Learn English While Watching Shark Week

Every year, the Discovery Channel holds a programming event called “Shark Week”. Viewers look forward to this event every year because they love the shocking footage of sharks, as well as the scary facts they learn about sharks. Shark week is this week occurs every summer and draws many viewers with it’s special programming.

If you’re learning English and you have an interest in what this is all about, watch this video to find out more about Shark Week. As you watch it, see if you can answer the comprehension questions below. This video would work best with an advanced ESL learner, because the speaker talks very quickly. I hope you enjoy this ESL listening activity!

Questions:

1. In what year did Shark Week begin?
2. What cable network is Shark Week on?
3. Fill in the blanks: Shark Week is seven _________ days of learning _________ and terrifyingly true stories about the most ________ killing machines to ever exist in the ________ of our planet.

4. How many bites does it take for a shark to eat a person?
5. How many teeth does the narrator say that sharks have?
6. What holiday do some people say Shark Week is more exciting than?
7. What sport has it’s U.S. Open during the same week as Shark Week?

Answers:

1. 1987
2. the Discovery Channel
3. straight, astonishing, efficient, face
4. one
5. bajillions
6. Christmas
7. surfing

Do you watch Shark Week? Comment below with the craziest fact you’ve ever learned about sharks.