Kickstarter Funds New Ideas: Listening Lesson

50-minute English Lesson

In this listening lesson, ELL students learn how one website is changing how new ideas get funding.

Listening Lesson about how Kickstarter funds new ideas
Kickstarter launched crowdfunding online

Read the story

Listening Lesson: KICKSTARTER

In 1997, fans of a British rock group collected $60,000 on the internet to pay for the group’s American tour. This was an important moment in the short history of the internet. It was the first time an online group used the web to raise money for a project. Today, it’s called online crowdfunding.

There are many online crowdfunding sites, but one is special. Three years after it started, Kickstarter made online crowdfunding normal.

The history of Kickstarter goes back to 2001.

Perry Chen worked as a waiter. He wanted to bring a music group to his hometown but lacked the funds to make it possible. That’s when his problem became an idea: build a website that enables people to give money to projects they like.

Eight years later, Kickstarter was online. Soon after it launched in 2011, it was a success. By 2016, 11 million people had funded 108,000 projects.

Kickstarter is easy to use. One person proposes a project and a budget. The project must be related to art, like making a movie or a game. If people like the project, they give money with a credit card. If the budget is reached, the people pay. If not, no money is paid and the project is stopped. About 35% of all projects reach their budget.

Kickstarter has helped many projects. An online library for kids raised $5 million. The Coolest Cooler, a picnic box with Bluetooth speakers, raised $13 million from 62,000 backers.

Kickstarter makes money from commissions. If a project reaches its budget, Kickstarter takes 5%. If the project doesn’t reach its goal, Kickstarter gets nothing.

Crowdfunding websites like Kickstarter are changing the world. By bringing artists and fans together, it is giving people a chance to influence technology, inventions and art. That is the power of Kickstarter and the internet.

Listen without reading

listening Lesson about Kickstarter

Audio

Here is the listening file for this lesson.

Listening level: 3
Audio file: 2:24 min
Story length: 295 words
Good ideas can raise lots of money on Kickstarter
[quiz-cat id=”7714″]

English listening lesson: Gap Fill

Listen to the story again and fill in the blanks.

In 1997, fans of a British rock group collected $__________ on the internet to pay for the group’s American tour. This was an important __________ in the short history of the internet. It was the first time an online group used the web to __________ money for a project. Today, it’s called online __________ .

There are many online crowdfunding __________ , but one is special. Three years after it started, Kickstarter made online crowdfunding __________ .

The history of Kickstarter goes back to __________ .

Perry Chen worked as a __________ . He wanted to bring a music group to his hometown but lacked the __________ to make it possible. That’s when his problem became an __________ : build a website that enables people to give money to __________ they like.

Eight years later, Kickstarter was online. Soon after it launched in __________ , it was a success. By 2016, 11 million people had funded __________ projects.

Kickstarter is easy to use. One person __________ a project and a __________ . The project must be related to art, like making a movie or a __________ . If people like the project, they give money with a __________ card. If the budget is reached, the people __________ . If not, no money is paid and the project is __________ . About __________ % of all projects reach their budget.

Kickstarter has __________ many projects. An online library for kids __________ $5 million. The Coolest Cooler, a __________ box with Bluetooth speakers, raised $13 million from __________ backers.

Kickstarter makes money from __________ . If a project reaches its budget, Kickstarter takes 5%. If the project doesn’t reach its goal, Kickstarter gets __________ .

Crowdfunding websites like Kickstarter are __________ the world. By bringing __________ and fans together, it is giving people a chance to __________ technology, inventions and art. That is the __________ of Kickstarter and the internet.

ESL discussion questions

Talk about the listening lesson story.

  1. What kind of story is this?
  2. What problem gave Perry Chen a good idea?
  3. What are the pros and cons of crowdfunding?
  4. How did Kickstarter change business and art?
  5. If artists didn’t have Kickstarter, how would they get funding?
  6. Why, do you think, only 35% of projects hit their budget target?

Synonym match

MATCH THE WORD OR PHRASE ON THE LEFT WITH THE CORRECT SYNONYM.

1. give
2. launch
3. propose
4. influence 
5. backer
a. donate
b. present
c. supporter
d. start
e. impact

ESL listening activity: anagrams

MOVE THE LETTERS. MAKE A WORD FROM THE ESL LISTENING STORY.

  1. ENLEIFCNU
  2. ICSSSMONIMO
  3. UNDFDE
  4. ELAENBS
  5. ERATWI
  6. RAIBLRY

Writing practice

Write the five sentences. Put the words in the correct order.

  1. many / projects / has / helped / Kickstarter /
  2. an / in / moment / the / internet / was / the / of / important / This / history / short
  3. funded / 108000 / million / 2016 / people / By / projects / 11 / had
  4. a / Perry / waiter / worked / Chen / as
  5. One / proposes / and / person / budget / a / project / a

Another English class lesson activity

Here’s another cool invention that became a smashing success. Learn all about Post It Notes in this English listening lesson.

Watch a video and take notes

Did you like this listening and reading lesson about Kickstarter? Click to watch a video about Kickstarter and practice your note-taking skills.

  1. Watch the video.
  2. Take notes.
  3. Make a list of at least seven facts.

Get the worksheet

Want to print out these ESL listening activities? Click to download the PDF worksheet.

Click to see the answers for this listening and reading lesson.

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