Topic: School Subjects
Mode: Interpretive
Level: Novice
Students will listen to audio clips about academic subjects and identify relevant details.
Components of the activity: Scripts, worksheets, answer keys
Instructions to the teacher
- Find someone to audio-record the following script with. Preferably one should be male and the other female.
- Replace ‘Man’ and ‘Woman’ with actual names of people from the target culture.
- Print the worksheet and give a copy to each student.
- Play the audio in class. Students should listen and answer the question in their worksheets.
NOTE: There are four versions of this activity below. Version 3: Assignments and Version 4: Order the Dialogue about Assignments should be done in sequence.
Version 1: Difficult Classes
Script
- Man: I’m not very excited for school to begin. I have several hard classes this term.
- Woman: Really? Which classes are you taking?
- Man: I have to take physics, chemistry, and biology. I also have a required math class.
- Woman: Those are all difficult. Why are you taking so many classes that are that tough?
- Man: Well, I’m studying to be a doctor, so they are all compulsory. What courses will you take?
- Woman: English, history, psychology, and statistics.
- Man: You are going to have to read a lot!
- Woman: I know, but I love to read. I am a little worried about the statistics class, though. I’m not very good with numbers.
Worksheet
Instructions to students
Fill in the blanks below with the subjects that each speaker is taking.
- Man: ________________________________________
- Woman: ________________________________________
Answer Key
Man: physics, chemistry, biology, math
Woman: English, history, psychology, statistics
Version 2: Choosing a Major
Script
- Man: I am excited to go to college in the fall. I will finally be able to study whatever I want!
- Woman: I can’t wait! What are you going to study?
- Man: I am thinking about studying law, but I may want to study business, too. What about you?
- Woman: I am considering studying fine arts, but I am not sure that I will be able to find a job later.
- Man: What sort of job do you want?
- Woman: I love to paint, so I want to find a job as an artist. Unfortunately, there isn’t much opportunity for that.
- Man: So, what is your second choice?
- Woman: Maybe education. I can teach children to paint, I suppose.
Instructions to students
Listen to the audio recording and type the correct answer in the space provided in each question.
- What is (man’s) first choice of college major? ___________
- What is (man’s) second choice of major? ___________
- What is (woman’s) preferred major? ___________
- What is (woman’s ) second choice of college major? __________
Answer Key
- Law
- Business
- Fine arts
- Education
Version 3: Assignments
Script
- Woman: It’s good to see you, but I don’t have time to talk. I have so much homework to do before the end of the week.
- Man: Me too, I have to finish a paper for history class, 7 pages of math homework, and an entire workbook chapter for (language).
- Woman: Wow. That’s a lot of work. I have a biology project due on Friday, an English test on Tuesday, and a chemistry exam on Thursday afternoon. I need to get to work! See you later
- Man: Bye, and good luck!
Instructions to students
Listen to the audio recording and type the correct answer in the space provided in each question.
- For which class does (man) have a paper due? ____________
- For which class does (man) have 7 pages of homework? ____________
- For which class does (woman) have a project due on Friday? ____________
- What test does (woman) have on Tuesday? ____________
- What exam does (woman) have on Thursday? ____________
Answer Key
- History
- Math
- Biology
- English
- Chemistry
Version 4: Order the Dialogue about Assignments
Instructions to students
Put the following conversation in order. Label the first speaker as speaker A and the other Speaker B.
Conversation
Speaker: Wow. That’s a lot of work. I have a biology project due on Friday, an English test on Tuesday, and a chemistry exam on Thursday afternoon. I need to get to work! See you later.
Speaker: Bye, and good luck!
Speaker: It’s good to see you, but I don’t have time to talk. I have so much homework to do before the end of the week.
Speaker: Me too, I have to finish a paper for history class, 7 pages of math homework, and an entire workbook chapter for (language).
Answer Key
Speaker: It’s good to see you, but I don’t have time to talk. I have so much homework to do before the end of the week.
Speaker: Me too, I have to finish a paper for history class, 7 pages of math homework, and an entire workbook chapter for (language).
Speaker: Wow. That’s a lot of work. I have a biology project due on Friday, an English test on Tuesday, and a chemistry exam on Thursday afternoon. I need to get to work! See you later.
Speaker: Bye, and good luck!