Series 02 Episode 04

Listen to the whole podcast

This is an exercise to help you when you listen to the podcast for the first time. To get ready to listen to the podcast on your computer:

• Read through the questions in the exercise in the practice materials below. This will give you an idea of the programme you are going to listen to.

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'm sorry to hear that" – being sympathetic

Part 1 is based on the Introduction. This section looks at how to be sympathetic when someone tells you about something bad that has happened to them.

Suggestion: One way to use this is to read the transcript, and then do some exercises to help you to learn the common phrases. A good idea is to practise these with a friend who speaks English or is also learning English.

Practice materials: Exercise 1

Rearrange the lines to make the conversation.

Exercise

Practice materials: Exercise 2

For further practice activities please download and print the support pack (below)

Section 2 - I'd like to talk about

Section 2 is based on someone talking about something that they’re interested in – it could be anything – a hobby, a person, a place, a thing – something that they know a bit about and would like to share. 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 Stacey talking about chocolate and here is some more information about chocolate.

Do you have a favourite food that you would like to tell us about? If so, use the information in the support pack (see link below) to help you make some notes.

Now put your notes together to write a paragraph about the thing that you really like to eat and add it as a comment at the bottom of this page.

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 episode was about places in a city.

Practice materials: Exercise 1

Match places to definitions (1)

Exercise

Practice materials: Exercise 2

Match places to definitions (2)

Exercise

Practice materials: Exercise 3

For further practice activities please download and print the support pack (below)

Section 4 - Your turn

Section 4 is based on 'Your Turn'. It helps you to listen and understand people giving their opinions.

Suggestion: Download the support pack (below) 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.

In Your Turn you heard 5 people answer this question: ‘If you've got some work to do, but don't want to do it, what do you do to put off working? What things do you do to waste time?’

What about you? What do you do when you don't want to do your work? Do you agree with what any of the people said in the podcast?

So, write down what you think, explain why, and send this as a comment at the bottom of the page.

Section 5 - Carolina

Section 5 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 conversations with Jamie and his parents and then do exercises 1 and 2.

Practice materials - Exercise 1

Complete the sentences with the correct phrases.

Exercise

Practice materials - Exercise 2

Choose the phrases that can correctly complete each sentence.

Exercise

Practice materials - Exercise 3

For further practice activities please download and print the support pack (below)

Section 6 - Joke

Section 6 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 of the joke in order.
• Do Exercise 2, in which you reconstruct the joke, word by word.
• Do Exercise 3, 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

Put the lines of the joke in the correct order.

Exercise

Practice materials - Exercise 2

Reconstruct the joke, word by word.

Exercise

Practice materials - Exercise 3

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

Section 7 - Tom the Teacher

Section 7 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 'present continuous' sentences refer to 'present' or 'future'.

Exercise

Practice materials - Exercise 2

Complete the text with verbs in the present continuous form.

Exercise

Practice materials – Exercise 3

Choose the correct spellings of the 'ing' form of verbs.

Exercise

Practice materials - Exercise 4

Match the 'portmanteau' words to their definitions*.

Exercise

*Note: a 'portmanteau' word is one that combines parts of two normal words to make a new word, e.g. 'chocolate' + 'alcoholic' = 'chocoholic'