By the end of this exercise, you can ask open-ended interview questions and use the right phrases for active listening when planning a podcast episode.
Free Year 10 English practice: an original podcast interview transcript about a community integration project, plus drills on open-ended questions and active-listening phrases. Gymnasium B2/C1.
Read the podcast interview transcript, then answer the questions below. Most ask about the content, one asks you to spot an interview technique, and one is a quick grammar review.
JORDAN (host): Welcome back to Community Voices. Today I’m talking to Aisha Osei, who runs the Riverside Newcomers’ XI — a project that helps young refugees and migrants settle into the neighbourhood through football. Aisha, thanks for joining me.
AISHA: Thank you for having me, Jordan.
JORDAN: So, let’s start with the basics — what exactly is the Newcomers’ XI?
AISHA: It’s a weekly football session, open to anyone aged twelve to eighteen who has recently arrived in the area. The pitches were donated by the council two years ago, and the equipment was funded by a local charity. We now have around forty regular players from twelve different countries.
JORDAN: That’s really interesting — could you tell me more about how new players usually find out about the sessions?
AISHA: Mostly through word of mouth. A new arrival tells a classmate, the classmate tells their family, and soon a whole street knows about it. Schools also hand out flyers when a new student registers.
JORDAN: Do you find it hard for players who don’t speak much English yet?
AISHA: At first, yes. But football has its own language — you can point, demonstrate, cheer. Within a few weeks, most players pick up enough English to organise a game themselves.
JORDAN: So if I understand correctly, the sessions are really about more than football.
AISHA: Exactly. Football is the excuse to get people in the door. What actually happens is friendship, routine, and a sense of belonging.
JORDAN: Let’s move on to the wider community — how have local families reacted?
AISHA: Overwhelmingly positively. A few parents were nervous at first, but that worry disappeared once they watched a session. We even started a Saturday café afterwards, so parents can talk while their kids play.
JORDAN: Before we finish, what’s next for the project?
AISHA: A girls-only session — it’s been requested by several families — and, one day, a team in the local youth league.
JORDAN: Aisha, thank you so much for your time.
AISHA: Thank you, Jordan.
1 What is the Newcomers’ XI, according to Aisha?
2 According to Aisha, how were the pitches and the equipment provided?
3 How do most new players find out about the sessions, according to Aisha?
4 What does Aisha say the project really gives its players, beyond football?
5 Which of Jordan’s questions is a closed question — one that could be answered with just ‘yes’ or ‘no’?
6 Review — which sentence from the interview is written in the passive voice?
Each item gives you a goal for the interview. Choose the question that would get the fullest, most honest answer.
1 Goal: get a detailed personal story about why Aisha started volunteering.
2 Goal: find out how a new player felt on their very first day.
3 Goal: understand the biggest challenge the project has faced.
4 Goal: learn about a memorable moment from this season.
5 Goal: get a parent’s honest opinion on how the club has helped their child.
6 Goal: find out what changes a player would like to see in future.
7 Goal: understand how the project chooses which teenagers to invite.
8 Goal: learn what advice the coordinator would give to someone starting a similar project.
Each item describes a situation during an interview. Choose the phrase an interviewer would use for it.
1 Your guest gives a short answer, and you want to signal interest and invite more detail.
2 You want to check that you've correctly understood a complicated point your guest just made.
3 You've covered one topic fully and want to signal a clear move to a new one.
4 Your guest is telling a longer story, and you want to show you're listening without interrupting.
5 Your guest has gone off-topic, and you want to politely bring the conversation back.
6 The interview is ending, and you want to close warmly.
7 The interview is just starting, and you want to make your guest feel welcome.
8 Your guest used a term you didn’t fully understand, and you want it explained.
You are planning a three-minute podcast episode about a person in your community who has helped newcomers integrate — a teacher, a coach, a neighbour, a shop owner, anyone you choose.
Review your answers below, then send them to your teacher.
Click the button below to send your answers directly to your teacher.