Contemporary Life Radio Extracts (Matching Exercise)

Level: C1
Task type: Multiple Matching – Radio extracts
Topic: Personal identity, technology, values, and work-life balance

This C1 Listening activity immerses students in authentic, thought-provoking extracts taken from radio programmes discussing key contemporary issues — from technology’s impact on our worldview to personal identity and family values.

Learners practise identifying main ideas, tone, and speaker perspective, while reinforcing natural comprehension of real-life spoken English at advanced level.

Each extract showcases a different social insight, allowing students to interpret meaning beyond words — a skill essential for C1 exams and academic listening contexts. The content naturally stimulates discussion and reflection, making it ideal for integrated Listening + Speaking practice.

Why teachers love it:

✅ Engages students with relevant, real-world topics that invite debate and opinion-sharing.
✅ Reinforces C1 listening subskills: gist, inference, and distinguishing viewpoints.
✅ Encourages lexical and structural awareness through authentic, fluent speech.
✅ Easily extends into follow-up speaking or writing tasks on identity, technology, and modern lifestyles.

Perfect for C1 classes aiming to go beyond comprehension — helping students listen, think, and respond like proficient users of English.