| 1 |
i'm sick and tired of listening to all your problems - do sth about them! |
| 2 |
i think jerry was very tired - he's fast asleep on the sofa. |
| 3 |
the audience loved it all and the band came back twice to give encores. |
| 4 |
i find it confusing when apps keep updating themselves all the time. |
| 5 |
i walked for six hours, and now i've got blisters on my feet. |
| 6 |
it's difficult to get the truth from newspapers in this country - they're all censored. |
| 7 |
that dress really suits you. it goes really well with your hair colour. |
| 8 |
eat, chat and make friends. |
| 9 |
come along to a sociable and stimulating evening of conversation that goes beyond the normal 'What do you do?' or 'Did you see the last night's tv?' |
| 10 |
you'll have a number of different conversation partners during the evening, and have a menu of interesting topics to get you started. |
| 11 |
there will be turkish mese dishes on the tables and coffee or other drinks are available. |
| 12 |
some of our most recent conversation topics include. |
| 13 |
when do you feel most alive? |
| 14 |
which three adjectives might people use to describe you? |
| 15 |
what was the last photo you took on your phone? |
| 16 |
where do you feel most 'at home'? |
| 17 |
what three ingredients would you look for in an ideal job? |
| 18 |
would you prefer to live with the view of the ocean or of a city? |
| 19 |
what three questions would you ask a potential flamate? |
| 20 |
what do you always have in your wallet or handbag? |
| 21 |
what music do you have on your phone or mp3 player? |
| 22 |
what is speacial about the conversations? |
| 23 |
which four conversation topics mentioned would you be the most interested in discussing? |
| 24 |
are there any conversation topics which you would avoid asking in your culture/country? |
| 25 |
listen to people at the conversation evening. |
| 26 |
which two topics from the text above do the speakers discuss? |
| 27 |
what can you remember from each conversation? |
| 28 |
correct the false sentences. |
| 29 |
the woman would like someone very sociable. |
| 30 |
she's at her best in the mornings. |
| 31 |
at one's best (us) -- in one's best mood, form, health, etc. |
| 32 |
she's quite tidy. |
| 33 |
she would ask a flatmate about their salary. |
| 34 |
the man has a lot of original ideas. |
| 35 |
he thinks carefully before making a decision. |
| 36 |
he agrees with the three adjectives. |
| 37 |
work in pairs and discuss the questions. |
| 38 |
what examples do the speakers give about being: antisocial, tidy, reliable with money, creative, adventurous and non-judgemental. |
| 39 |
which of the two topics would you prefer to talk about? |
| 40 |
what would your answers be for this topic? |
| 41 |
for me an important question is 'do you keep yourself to yourself or do you tend to be around a lot? |
| 42 |
i like having friends around. i suppose, i'm a people person. |
| 43 |
i'm not a morning person - i can't stand people who are all bright and cheerful first thing. |
| 44 |
well, at least you're witty. you're quick and you make me laugh. |
| 45 |
i get an idea and i do it, no hesitation. so i'm spontaneous. |
| 46 |
well, people say i'm fun to be with, a good laugh, if you know what i mean. |
| 47 |
i'm very practical and down-to-earth. |
| 48 |
i'm not a computer geek. |
| 49 |
i don't sit in front of my computer for hours. |
| 50 |
my friend always has time for me when i've got a problem. |
| 51 |
she seems to understand and wants to help. |
| 52 |
cheung always takes a long time to make up his mind and he's careful to avoid problems or danger. |
| 53 |
joe thought his first job would be easy and people would be nice. |
| 54 |
he soon learnt differently. |
| 55 |
i really like your fiance - he seems honest and sincere. |
| 56 |
lucia is a great tourist guide because she's so friendly and enjoys meeting people. |
| 57 |
my last teacher wasn't very kind. |
| 58 |
she often laughed at students when they made mistakes. |
| 59 |
noriko is a great addition to the team. |
| 60 |
she adapts quickly to new situations and doesn't mind change. |
| 61 |
karl acts a bit strange sometimes and wears the oddest clothes, but he's a good guy. |
| 62 |
you can tell marta a secret and you know she'll never tell anyone else. |
| 63 |
sam's a typical teenager. |
| 64 |
he always seems to be unhappy or else he suddenly gets angry for no reason. |
| 65 |
it's about a service where overweight people can lose weight quickly. |
| 66 |
it's about a service where people can get advice from a therapist in a short time. |
| 67 |
overweight people. |
| 68 |
it's about a service where people get help making their lives simpler. |
| 69 |
new yorkers are famous for spending more time with their therapists, or 'shrinks', than with their friends. |
| 70 |
whether it's true is open to debate, but with the arrival of speed shrinking, they'll find they have more time left for their personal life and more cash left in their pockets as well. |
| 71 |
'you only have three minutes to say your problems and get advice,' said andu novac, the first person i spoke to when i arrived at my first speed-shrinking event. |
| 72 |
"that's so you don't waste time going into detail." |
| 73 |
in the newest variant of a format that seems to be inspired by speed dating, participants have the opportunity to seek the advice of eight different therapists, each providing a three-minute session. |
| 74 |
speed shrinking is the brainchild of susan shapiro, a professor of journalism who has also written a book on the subject. |
| 75 |
shapiro stumbled across an idea a few years ago when she herself was looking for a new therapist and found a way to try out several of them at minimal cost. |
| 76 |
this evening's event, held in a university lecture hall, is free and has attracted a long queue of people hoping to find a quick cure for their emotional quandaries. |
| 77 |
