:02 |
Pre-Listening Exercise
What are some situations in which you might hire a private detective or detective agency to help you resolve issues in your life?
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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
- Detective agencies are only useful for solving serious crimes.
- Private detectives should have the same legal powers as the police.
- Hiring a detective is an invasion of privacy.
- Companies should always use detectives to check potential employees.
- Technology has made private detectives less necessary than before.
- Using a detective to monitor a spouse is justified in some cases.
- Detectives are too expensive for most people to use.
- Social media makes it easier for detectives to solve cases.
Idioms
“steal someone’s heart” = cause someone to fall in love
“James stole Maria’s heart with his powerful romantic music on his guitar.”
“five-finger discount” = shoplift or steal good from a store
“Brian said he got a five-finger discount on his shoes, but that was completely wrong. He should return them.”
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:
Post-Listening Exercise
If this man were your brother, what other advice would you give him? What should or shouldn’t he do? How logical are his reasons for his concerns?
Online Investigation
Use the internet to find a detective agency in your area and check their website for the answers to these questions:
- What is the name of the company?
- How long have they been in business?
- What kind of experience do the detectives have in this line of work?
- What services does the company provide?
- How much do their services cost?