# A Media Interview With a CEO: ESL Listening Dialogue (C1)

> Free C1 ESL listening dialogue. A journalist challenges a CEO about a product recall. Script, vocabulary, questions and AI audio.

Canonical: https://zenmic.com/esl/dialogues/media-interview/
Last updated: 2026-10-20

CEFR C1 • Business English

A C1 English listening dialogue. A journalist challenges a CEO about a product recall. Use it for listening practice, role play or homework, and generate the audio in a US, UK or Australian accent.

Opens the Studio with this script loaded and a voice for each speaker. Change any line or accent, then generate the MP3 for your class. No sign-up needed to try.

## Dialogue Script (2 speakers)

Journalist: Thank you for joining us. Your company is recalling two hundred thousand heaters. What went wrong? CEO: A small number of units have a fault in the power switch. Customer safety is our absolute priority. Journalist: With respect, you knew about this fault in March. Why wait until October? CEO: We needed to understand the scale of the problem before acting. Journalist: Isn't that evading the question? Customers were at risk for seven months. CEO: <short pause> You're right, and I take full responsibility. We should have acted sooner. Journalist: What are you doing to make sure it doesn't happen again? CEO: We're commissioning an independent safety review, and we'll publish the results in full. Journalist: So, full transparency? CEO: Full transparency. Customers deserve nothing less.

Want your own version? The AI writes a fresh script and casts a voice for every speaker. [Make a New One Like This →](https://zenmic.com/studio/?template=esl-listening-dialogue&topic=C1+listening+dialogue%3A+A+Media+Interview+With+a+CEO.+A+journalist+challenges+a+CEO+about+a+product+recall.)

## Key Vocabulary

recall

When a company asks customers to return a faulty product.

to take responsibility

To accept that something is your fault.

to evade the question

To avoid answering directly.

transparency

Openness and honesty.

## Comprehension Questions

1. Why is the company recalling the product?
2. How does the journalist challenge the CEO?
3. What does the CEO promise at the end?

Tip: after you generate the audio, open its **Lesson view** for a printable transcript, vocabulary list and quiz with answers.

## How to Use It in Class

- **Before listening:** pre-teach the key vocabulary and ask students to predict what happens.
- **First listen:** students answer the comprehension questions without the script.
- **Second listen:** give out the script and have students underline useful phrases.
- **Speaking:** pairs role-play the dialogue, then change one detail and improvise.

## More C1 Dialogues

[📚 C1 Academic Seminar Debate Two students debate whether university education should be free.](https://zenmic.com/esl/dialogues/academic-debate/) [🤖 C1 Debating AI in the Workplace Two professionals discuss whether AI will replace or empower workers.](https://zenmic.com/esl/dialogues/ai-at-work/) [🔬 C1 Discussing a Research Proposal With a Supervisor A PhD student and supervisor refine the scope of a research proposal.](https://zenmic.com/esl/dialogues/research-supervisor/) [🗣️ C1 Networking and Small Talk at a Conference Two professionals strike up a conversation between sessions and swap contacts.](https://zenmic.com/esl/dialogues/conference-small-talk/)

[← All ESL listening dialogues](https://zenmic.com/esl/dialogues/)

## Need This at a Different Level?

Change the level, the situation or the target words. ZenMic writes a new dialogue and voices it in a minute.

[Make a Custom Dialogue →](https://zenmic.com/studio/?template=esl-listening-dialogue&topic=C1+listening+dialogue%3A+A+Media+Interview+With+a+CEO.+A+journalist+challenges+a+CEO+about+a+product+recall.)