Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. a craze
    • ex. Wearing bright, colorful shoes became a craze among teenagers last summer.
  2. a keychain
    • ex. She bought a cute keychain from the souvenir shop to remember her trip.
  3. strike a deal with (someone)
    • ex. The company struck a deal with a new partner to sell its products in more countries.
  4. a figurine
    • ex. I collect dog figurines because I love dogs.
  5. neglected
    • ex. The old house looked neglected, with broken windows and damaged walls.

Article

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

Font size

The Labubu toy is the newest craze around the world. Pop Mart, a toy company from China, expects its profits to grow by 350% in the first half of the year because of Labubu’s popularity. Celebrities such as Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, and Lisa from Blackpink have been seen with their Labubu keychains. As a result, the toy became even more popular on social media like Instagram and TikTok.

Labubu was created by artist Kasing Lung in 2015. The character first appeared in picture books as small monsters. In 2019, Lung struck a deal with Pop Mart to sell Labubu figurines. However, the soft keychains released in 2023 became the real hit. Many fans are now trying to have their own Labubu.

But before Labubu, there were other very popular toys. In the 1980s, the Cabbage Patch Kids dolls were kids’ favorite. Parents waited in long lines to buy these dolls. In 1996, Japan launched the Tamagotchi. It’s a digital pet that would “die” if it was neglected. However, it’s not clear what makes certain toys like Labubu so fashionable.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Popular Toys

  • In your opinion, are Labubu toys popular in your city/country? Why do you say so? Discuss.
  • According to the article, it’s not clear what makes certain toys like Labubu so fashionable. Why do you think some toys become so popular? Discuss.
  • How do you think toys have changed from the past to now? Discuss.

Celebrity Power and Social Media

  • Do you follow any celebrities on social media? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Celebrities made the Labubu toy more popular. How do you think celebrities affect what people buy? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, is social media helpful or harmful? Why do you say so? Discuss.