Spoken English

Series 1 Episode 1 - Meeting Friends

2011-05-29T05:31:00.000-07:00

Johnny: Hello! Hello? Excuse me! Excuse me?

Olivia: Just sit down anywhere – they don’t have waiters in here!

Johnny: Oh, ok, is it ok if I sit here?

Olivia: Sure...but you’ll need to go to the counter if you want anything...

Johnny: Actually, I’m not really here to eat, or anything. I’m supposed to be meeting someone.

Olivia: Well, wait here long enough, most of London will come in...

Johnny: Sorry?

Olivia: Just joking.

Sarah: Excuse me, is anybody sitting here?

Olivia: I can’t see anyone!

Sarah: Sorry?

Olivia: Just joking. Go ahead, sit down.

Sarah: Thanks.

Olivia: You might be waiting a while if you sit here.

Sarah: Sorry?

Olivia: There are no waiters here – people usually just go up to the counter and order whatever they want.

Sarah: Oh...well...I’m just supposed to be meeting someone here actually...

Olivia: Not him, by any chance?

Sarah: Who?

Olivia: This guy here!

Johnny: Hello!

Sarah: Oh. No...

Johnny: No...I am waiting to meet someone...but not you! Where are you from, anyway?

Sarah: Well, I live in London now, but I’m originally from Shanghai.

Johnny: Thought so! I’m from Hong Kong.

Olivia: Sorry to interrupt..but who are you both waiting for?

Johnny: I’m waiting for my friend Harry...

Sarah: ...and I’m waiting for my friend Magda...

Olivia: How interesting!

Johnny: Erm...why’s that interesting?

Olivia: Because Harry and Magda are both friends of mine as well, and right now I’m waiting for both of them too...and here they are!

All: Hello

Olivia: Let’s make this easier - I’m Olivia!

Johnny: I’m Johnny. I’m a friend of...

Harry: ...mine. He’s a friend of mine. I’m Harry.

Sarah: Ok! I’m Sarah, and I’m a friend of...

Magda: ...mine! I’m Magda. Nice to meet you!

Olivia: This is complicated, isn’t it? Shall I get some tea? I think we’ll need a big pot, this might take some time. So, how do we all know each other..?

The Flatmates-BBC Learning English

2011-05-28T08:21:00.000-07:00

First Episode

Episode 1:

At the airport

Helen:

What does Michal look like?

Tim:

Well, he's tall and well built. He's got brown eyes and a shaved head.

Helen:

Is he handsome?

Tim:

Of course he is! He's my cousin.

Helen:

And what's he like? Is he like you too?

Tim:

No, he's quite shy really.

Helen:

Oh look! Is that him?

Tim:

Yeah! Michal! Michal! He's crying. I wonder what's wrong.

Describing people


Verb: To be	Adjective
I'm	slim
He's	well-built
She's	matronly
You're	handsome
We're	extroverted
They're	shy


Verb: Have got	(Adjective) + Noun
I've got	hazel eyes
He's got	a shaved head
She's got	gorgeous black hair
You've got	a five o'clock shadow
We've got	green eyes
They've got	long legs


Negative	Neutral
fat	plump or large
skinny	slim
spinster	single


	Verb: To do		Look like?
What	do	I	look like?
	do	you
	does	he/she/it
	do	they


	Verb: To be		Like?
What	am	I	like?
	are	you
	is	he/she/it
	are	we
	are	they

a five o'clock shadow:
is a kind of beard or moustache (but not a full beard or moustache) that a man gets if he doesn't shave for a day or two

matronly (adj):
an older woman who is plump

bald (adj):
a person with no hair. A person can have a shaved head if s/he is bald or if s/he has hair but chooses to shave it off

extroverted (adj):
a confident person who enjoys being with other people

Language Practice

For each of the six questions choose the one correct answer.

1. She's tall and slim and …

a. have got green eyes

b. has got eyes green

c. has got green eyes

d. green eyes

2. Some people think my dad's quite …

a. matronly

b. handsome

c. built well

d. shaved head

3. "He's really funny" is the answer. What's the question?

a. What is he like?

b. What does he like?

c. What does he look like?

d. What like is he?

4. "He's gorgeous - he's tall and he's got big brown eyes." What are the three "he's"

short for in that sentence?

a. he is, he is and he is

b. he is, he is and he has

c. he is, he has and he has

d. he has, he has and he has

5. She loves going to parties, meeting new people and being the centre of attention.

She's …

a. shy

b. friendful

c. introvert

d. extrovert

6. "What does she look like?" is the question. What's the answer?

a. She likes Italian food.

b. She's shy.

c. She's tall and slim.

d. She looks like tall and slim.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/flatmates/episode01/index.shtml

Going out for a drink

2011-05-27T06:31:00.000-07:00

Learn the language of the street - what people say and the topics they like to talk about. Take a look at these going out words and phrases and then try using as many as you can in the Lingo Challenge!

Let's go for a drink! / Let's go down the pub! / Let's go out for a few bevvies. / a few jars. - Let's go to my local public house - the pub - for some drinks.

We're going to paint the town red. / We're going to go on a bar crawl. - We're going to several pubs or bars.

