Four conversations

Four conversations

Listen to four conversations to practise and improve your listening skills.

Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.

Preparation

Transcript

A

Man: How did it go?

Woman: Umm, I think it went quite well. I did a lot of research and prepared a lot. I was in there for ... I don't know ... half an hour?

Man: And? What did they say?

Woman: Nothing much. At the end I asked them, 'What happens now?', and the woman said, 'We'll call you back with news in three or four days.'

Man: Really?

Woman: Yeah, I think I've got the job. There weren't a lot of other people there. I was the only interview that day, you know?

Man: Well, good luck with it.


B

Man: Anyway, you were saying ...

Woman: Oh, yeah, um ... let's see. Yes, so I was in the museum and there were, I don't know, a hundred people waiting to get into the room. Finally, I got in, and I tried to see the Mona Lisa but I couldn't look at it.

Man: Why not?

Woman: Because the room was filled with people taking photographs of it!

Man: Oh, right.

Woman: Yes! And selfies.

Man: Wait a minute. You can take photos while you're in there?

Woman: Yes, but you can't use flash. I don't know ... Why do we take photos of everything we see when we travel?

Man: I know. And we never look at the photos after.

Woman: Exactly! I'm tired of always taking photos. I don't feel I'm enjoying things.


C

Man: Who took this?

Woman: I can't remember. Hmmm ...

Man: What am I doing?

Woman: You're sitting on the sofa, watching TV and eating chocolates. Nothing changes!

Man: Ha! Very funny. You look very young, though.

Woman: I know. Look at my hair – it was so long!

Man: Mine too, look at me! Hey … I think I know who took this photo.

Woman: Umm … who? Was it Dad?

Man: No, it wasn’t Dad or Mum. Do you remember Barry?

Woman: No.

Man: Yes, YES! You do remember. Barry, your boyfriend at high school. You were seventeen and he was sixteen and he was so very polite: 'Hello, I'm Barry. It's very nice to meet you ...'

Woman: Stop it! He was nice.

Man: Yeah, well, he took the photo.


D

Woman: Let's see. OK. I'm glad we could talk about this. It's not easy to say.

Man: What?

Woman: Well, you're not in our group – for the class project.

Man: What do you mean? You know I'm always in a group with you.

Woman: I know. It's just that this time … this time we made the group differently and because you were late ...

Man: I see. You don't want me in the group?

Woman: No, no. It isn't that. It's that we've already made the group, see? There's four of us already.

Man: So? We can't be a group of five?

Woman: Well, the teacher said four people per group.

Man: Oh.

Woman: It's not about you or your work or anything like that. It's ... errrr ... well, we already have the group.

Man: So I have to find another group.

Woman: I'm sorry.

Task 1

Task 2

Discussion

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Average: 4.1 (73 votes)

Submitted by In on Wed, 17/02/2021 - 22:05

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yes, I did have conversations like that in the past. I learned how to say selfies with the right pronunciation.

Submitted by kaveh on Tue, 16/02/2021 - 22:08

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Thanks a bunch Jonathan! I've found this site the best one to learn English. I'm so happy that I can use these information.

Submitted by kaveh on Tue, 16/02/2021 - 12:17

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Hi, Would you please explain the below sentence at the of the first conversation? '' I was the only interview that day''. I think something is wrong! Thank you in advance.
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Submitted by Jonathan R on Tue, 16/02/2021 - 14:02

In reply to by kaveh

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Hi kaveh,

It's a correct sentence, actually! It means that the speaker was the only person who was interviewed on that day.

Logically, you might find it strange to say I was the (only) interview, as I refers to a person, and the interview refers to a situation. But, it's quite common to phrase it like this in modern usage. Here are some similar examples:

  • They told me that I was the second interview of four that day.
  • I was the first presentation at the conference, so the audience was full.
  • When I went for my piano exam, I was the last exam of the day.

Does that answer your question?

Jonathan

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by fariba on Wed, 20/01/2021 - 07:57

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in the past i have similar conversion . i learn how i say my cause.

Submitted by Nafass on Tue, 19/01/2021 - 10:41

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Question nu.6 Conversation C , I didn't notice that (older boyfriend) now I got it... Thanks a lot, Jonathan R

Submitted by Minh on Thu, 07/01/2021 - 13:27

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Hi ! There are four conversations that are very useful for everybody learning English. In my opinion, everybody has to read these over and over again not to learning by heart. That's best way to improve their skills. Beside that, if they had the partner to practising everyday, they would achieved their goals.
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Submitted by Khin Yee Mon Khaing on Tue, 05/01/2021 - 06:47

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No, I have never had similar conservation. but I learned exactly, stop it, let's see and mine too, etc.