many of those attending are unwilling to talk about their worries to anyone but the therapists, but problems seem to run the gamut from broken relationships, to anxiety about work and money, to general depression, as well as a variety of phobias. |
| 78 |
advice tends to be succinct and practical, as suits the format. |
| 79 |
'i'm really unhappy in my job,' novac tells therapist adrian jones. |
| 80 |
'i wish i'd become a painter, but now i feel stuck in this position i have at a bank.' |
| 81 |
'follow your dreams,' jones tells him. |
| 82 |
'you may end up poorer, but you won't have the regret of not doing what you really want to do.' |
| 83 |
jones's advice hardly seems original, but novas says he's satisfied. |
| 84 |
'i liked his style - he seemed to understand and care,' explains novac. |
| 85 |
i'm actually looking for a new therapist and this is a great way to try out eight of them in a short time.' |
| 86 |
that's actually why many therapists take part in the event, jones tells us. |
| 87 |
'this is a great source of new clients.' |
| 88 |
'and it's a good way for me to advertise my new book - i just have it on the table in front of me and refer to it during my session.' |
| 89 |
some of those seeking advice aren't entirely happy with the format. |
| 90 |
'people near me can hear what i'm telling the therapist,' remarks donna bersch. |
| 91 |
'i feel self-conscious.' |
| 92 |
but with the loud buzz in the room that sometimes reaches the level of shouting, it's hard to imagine that anyone could actually eavesdrop on another session. |
| 93 |
sometimes, they're lucky to be able to hear the person sitting opposite them! |
| 94 |
i don't know why you say he's down-to-earth ~ i think he's a real computer geek and he's not very practical. |
| 95 |
i never plan what i say, i'm very spontaneous ~ and other people seem to think i'm quick and witty because of that. |
| 96 |
fabio tends to keep himself to himself. i don't see much of him because ~ he arrives at work early and leaves early - he's a morning person and i'm not. |
| 97 |
my colleague bill is a real people person, ~ you can tell he enjoys company because he's such a good laugh. |
| 98 |
what would you say? |
| 99 |
erm, for me, an important question is 'do you keep yourself to yourself, or do you tend to be around a lot?' |
| 100 |
hmm. what are you trying to find out? |
| 101 |
i'm suppose i'm looking for a balance, because the last thing you want is a person who comes in and goes straight up to their room you never see them again till the morning. |
| 102 |
you know, antisocial. |
| 103 |
i'm quite sociable, you know, i like having friends around. |
| 104 |
i suppose i'm a people person. |
| 105 |
yeah. |
| 106 |
but on the other hand, you don't want a flatmate who's always there, so you never get any privacy. |
| 107 |
and especially in the morning. |
| 108 |
i'm not a morning person - i can't stand people who are all bright and cheerful first thing. |
| 109 |
you know, when i haven't woken up yet. |
| 110 |
so yeah, i'd like someone who is quite sociable but not too sociable. |
| 111 |
mm, yeah, i agree. i suppose another question is about housework and cleaning. |
| 112 |
yes, sth like 'who cleans the place where you live now?' |
| 113 |
how would you answer that question? |
| 114 |
who cleans my flat now? i do. |
| 115 |
yeah, me too. |
| 116 |
and i'd also ask: 'are you tidy?' |
| 117 |
what answer do you want the person to give? |
| 118 |
i'd want the answer to be 'oh yes, extremely.' |
| 119 |
i don't know. i'd hate to live with someone who was really untidy all the time, that never did the washing up, someone that left their stuff just lying all over the place. |
| 120 |
someone who doesn't do their fair share of the housework. |
| 121 |
no, that would just drive me crazy. |
| 122 |
i suppose i'm quite tidy myself. |
| 123 |
yeah, yeah. um and what about money? |
| 124 |
yeah it can be a big problem. |
| 125 |
i had a flatmate once and she used to say 'i know i have to pay the electricity bill but can i pay it next week?' |
| 126 |
she promised to pay and then never did. |
| 127 |
really unreliable. |
| 128 |
oh yeah. it doesn't matter how nice people are if they've got money problems. |
| 129 |
you need to know they can afford the rent. |
| 130 |
but i wouldn't ask 'could you tell me how much you earn?' |
| 131 |
i think i'd say the rent and the bills have to be paid in advance, so i'd ask 'can you pay three months in advance?' and see what they say. |
| 132 |
ooh that's really difficult to answer. |
| 133 |
i would like to think: 'handsome', 'witty', 'cool'. |
| 134 |
well at least you're witty. |
| 135 |
you're quick and you make me laugh, and you're good with words. |
| 136 |
no, but i don't think they'd describe me like that. |
| 137 |
i dunno. let me think. |
| 138 |
erm, i suppose they'd say i'm good at coming up with new ideas. |
| 139 |
so i think people would describe me as quite creative. |
| 140 |
and the second one? |
| 141 |
erm.. well, people know i like doing new things, things that are ourt of the ordinary. |
| 142 |
such as? |
| 143 |
oh well, like last week i was by the sea with some friends and it was a lovely warm evening. |
| 144 |
and we decided to go for a midnight swim. |
| 145 |
i mean, we hadn't planned to, it just seemed like a great idea at the time. |
| 146 |
i like doing new things, different things. |
| 147 |
so i suppose that means i'm adventurous.. or maybe a better word is spontaneous. |
| 148 |
yeah, that's more like it. |
| 149 |
i get an idea and i do it, no hesitation, so i'm spontaneous. |
| 150 |
that's useful in my job, too. |
| 151 |
can i ask what you do? |
| 152 |
i work for a web design company. |
| 153 |
we design websites for new businesses. |
| 154 |
mmm, sounds interesting. |
| 155 |
so that's two very positive words so far. |
| 156 |
what's your third one? |
| 157 |
well, i think people that know me would say that i'm quite messy and disorganised. |
| 158 |
you should see my desk - papers everywhere - and my bedroom. |
| 159 |
and i'm always losing things. |
| 160 |
