Camden Scene 1

Stephen and Ashlie realise they have quite similar ideas about what their Mum would like, but Ashlie soon gets distracted from the task in hand!

Do the Preparation task first. Then watch the video. Next go to Task and do the activity. If you need help, you can read the transcript at any time.

Preparation

Before you watch

Think about the following questions:

  • Do you ever shop in markets in your country?
  • Think about markets in Britain. Do you think they will be the same as markets in your country, or different?

Watch Stephen and Ashlie go shopping in Camden Market in London.

Transcript

 

Stephen: Here we are in Camden Lock Market. It’s a great place to go shopping and we need to buy a birthday present for our Mum. What do you think we should get her, Ash?

Ashlie: Well our Mum loves nice clothes and costume jewellery. So - I’m sure we’ll find something here.

Stephen: It's huge here, Ash. I’ll tell you what, let’s split up, see what we can find and I’ll meet you back here in one hour.

Ashlie: OK, I’ll see you back here in an hour, then.

Stephen: Oh, Ash – can you lend me 50 quid?

Ashlie: 50 quid, eh?

Stephen: Don’t worry, you’ll get it back!

Ashlie: That should do it.

Stephen: Thank you.

Ashlie: OK, I’ll see you back here later.

Stephen: See you!

.....

Stephen: Wow, look at these! I’ve never seen one of these before. How much are these?

Shopkeeper: Five pound each.

.....

Ashlie: Excuse me. Do you have this in another colour?

.....

Stephen: Hiya – how’s it going?

Shopkeeper: Hi, very well. How are you?

Stephen: Good, thanks.

Stephen: I like these, how much are they?

Shopkeeper: Er, the leaf lights – they are £21.95.

Stephen: Hmm, I’m not sure she’ll like them. Can you help me? I’m looking for a birthday present for my mum. Any ideas?

Shopkeeper: What type of thing does she like?

Stephen: Well, she’s quite stylish – modern, I suppose.

Shopkeeper: Well, the yin yang’s really modern. What do you think of that?

Stephen: Hmm. What about that one over there?

Shopkeeper: Ah, the ball lights – lovely – it’s fifty pounds.

Stephen: Oh.

Shopkeeper: How about... forty, seeing as it’s your mother’s birthday?

Stephen: Twenty?

Shopkeeper: Twenty? That’s really cheap. How about I meet you halfway – twenty-five?

Stephen: Great, thanks mate. My Mum’s going to love this.

Shopkeeper: You’re welcome.

.....

Ashlie: Aah - I'm running out of time…

.....

Ashlie: Excuse me, how much is this?

Shopkeeper: Er, that’s fifty pounds.

.....

Stephen: So? How did you get on?

Ashlie: Pretty good, I guess. I bought this fantastic candle holder. It was a little bit expensive, but I think Mum will love it. In fact I almost bought one for myself!

Stephen: Yeah… great – and look what I found!

Ashlie: Well, that is just crazy – how did we end up buying the same candle holder in this huge market??!

Stephen: I’ll tell you what we’ll do. You take this one. You said you almost bought one for yourself - and you lent me fifty pounds, right?

Ashlie: Right.

Stephen: So you take this one, I’ll get lunch and we’ll call it quits! Come on – it’s time to get something to eat. Lunch is on me, remember. Come on!

Task 1

Task 2

Discussion

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Average: 5 (1 vote)

Submitted by arktika013 on Mon, 05/03/2018 - 08:57

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Markets in my town aren't so huge and variety as a Camden Market in London. I'd like to visit that place in the UK.

Submitted by Hamedtry on Sun, 28/01/2018 - 18:25

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hi there I have 3 questions what does these means sentences below 1 I meet you halfway 2 I'm running out of time 3 call it quits that's very nice of you
Profile picture for user Peter M.

Submitted by Peter M. on Mon, 29/01/2018 - 07:21

In reply to by Hamedtry

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Hi Hamedtry,

1. In this context 'I'll meet you halfway' is a way of making an offer in negotiation. If one person offers $20 and the second offers $30 then the next step might be to say 'I'll meet you halfway' and offer $25.

2. 'I'm running out of time' means that you do not have much time left.

3. We say 'we'll call it quits' when we want to say that neither side owes the other anything. For example, in this dialogue Ashlie lent Stephen £50 and then Stephen gave her back a candleholder worth £50, so Stephen says they can 'call it quits'.

 

Best wishes,

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by Hamedtry on Sat, 27/01/2018 - 23:18

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Hi sir What does you’ll get it back mean? Thanks
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Submitted by Peter M. on Sun, 28/01/2018 - 07:59

In reply to by Hamedtry

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Hi Hamedtry,

'You'll get it back' here is a promise to return the money that is borrowed. It means that same as 'I'll give it back to you'.

 

Best wishes,

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Profile picture for user galal agad elsyed mohammed

Submitted by galal agad els… on Tue, 09/01/2018 - 08:48

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Hi. What is the meaning of Lunch is on me?

Hello galal agad,

It means that I will pay for lunch. Stephen is telling Ashlie that he will pay for her lunch.

All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team

Hello galal agad,

It means that I will pay for lunch. Stephen is telling Ashlie that he will pay for her lunch.

All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team

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Submitted by Giangdauten on Wed, 03/01/2018 - 14:02

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Hi,this video is very useful What is the meaning of "let’s split up"?

Hi Giangdauten,

'Let's split up' means 'let's not stay together'. Stephen says this because the place is very big and he thinks it will be more efficient to separate rather than staying in one group.

 

Best wishes,

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team