Episode 07: Alone for Christmas?

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Our friends are staying here for Christmas. Find out if they are spending this festive season alone.

Do the Preparation task first. Then listen to the audio. Next go to each Task and do the activity. If you need help, you can read the Transcript at any time.

Preparation

Before you listen

We suggest you do the vocabulary activity below before you listen. Then listen to the episode and do the first task to check your understanding. Finally, practise some vocabulary and grammar.

Exercise

Transcript

Transcript

Fadi: What a fantastic Christmas present!

Olivia: Did someone say “present”? I love presents...

Fadi: I just mean the café staying open – and your shop, of course - it’s like an early Christmas present!

Olivia: It’s still a bit early for Christmas presents...

Fadi: Come on, it’s only a few days now!

Olivia: Yeah... I guess you’re right. I can stop worrying now. Hey Tony!

Tony: What?

Olivia: Come on Tony! Even you must be happy about this! The café is staying open!

Fadi: Our campaign was successful!

Tony: Yeah... erm, thanks everybody!

Olivia: So, Fadi – what are you doing for Christmas?

Fadi: Nothing much – guess I’ll just be with my family...

Olivia: Yeah, me too - it’d be great to spend Christmas just with my friends, not the whole family...

Fadi: Yeah, it’d be great to spend Christmas with you... er, I mean, everyone here...

Olivia: Oh, yeah, erm... hmmm.

Fadi: Tell you what – let’s invent an excuse!

Olivia: An excuse? How do you mean?

Fadi: Let’s leave our families for a few hours... come and have dinner here!

Olivia: Here? I don’t think the café will be open on Christmas day...

Fadi: We can persuade Tony to open – just for us – to celebrate our campaign to keep the café open, and Christmas too...

Olivia: Great idea! But I’ll probably have to bring Joe...

Fadi: Oh no! Joe, your terrible little nephew, I’d forgotten about him...

All: Hi Johnny!

Johnny: Hello everyone!

Olivia: We were just talking about Christmas...

Johnny: Of course, I’ve come back just in time for Christmas – how could I forget! I love Christmas here in London... We don’t really celebrate Christmas in China, but I love it here – lots of food, presents...

Magda: I love Christmas too, but Christmas in Poland is so special, I’ll really miss it this year...

Sarah: Aren’t you going back to visit your family? You usually go back to Poland.

Magda: I wanted to go, but I couldn’t afford it. Plane tickets are so expensive at this time of year.

Sarah: (sighs) So, me and Magda will be on our own for Christmas.

Carlos: Me too – there’s no way I can go back to Brazil!

Sarah: That’s a long way.

Carlos: I’ve got an idea – if Fadi and Olivia can ask Tony to open the café, I’ll cook a proper Christmas dinner for everyone! I love cooking.

Magda: Good idea - in Poland we have a twelve-course meal at Christmas!

Carlos: Twelve courses! Wow, that’s a lot...

Magda: It is...

Carlos: I’ll try and make some traditional Polish food for you Magda... and perhaps something special for you too, Sarah... I’d like that...

Sarah: That’s very kind, but don’t try to make Chinese food for me! It’s difficult... make one of your own specialities – I love trying new things!

Carlos: OK, you’re on!

Olivia: This sounds like a party! Harry – what about you? What are you doing for Christmas?

Harry: Well, I’ve only got my mum, so I guess I’ll be with her.

Bindyu: It’d be nice to have Christmas dinner with you...

Harry: Yeah, it would... don’t you have to be with your family...

Bindyu: We don’t really celebrate Christmas...

Olivia: Don’t forget it’s a religious festival!

Harry: Of course, yeah, I know that, but everyone can enjoy Christmas!

Olivia: Well, why don’t you two try and join us....

Harry: I’ll see what we can do....

Carlos: There is a problem though...

Fadi: What’s that?

Carlos: Nobody has asked Tony...

Fadi: Oh, erm, yeah... Go on Olivia – you ask him...

Olivia: Why me?

Fadi: You’re the best at that kind of thing...

Olivia: OK, OK... erm, Tony!

Tony: Yeah?

Olivia: What are you doing for Christmas?

Tony: Why?

Olivia: We wanted to invite you to have Christmas with us!

Tony: Well... well, that’s very kind of you… thank you, yes...

Olivia: Just one thing...

Tony: What’s that?

Olivia: Erm, we’d like to have our Christmas dinner here!

Tony: Here?

Olivia: Yes. Here!

Tony: Hmm... OK, but I’m not washing the dishes afterwards!

Fadi: Deal!

Johnny: This is going to be the best Christmas party ever!

(sounds of eating and drinking, laughter)

Carlos: So here it is! Some Brazilian specialties – this is papaya...

Magda: Mmmm...

Carlos: This is cassava...

Harry: Delicious...

Carlos: And caipirinha to drink!

All: Cheers! Happy Christmas!

Harry: And I’ve brought my mum’s Christmas pudding!

Sarah: Euurrgghh!

Olivia: No, you must try it! It's delicious!

(crashing noise)

All: What’s going on! What’s happened?

Johnny: It’s all dark!

Fadi: I can’t see anything!

Olivia: Joe! What have you done?

Harry: What’s happened?

Tony: He’s broken the lights! That little...

All: Oh no!

Bindyu: Never mind – let’s light candles!!!

Olivia: Good idea!

Fadi: Wow, yeah, this is really romantic!

Olivia: Isn’t it! Joe! Don’t touch the candles!

Fadi: It’s great to be with you Olivia...

Olivia: Erm, yeah, you too...

Bindyu: Yes, very romantic...

Harry: Great...

Carlos: Everybody thinks it’s romantic... I hope you do too, Sarah...

Sarah: Erm, yes, I suppose it is...

Johnny: It’s like I said – this is the best Christmas ever! I’m always right!

(laughter)

All: Happy Christmas!

Task 1

Task 2

Task 3

Task 4

Average: 3.4 (9 votes)
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Submitted by PhuongHoang on Wed, 22/04/2020 - 08:30

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Hi there! Please help me. Carlos said " you're on ". what does it mean ? Thank LearnEnglishteam a lot!

Hello PhuongHoang

'You're on' means 'OK, I accept'. If possible, please check the dictionary.

All the best

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by jmajo on Tue, 10/09/2019 - 14:53

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Thanks for the episode, it was really good to practise.