I'll get the booze!- I'll buy the beer!

A glass of bubbly - A glass of champagne or sparkling wine.

That wine is corked! It tastes like vinegar. - the wine is bad.

A chaser - A measure of a spirit such as whisky or rum which you drink with beer.

A double - 2 measures of spirits. A single measure is usually 1/5 of a gill - 25 ml.

A drop of the hard stuff - Some spirits rather than beer or wine.

A soft drink - A non alcoholic drink.

Note to the learner

Do believe in your practice of the new expressions. Your confidence in English really depends on your usage of the collocations, that means group of words which go together to make sense. More phrases you know, more easily you can express whatever you want in English. Be a confident speaker. What you want to say is more important than how you say it. Have a happy learning!

Meeting People

2011-05-27T01:56:00.000-07:00

Read about Kathy and Charles.

· Hi, my name is Kathy. I am a secretary. I work in an office. I have worked there for 5 years. I like my job very much. I like my boss and my co-workers.

I am 27 years old. I have long blonde hair and blue eyes. I am 155 centimeters tall and I weigh 50 kilograms.

I live in an apartment on Park Road. My phone number is 234-5678. I am single. I don’t have a boyfriend. In my free time I like to go swimming. I also enjoy reading novels.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello, my name is Charles. I am a bank manager. I work in an office, too. I have worked there for 20 years. I like my job very much, too. I like my boss and my co-workers.

I am 54 years old. I have short, brown hair and brown eyes. I am 175 centimeters tall and I weigh 80 kilograms.

I live in a house on Maple Street. My phone number is 695-3452. I am married. My wife’s name is Susan. We have 2 children. We have one son and a daughter. When I have free time I like to play golf. I also like to play cards.

Dialogue: Kathy and Charles are talking.

Kathy: Hi Charles, how are you?

Charles: Fine thanks, Kathy. How are you?

Kathy: I’m good. Do you still work at the bank?

Charles: Yes, I enjoy working there. And you? Do you still work in an office?

Kathy: Yes. I have been there for five years now. How are your children?

Charles: They are both fine, too.

Kathy: Well, I have to go home now. It was nice to see you, Charles.

Charles: Nice to see you, too, Kathy. Have a good day.

Questions about Kathy:

1. What is her name?

2. What is her job?

3. Where does she work?

4. How long has she worked there?

5. Does she like her job?

6. How old is she?

7. What does she look like?

8. How tall is she?

9. How much does she weigh?

10. Where does she live?

11. What's her phone number?

12. Is Kathy married?

13. Does she have a boyfriend?

14. What does she like to do in her free time?

Questions about Charles:

1. What's his name?

2. What's his job?

3. How long has he worked there?

4. How old is he?

5. What does he look like?

6. How tall is he?

7. How much does he weigh?

8. Where does he live?

9. What's his phone number?

10. Is Charles married?

11. Does he have any children?

12. How many sons does he have?

13. How many daughters does he have?

14. What does he like to do when he has free time?

Activity: Personal Information

Fill in the blanks with information about yourself:

· My name is _________________________________

I am a __________________________

I ______________________ at _____________

I am ______ years old

I have ______________________ hair and _______________ eyes

I am _________ centimeters tall and I weigh ________ kilograms

I live in a ___________________ on _____________________ in

______________________________________________________

My phone number is _______________________________

I ____________ married. I live with ____________________________

· In my free time I like to _ or ___

Discussion Questions: Ask your classmates these questions.

1. What’s your name?

2. What do you do?

3. Do you like it?

4. How old are you?

5. Describe your hairstyle.

6. How tall are you?

7. How much do you weigh?

8. Where do you live?

9. What’s your phone number?

10. Are you married?

11. What do you like to do in your free time?

12. Do you have a job? What do you do?

13. How long have you had this job?

14. What kinds of jobs are interesting to you?

15. What kinds of jobs are not interesting to you?

Grammar Focus: Fill in the blanks.

Hi, my name __ Kathy. I _ a secretary. I ______ for a law firm. I

in an office. I there for 5 years. I __ my job

very much. I __________ my boss and my co-workers.

I 27 years old. I _____ short, blonde hair and blue eyes. I

_155 centimeters tall and I __ 50 kilograms.

I _ in an apartment on Park Road. My __________ is 234-5678.

I _ single. I ___ a boyfriend. In my free time I to

go . I also enjoy ___________ novels.

It tastes stale!

2011-05-27T01:38:00.000-07:00

About food

Wayne: What are we going to eat for dinner?

Lilia: I'm going to fix some pork chops.

Wayne: I'm afraid the meat is rotten.

Lilia: That's strange! I just bought it the

day before yesterday.

Wayne: Well, I forgot to put it in the refrigerator.

Lilia: Good for you! Now what should we eat?

Wayne: Why don't we eat out?

Lilia: Again?
Weren't you just complaining

that it's too expensive to eat out?

