| Level | Topic | Speakers | Length |
| Intermediate | Sleeping Trouble | Man – Woman | 01:33 |
Pre-Listening Exercise
Why do some people have trouble sleeping at night and what can they do to get a good night’s rest?
- Sleeping problems are mostly caused by stress.
- Napping during the day is harmful to regular sleep patterns.
- Using phones or computers before bed is the main cause of poor sleep.
- Sleeping pills are a good solution for occasional sleep problems.
- People with sleeping problems should always see a doctor.
- Exercising late at night makes sleep worse.
- Sleeping problems are more common today than in the past.
- Everyone needs at least eight hours of sleep to be healthy.
- Mental health issues are more affected by sleep than physical health issues.
- People should ignore minor sleep problems because they often resolve on their own.
Idioms
“night owl” = someone who stays up late
“My brother is a real night owl, and he doesn’t go to bed until dawn.”
“sleep on it” = go to sleep and think about something overnight before making a decision
“I’m not sure if I should take the job, so I want to sleep on it.”
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
What time do you usually go to bed at night, and what time do you usually get up? Do these times change depending on the day of the week? Have your sleep habits changed since you graduated from high school?
Online Investigation
Use the internet to find the answers to these questions:
- What are some of the major sleep problems or disorders?
- What are the causes of each of these problems?
- What methods of treatment are available?