There are 5 True or False  listening comprehension tasks for this amateur video footage showing a seal hitching a ride on a kayak. After reading a National Geographic story about this encounter, students are led to consider how people should react when meeting wild animals in nature.

I think the listening comprehension questions are either A2 level, or if your students are not accustomed to the Scottish accent, could be a good task for B1 level, as well. However, the accompanying National Geographic article is recommended from B1 and above. If you wish to use it below B1 level, it's probably best to doctor the text and make it more comprehensible for levels below B1.

What would you have done if a seal would have hopped on your kayak?

National Geographic: “Any time a wild animal is comfortable around people, it never ends well for the animal or the people.” Do you agree with this statement even in the case of this encounter between the two kayakers and the seal?

National Geographic: "Splashing a hand in the water or reaching out to touch the seal are definitely not the actions to take." Do you agree that the man should not have reached out to the seal? Explain your answer.

National Geographic: “I am concerned people may go out looking for seals after seeing his video. Wild animals should be left plenty of space.” Do you agree that this video will prompt people to go out with kayaks and meet seals? If so, is that a problem?

National Geographic: “Animals used to a human presence are more at risk of suffering injury or death by recreational or industrial vessels, being harmed by trash and pollution, or being killed for sport." Why are seals accustomed to human presence more at risk of being harmed by humans?

READING & DISCUSSION: Have students read this National Geographic article: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/02/video-seal-kayak-wildlife-encounter Ask students the comprehension questions listed in the "Discussion questions" section below. Then discuss the article with the students. Make sure to ask them if they would reconsider their initial response to the video.

WARMER: Ask students what sort of encounters have they heard of between humans and wild animals? You can put them in pairs, and then have them share with the whole class. Then tell them that they are going to watch a real encounter between a seal and two kayakers.

FIRST WATCHING: Watch the video without the quiz and ask students to react to the video.

A seal is hopping on the kayaks of two kayakers. All of this is captured on camera by the kayakers. 

Seal Meets Kayakers - NatGeo

seal-meets-kayakers-natgeo

Let's do English ESL deep listening: focus on meaning. There are 5 True or False  listening comprehension tasks for this amateur video footage showing a seal hi…