The art of the interview: a podcast listening lesson
Students listen to a student podcast interview, take notes, notice how the interviewers ask polite indirect questions, then write questions for their own podcast.
At a glance
- From
- Level 3, Bridge English: Week 19, The art of the interview
- Grammar
- indirect questions: Could you tell me...? Do you know...?
- Key language
- Could you tell me how long you have...? Do you know when...? I was wondering why... / word order: Could you tell me where you live? (not where do you live)
- Children make
- Listening notes and six podcast questions, three of them indirect.
- Class size
- Works with 10 to 50 children; pair and group steps say how to scale.
Objective
Students take notes on a spoken interview and form indirect questions with correct word order.
Success criteria for children
- I can take short notes while I listen.
- I can change direct questions into indirect ones.
- I know when an indirect question sounds more polite.
Timing: 60 minutes
| Minutes | Stage | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 5 | Warm-up: dream guest | Who would you interview on a podcast, and what would you ask? |
| 5 to 12 | First listening: gist | Who is the guest and what is the job? |
| 12 to 24 | Second listening: notes | Students complete note headings in task 1. |
| 24 to 36 | Noticing indirect questions | Find the polite questions in the script; spot the word order change. |
| 36 to 45 | Practice | Task 2: rewrite direct questions as indirect. |
| 45 to 55 | Write and role-play | Students write six questions for a guest and role-play two minutes. |
| 55 to 60 | Exit ticket | Correct two indirect questions. |
Materials
- Worksheet, pens
- Two confident readers, or you and one student, to perform the script
- Important people (B1) (free, linked from Week 19)
- BBC 6 Minute English (free, linked from Week 19)
Before the lesson: Ask two students to practise the script the day before, or read both parts yourself with a change of voice.
Step by step, with teacher talk
0 to 5 minWarm-up: dream guest
- Students tell a partner their dream podcast guest and one question. Take three ideas.
5 to 12 minFirst listening: gist
- Perform the script once. Students answer: "Who is the guest? What does she do? Does she like it?"
12 to 24 minSecond listening: notes
- Show how to take notes: key words only, numbers, no full sentences.
- Perform the script again. Students complete the notes. Compare in pairs, then listen a third time to check.
- Do you need to write "She has been a volunteer for..."? (No, just "6 yrs".)
24 to 36 minNoticing indirect questions
- Students look at the script and highlight questions starting Could you tell me, Do you know, I was wondering.
- Write a pair on the board: "How long have you volunteered?" and "Could you tell me how long you have volunteered?" Students say what changed (no question order after the opening; no do/does/did).
- "Could you tell me where does she live?" Correct? (No: where she lives.)
- Why do interviewers use indirect questions? (They sound more polite, especially with strangers.)
36 to 45 minPractice
- Students rewrite five questions. Check together, reading them aloud with polite intonation.
45 to 55 minWrite and role-play
- Students choose a guest (real or imagined) and write six questions in task 3, three of them indirect.
- Pairs role-play a two-minute interview. One pair performs for the class.
55 to 60 minExit ticket
- See below.
Differentiation
Support
- Give the note headings with the first letter of each answer.
- Use only "Could you tell me...?" for the indirect questions.
Stretch
- Add "whether" and "if" for yes/no questions: "Do you know if the light still works?"
- Record the podcast on a phone at home and write a short episode description.
- Write a follow-up question for every answer in the script.
Listening script
Two student presenters, Leah and Omar, interview a guest, Mrs Daniels. The lighthouse is invented for this lesson.
Leah: Welcome to Class Podcast! Today our guest is Mrs Daniels, a volunteer at Gull Point lighthouse. Welcome!
Mrs Daniels: Thank you. It's lovely to be here.
Omar: Could you tell me how long you have been a volunteer?
Mrs Daniels: About six years now. I started when I retired from teaching.
Leah: And what do you actually do there?
Mrs Daniels: I show visitors round, mostly families and school groups. We climb the 112 steps to the top, and I tell them the history.
Omar: I was wondering why the lighthouse doesn't have a keeper any more.
Mrs Daniels: Good question. The light became automatic in 1990, so a computer controls it now. Nobody needs to live there.
Leah: Do you know how far the light can be seen?
Mrs Daniels: On a clear night, ships can see it from about 30 kilometres away.
Omar: What's the best part of the job?
Mrs Daniels: The children's faces when they reach the top and see the sea. Every time!
Leah: Thank you so much, Mrs Daniels. See you next week, everyone!
Questions
- What did Mrs Daniels do before she volunteered?
- How many steps are there to the top?
- Why is there no keeper now?
- How far away can ships see the light?
- Which question in the script is direct, not indirect? Give one.
Printable worksheet
Prints on its own A4 page. Use Print the worksheet above, or print the whole plan and the worksheet starts on a new page. One copy per child, or one per pair to save paper.
Podcast notes and questions
1. Listen and take notes. Key words and numbers only.
| Topic | Notes |
|---|---|
| Years as a volunteer | |
| Job before | |
| What she does | |
| Number of steps | |
| Automatic since | |
| Light seen from | |
| Best part |
2. Make the questions indirect.
- Where do you live? Could you tell me...
- When did the lighthouse open? Do you know...
- Why did you choose this job? I was wondering...
- How much does a ticket cost? Could you tell me...
- Is the café open today? Do you know if...
3. Write six questions for your own podcast guest. Make three indirect.
Answer key
Listening script questions
- She was a teacher.
- 112.
- The light became automatic in 1990; a computer controls it.
- About 30 kilometres, on a clear night.
- "And what do you actually do there?" or "What's the best part of the job?"
Worksheet
- 1: about 6 years; teacher; shows visitors round and tells the history; 112; 1990; about 30 km; children's faces at the top.
- 2: Could you tell me where you live? / Do you know when the lighthouse opened? / I was wondering why you chose this job. / Could you tell me how much a ticket costs? / Do you know if the café is open today?
- 3: answers will vary. Check no do/does/did after the opening, and statement word order.
Exit ticket
Correct these: "Could you tell me what time does the film start?" and "Do you know where is the station?" (...what time the film starts? / ...where the station is?)
Homework
Interview a family member for three minutes using your six questions. Write five lines of notes, and an episode title.
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Start free with LitlingsMore lesson plans
- Level 3, Week 19: The art of the interview (the curriculum week this plan comes from)
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