Arches National Park - Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab

Level:	Topic:	Speakers:	Length:
intermediate	hiking	one man	02:02

Pre-Listening Exercise

Name one national park in your country and think about what makes it a unique place to visit (e.g., the scenic views, the wildlife, the flora, outdoor recreation, etc.).

Speak Up, Take a Stand! Instructions for Getting the Conversation Started

These statements are designed to get everyone thinking, moving, and talking! The goal is to explore ideas, share opinions, and get ready for the next part of the lesson.

In a face-to-face classroom: Read each statement aloud. If you agree, move to one side of the room; if you disagree, move to the other. Talk with your group—why do you feel that way? Then, pair students with members of the other group and have students explain their reasons. Rotate partners for more practice.
In an online classroom: Use polls, emojis, or the chat box in your online platform to show your opinion. Then, join the conversation as a group or in breakout rooms. What do others think? Do you agree or disagree with them?
For independent learners: Read each statement and think about your opinion. Then say your answer out loud and explain your reason, as if you’re talking to a classmate. This helps you get ready to speak and join real conversations in English. Consider recording your ideas and self-assess your progress.

National parks are important for protecting nature.
Visiting national parks helps people relax and reduce stress.
People should pay more to visit national parks.
Too many tourists can damage national parks.
Everyone should visit at least one national park in their life.
National parks should be open all year, no matter the weather.
Local communities benefit from tourism near national parks.
Camping is the best way to enjoy a national park.
Technology (like phones and drones) ruins the experience of nature.
National parks should do more to teach visitors about history and culture.

Idioms

“dying of thirst” = be very thirsty
“I need a drink soon. I’m dying of thirst.”

“hit the trail” = start your trip, usually walking
“Hey, we’d better hit the trail soon because it’s going to get hot today.”

Listening Exercise

A. Listen to the recording and answer the questions.

Vocabulary Practice

Try this activity to practice the vocabulary from the conversation:

Mixed-Up Sentence | Sentence and Vocabulary Matching

Post-Listening Exercise

What is a popular park in your hometown? What do people do there? Does it cost anything to visit?

Online Investigation

Search for information on a national park in a country or city where you want to visit. Look up information about local hotels, park entrance fees, special tours, and specific points of interest in the park. What things do you consider when selecting a place to visit (e.g., location, things to see and do, cost, etc.). Share your results with a friend or classmate.

See Listening Script

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