| Level | Topic | Speakers | Length |
| Intermediate | Picnic Preparations | Man – Man | 01:54 |
Pre-Listening Exercise
Imagine you have been asked to organize a picnic? Where would you hold the picnic and what food, appetizers, and drink would you buy? Make a list and discuss it with a partner.
- Picnics are more fun than eating at a restaurant.
- Picnics are only enjoyable when the weather is perfect.
- It’s better to bring homemade food to a picnic than to buy it.
- Parks are the best places for picnics.
- A picnic is not complete without games or activities.
- Eating outdoors makes food taste better.
- Picnics are more enjoyable with a big group than with just one or two people.
- Insects and animals make picnics less enjoyable.
- Picnics are a good way for families to spend quality time together.
- A picnic at the beach is better than a picnic in the park.
Idioms
“gift of gab” = skill of interesting conversation
“Not only was Allen a great cook, he also has the gift of gab that keeps a crowd entertained.”
“not your cup of tea” = not be the kind of thing you like
“I’m sorry, but playing volleyball at a picnic isn’t my cup of tea.”
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
Plan a picnic or barbecue with a friend or classmate. Where would you have your picnic? What foods would you buy or prepare for the picnic? What activities or games would you plan to entertain your friends? Share your ideas with your class.
Online Investigation
Although most people know the meaning of the word, barbecue, what people do, where they have a barbecue, and what they eat often varies from culture to culture. Use the internet to find out how people hold barbecues in three different countries or cultures.