Series 01 Episode 10

Podcast - While you listen

Below is an exercise to help you when you listen to the podcast for the first time.

• Get ready to listen to the podcast on your computer.
• Click on the link below and read through the questions. This will give you an idea of the programme you are going to listen to.
• Read the questions and instructions carefully. Sometimes you must listen for the 'right' answers. But in some of these questions, you must choose the one answer that is not possible, or wrong.

Practice materials

Listen to the whole podcast and try to answer the questions while you listen

Check your answers when you have finished. How many did you get right? Remember this, because if you listen to the podcast again later (say next month), you can do the exercise again, and see if you have improved!

Section 1 - Conversations in English

“Susan, this is Paul” – introducing your friends

Section 1 is based on the Introduction. This section looks at things we often say and do in friendly conversations.

Suggestion: One way to do this section is:

• Download and read the Transcript for this section (above).
• Do the exercises below to help you to learn the common phrases.
• If possible, practise these common phrases with a friend who speaks English or is also learning English.

Practice materials: Exercise 1

Introducing people - gapfilling activity.

Exercise

Section 2 - I'd like to meet...

Section 2 is based on someone talking about somebody or something they like. It helps you to practise speaking for a little bit longer – for example, when you're explaining something, or telling people something about yourself.

Suggestion: The best way to practise is with a friend who speaks English or is also learning English. However, if you can't find someone, you can send us a paragraph in English.

You listened to Muhammed talking about Dr. Muhammed Yunus, the Nobel Prize winner.

Can you think of a Nobel Prize winner that you’d like to meet? Or you could tell us about a famous person from your home town or city.

If you can think of someone, make some notes to answer the questions that you can find in the support pack (download above). Now put your notes together to write a paragraph about that person and add it as a comment below.

Section 3 - Quiz

Section 3 is based on the Quiz. This helps you to learn the meaning of new words and how to remember them.

You might want to use a notebook or part of your folder to make your own word lists and maps.

In the quiz, Max and Hannah play Hot Seat. When you play this game, sometimes it can be easy to guess the words. But you need a lot of vocabulary to be able to explain them. Now you can practise explaining the words that Hannah explained in this Hot Seat quiz. Playing this game is a good way to revise and learn new vocabulary.

Practice materials: Exercise 1

Can you match the descriptions with the things they describe?

Exercise

Practice materials: Exercise 2

Choose phrases to explain what things are.

Exercise

Section 4 - Our Person in...

Section 4 is based on 'Our Person in...'. It helps you to listen to other people speaking for a little longer than they speak in a conversation, like a radio or television news report. When people prepare written reports, they are often a little more formal, and use more complex words and structures.

You listened to Bridget talking about the film industry in India.
Can you write something about films and cinema in your country?

Suggestion: Download the support pack for Series 01 Episode 09 and read the notes to help you to think of things to say, and the best order to say them. Make your own notes and then join these together to make a paragraph in the comments section below.

Section 5 - Your turn

Section 5 is based on 'Your Turn'. It helps you to listen and understand people giving their opinions.

In Your Turn you heard 5 people answer this question: ‘How green are you?’
What about you?  What do you do to help the environment?  Do you do a lot? Or do you think that you should do more?  Or maybe you think that being green is a waste of time.

Suggestion: Download the support pack for Series 01 Episode 06 and look at the phrases that the people use. Sometimes they don't use complete sentences. Write down notes and then say what you think.

Write a list of all the things that you do (or don’t do) to help the environment - and why. Then make your list into a paragraph and send it to us. Do this in the comments section below.

Section 6 - Carolina

Section 6 follows Carolina – a girl who has come to the United Kingdom (UK) to live, study, and to have fun exploring a different country and culture. Listening to this can help you if you find yourself in a similar situation. You will see that there is often more than one way of saying the same thing in English.

Suggestion: listen to Carolina's conversation at the chemist and then do the exercises.

Practice materials - Exercise 1

Put the phrases in the correct places in the conversation.

Exercise

Practice materials - Exercise 2

Choose all the phrases that are correct.

Exercise

Section 7 - Joke

Section 7 in this episode has two jokes. A joke is normally a funny story you hear and tell someone else. But you can also describe funny things that happen to you. The most important thing is to watch your friends to see if they are enjoying the story or not – then you can make it longer or shorter.

Suggestion: We suggest you do this:

• Listen to the jokes on your computer/mp3 player.
• Do Exercise 1, in which you put the lines of the first joke in the right order.
• Do Exercise 2, in which you put the lines of the second joke in the right order.
• Try telling the jokes without looking at the exercises.
• Think of a funny story that you know – write down the most important words in English (use a dictionary?), then try telling the joke.

Practice materials - Exercise 1

Read sentences and put them in the right order to tell the first joke.

Exercise

Practice materials - Exercise 2

Read sentences and put them in the right order to tell the second joke.

Exercise