English Listening Practice: Argument and Negotiation | The Social Network

The real English of argument and negotiation, in slow, clear English — you have a point, back down, drive a hard bargain, off the record, on the record, settle. An English learning podcast episode you can follow on a commute or a long walk, with no screen needed. Taught through The Social Network.

This episode covers the story of The Social Network as the film tells it, David Fincher's drama about a website built in a university dormitory and the duelling lawsuits that follow — plus a vocabulary lesson built right into that story: the English of argument and negotiation, from “you have a point” and “back down” to “drive a hard bargain”, “off the record” and “settle”.

A note on the film: its account of events is disputed by several of the people it portrays, so the episode treats everything as the film's version rather than as a record of what happened.

Perfect for English learners who enjoy movies and want a slow, clear, podcast-friendly way to improve their English listening comprehension and vocabulary on the go — no video required.

Free interactive learning materials for this episode are also available at engmoviereviews.com.

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