so yes, my friends would say 'creative, spontaneous and disorganised'. |
| 161 |
i'd be interested to know if you agree with them. |
| 162 |
what words do you think describe you best? |
| 163 |
now that's an interesting question. |
| 164 |
actually, i'd like to think that i'm fair, you know, non-judgemental. |
| 165 |
what do you mean by non-judgemental? |
| 166 |
well, i try not to make up my mind about people until i get to know them, so yes, non-judgemental. |
| 167 |
but i'd stick with 'spontaneous' and 'disorganised'. |
| 168 |
i think they describe me quite well. |
| 169 |
what about you? |
| 170 |
erm. well, people say i'm fun to be with, a good laugh, if you know what i mean. |
| 171 |
erm, i'm very practical and down-to-earth. |
| 172 |
what do you do? |
| 173 |
i train people in advanced computer software. |
| 174 |
but don't worry, i'm not a computer geek. |
| 175 |
i don't sit in front of my computer for hours. |
| 176 |
what do you mean by non-judgemental? |
| 177 |
another question is about housework and cleaning. |
| 178 |
yes, sth like 'who cleans the place where you live now?' |
| 179 |
you need to know they can afford the rent. |
| 180 |
but i wouldn't ask 'could you tell me how much you earn?' |
| 181 |
i like doing new things, things that are out of the ordinary. |
| 182 |
such as? |
| 183 |
that's useful in my job, too. |
| 184 |
can i ask what you do? |
| 185 |
i work for a design company. |
| 186 |
my friends would say 'creative, spontaneous and disorganised'. |
| 187 |
i'd be interested to know if/whether you agree with them. |
| 188 |
what do you mean by 'non-judgemental?' |
| 189 |
well, i try not to make up my mind about people until i get to know them. |
| 190 |
why are you studying english? ~ can you tell why you're studying english? |
| 191 |
how long do you plan to study? ~ do you have any idea how long you plan to study? |
| 192 |
what do you do in the evenings? ~ can i ask what you do in the evenings? |
| 193 |
do you have a full-time job? ~ do you mind me asking if you have a full-time job? |
| 194 |
which countries have you visited? ~ i'd be interested to know which countries you've visited. |
| 195 |
where did you get that watch? ~ could you tell me where you got that watch? |
| 196 |
is there a good cafe anywhere near here? ~ do you know if there is a good cafe anywhere near here? |
| 197 |
would you like to come for a coffee? ~ i was wondering if you'd like to come for a coffee. |
| 198 |
how important is speaking english for you? |
| 199 |
which aspects of speaking do you find difficult? |
| 200 |
what problems are there in practising speaking outside class if you're studying in a) your own country b) an english-speaking country? |
| 201 |
what do you think of the suggestion in the reply? |
| 202 |
what types of video would you choose? |
| 203 |
hi everyone, i live in spain and i don't use english at work, so i don't have any chance to practise speaking english. |
| 204 |
does anyone have any good ideas how i could improve my speaking? |
| 205 |
hi rafael, i know exactly how you feel because i'm in a similar situation. |
| 206 |
i live in bulgaria and also struggle to find opportunities to practise my spoken english. |
| 207 |
i know a really great idea which has really helped me. |
| 208 |
it's called 'shadowing'. |
| 209 |
you find a short video which has the words on the screen at the same time. |
| 210 |
i really like sitcoms so i often use these, or you can find some good english video podcasts with the script under them. |
| 211 |
you listen to the speaker and you say the words at the same time. |
| 212 |
it's really good because you have to listen very carefully to the 'music' of english. |
| 213 |
you notice the stress and the intonation, how the person phrases things and where the pauses are. |
| 214 |
it's really helped me to become more confident and fluent and has improved my pronunciation. |
| 215 |
hope that helps. good luck! |
| 216 |
read the list of features which appear in this type of advice. |
| 217 |
which ones are in the message above? |
| 218 |
show you identify with the problem. |
| 219 |
give advice referring to personal experience. |
| 220 |
say where to get more information. |
| 221 |
sign off and wish the person luck. |
| 222 |
i think it's easy to solve your problem. |
| 223 |
you just have to do some research. |
| 224 |
there are a lot of opportunities to practise speaking on the internet. |
| 225 |
you can find them by searching for 'practise speaking english online free' |
| 226 |
be careful, some aren't really free. |
| 227 |
on some sites you can find a speaking partner in another country and talk to them on skype. |
| 228 |
often they're at the same level as you, but it's good for practice and for getting more confidence. |
| 229 |
it helped me become more fluent and i also liked meeting new people very much. |
| 230 |
i hope you try this out and enjoy it as much as i did. |
| 231 |
i wish you good luck success in your future endeavours. |
| 232 |
my situation is different from yours and i also need advice. |
| 233 |
i'm studying in the uk so there's english all around me but i'm quite a shy person. |
| 234 |
my grammar is good but i don't feel confident about speaking, so i end up talking to other students in the coffee bar and outside in my own language. |
| 235 |
does anyone have any advice on this? |
| 236 |
* |
| 237 |
Hi Miki! |
| 238 |
I'd like to give you some peaces of advice. As your grammar is good, you can easily get rid of the speaking problem. You may apply for a call centre to get a job, where you'll have to talk to unfamous people only on the phone. |
| 239 |
It's a lot easier than to speak alive. There are plenty of call centres which need to get employees. Some of them take even students. Besides job experience and making some money you'll improve your speaking because you will have to talk on the phone almost all the time. |
| 240 |
In less than one week you'll notice how your English speaking is becoming better and better. |
| 241 |
