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Interviews

“Online Dating”

Level

High-intermediate

Pre-Listening Question

What are some of the pros and cons of online dating? Is this something you have ever tried, and if so, what was this experience like?

Vocabulary and Expressions

Here are some words and expressions that appear in the video:

drawback (noun): disadvantage
– I think there are a number of drawbacks to dating someone from your own office. For example, if things don’t work out in your relationship, you still have to work with that person on a daily basis.

no-go (informal expression): used to say that something is not allowed or can’t be done
– I talked to my boss about taking some time off from work, but she said it was a no-go because things have been so busy at the office.

have anything of that (expression): be unwilling to do something or refuse
– I told my dad that I needed to use his car for a date, but he wasn’t having any of that. Instead, he told me to ride the bus.

creep (noun): a very unpleasant person
– I went out with a guy the other day, but he was such a creep. He kept trying to hold my hand even when I told him to stop a million times.

Listening Comprehension Questions

Now, watch the interview and answer the comprehension questions. You can also turn on the automatically-generated captions for the video once you start it.


Transcript

Randall: In today’s video, we’re going to talk about online dating, some of the challenges, some of the advantages. And of course, when I was growing up, there was no online dating because there was no Internet as we know it. So, Aubrey, from your perspective, what are some of the advantages and drawbacks of online dating?

Aubrey: Yeah, well, I mean, online dating certainly has changed a lot, even from ten years ago where there was such a huge stigma against it. And it’s definitely not like the old chat rooms, but I mean, in some ways it can be easier ’cause you don’t have to like go out and find someone. And there are dating sites where it’s just based on appearance, but there are also dating sites that, um, ask you about your preferences, about your political views, about whether or not you want to have kids, and they match you that way. So it’s like, you know, right up front, okay, I’m not having kids. That’s a no-go. And instead of like getting into the relationship and then having to find out that they want kids and you’re not having any of that. Right.

Randall: And what are some other dangers that people should be aware of?

Aubrey: Yeah. So, I mean, there’s always that danger of, you know, someone being a creep, right? So on a first date, you should always meet in a public place.

Randall: Good point.

Aubrey: Um, I probably wouldn’t go home with them on a first date. Same thing. You, you just don’t know them,

Randall: Right

Aubrey: Right? So, you know, just be careful. Uh, let people know where you’re going. So that, um, you know, if something does happen, like people know where you were and you can also turn your location services on too.

Randall: Good points. Well, thank you, Aubrey, for sharing some of those ideas on the advantages and disadvantages of online dating. But it sounds like you might have another point.

Aubrey: I forgot one. Try to find them on social media.

Randall: Oh, okay.

Aubrey: Google them.

Randall: Is that a way of like previewing them? Okay, that’s a great point as well. So thank you.

Conversation Questions

What are your top five activities for getting to know new people (for example, have a picnic at a park)?

Related Language Activities on Randall’s Web Site

The following activities deal with related topics to give you additional language practice.

Try More Free Listening at Dailyesl.com