Episode 01
Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.
Preparation
Transcript
Milton: Hi, Mum. I'm sorry I haven't written for a while, but your baby boy is still alive so you can stop worrying. It's all OK here. Benedita and Paulo are away, so I'm alone in the flat. The problem is now I have to remember my keys when I go out. I got home yesterday, no keys, so I'm standing there in the hall like an idiot when ...
Mei: Hello.
Milton: Hello.
Mei: Who are you? Do you live here?
Milton: Um, yes, I am, I do, I mean, yes, I live in this flat here, with Benedita and Paulo. Are you our new neighbour?
Mei: I live in this flat here – number 4A.
Milton: My name is Milton. And you're ...?
Mei: Mei.
Milton: Mei. OK, nice to meet you, Mei.
Mei: Nice to meet you.
Mei: Goodbye then.
Milton: Bye.
Mei: Are you not going into your flat?
Milton: Ah, well, that's a bit of a problem. I haven't got the key.
Mei: You haven't got the key? Are you sure you live there?
Milton: Of course I live here – I told you – but I left my keys in the kitchen this morning.
Mei: So what are you going to do?
Milton: I don't know. I used to leave a key with my old friend Carolina on the ground floor, but she's gone away.
Mei: Hmm.
Milton: Um, you know you've got a small balcony outside your kitchen?
Mei: Yes ...
Milton: Well, so have we.
Mei: Yes ...
Milton: Well, I could climb from your balcony over to our balcony and get in through the kitchen window.
Mei: I am not ... I don't ...
Milton: I'll be careful. Don't worry.
Mei: But I don't know you! How do I know you're not a criminal?
Milton: You mean a burglar? No! I told you – my name is Milton da Silva. I studied here in the UK. I can show you some ... Ha! My old student card. Here.
Mei: OK, so you are Milton da Silva. Newcastle University, School of Theatre Studies. You could be a burglar now.
Milton: Really? Look, you can hold my bag with all my money and everything.
Mei: OK, come in. Go straight to the kitchen. That way.
Milton: There you are! Job done!
Mei: OK.
Milton: So, thanks for your help – really.
Mei: That's OK.
Milton: Hey, Mei.
Mei: Yes?
Milton: Well – if we're neighbours now ... I'm Milton, I'm from Brazil, I'm an actor. What about you?
Mei: My name is Mei and I'm from China.
Milton: And are you studying here?
Mei: No, I'm working. I have a job here. In IT.
Milton: Do you like it?
Mei: I don't know. I haven't started yet. I only left China last week.
Milton: Well – good luck. I'm sure it'll all go well.
Mei: I hope so.
Milton: OK. Bye. Thanks again.
Mei: Bye.
Milton: So, we've got a new neighbour from China who thinks I might be a burglar, but she seems nice and I think she quite liked me. And now I want to hear all your news. How's life in Florida? Give my love to Henry. And tell Alfredo to text me sometime. Lots of love, Milton.
My neighbour and I know each other well. We talk and share things when it's needed. I eat at my neighbours house and they do that as well, there are n boundaries between us, living as one family in different houses. When I need anything from them I just come as for it, even sometimes take it without asking when it is noticed. We share food, water and everything available. This our community life.
I really know who lives around my house and I know my neighbors because my dad is a head of the neighborhood association, so if they need help about civil administration, they will tell my dad
I lived in my apartement for a year but i have no ide who's live around me..
I love that ,this was absolutely beneficial .I believe so I will reach C1 ASAP
Well, we are friendly with our neighbours. We use to wish ours neighbours during special occasions.
I don't know my neighbours. Even we meet each other we just turning our eyes to somewhere and avoid any eye-contact. It's unusual for us to say hello or chat with each other. It's very common in Hong Kong. People are quite aloof here. Sometimes when we open the door and see the neighbour, we will close the door immediately.
I don't know many people here because I moved to another city, but my old neighbours were friendly. When they saw me, they always smiled and we talked about our day.
I live in a dormitory. I have a 4 neighbours. One of them from Kz, two of them from Mongolya. But one of them is Kazakh. They are student. They are studying in university.