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Lesson Info

Post Type
Review
Level
Level 2 / A2
Published
Title
BTS: Arirang Album Review
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/reviews/2026-05-25-bts-arirang/

In this lesson:

  • Warm-up Prediction task and general discussion questions.
  • Vocab List Useful words and meanings.
  • Reading Read the main text.
  • Listen and Fill Gaps Listen for missing words.
  • True or False Check understanding.
  • Review Breakdown Sort ideas from the review.
  • Vocab Match Connect words to meanings.
  • Discussion Builder Think about how ideas relate to each other to choose connecting expressions.
  • Sentence Unscramble Reorder mixed phrases into correct sentences.
  • Discussion Questions Open speaking questions for discussion (or writing practice).
  • Answers Answer key for the printed tasks.

Think Ahead: Before you read, what do you think the writer will say about BTS's new album?

a) It is the best K-pop album ever.

b) It is old and boring.

c) It is good but not perfect.

Album cover for the Arirang by BTS. Mostly white with 3 red circular images at the bottom.
BTS Arirang.

Ask: (1) What kind of music do you listen to most? (2) What makes a song good: the sound, the words, or the singer?

VOCAB LIST

album (n.) — A group of songs put out together.
comeback (n.) — A return after being away for some time.
repeated (adj.) — Used again in the same way more than once.
confident (adj.) — Feeling sure about what you do.
culture (n.) — The art, music, food, and ideas of a group of people.
release (n.) — A new song, album, movie, or product that people can buy or use.
energy (n.) — A strong and active feeling.
global (adj.) — connected with the world.

Reading

BTS released Arirang in March 2026. It is their first full-group album after their time in the army, so many fans waited a long time for it. The title comes from “Arirang,” a famous old Korean song. Because of this, the album feels connected to Korean culture, but it also sounds modern and global. The songs use pop, hip-hop, and dance music. Some songs are big and exciting, while others are softer and full of feeling.

The best thing about Arirang is its energy. BTS sound happy to be together again. The album also has a clear feeling of return. It is not just a group of songs. It feels like a comeback story. Some songs are easy to enjoy right away, and the stronger tracks have powerful singing and confident rap parts.

However, the album is not perfect. A few songs, such as “Hooligan,” have too much happening at once. Some ideas are also repeated. Sometimes, the album tries to sound important, but the songs are not always strong enough.

Arirang is a very good comeback album. It is not BTS’s best album. That's The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever. But Arirang is exciting and easy to recommend to fans.

BTS: Arirang Album Review

Level 2 Review

Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It

Album cover for the Arirang by BTS. Mostly white with 3 red circular images at the bottom.
BTS Arirang.

BTS released Arirang in March 2026. It is their first full-group album after their time in the army, so many fans waited a long time for it. The title comes from “Arirang,” a famous old Korean song. Because of this, the album feels connected to Korean culture, but it also sounds modern and global. The songs use pop, hip-hop, and dance music. Some songs are big and exciting, while others are softer and full of feeling.

The best thing about Arirang is its energy. BTS sound happy to be together again. The album also has a clear feeling of return. It is not just a group of songs. It feels like a comeback story. Some songs are easy to enjoy right away, and the stronger tracks have powerful singing and confident rap parts.

However, the album is not perfect. A few songs, such as “Hooligan,” have too much happening at once. Some ideas are also repeated. Sometimes, the album tries to sound important, but the songs are not always strong enough.

Arirang is a very good comeback album. It is not BTS’s best album. That's The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever. But Arirang is exciting and easy to recommend to fans.

Speaker: British Male  Duration: 2:00  Watch on YouTube

Two ways to use this audio:

  • Method 1: Listen for the main idea: what is the article about in one sentence? Listen a second time for more details, then try the Understanding activities below.
  • Method 2: Read the article first to learn the vocabulary and ideas. Then look at the gap-fill sentences to see what to listen for, and listen to fill them in.

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:

BTS released Arirang in March 2026. It is their first full-group (1) after their time in the army, so many fans waited a long time for it. The title comes from “Arirang,” a famous old Korean song. Because of this, the album feels connected to Korean (2) , but it also sounds modern and global. The songs use pop, hip-hop, and dance music. Some songs are big and exciting, while others are softer and full of feeling.

The best thing about Arirang is its (3) . BTS sound happy to be together again. The album also has a clear feeling of return. It is not just a group of songs. It feels like a comeback story. Some songs are easy to enjoy right away, and the stronger tracks have powerful singing and confident rap parts.