Hope that helps. Good luck! |
| 242 |
* |
| 243 |
Why have you come to see me today. i keep getting headaches. |
| 244 |
what are these headaches like? absolutely terrible. |
| 245 |
what causes the headaches, do you think? mainly thinking about money. |
| 246 |
what are you thinking about at the moment? that clock. |
| 247 |
does that clock remind you of anything? yes, money. |
| 248 |
why's that? because i'm paying by the minute. let's stop now. |
| 249 |
ok. how would you like to pay - in cash or by credit card? in cash. |
| 250 |
could you introduce us to the director? ~ i wonder if you could introduce us to the director. |
| 251 |
how much did your camera cost? ~ do you mind me asking how much your camera cost? |
| 252 |
what do you do exactly? ~ would you mind telling me what you do exactly? |
| 253 |
is it really worth upgrading to the new smartphone? ~ i'd like to know whether it's really worth upgrading to the new smartphone. |
| 254 |
which platform does the eurostar train leave from? ~ can you tell me which platform the eurostar leaves from? |
| 255 |
what will he do when he discovers the mistake? ~ what do you think he'll do when he discovers the mistake? |
| 256 |
can anyone help? |
| 257 |
i've just got my essay to write about personality but the articles i've found are too difficult for me to read. |
| 258 |
then i realised the real problem is my poor vocabulary. |
| 259 |
when i read quickly i can't understand the real meaning of the article and the only way i can understand it is by using my dictionary all the time. |
| 260 |
i'm reading so slowly it's going to take me about three weeks to finish the essay/paper/assignment. |
| 261 |
what can i do about my english vocabulary? |
| 262 |
i'm so worried. |
| 263 |
justin, keep calm!/./, i know what you mean. |
| 264 |
the first time i wrote an essay in a foreign language, reading was the most difficult thing and the most difficult part of reading was vocabulary. |
| 265 |
the first thing to do is discuss the problem with your tutor. |
| 266 |
the next thing is to get/buy a good english-english dictionary. |
| 267 |
i joined a language-learning community. |
| 268 |
i joined a group with a similar problem and we all helped each other with our vocabulary. |
| 269 |
try it. |
| 270 |
how do you feel about trying new things, such as a challenging sport, a new dish or a new skill? |
| 271 |
tick the statements that best fits you. |
| 272 |
then work in pairs and compare your answers. |
| 273 |
all my friends put pressure on me to do it. |
| 274 |
looking down. |
| 275 |
i felt scared out of my wits. |
| 276 |
who wouldn't be? |
| 277 |
then i jumped, and i don't remember, but i was relieved when it was all over. |
| 278 |
the very thought of eating them made my stomach turn. |
| 279 |
i thought i'd throw up and i knew that would be awkward, with everyone in the restaurant watching! |
| 280 |
so i simply ate them as fast as i could. |
| 281 |
when i finished, everyone clapped. |
| 282 |
they were really impressed. |
| 283 |
the really interesting thing was how quickly we learnt the steps. |
| 284 |
i was fascinated by the way the teacher taught us. |
| 285 |
at the end of the lesson the teacher gave us a prize for best beginners - we were over the moon. |
| 286 |
i was shaking like a leaf as i stood up. |
| 287 |
everyone was staring at me and i just ran out of the room. |
| 288 |
i'd wanted so much to do it, and it was over before it began. |
| 289 |
i've never felt so frustrated in my life. |
| 290 |
all my colleagues were watching and i wished the earth would swallow me up. |
| 291 |
i felt really frustrated because i tried so hard but i still failed the driving test. |
| 292 |
and it's your fifth time. |
| 293 |
how embarrassing! |
| 294 |
i was very interested in the book. |
| 295 |
yes, it was totally fascinating. |
| 296 |
i was very relieved at the end. |
| 297 |
yes, and we won. |
| 298 |
i was absolutely over the moon. |
| 299 |
are any of your experiences similar? |
| 300 |
my audition was terrible, i was so anxious i was shaking like a leaf. |
| 301 |
you look totally disgusted. |
| 302 |
you look like you stomack's turning. |
| 303 |
they're only oysters. |
| 304 |
i find volcanoes really fascinating. |
| 305 |
i've read lot os books on the topics. |
| 306 |
i lost my place in the middle of giving the presentation. |
| 307 |
it was really embarrassing - i just wished the earth would swallow me up. |
| 308 |
we went to cairo to see the exhibition, but it was closed. |
| 309 |
i was really frustrated. |
| 310 |
my wife came into the shop when i was buying her some perfume. |
| 311 |
it was quite awkward and i had to hide what i was doing. |
| 312 |
seiji had been missing for hours, so his parents were enormously relieved when they found him safe and sound. |
| 313 |
when the plane started bumping up and down i was scared out of my wits. |
| 314 |
i was really frightened. |
| 315 |
i thought we were going to die. |
| 316 |
you have a great singing voice. |
| 317 |
i'm really impressed. |
| 318 |
i was quite worried about the test yesterday. |
| 319 |
i thought i'd failed it, so i was over the moon to find out that i'd got top marks. |
| 320 |
it's a simple idea: choose sth you've never done before, and spend the next 30 days doing it. |
| 321 |
it can be something ordinary like walking more, or changing your diet - or sth that really takes you outside your comfort zone, such as mountain climbing, writing a story or getting up before sunrise every day. |
| 322 |
it's all about changing old habbits into new ones, overcoming your fears and moving your life in a healthier and more interesting direction. |
| 323 |
so go ahead, pick one of the ideas from my list or one of your own, and get started. |
| 324 |
let me know how you get on. |
| 325 |
take a 30-minute walk each day. |
| 326 |
keep a daily journal. |
| 327 |
take a new route to work/school every day. |
| 328 |
meditate for 30 minutes each day. |
| 329 |
try a new recipe each day. |
| 330 |
