Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. a renovation
    • ex. The restaurant looks much brighter and more modern after its recent renovation.
  2. a meme
    • ex. The picture of the cat sleeping in a strange position became a popular meme on social media.
  3. exaggerated
    • ex. I think his story about catching a giant fish was a bit exaggerated.
  4. aesthetics
    • ex. The city wants to improve the aesthetics of the park by planting beautiful flowers.
  5. viral
    • ex. A short video of a dancing dog went viral on the internet last night.

Article

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

Font size

Mexico City’s subway is usually famous for its big crowds and fast pace. However, one station has recently become popular for a very strange reason. At the Hidalgo station, workers installed beautiful lamps and chandeliers. This renovation is part of the city’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but the elegant new look surprised many local people.

Soon, many people started making jokes online about the fancy lights. Many social media users created memes to laugh at the station. Some people joked that passengers should wear fancy evening dresses, while others said it looked like the Titanic movie set. Many subway users feel the design is too exaggerated and does not fit a busy subway station.

Marketing specialist Marisol Venegas believes that the decision to install chandeliers was made in a rush. “Mexicans are known for leaving things until the last minute,” she said. But many people are tired of this habit. They think the city should focus on other important things instead of focusing only on aesthetics. Still, whether people love or hate the changes, the unique chandeliers have turned a normal subway station into a viral attraction.

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

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Viral Attractions in Public Transport

  • The beautiful lamps and chandeliers at the Hidalgo Station became a viral attraction. What do you think about this? Discuss.
  • Are there any viral or famous attractions in the subway, train, or bus stations in your area? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, what should a subway or train station have to make it a great station for passengers or subway users (ex. restrooms, convenience stores)? Discuss.

Decisions Made in a Rush and Other Habits

  • Marketing specialist Marisol Venegas believes that the decision to install chandeliers was made in a rush. If this happened in your city/town, how would you feel about the decision? Discuss.
  • Mexicans are known for leaving things until the last minute. What habits are people in your country known for? Discuss.
  • In your country, do you think the government makes decisions carefully or in a rush? Why do you say so? Discuss.