Series 01 Episode 05

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.

Exercise

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

“I didn't know you had a dog!” – talking about pets

Section 1 is based on the Introduction. This section looks at how to talk about your pets or ask questions about other people’s.

Suggestion: One way to do this section is:

• Download the Support Pack and Transcript (above).
• Read the transcript.
• Look at the support pack, where you can read Tom the Teacher's tips and also find some useful words and phrases for this section.
• 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

Talking about pets - gapfilling activity.

Exercise

Practice materials: Exercise 2

There are more practice materials in the support pack (download above)

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 Olu talking about Didier Drogba.

Is there a famous sportsperson that you can write about?

If you can think of someone, make some notes to answer the questions that you can find in the support pack. 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.

Suggestion: You can write your answers in our Support Pack.

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

The quiz in this podcast is called ‘Beginning with…’ – for example, ‘think of an animal beginning with "P"’ – the answer could be ‘polar bear’ or ‘pig’ for example – there are lots of possibilities. Playing this game is a good way to revise and learn new vocabulary.

Practice materials: Exercise 1

To do an activity in which you fill in the names of things beginning with different letters on a diagram you will need to download the support pack (above).

You can play ‘Beginning with…’ by yourself, or with a friend.  To see some ideas, please see the support pack.

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 Graham talking about New Zealand and the places that were used in the film ‘Lord of the Rings’.
Is there a beautiful place (or places) in your country that you’d like to tell people about? It could be an area of mountains, or a natural park, or a forest – or even a beautiful village or town. Or you could tell us about a beautiful place that you’ve visited in another country.

Suggestion: Download the support pack (above) 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: ‘Which do you prefer – cats or dogs?’
What do you think?

Suggestion: Download the support pack (above) 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.

Which ones do you agree with? Which do you prefer – cats or dogs? You can send us your opinions if you want. 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 with her new flatmates 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

Practice materials - Exercise 3

Please download the support pack (above) for more practice materials.

Section 7 - Joke

Section 7 is a joke. 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 joke on your computer/mp3 player.
• Do Exercise 1, in which you put the lines in the right order.
• Do Exercise 2, in which you tell the joke.
• 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 joke.

Exercise

Practice materials - Exercise 2

Download the support pack (above). Look at the notes and tell the story without looking at the script.

Section 8 - Tom the Teacher

Section 8 is Tom the Teacher. These are more traditional exercises. They look at being accurate in English, and often use the type of exercises you may find in English tests and exams.

Practice materials - Exercise 1

Decide if the verbs are 'regular' or 'irregular'.

Exercise

Practice materials - Exercise 2

Fill in the gaps with different tenses of verbs.

Exercise

Practice materials - Exercise 3

Complete sentences with the correct forms of verbs.

Exercise