In this B1/B2 English listening lesson, you will listen to Emily. She has recently bought a new gadget (an air fryer). Listen to Emily’s talk and see how much you can understand!
After you have completed the exercises, read the transcript at the end to check what you heard is correct.
Contents
Listen in full
Watch the video and listen to Emily’s story, then answer the questions.
Gist questions
Answer these general questions about Emily’s talk:
1. What is Emily’s overall opinion of her air fryer?
a) It’s fine for some meals but not reliable b) She loves using it and finds it very convenient c) She prefers using her oven most of the time2. What does Emily suggest about learning to use the air fryer?
a) It has a long learning curve b) It’s simple and easy, even for beginners c) You need special training3. What limitation does Emily mention about air fryers?
a) They use too much electricity b) They’re difficult to clean c) They’re small and can’t cook large mealsDetail questions
Here are some more detailed questions about Emily’s talk. See how many you can answer:
4. What does Emily say about the size and weight of her air fryer?
a) It’s heavy and takes up a lot of space b) It’s compact and easy to move c) It’s large and hard to store5. How does Emily describe the way the air fryer cooks food?
a) It uses hot air and doesn’t need much oil b) It boils food very quickly c) It works with microwaves6. Why did Emily used to find cooking slow and annoying?
a) Her kitchen was too small b) Her old appliances took too long c) She didn’t enjoy cooking at all7. How does Emily clean the air fryer?
a) She takes out the basket and gives it a quick wash b) She wipes it with a cloth while it’s still hot c) She needs special cleaning products8. What does Emily say about using the air fryer when she’s tired?
a) She usually avoids cooking then b) It lets her cook something quickly with no effort c) She orders takeaway insteadTrain your ear
Listen for words
Listen 1
Listen and write the words you hear.
My favourite gadget’s my air fryer.
Listen 2
Listen and write the words you hear.
I wasn’t sure if I really needed one.
Listen 3
Listen and write the words you hear.
I spent a playing around with it.
Listen 4
Listen and write the words you hear.
I just fell in love , you know?
Listen 5
Listen and write the words you hear.
So for example, this little tray.
Dictation
Listen to Emily and write down what she says in the box below. Then, check what you wrote. Any mistakes you make will be in blue.
Listen and read!
Read the transcript of Emily talking, and listen while you read. Click on any part of the text to listen again.
Words and phrases
Here are some useful words and expressions from the text that you might want to learn and use
Words
gadget – a small machine that helps you do something
air fryer – a kitchen machine that cooks food with hot air instead of oil
bulky – large and hard to move or store
worktop – a flat surface in the kitchen for preparing food
crispy – hard and crunchy on the outside
healthy / healthier – good for your body / better for your body
weird – strange or unusual
handy – useful or convenient
recommend – say something is good and others should try it
Phrases
my favourite gadget’s got to be… – I think my best gadget is…
I use it all the time – I use it very often
I wasn’t sure at first – I didn’t know in the beginning
to be honest – I’m telling the truth
I spent a bit of time playing around with it – I used it for a while to see how it works
fell in love with it – really liked it a lot
it’s not really like a proper oven – it’s different from a normal oven
not too big or bulky – not heavy or difficult to move
fits quite nicely on my worktop – is a good size for my kitchen surface
slides in and out – moves in and out easily
set the time or temperature – choose how long or how hot to cook
even if you’ve never tried one before – it’s easy for beginners
Bob’s your uncle – it’s easy / And that’s it!
works by cooking the food with hot air – cooks food using hot air
comes out really nice and crispy – is cooked well and crunchy
took ages – took a long time
throw something in – put food in quickly
Bang! It’s ready in minutes. – it cooks very fast
give it a quick wash – clean it quickly
all in all – overall; thinking about everything
I’d definitely recommend – I really think you should try it
a bit of a shame – a little disappointing
Grammar from the transcript
Here are some examples of grammar from the transcript.
Present Perfect Simple
In this example, Emily uses the present perfect simple tense to talk about life experience up until now.
- Even if you’ve never tried one before...
Past Simple (irregular forms)
The speaker uses past simple to talk about finished events in the past (like a story). All of these past simple forms are irregular:
- I bought it last year. (buy)
- I spent a bit of time playing around with it... (spend)
- I just fell in love with it... (fall)
Past Continuous
We often use past continuous tense for repeated actions or states that started before another event in the past.
- I was using my oven...
Relative clauses
We use relative clauses to add essential information about a noun without starting a new sentence.
- ...this little tray that slides in and out.
- ...a digital screen, where you set the time or temperature...
Comparatives and superlatives
We use comparatives and superlatives to compare people, things, or situations.
- much quicker than an oven
- a bit healthier as well
Get more free A2, B1 and B2 English listening exercises and lessons here!