learn how to draw a human face. |
| 331 |
stop using the internet for 30 days. |
| 332 |
take a daily cold shower. |
| 333 |
talk to a stranger every day. |
| 334 |
take one photograph a day. |
| 335 |
write a 10,000-word short story in a month. |
| 336 |
get up before sunrise every day. |
| 337 |
i've just finished my first challenge: no internet for 30 days. |
| 338 |
at first, i thought it would be impossible, but i noticed after five or six days that i felt much more relaxed. |
| 339 |
for one thing, i had more time on my hands. |
| 340 |
but more importantly, i began to pay attention to things around me more, especially the people. |
| 341 |
i realised that i often used things like social networking to avoid the outside world. |
| 342 |
talking to strangers is relatively easy for me because i do it all the time in my job. |
| 343 |
so i tried sth a bit different - talking to a friend every day. |
| 344 |
i wasn't sure i had 30 friends altogether, so after going through the obvious people - the ones i'm in touch with and socialise with now - i started digging into my past, going back to friends i'd lost touch from university, then high school, then primary school. |
| 345 |
since then i've made much more of an effort to stay in touch with a few really precious friends. |
| 346 |
i started doing this half a year ago and in the last six months i've learnt how to sail, i've taken art lessons, and become a member of an online book club. |
| 347 |
for me, the best experience has been meditation. |
| 348 |
i've done yoga for years, but i've never really tried meditation before. |
| 349 |
it's not just yet i feel calmer and don't get so stressed, i also find i can focus on tasks more clearly and sleep better. |
| 350 |
so that one's something i'm going to carry on doing. |
| 351 |
what do you think it is about? |
| 352 |
read the first two paragraphs and check your predictions. |
| 353 |
work in pair and look at the writer's list of suggested activities. |
| 354 |
do you agree with the level of difficulty that the writer gives for each? |
| 355 |
what did each person do and how successful were they? |
| 356 |
what would you like to try for 30 days? |
| 357 |
is there sth you have always wanted to do but somehow have never managed to? |
| 358 |
not long ago our company has had a client who has wanted to be a rock star. |
| 359 |
i worked as a production manager in the film business for many years, till just a few years ago. |
| 360 |
how much did the concert cost last year? |
| 361 |
has the cost gone up since then? |
| 362 |
what other dreams have you made come true recently? |
| 363 |
we've just finished working with a client who wants to fly across the Atlantic Ocean on a supersonic aeroplane. |
| 364 |
one client wanted to fly in space but that wasn't possible back when she first requested it. |
| 365 |
since then it's become possible for ordinary people to go into space. |
| 366 |
a: has anyone seen my pen? b: what does it look like? a: it's silver. i'm sure i left it on the table before we went to lunch. |
| 367 |
a: have you spoken to kiera today? b: no, and i haven't asked her yet if she wants to come out with us tomorrow. |
| 368 |
a: hi, suzie. when did you get back from holiday? b: a few days ago but i've already forgotten it. there have beeen over 300 emails in my inbox! a: i sympathise! the same thing has happened after my break. |
| 369 |
a: do you know anyone who has had flu? b: no, thankfully. what about you? a: frank has stayed away from school last week as one of the other kids has had a fever b: yes, so far everyone in my family has been ok. |
| 370 |
i haven't written in a while, but things are crazy here. |
| 371 |
i can't believe it was six months ago that i left and that we haven't seen each other for that long. |
| 372 |
this trip's been fantastic so far, at least until a few days ago, when things took a turn for the worse. |
| 373 |
we arrived into the city centre and checked into the first hotel we saw. |
| 374 |
now, you know i've stayed in a lot of one-star hotels in my life, but this one was really bad, so we decided to go straight out to see the city. |
| 375 |
unfortunately, we forgot to lock our room, and when we got back, our luggage and most of our money was gone. |
| 376 |
we called the police right away, and i'v been back to the police station several times since then, but no one has handed in any of our things. |
| 377 |
anyway, could you send me $1,000 please? |
| 378 |
thanks and love, joanna. |
| 379 |
have you tried it before? |
| 380 |
i'v thought about it a lot. |
| 381 |
has he seen my last email? |
| 382 |
she's changed her address. |
| 383 |
my kids they've gone out. |
| 384 |
has she phoned anyone yet? |
| 385 |
what would you like to try for one month? |
| 386 |
i've always been afraid of water, but i finally learnt to swim in the summer. |
| 387 |
now i'd like to try driving. |
| 388 |
i've just got a high-quality video camera. |
| 389 |
my sister gave it to me for my birthday. |
| 390 |
so i'd like to learn how to edit a film. |
| 391 |
i love music and i've played the piano for many years now, but there's one instrument. |
| 392 |
i haven't tried so far: the guitar. |
| 393 |
i've never bought anything online - i'm paranoid about giving my credit card details, but i know it's cheaper, so that would be my choice. |
| 394 |
hiking in the alps. i've lived in Austria since i was born, and everyone in my family has gone to the alps hiking loads of times. |
| 395 |
but somehow i haven't done a proper hike. |
| 396 |
work alone and make notes on two activities you started more than a month ago and still do. |
| 397 |
make notes on two activities you used to do, but don't do now. |
| 398 |
make notes on two activities you haven't done, but would like to do. |
| 399 |
we'd both like to learn to play the guitar. |
| 400 |
neither of us would like to edit a film. |
| 401 |
silvia has bought sth online, but i haven't. |
| 402 |
people often comment on my spontaneity. |
| 403 |
