Thursday, January 22, 2009

Top Listening Activities

From time to time, people ask me about my favorite listening activities on my site, Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab (http://www.esl-lab.com). It is sometimes hard to pick which ones because my family and I have created so many over the past 10 years. However, here are some of them, based on topic and personal interest.

1. A Story to Remember: http://www.esl-lab.com/story1/story1.htm
A story of a man who was approached by an alien creature. Or was it?

2. Car Repairs: http://www.esl-lab.com/repairs/repairsrd1.htm
A man has real problems trying to get his car fixed in a small town.

3. Budget Hotel Rooms:
http://www.esl-lab.com/hotelreservations/hotelreservationsrd1.htm
A man encounters a few surprises at his hotel. Has something like this happened to you?

4. A Great Car Deal: http://www.esl-lab.com/car/carrd1.htm
A woman tries to buy a car from an interesting salesman.

5. Just a Hair Cut, Please: http://www.esl-lab.com/cut/cutrd1.htm

Disaster strikes a man who gets the hair cut of his life. What do you think happens?

6. Car Accident: http://www.esl-lab.com/car-accident/car-accidentsc1.htm
A teenager has a car accident, but who's fault was it? Listen and find out.

7. First Date: http://www.esl-lab.com/dating/datingrd1.htm
A girl is going out on her first date with a guy name Dirk? How do things turn out?

8. Grocery Shopping: http://www.esl-lab.com/supermarket/supermarketrd1.htm
A woman sends her husband to the store to pick up some things, but what does he get instead

9. Street Market:
http://www.esl-lab.com/flea/fleard1.htm
A man tries to bargain with a seller in a street market. What problems does he encounter?

10. Traffic Ticket: http://www.esl-lab.com/police/policerd1.htm
A man is stopped by the police? Why and how does the driver talk himself out of his situation?

Please let me know what types of materials and topics you would like to see in the future.

Randall

Monday, January 19, 2009

New US President: What does it take?

The US will have a new president tomorrow, and many people around the world hope for positive change that will affect everyone. In your personal opinion, what does it take to be a great leader? What qualities do you admire in a leader? Are there any particular great leaders from your own country that have had an influence on your nation? Share your thoughts on this.

Randall

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Time Running Out: What would you do?

If you were told that you were dying and that you only had one month to live, how would you spend the limited time you had left? Explain your reasons for your answers.

Personally, I always realize in the back of my mind that this happens to people everyday. So, for me, I'd probably spend my final days with my wife and kids, telling them about my life, sharing words of wisdom, and just having fun going to Disneyland, hiking, sitting out under the stars, and telling them how much I love them.

How about you?

Best,

Randall

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

New Year Resolutions

Listen to the recording and share your ideas on the topic.

Best,

Randall

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Happy New Year, 2009!


I want to wish all of you a Happy New Year, 2009! What do you usually do on this day to celebrate the new year? Share your thoughts. Personally, I am spending the new year with my family, and we will probably play games, watch TV, and tell stories.


Best,


Randall