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 (65 votes)

Submitted by tvkien on Sat, 22/05/2021 - 11:45

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These conversations very helpful for me. I tried to listen first and then repeat per conversation and try to explain the content of it. That will make me to improve both my listening and speaking skills. Thanks

Hello tvkien,

Great idea! Summarising or explaining texts that you have read or listened to is a great way to improve your speaking and writing skills. 

If you'd like to, feel free to post your written summaries in a comment. Only if it interests you!

All the best,

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by Samqaid on Mon, 10/05/2021 - 23:45

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Firstly, i am weak in listening. when i listen to conversation, i couldn't get it well.

Submitted by Suraj paliwal on Mon, 12/04/2021 - 05:30

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Yes, I learnt a lot to your conversation. All teams of British Council is working very hard. Thank you for your work

Submitted by TIa vinaka on Fri, 09/04/2021 - 02:07

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Yes I have similar conversations sometimes. I already knew phases in these conversations but I learned how to reply naturally as talking with someone.

Submitted by Aye Thet Pan on Tue, 02/03/2021 - 17:43

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I was confused question No.6 conversation C.So i listen again and i found out what i missing.
At the same of me. we must be focused more when listening to conversation. We will not give up . just go on

Submitted by vespinosa10 on Wed, 24/02/2021 - 18:51

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I don't think I ever had a similar conversation.c

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.