LISTENING TASK:

ARE YOU HAPPY?

LEVEL: Low Intermediate

FUNCTION: Compare and contrast
GRAMMAR FORM: Present Simple and continuous
AIM: To scan specific information related to two different lifestyles in order to find similarities and
differences relying on some pictures to make associations.
RESOURCES: New Headway Intermediate 3rd ed. Audio CD, tracks 15, 17, 18; googled pictures.

Pre-listening

Look at the 2 pictures and discuss with your partner who might be happier and why. Guess what their job
is.

An accountant An actor
A businessman
A paper boy
A lawyer
A messenger

While listening

1. Listen to the lifestyle description of Sidney Fisk who’s 45 years old while looking at the pictures. Then,
use the same pictures to retell Sidney’s description orally (Track 2).

2. Now listen to another 45-year- old professional’s description

and do the same exercise using the next pictures. Then, retell
the description using the pictures. (Track 3)
 Post-listening

1. Complete the next chart with the information that you recall from the recording.

ITEMS SIDNEY FISK OTHER GUY

OCCUPATION

MARITAL STATUS

NUMBER OF CHILDREN

WIFE’S OCCUPATION

WORK SCHEDULE

HOBBIES

OTHER ACTIVITIES

2. Now using the information from the chart and the connectors provided, write at least five sentences
comparing and contrasting them. (Although, whereas, however, on the other hand, unlike, likewise, similarly,
as well)
Example: Both occupations are very well paid although Sidney has less free time than the other guy.
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3. What do these numbers represent in their lives?

11 – 14 – 45 – 8 – 2 – 60.000 – 7 – 50 – 4 – 7 – 1.000

4.Finally, discuss with your partner about the positive and negative aspects of being an undergraduate
student and what kind of activities your profession requires from you; e.g. traveling, long hours in front of
a computer, writing reports, etc.