Episode 07: Cheer up!

Episode 07: Cheer up!

Magda will finish her degree soon and wants to work in London as an architect.

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

Transcript

Fadi: Morning Olivia!
Olivia: Hello there!
Fadi: Do you live here?
Olivia: How do you mean?
Fadi: It’s just that every time I come in here, you’re here...it’s like you live here or something...
Olivia: Just taking a break that’s all...
Fadi: You’re always taking a break.
Olivia: Well my shop’s next door, so it’s so easy just to pop in here when things are quiet...
Fadi: Where’s the little thief today?
Olivia: Who? Oh! You mean my little nephew Joe...
Fadi: Exactly...the sweet little pest!
Olivia: He’s with his mum, my sister, today, you’ll be relieved to know.
Fadi: Has Harry been in today?
Olivia: He dropped by the shop before. Said he might pop in here later for a coffee.
Fadi: I think he’s angry with me, perhaps I should avoid him for a bit.
Olivia: Why’s he angry with you?
Fadi: Oh, you know, we argued about money – he was going to do that job for me...
Olivia: Oh yeah, but don’t worry. I’m sure he’s not really angry. And even if he is, he’ll soon forget it. You know what he’s like!
Fadi: Yeah, I guess so. I’ll just let it drop.
Fadi and Olivia: Hi there!
Sarah and Magda: Hello
Fadi: Cheer up! What’s up with you two?
Sarah: Just the usual...
Olivia: How’s the flat-hunting going Sarah?
Sarah: Still nothing. I really need somewhere to live. I’m getting desperate. I’ll end up homeless if things don’t get better!
Olivia: Oh come on, it’s not that bad...
Sarah: No, of course it’s not, but...it’s so difficult to find a place...
Fadi: I’m glad you showed up – I wanted to talk to you about that...
Sarah: Oh yeah?
Fadi: Yeah - I’ve heard of something that might interest you...
Sarah: Great! What is it?
Fadi: A cousin of mine has a spare room in his house.
Olivia: A cousin of yours...how many people are there in your family...?
Fadi: A lot!
Sarah: That sounds good...can I look at the flat?
Fadi: I’ll call him now.
Olivia: Are you sure about moving in there?
Sarah: Look, I really need a place, urgently, and it’ll be ok, I’m sure...
Olivia: Lots of opportunities to see Fadi....
Sarah: You are such a terrible gossip!
Johnny: There’s Fadi, always stuck to that phone, always working...or perhaps it’s girls!
Olivia: Actually, he’s helping Sarah to find a flat.
Johnny: Oh. Ok. Good. Well hello! What’s up? Why does everyone look so glum here?
Sarah: I’m still trying to find a flat...
Magda: And I finish my degree soon, which means I have to get a job, or go back to Poland.
Johnny: And you want to stay here in London?
Magda: Yeah, but it’s so difficult to get a job.
Olivia: That’s not true, there are lots of jobs around...
Magda: Yes, but I don’t want to just work in a bar or a café or a shop...
Olivia: Oh thanks!
Magda: Sorry! I know you work in a shop, but...that’s different..it’s your own shop, and you sell such special things, those lovely handmade shoes! But usually, you know, shop-work isn’t great..
Olivia: Tell me about it...
Sarah: But you’ll be a trained architect, won’t you?
Magda: Yes, exactly...but it’s not easy to get work as an architect. There’s a lot of competition here in London
Johnny: You should go to China...lots of opportunities there right now, lots of building.
Fadi: Listen, Sarah, I spoke to my cousin and we can go round to have a look at the flat this afternoon if you like...
Sarah: “We”?
Fadi: Well, I’ll go with you, show you where it is...
Sarah: Erm, ok...Thanks!
Olivia: Told you so!
Magda: Well you might have solved your problem then...but I might not be here much longer!

Task 1

Task 2

Task 3

Task 4

Language level

Average: 4.8 (4 votes)
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Submitted by farivar on Mon, 05/06/2023 - 14:28

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Hello Learning English team. What did this sentence mean " I’m glad you showed up"?
Thanks.

Hi farivar,

It means something like "I'm happy that you came here" or "I'm happy that you are here".

"Show up" is a phrasal verb which means to arrive somewhere.

Jonathan

LearnEnglish team

Submitted by PhuongHoang on Sun, 22/03/2020 - 08:11

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Hello Learning English team. I have some questions for you. What did Olivia mean when she said " you’ll be relieved to know. " Does it mean fadi will not be intterupted by Joe at all ? Thanks a lot!

Hello PhuongHoang

Yes, that's the idea. Olivia knows that Fadi doesn't like being around Joe. 'you'll be relieved to know' means 'you'll be happy to know'.

All the best

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by User_User on Fri, 07/02/2020 - 18:30

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Hello This time is said that Magda was soon be an trained architect. Last episode Magda didn't know the word 'nephew'. I looked up the requirements to study architecture in the UK. They need almost a C1 level. My level is below that but I do know the word 'nephew'. And when your level is slightly under C1 und you study there for several years your level should be at least C1. If found this on a website: It takes seven years to become a fully qualified architect, combining five years of study followed by two years of professional training and practical work before final exams. They could even reach a C2 level which is the hightest level for foreign students. Fadi keyed the number of his cousin into his phone. He said the numbers when dialing. I believe that not many people know the telephone number of his cousin(s) by heart. Bye

Submitted by jmajo on Sun, 02/06/2019 - 17:17

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Thanks for the activities, all of them are great to improve a bit every day!!.