TV Guide | Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab

Level:	Topic:	Speakers:	Length:
intermediate	TV shows	man – woman	01:19

Pre-Listening Exercise

Look at the list of TV programs below. Which shows interest you most? Discuss your answers:

nature, documentary, news, game, home improvement, reality, cartoon, fitness or exercise, soap opera or drama, talk, sitcom, cooking

Idioms

“get into something” = be interested in something
“How about watching something else on TV? I don’t really get into baseball.”

“couch potato” = someone who sits and watches TV a lot
“I‘m a little worried about my roommate. He’s a real couch potato and doesn’t get outside and exercise very much.”

Listening Exercise

A. Listen to the recording and answer the questions.

The show is _____.

at 7:00 on channel 5

at 8:00 on channel 11

at 7:30 on channel 7

Brenda: Well, hmm. There is a reality show on at 7:00 on channel 5.

The man doesn't want to watch the reality show because he ____.

watched the same program last week

isn't interested in show's theme.

wants to go swimming instead

Paul: Nah, you know I don't like reality shows. I mean, they usually show people doing crazy things like, you know, eating live fish or swimming in a pool full of snakes. I don't get into that.

How does the man feel about watching Star Wars on TV?

He'd prefer to watch something else

He wouldn't mind seeing it again.

He'd like to watch it if he had more time.

Brenda: Well, then. Ah, here's something. Do you want to watch a rerun of Star Wars? Paul: Nah, I've seen it a zillion times. I'd like to see something different.

After the home improvement show, the man feels that _____.

his wife will want him to fix everything

he will be able to get a better job

he won't be able to play golf

Brenda: Okay, let's see here. Oh, how about this? On channel 2 at 9:00, there's a home improvement show about fixing anything around the house. We do have a few things that you could repair in the bathroom . . .

What does the couple decide to watch?

a talk show

a sports event

a TV drama

Paul: Oh, okay. I'll stay up and keep you company while I . . . I mean, you . . . I mean, WE watch the game.

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

If you were having a party at your house with some friends, what TV programs would you watch? What do you like and dislike about the following shows? Reality shows, documentaries, news, sitcom, soap operas, nature programs. Explain your reasons.

Online Investigation

Watching online TV shows and viewing instant streaming movies is becoming a common recreational activity for the young and old. Use the Internet to find two companies that provide such services. Compare price, convenience, and features of each and discuss your findings with a partner.

See Listening Script

Back to Intermediate Quizzes

General Listening Quiz

“TV Guide”