ESL Halloween: Five TV Listening Quizzes

The Big Bang Theory characters wearing "Flash" costumes.

Many regular television situation comedies  have a complete Halloween episode where the whole story revolves around some kind of Halloween theme. Sometimes they are funny. Sometimes they are meant to be spooky, but they are usually entertaining . 

Thanks to the existence of long running TV series you can watch, enjoy and and practice your English with listening quizzes from The Big Bang Theory , Modern Family , How I Met Your Mother,    Friends and Frasier . 

 All of these TV shows have something to offer in helping you to improve your listening skills - especially if you watch short clips several times to get used to "fast English" English speaker.   

Tune in tomorrow for more clips from another Friends episode, the Simpsons, Glee, Family Guy and Buffy. 

Watch as often as you need to. Then try the quizzes to see how well you understood.  


The Big Bang Theory 
The characters in the Big Bang Theory love Halloween because of the parties, the "tricks" they can play on each other, and simply because it is an excuse for "dressing up. One of the most popular television situation comedies in the U.S. The Big Bang Theory is a pleasure to watch because even if you don't understand everything, you understand enough to have a good laugh.  For more information on the what the show is about, and its characters go to The Big Bang Theory  
 

 Modern Family 
In this Modern Family episode, the whole family plans to frighten children who come
 trick or treating with many creatures. Watch and see how much you understand. For more information on  the show and its characters go to Modern Family 




















Big Bang Theory
Back at The Big Bang Theory, the boys are planning to go to a costume party, but they have a dilemma. Watch and answer the questions.



How I Met Your Mother  
On the popular situation comedy How I Met Your Mother "How I Met Your Mother," the boys have a lot to say about Halloween. Watch and answer the questions.  For more information on the show and the characters go to  How I Met Your Mother   

Friends
One of the most famous Halloween episodes happened in the TV show " Friends", which millions of people still watch on DVD or cable channels. For more information on the show and characters go to  Friends  

TED TALKS QUIZ: Texting That Save Lives

Nancy Lubin is the CEO at Do Something.org, an organization that focuses on using the en ergy of teenagers to tackle issues they are passionate about and participate in social change. 

Recently, her organization began to communicate primarily through texting rather than email. They discovered this method of communication is 11 times more effective than email communication because texts have a 100 percent open rate.

In the midst of texting more than 200,000 teenagers each week about instituting changes at their schools and in their communities, Lublin and her coworkers discovered an unintended consequence: Teenagers began texting back about being bullied, participating in cutting and being abused. Text messaging became an inadvertent crisis hotline.

In her 2012 TED Talk, Lublin discusses how texting can save lives and how using teenagers’ primary means of communication to speak to them provides the opportunity for crisis intervention, referrals and even prevention.

Watch the video and do the quiz.