Starbucks Manners: a video-based listening lesson

This is a ready-made, video-based lesson you can use with your intermediate / upper-intermediate students. It’s suitable for both teens and adults. Copy and paste whatever you want and use it to your heart’s content. If you want to know more about the principles underlying the activities, please read my article on the richmondshare blog. 

A   Discuss 1-5 with a partner. How much do you have in common?

1   What’s your favorite coffee shop?
2   How often do you go there?
3   What do you usually order?
4   How much time do you usually spend there?
5   Which of these describe(s) the place?

[  ] way too expensive                   [  ] long lines                   [   ] weak WiFi signal
[  ] not enough variety                  [  ] rude staff                   [   ] not enough seats
[  ] indecisive customers              [  ] too noisy                    [   ] complicated menus
[  ] too many people standing at the counter                     [   ] What else?

B   Share your ideas with the whole group. How many students talked about Starbucks? Use your phone to search online if you’ve never heard of / been to a Starbucks store.

C   Watch Ellen (not Helen!) DeGeneres, an American comedian / talk-show host, talk about Starbucks. Which items in 5 above does she mention? Use video 1 (scroll down).

D   Watch a few selected excerpts from the show. Choose A or B. Use video 2.

1
a  Starbucks stores are not conveniently located.
b  There are lots of Starbucks stores.
2
a  They often get your name wrong.
b  Placing your order is simple.
3
a  With so many Starbucks stores in the world, there should be no lines.
b  Starbucks is so huge that it doesn’t treat customers as individuals.
4
a  “Barista Station” is where you place your order.
b  “Barista Station” is where they pour you your coffee.
5
a  “Squatters” probably means people who behave in a rude, noisy way.
b  “Squatters” probably means people who occupy a place that’s not theirs.

E  Watch video 3 up to 0:30. Pay close attention to how the yellow sounds are pronounced. Then watch the rest of the video and complete the sentences. Write down exactly what you hear.

1  And they bring so much ____________________.
2  Going ____________________ should be simple.
3  This is a place where people  ____________________ to the counter as they possibly can.
4  The line is so long because people don’t know what to order – that’s     ____________________.
5  They go every single day and then they just stare ____________________, like seeing it ____________________.

F    Is there anything that annoys you about any [see below] in particular? Share your ideas in groups. What’s the most common pet peeve?

supermarket / shopping mall / store / gym / restaurant / museum / movie theater

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – end of lesson – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 

Please read about the PRINCIPLES underlying some of these activities. Click here! Thank you!

Video 1

Video 2

Video 3