Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. a vendor
    • ex. The vendor promised to deliver the product within three days.
  2. peddle
    • ex. The man peddles ice cream from his cart at the market every afternoon.
  3. a sidewalk
    • ex. People walk on the sidewalk to stay safe from cars.
  4. equip
    • ex. The school equips students with books and notebooks for their studies.
  5. a gear
    • ex. The company gives workers the tools and gear they need for the job.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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In Indonesia’s capital, bicycle coffee vendors, known as Starlings, peddle their products on sidewalks, in parks, and at building sites. The name Starling is a combination of the popular brand Starbucks and the Indonesian word keliling, meaning mobile. Starlings are popular among Indonesians. Starlings work from early morning until midnight, so they are popular among the average Indonesian residents.

Indonesia is the world’s third-largest coffee maker, and most Indonesians drink coffee every day. Richer people often buy their coffee from fancy shops, while others choose more affordable options like coffee sold by Starlings. In Jakarta, Starling Village is home to many Starlings. Coffee supplier Syaiful lives there. Every day, he provides Starlings with over 1,000 packs of coffee. He also equips them with bicycles and necessary gear.

For 50-year-old Sander from East Java, becoming a Starling was simple. He has been selling drinks for ten years. He has seen how Jakarta’s coffee culture has changed, with mobile vendors becoming more common than traditional kiosks. Sander sells about 65 cups of coffee a day and makes 4,000 rupiah (about ¥39) for each cup. 

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Starlings

  • Bicycle coffee vendors known as Starlings are popular in Indonesia. Do you think Starlings would be popular in your country? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Why do you think Starlings are so popular in Indonesia? Discuss.
  • Imagine you’re a Starling. Where would you like to sell coffee (ex. on sidewalks, in parks)? Why? Discuss.

Kiosks and Mobile Vendors vs. Big Businesses

  • What is the advantage of kiosks and mobile sellers over big stores/businesses? Discuss.
  • What is the advantage of big stores/businesses over kiosks and mobile sellers? Discuss.
  • Starling is a combination of the popular brand Starbucks and the Indonesian word "keliling." What do you think of this strategy of using part of a popular brand’s name? Discuss.