Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. an orphanage
    • ex. Last Christmas, we bought some toys for the kids in the orphanage.
  2. consult
    • ex. I told Harry to consult with a doctor if his headache continues for more than a day.
  3. impressed
    • ex. Jolene impressed her teacher with her perfect score on the test.
  4. accurate
    • ex. The singer was unhappy because the movie about her life wasn’t very accurate.
  5. attention
    • ex. The 5-year-old actor is receiving a lot of attention for his role in the new movie.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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The Queen’s Gambit, a chess-themed Netflix TV series, is greatly increasing people’s interest in the classic game. Since the show’s release in late 2020, gaming site Chess.com reported more than 2.5 million new subscribers, and Google said that searches for “chess” reached their highest number in 14 years. Both eBay and game manufacturer Goliath Games have also reported increases in their chess set sales.

According to Netflix, the series has become one of its most-watched shows. It was viewed by 62 million subscribers in only four weeks. Set in the 1950s and 1960s, the series tells the story of fictional chess player Elizabeth Harmon. At 8 years old, Harmon was sent to an orphanage, where she learned how to play chess. The series shows Harmon’s personal struggles as she climbs to the top of the international chess world.

The show’s creators consulted with chess experts to make the story realistic, and many professional chess players have said that they’re impressed by its accurate details. Grandmaster Jennifer Shahade said that she loves the show and is excited by the positive attention that chess is now receiving.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

TV Show Influence and Popularity

  • Do you think that chess will continue to be popular for a long time, or will people soon lose interest in it? Why? Discuss.
  • When you hear that a TV show had over 62 million views in just four weeks, do you want to watch it? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, are Netflix shows that are popular in the US usually popular in other countries too? Why or why not? Discuss.

Accuracy in TV Shows and Movies

  • In your opinion, what makes a TV show or movie accurate (ex. historical costumes, realistic science)? Why? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, is it more important for TV shows to have accurate details or a good story? Why? Discuss.
  • To make sure that details are accurate, should TV show and movie creators always consult with experts, or can they look up information by themselves? Why? Discuss.