my greatest frustrations are related to my relationships rather than money. |
| 404 |
when i was younger, i was awkward in social situations, but not anymore. |
| 405 |
i get a lot of amusement from being with children. |
| 406 |
for me, anger is a complete waste of energy. |
| 407 |
i suffer from nervousness in large groups. |
| 408 |
i often feel intense anxiety in lifts. |
| 409 |
i often feel quite disappointed in my friends, for example when they don't have time for me. |
| 410 |
is your signature easy to read and has it changed over the years? |
| 411 |
are you studying english for business or for pleasure? |
| 412 |
in a group situation, do you make a lot of contribution or are you fairly quiet until you have sth important to say? |
| 413 |
do you have a preference for a particular type of music? |
| 414 |
do you carry any identification with you, such as your passport? |
| 415 |
do you enjoy having heated arguments with people or do you tend to avoid them? |
| 416 |
have you ever written a reference for someone for a job or to go to university? |
| 417 |
can you remember a teacher who had a strong influence on your development as a person? |
| 418 |
have you ever taken classes in self-defence or are you confident you could look after yourself in an emergency? |
| 419 |
how do you show your appreciation for good service in a hotel? |
| 420 |
'anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one'. benjamin franklin, us president. |
| 421 |
'the chief enemy of creativity is a "goos" sense'. pablo picasso, artist. |
| 422 |
'there is no such thing as pure pleasure; some anxiety always goes with it.' ovid, poet. |
| 423 |
'most things in life are moments of pleasure and a lifetime of embarrassment; photography is a moment of embarrassment and a lifetime of pleasure.' tonny benn, politician. |
| 424 |
'there can be no deep disappointment where there is not deep love.' martin luther king jr, civil rights activist. |
| 425 |
'if i ever completely lost my nervousness i would be frightened half to death.' paul lynde, actor. |
| 426 |
'prayer is not an old woman's idle amusement. properly understood and applied, it is the most potent instrument of action' mahatma gandhi, leader and activist. |
| 427 |
'men lose more conquests by their own awkwardness than by any virtue in the woman.' ninon de l'enclos, writer. |
| 428 |
'a life of frustration is inevitable for any coach whose main enjoyment is winning.' chuck noll, american football coach. |
| 429 |
how do you usually find out about local news, events and courses? |
| 430 |
do you ever make phone calls about these in english? |
| 431 |
what is difficult about doing this? |
| 432 |
which ones would interest you the most? |
| 433 |
spare room available in 3-bedroom flat, ideal for full-time student or working professional. |
| 434 |
shared bathroom, kitchen, living room. |
| 435 |
rent $480/month. |
| 436 |
pets negotiable. |
| 437 |
advanced course in business english. |
| 438 |
real business scenarios including telephoning, presentations, meetings and negotiations. |
| 439 |
limited enrollment - guarantee your place with a $50 non-refundable deposit. |
| 440 |
phone 0472 981634 to enrol. |
| 441 |
print the flyer on the right, fill in your details and present it at the gym to sign up for a free training session with a certified trainer, worth $30. |
| 442 |
offer ends 30th january. |
| 443 |
walk&talk english. |
| 444 |
join us for our weekly walk, and practise your english along the way. |
| 445 |
group walks $5/walk - two-for-one deal if you bring a friend (that's $5 for both of you!). |
| 446 |
or schedule your own one-to-one walk with an english teacher, $10/hour. |
| 447 |
free trial for first-timers. |
| 448 |
which words/phrases can be used to talk about a restaurant, a cookery course, buying a used car or a hotel booking. |
| 449 |
who's the caller phoning? |
| 450 |
what does she want? |
| 451 |
is the receptionist able to help her? |
| 452 |
does the caller sound polite to you? |
| 453 |
hello, english language college. can i help you? |
| 454 |
yes, i'd like to enquire about a course. |
| 455 |
ok, have you seen the information on our website? |
| 456 |
well, actually the situation is that i booked myself onto a course through your website yesterday, and now i'd like to change. |
| 457 |
uh-huh. could you tell me your name? maria hidalgo |
| 458 |
and which course was it? |
| 459 |
a general english course, pre-advanced. |
| 460 |
bear with me a minute. yes, i've got it. what would you like to change to? |
| 461 |
i've just noticed this morning that you have an advanced course in business english starting next week. |
| 462 |
that's right. i was wondering if it would be possible for me to change to that group. |
| 463 |
ok, let me just check. there are still a few places in that group, but you'll have to do a level test. |
| 464 |
but i've already done an online test for the other course. |
| 465 |
mmm. i appreciate that, but for this course you need to do a level test in person. |
| 466 |
erm.. can you tell me why i have to do it in person? |
| 467 |
it's because it's a specialised course and there's an oral component to the level test. |
| 468 |
i see. would there be any chance of doing the level test on the phone? |
| 469 |
hold on. let me check. |
| 470 |
sorry to keep you. no, i'm afraid it has to be in person. |
| 471 |
i see. do you mind me asking what it involves? |
| 472 |
there's a written task that you have to do under timed conditions, and preparation materials for the oral interview. |
| 473 |
i see. sorry to be difficult, it's just that i'm really busy this week and can't make it up to the school for the level test. |
| 474 |
that's going to be a bit of a problem. i'm not sure what we can do about that. |
| 475 |
i'd really appreciate your help. |
| 476 |
hmm.. you couldn't come in on thursday evening, could you? |
| 477 |
no, i'm afraid not. but i tell you what. i could come in on saturday to do the level test. |
| 478 |