However, the album is not perfect. A few songs, such as “Hooligan,” have too much happening at once. Some ideas are also (4) . Sometimes, the album tries to sound important, but the songs are not always strong enough.

Arirang is a very good (5) album. It is not BTS’s best album. That's The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever. But Arirang is exciting and easy to recommend to fans.

True or False

Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.

  • Arirang is BTS's first full-group album after their time in the army.
    The review says it is "their first full-group album after their time in the army."
  • The album only uses one kind of music.
    The review says the songs use pop, hip-hop, and dance music.
  • The writer thinks the album feels like BTS are returning.
    The review says the album has a clear feeling of return and feels like a comeback story.
  • The writer says Arirang is BTS's best album.
    The last paragraph says, "It is not BTS's best album."

True or False

1. Arirang is BTS's first full-group album after their time in the army. TRUEFALSE True

2. The album only uses one kind of music. TRUEFALSE False

3. The writer thinks the album feels like BTS are returning. TRUEFALSE True

4. The writer says Arirang is BTS's best album. TRUEFALSE False

Review Breakdown

Read each statement. Write the letter in the correct group below.

  1. The review says this is BTS's best album.
  2. Some songs are easy to enjoy right away.
  3. A few songs, such as “Hooligan,” have too much happening at once.
  4. The album uses pop, hip-hop, and dance music.
  5. Arirang is a very good comeback album.
  6. BTS released Arirang in March 2026.
  7. Every song on the album feels fresh and different.
  8. BTS sound happy to be together again.

What it is:

Good / bad points:

Final opinion:

Not in the review:

What it is: d f

Good / bad points: b c h

Final opinion: e

Not in the review: a g

Vocab Match

Loading vocabulary activity...

Vocab Match

Write each vocabulary word next to its matching definition.

1. Album (n)e) A group of songs put out together.

2. Culture (n)d) The art, music, food, and ideas of a group of people.

3. Energy (n)c) A strong and active feeling.

4. Confident (adj)b) Feeling sure about what you do.

5. Comeback (n)a) A return after being away for some time.

a) A return after being away for some time.

b) Feeling sure about what you do.

c) A strong and active feeling.

d) The art, music, food, and ideas of a group of people.

e) A group of songs put out together.

Discussion Builder

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. I like music with different styles it never feels boring.

    because / but / and

    I like music with different styles because it never feels boring.

  2. Some songs can have too much happening at once, the whole album can still be good.

    because / and / but

    Some songs can have too much happening at once, but the whole album can still be good.

  3. music shouldn't use old culture.

    But, / I think, / For example,

    I think, music shouldn't use old culture.

Sentence Unscramble

  1. A. I usually listen B. to the full album C. every song. D. because E. I want to hear

    I usually listen to the full album because I want to hear every song.

  2. A. from my favorite group B. because C. feels special. D. I would probably E. new music F. wait

    I would probably wait because new music from my favorite group feels special.

Discussion Questions

  1. Do you listen to BTS or other K-pop groups? What do you like about them?
  2. The songs use pop, hip-hop, and dance music. Do you like music with different styles?
  3. Do you like music that uses old culture in a new way?
  4. Do you usually listen to a full album, or only one or two songs?
  5. Can an album be good even if some songs are weak?
  6. Do you prefer strong energy or softer songs that are full of feeling?
  7. Does this review make you want to listen to Arirang? Why or why not?
  8. The review says many fans waited a long time. Would you wait for new music from your favorite singer or group?

Answers BTS: Arirang Album Review / Level 2

Think Ahead: c

Listening: (1) album, (2) culture, (3) energy, (4) repeated, (5) comeback

True or False:

  1. True. The review says it is "their first full-group album after their time in the army."
  2. False. The review says the songs use pop, hip-hop, and dance music.
  3. True. The review says the album has a clear feeling of return and feels like a comeback story.
  4. False. The last paragraph says, "It is not BTS's best album."

Review Breakdown:

What it is: d f

Good / bad points: b c h

Final opinion: e

Not in the review: a g

Vocabulary:

  1. Album (n): A group of songs put out together.
  2. Culture (n): The art, music, food, and ideas of a group of people.
  3. Energy (n): A strong and active feeling.
  1. Confident (adj): Feeling sure about what you do.
  2. Comeback (n): A return after being away for some time.

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Reason. 2) Contrast. 3) Opinion.

  1. because
  2. but
  3. I think,

Sentence Unscramble:

  1. I usually listen to the full album because I want to hear every song.
  2. I would probably wait because new music from my favorite group feels special.

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