Wayne: Not when you're hungry.

word Study

Rotten

1 ( of food, wood, etc. ) that has decayed and cannot be eaten or used

1. the smell of rotten vegetables

2. The fruit is starting to go rotten .

2 [ usually before noun ] ( informal ) very bad ,terrible

1. I've had a rotten day!

2. What rotten luck!

3. She's a rotten singer.

Asking about business

2011-05-26T21:50:00.000-07:00

Spoken English conversation

Asking about business

S1. Where do I get the downtown bus?
S2. Walk straight ahead one block
S1. Thanks very much
S2. Don't mention it.

Conversation B

S1. Where does the bus stop?
S2. At the next corner.
S1. Does it go downtown?
S2. Only the number 5 bus goes downtown

Conversation C.

S1. Are there many bus stops along this street?
S2. Yes, there are. There are quite a few.
S1. Are they located at the corners?
S2. Most of them are, but a few aren't.

Conversation D

S1. How do I get to the station?
S2.Take the bus at the next corner.
S1. Do you know which bus I take?
S2. Watch for number 32.

Conversation E

S1. How much is the fare on this bus?
S2 It's fifteen cents.
S1. do I give the money to you.
S2. No just drop it in this machine.

Spoken English

Series 1 Episode 1 - Meeting Friends

The Flatmates-BBC Learning English

Describing people

To talk about people's appearance or personality you can use: be + adjective

To talk about physical characteristics you can use: have got + (adjective) + noun

Some adjectives have a negative connotation (or feeling) and some are more neutral:

To ask about someone's appearance you can use: do + look like?

To ask about someone's personality you can use: be + like?

Vocabulary:

Going out for a drink

Meeting People

· Hi, my name is Kathy. I am a secretary. I work in an office. I have worked there for 5 years. I like my job very much. I like my boss and my co-workers.

I am 27 years old. I have long blonde hair and blue eyes. I am 155 centimeters tall and I weigh 50 kilograms.

I live in an apartment on Park Road. My phone number is 234-5678. I am single. I don’t have a boyfriend. In my free time I like to go swimming. I also enjoy reading novels.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello, my name is Charles. I am a bank manager. I work in an office, too. I have worked there for 20 years. I like my job very much, too. I like my boss and my co-workers.

I am 54 years old. I have short, brown hair and brown eyes. I am 175 centimeters tall and I weigh 80 kilograms.

I live in a house on Maple Street. My phone number is 695-3452. I am married. My wife’s name is Susan. We have 2 children. We have one son and a daughter. When I have free time I like to play golf. I also like to play cards.

Dialogue: Kathy and Charles are talking.

Kathy: Hi Charles, how are you?

Charles: Fine thanks, Kathy. How are you?

Kathy: I’m good. Do you still work at the bank?

Charles: Yes, I enjoy working there. And you? Do you still work in an office?

Kathy: Yes. I have been there for five years now. How are your children?

Charles: They are both fine, too.

Kathy: Well, I have to go home now. It was nice to see you, Charles.

Charles: Nice to see you, too, Kathy. Have a good day.

Questions about Kathy:

1. What is her name?

2. What is her job?

3. Where does she work?

4. How long has she worked there?

5. Does she like her job?

6. How old is she?

7. What does she look like?

8. How tall is she?

9. How much does she weigh?

10. Where does she live?

11. What's her phone number?

12. Is Kathy married?

13. Does she have a boyfriend?

14. What does she like to do in her free time?

Questions about Charles:

1. What's his name?

2. What's his job?

3. How long has he worked there?

4. How old is he?

5. What does he look like?

6. How tall is he?

7. How much does he weigh?

8. Where does he live?

9. What's his phone number?

10. Is Charles married?

11. Does he have any children?

12. How many sons does he have?

13. How many daughters does he have?

14. What does he like to do when he has free time?

Activity: Personal Information

Fill in the blanks with information about yourself:

· My name is _________________________________

I am a __________________________

I ______________________ at _____________

I am ______ years old

I have ______________________ hair and _______________ eyes

I am _________ centimeters tall and I weigh ________ kilograms

I live in a ___________________ on _____________________ in

______________________________________________________

My phone number is _______________________________

I ____________ married. I live with ____________________________

· In my free time I like to _________________ or ___________________

Discussion Questions: Ask your classmates these questions.

1. What’s your name?

2. What do you do?

3. Do you like it?

4. How old are you?

5. Describe your hairstyle.

6. How tall are you?

7. How much do you weigh?

8. Where do you live?

To talk about people's appearance or personality you can use:
be + adjective

To talk about physical characteristics you can use:
have got + (adjective) + noun

To ask about someone's appearance you can use:
do + look like?

To ask about someone's personality you can use:
be + like?

I __________ at _

I have ________ hair and _ eyes

I am _ centimeters tall and I weigh kilograms

I live in a _ on ___ in

I married. I live with ________________

· In my free time I like to _ or ___

Hi, my name __ Kathy. I _ a secretary. I ______ for a law firm. I

in an office. I there for 5 years. I __ my job

I 27 years old. I _____ short, blonde hair and blue eyes. I

_155 centimeters tall and I __ 50 kilograms.

I _ in an apartment on Park Road. My __________ is 234-5678.

I _ single. I ___ a boyfriend. In my free time I to

go . I also enjoy ___________ novels.