the problem is, that's leaving it very late and we might have other applicants. |
| 479 |
i'd be really grateful if you could hold a place for me till saturday morning. |
| 480 |
can you hold on a minute? i'll just see.. ok, we can do that. |
| 481 |
we'll provisionally transfer the course fee over as a deposit. |
| 482 |
that's great. oh, i've got one more question, if i'm not keeping you. |
| 483 |
no, go ahead. |
| 484 |
if i don't get into this group, do i lose my course fee? |
| 485 |
i'm afraid we can't refund the deposit, but you could transfer it to another course. |
| 486 |
oh, that's a relief. |
| 487 |
would you mind putting that in an email for me? certainly. |
| 488 |
thanks. could you tell me when the school opens? |
| 489 |
we're open from nine on saturday. |
| 490 |
i won't be here myself, but i'll tell my colleague to expect you. |
| 491 |
you're welcome. thank you for calling. |
| 492 |
limited enrolment - only two places left. |
| 493 |
sign up now. |
| 494 |
fill in your personal details on this form and pay the deposit details. |
| 495 |
deposit is non-refundable. |
| 496 |
try this amazing app. |
| 497 |
new life-organiser app is now available for android users. |
| 498 |
there is a free trial for the first month. |
| 499 |
tickets available for matinee performance - due to limited availability of seats, seating is not negotiable and two-for-one deal doesn't apply to this show. |
| 500 |
i'd like to enquire about a reservation i made. |
| 501 |
i was wondering if that would be possible. |
| 502 |
would there be any chance of getting the same price for the following weekend? |
| 503 |
do you mind me asking what your name is? |
| 504 |
would you mind transferring me to your supervisor? |
| 505 |
i'd be really grateful if you could make an exception. |
| 506 |
would you mind telling me why it's so complicated to change? |
| 507 |
have you ever flown a plane? |
| 508 |
have you ever ridden a horse? |
| 509 |
have you ever visited the arctic or antarctica? |
| 510 |
have you ever eaten a strange food? |
| 511 |
have you ever met someone famous? |
| 512 |
have you ever given a speech? |
| 513 |
have you ever cooked a meal for more than six people? |
| 514 |
have you ever climbed a mountain? |
| 515 |
when the bbc asked its viewers what one thing they'd like to do in their lifetime, the response was overwhelming. |
| 516 |
with some 20,000 members of the public sending in their ideas. |
| 517 |
50 things to do before you die takes the viewers on a tour through the top fifty viewer choices. |
| 518 |
these range from observing rare and exotic animals in their natural habitat; to travelling a historic route by train, car or jet plane; to some more extreme activities not for the faint-hearted, among them bungee-jumping, husky dog sledding and wing-walking. |
| 519 |
whether you're a hard-core traveller or an armchair tourist, you're sure to find inspiration for your next journey. |
| 520 |
the main thing people say they love about sledding is the scenery (false). |
| 521 |
the presenter preffered driving the sled to sitting in it. |
| 522 |
pilots used to strap themselves to the wings at airshows (false). |
| 523 |
rebecca found it surprisingly easy to wave and look elegant (false). |
| 524 |
the legendary route 66 runs from chicago to san francisco (false). |
| 525 |
one of the bunjee jumpers likes the feeling of being stretched and bounced. |
| 526 |
people have always been fascinated by dolphins' playfulness and intelligence. |
| 527 |
the speakers like dolphins because they're helpful to humans (false). |
| 528 |
at number 38 it's husky sledding. |
| 529 |
i've come to saariselka in finland for a test drive. |
| 530 |
absolutely beautiful here, the snow is just like.. it's got little bits of crystal all over it and you can really take it in because the dogs are doing all the hard work. |
| 531 |
just the sound of the snow and the dogs panting with all the silence around, i think that would be fantastic. |
| 532 |
totally silent apart from the sound of the sled and the dogs' paws. incredible. |
| 533 |
as i'll ever be. |
| 534 |
this is much, much more exhilarating than just sitting in the sled, actually having the dogs work for you and feeling like you are in (or out of) control is definitely where it's at. |
| 535 |
meet rebecca over, an estate buyer from surrey. |
| 536 |
she likes hundreds of you crazy people, wanted nothing more than to be strapped to the outside of a plane and take part in your very own wing-walking display. |
| 537 |
the craze started when world war one pilots would strap their poor girlfriends to the outside of their planes to entertain the crowds at air shows. |
| 538 |
we sent rebecca off to rendcomb in gloucestershire. |
| 539 |
i'm feeling excited, a little bit nervous, can't wait, raring to go. |
| 540 |
so buckled and braced our daredevil is ready to go. |
| 541 |
the wind is really, really strong and it's really hard to do the waving. |
| 542 |
it's been wonderful, an amazing day. |
| 543 |
still in america now and time to go west on the legendary route 66: 2,400 miles, eight states, three time zones, one incredible journey. |
| 544 |
once upon a time it was, the kind of the thing to do. |
| 545 |
the famous route from chicago to los angeles was used by thousands of americans attempting to flee the hard times of the Great Depression, and for many it's remembered as the road to opportunity. |
| 546 |
i'd love to experience what they did travelling over two and a half thousand miles, and experience that wonderful feeling of getting somewhere which is better. |
| 547 |
next up sth you've let get as high as 17 on this list. |
| 548 |
you're crazy. it's bunjee jumping. |
| 549 |
the feeling you get when you jump off, fall off, dive off, or whatever, is just awesome. |
| 550 |
just to fly like that and just sort of end up being stretched and bounced back up, great fun. |
| 551 |
throughout history they've intrigued mankind with tales of their mystical powers and super intelligence. |
| 552 |
