About Popcorn: Free English Class

50-minute English Lesson

This free English class is about popcorn and how it became a movie theatre snack.

Read the story

Popcorn

What’s the first thing you notice inside a movie theatre? The smell of popcorn. Popcorn and movies are a perfect match, but it wasn’t always that way.

The history of popcorn and movies begins in the 1930s in America.

The world was in a depression. Finding work was hard and most people didn’t have much money for entertainment.

A few people saw an opportunity. They parked a popcorn machine in front of a movie theatre. A bag of fresh popcorn was a cheap snack and people loved to eat it while watching a movie. At that time, movie theatres didn’t sell snacks or drinks like they do today.

Popcorn was a hit. Some popcorn sellers were making more money than movie theatre owners.

After watching popcorn sellers achieve remarkable success with little investment, movie theatre owners copied the idea. Within a few years, popcorn machines and snack counters were common in theatres. Popcorn was an obvious choice. It was cheap to make and didn’t require expensive equipment.

During World War II, the link between popcorn and movies grew stronger. Sweet snacks were hard to find because of a sugar shortage. Theatres sold salty popcorn instead. From that time forward, people began to associate popcorn with movies.

Why is popcorn so expensive? Blame the movie studios. Most of your ticket money goes to the movie companies. Theatre owners keep approximately 30% of ticket revenue. That’s not enough to pay for air conditioning, rent, sound systems and other costs. So, theatre owners need other ways to generate income, like selling really expensive popcorn. Sales of snacks and drinks account for 50 to 70% of the average theatre’s profit.

Popcorn is a substantial component of the movie business. As one theatre owner said, “I’m not in the movie business. I’m in the popcorn business.”

Listen to the story without reading

Free English Class

English listening lesson: Gap Fill

LISTEN TO THE STORY AGAIN AND FILL IN THE BLANKS.

What’s the first thing you __________ inside a movie theatre? The smell of popcorn. Popcorn and movies are a __________ __________ , but it wasn’t always that way.

The history of popcorn and movies begins in the __________ in America.

The world was in a __________ . Finding work was hard and most people didn’t have __________ __________ for entertainment.

A few people saw an __________ . They __________ a popcorn machine in front of a movie theatre. A bag of fresh popcorn was a __________ snack and people loved to eat it while watching a movie. At that time, movie theatres __________ __________ snacks or drinks like they do today.

Popcorn was __________ __________ . Some popcorn sellers were making more money than movie theatre __________ .

After watching popcorn sellers __________ remarkable success with little __________ , movie theatre owners copied the idea. Within a few years, popcorn machines and snack __________ were common in theatres. Popcorn was an __________ choice. It was cheap to make and didn’t require expensive __________ .

During World War II, the __________ between popcorn and movies grew __________ . Sweet snacks were hard to find because of a sugar __________ . Theatres sold salty popcorn instead. From that time forward, people began to __________ popcorn with movies.

Why is popcorn so expensive? __________ the movie studios. Most of your __________ money goes to the movie companies. Theatre owners keep __________ 30% of ticket __________ . That’s not enough to pay for air conditioning, rent, sound systems and other costs. So, theatre owners need other ways to __________ __________ , like selling really expensive popcorn. Sales of snacks and drinks __________ for 50 to 70% of the __________ theatre’s profit.

Popcorn is a __________ component of the movie business. As one theatre owner said, “I’m not in the movie business. I’m in the popcorn __________ .”

ESL discussion questions

TALK ABOUT THE Active Listening Skills story.

1. What kind of story is this?
2. Do you like popcorn? What’s your favorite flavour?
3. Besides cost, does popcorn have any down-sides?
4. Summarize the history that connects popcorn with movie theatres.
5. Let’s say a movie theatre owner asked you to suggest a new snack for movie goers. What would you add to the menu?

Synonym match

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

English listening lesson anagrams

MOVE THE LETTERS. MAKE A WORD FROM THE ENGLISH LISTENING lesson.

1. NOOPNCMTE
2. OTRFPI
3. UEENVER
4. AATOSSECI
5. OUVOISB
6. AVECEIH

Writing practice

WRITE THE FIVE SENTENCES. PUT THE WORDS IN THE CORRECT ORDER.

1. were / snacks / hard / of / to / a / shortage / find / Sweet / because / sugar
2. people / and / have / much / for / most / work / Finding / was / entertainment / money / didn’t / hard
3. generate / owners / income / really / need / ways / other / expensive / So / popcorn / selling / like / to / theatre
4. was / a / a / watching / bag / it / snack / while / of / movie / and / loved / people / popcorn / fresh / to / A / eat / cheap
5. the / with / watching / achieve / little / owners / movie / sellers / remarkable / investment / theatre / idea / After / popcorn / success / copied

Another ESL listening story

Another Free English Class? Try this free English listening comprehension lesson about gunpowder.

Watch a short video and take notes

Did you like this active listening skills lesson based on numbers? Click here to watch a YouTube video about popcorn and movie theatres.

1. Watch the video.
2. Take notes.
3. Make a list with at least eight facts.

Get the worksheet

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