Interviews

High-intermediate

Pre-listening Activity 1: Vocabulary Exploration

Before listening to the conversation, provide students with a list of key vocabulary related to tattoos and expressions used in the dialogue. Ask them to look up the meanings of these words and discuss them in pairs or small groups. Some suggested words include:

1. Symbolic
2. Social implications
3. Work implications

Encourage students to make predictions about the conversation based on the vocabulary they’ve explored. This activity helps them familiarize themselves with the language used in the dialogue.

Pre-listening Activity 2: Personal Reflection

Ask students to reflect on their own thoughts and experiences related to tattoos. Provide them with a set of questions to discuss in pairs or write about individually:

1. Have you ever considered getting a tattoo? Why or why not?
2. If you have a tattoo, what is its significance to you?
3. Do you think tattoos have social implications? In what ways?
4. How do you think tattoos might be viewed in a professional/work environment?

After individual or pair reflections, facilitate a brief class discussion to share some of their thoughts. This activity helps students connect their personal experiences and opinions to the upcoming conversation.

Here are some words and expressions that appear in the video:

memorialize (verb): preserve the memory of someone or something, typically through a commemorative action.

– I want to memorialize my mother through a beautiful song in her honor.

symbolic (adjective): representing something through the use of symbols or signs, often carrying deeper meaning or significance.

– Tattoos can be symbolic and represent personal change or experiences at different points in a person’s life.

implications (noun): the possible effects or consequences of an action, decision, or situation.

– There can be social and work implications of getting a tattoo.

Now, watch the interview and answer the comprehension questions. You can also turn on the automatically-generated captions for the video once you start it.

Randall: Aub, let’s talk about getting a tattoo. And I think for many people, there are many points in their lives where they experience different changes or want to just change how they look and how they feel and what they do. And what are your thoughts on getting a tattoo and how could that be very symbolic for someone?

Aubrey: I think I mean, it’s definitely something you need to think about because it is a commitment. But I mean, it’s great. Go for it. Like, I’ve got three. I feel more myself with the tattoos. So that’s another thing to keep in mind is like the social implications of getting a tattoo and work implications. Like all of my tattoos are places where I can hide them, so they’re not visible at work. So two of my tattoos are for pets that have passed away. I have their paw prints on me. Um, so, you know, just to remember them and memorialize them, keep them close.

Randall: Okay. Thank you. Appreciate that.

Easy (Recall and Comprehend):

1. What are the reasons Aubrey gives for getting tattoos?
2. How does Aubrey handle the social implications of her tattoos at work?
3. What are the themes of Aubrey’s tattoos, and what do they symbolize?

Intermediate (Interpret and Analyze):

4. How might Aubrey’s perspective on tattoos differ from someone who views them negatively due to social or professional reasons?
5. In what ways does Aubrey’s choice to hide her tattoos at work reflect societal attitudes towards body art in certain environments?
6. How do Aubrey’s comments about feeling more like herself with tattoos contribute to the discussion about self-expression and identity?

Advanced (Interpret and Analyze):

7. Discuss the potential cultural and societal factors that may influence one’s decision to get a tattoo, considering both positive and negative perceptions.
8. Analyze the broader implications of Aubrey’s choice to memorialize her pets through tattoos. How might this reflect deeper emotional connections between individuals and their tattoos?
9. Explore the role of body art in the workplace and its evolving acceptance. How might societal perceptions of tattoos impact professional opportunities, and what could be done to challenge or change these perceptions?