their legendary curiosity and playfulness have enchanted us for generations. |
| 553 |
thousands and thousands of you have bombarded us with emails and calls to say the number one thing to do before you die is to go swimming with dolphins. |
| 554 |
they're absolutely amazing animals. |
| 555 |
they're so gentle they're so, um, sensitive. |
| 556 |
once you swim with them, you don't want to.. you don't want to leave them. |
| 557 |
a one-off, magical experience. |
| 558 |
and it was incredible. |
| 559 |
it's amazing because, they're so responsive and they have, they feel fantastic. |
| 560 |
don't you? you feel wonderful, you feel so lovely. |
| 561 |
and they're so huge and so powerful and yet so playful and, i'm really, really lucky to be here with them. |
| 562 |
i'm not the kind of person who likes to be a daredevil or do anything too exciting. |
| 563 |
but the most incredible thing i think i've ever done was when i went skydiving. |
| 564 |
so we went up in a tiny plane. |
| 565 |
i mean it's so small so it was quite scary. |
| 566 |
and the build-up was just epic. |
| 567 |
i was attached to another guy, an expert, by a harness. |
| 568 |
and i was sitting in front of him in this sort of, it was like a, a tiny tube little plane. |
| 569 |
and we went higher and higher and higher. |
| 570 |
and um, the suspence was building up. |
| 571 |
and then suddenly they just open this door and you're flying through the sky, and you can just see for miles. |
| 572 |
and it's freezing cold and the thing i'll remember most is the cold air hitting my teeth, cos it was just absolutely freezing. |
| 573 |
and er, we sort of scuttled out to the edge and our legs were dangling through the door of the plane. |
| 574 |
and erm, he just said, i remember him shouting, he just said 'smile'. |
| 575 |
cos there was a camera guy as well, so you can film it. |
| 576 |
and we just, we sort fell forward and we were just spinning, until he sort of levels you out. |
| 577 |
it was like i was completely weightless. |
| 578 |
and it didn't feel like you were falling at all, you were just sort of hovering. |
| 579 |
and it was still freezing cold on my teeth as well like that. |
| 580 |
and then the parachute, i remember lifting out. |
| 581 |
and it just sort of pulled me all up - i was like oh! ugh!, like that. |
| 582 |
and we started spinning round, you know he was doing all these kind of tricks and stuff. |
| 583 |
and that's when i started feeling sick, cos it was spinning so fast. |
| 584 |
but it was just so much fun, it was hilarious, it was laughing, you know even though i felt sick. |
| 585 |
it was just the experience of it all and the adrenaline rush. |
| 586 |
it was one of the best experiences i've ever had in my life. |
| 587 |
and it's an activity i'd like to recommend to all my friends because i know they'd absolutely love it, it's hilarious. |
| 588 |
she has a quick mind and is good with words. she's witty. |
| 589 |
he's quite reserved and keep himself to himself. |
| 590 |
she does things without planning. she's spontaneous. |
| 591 |
he doesn't like working alone. he's a people person. |
| 592 |
she's very down-to-earth, uncomplicated and practical. |
| 593 |
he's fun to be with, a good laugh. |
| 594 |
she's definitely a morning person, not at her best late at night. |
| 595 |
he's a real computer geek - he's always talking about gigabytes and new software. |
| 596 |
a: hey, i've got the job. b: congratulations! you must be over the moon. |
| 597 |
a: yes, i'm relieved because i thought i'd done badly at the interview. i was so nervous that i was shaking like a leaf. |
| 598 |
b: did the interviewer notice? |
| 599 |
a: well, i split my coffee on her. b: oh, that's awkward! |
| 600 |
a: very embarrassing. at that moment i wished the earth would swallom me up. |
| 601 |
b: you got the job, so i guess they were impressed with you. |
| 602 |
since i started this course, i've improved my speaking. |
| 603 |
i've been to canada twice but i haven't been to the usa yet. |
| 604 |
i've never met a real celebrity, but once someone thought i was one. |
| 605 |
when i was young, i played in a band, and recently i've started again. |
| 606 |
i didn't eat breakfast at home this morning, and i also haven't had any coffee today. |
| 607 |
i need some information about train times to vienna ~ i'd like to enquire about train times to vienna. |
| 608 |
which train do i need to take to get to vienna by 3 p.m. ~ can you tell me which train i need to take to get to vienna by 3 p.m.? |
| 609 |
how far is it from the western to the southern train station? ~ can i ask how far it's from the western to the southern train station? |
| 610 |
where can i get information on local transport to vienna? ~ do you mind me asking where i can get information on local transport to vienna? |
| 611 |
do i need to book a seat on the train? ~ i was wondering if/whether i need to book a seat on the train. |
| 612 |
could you send me an email confirmation? ~ i'd be grateful if you could send me an email confirmation. |
| 613 |
can i book on the phone? ~ could you tell me if/whether i can book on the phone? |
| 614 |
could you book it for me? ~ i was wondering if you could book it for me. |
| 615 |
yourpick.net. my names david. How can i help you? |
| 616 |
hi, i'm phoning to find out about a dvd i ordered. the reference number is 3714. |
| 617 |
ok. is there a problem? |
| 618 |
yes, it hasn't arrived yet and i ordered it a month ago. could you tell me when i can expect it? |
| 619 |
bear with me a moment. i'm afraid we have no information about the arrival date. |
| 620 |
and you don't know when it will be in? |
| 621 |
it's coming from the usa so i'm afraid not. do you want to cancel? |
| 622 |
a: no, but i'd be grateful if you could look into it. b: no problem at all. |
| 623 |
a: and would there be any chance of phoning me when it arrives? b: sure let me just check if we have your phone number. |
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