Adam
Adam: Hello and welcome to Episode 6 of Series 4 of LearnEnglish Elementary Podcasts. My name is Adam and, as always, Jo will be joining me later to talk about some of the language in the podcast.
As usual I'll start by looking at your comments on the last episode. If you remember, Tess and Ravi talked about the British personality. People all over the world seem to think that the British are cold and reserved, not very friendly. Tess and Ravi weren't sure that it's true (and neither were Jo and I!), but maybe that's because we're British. So what do you think? Is it true or just a stereotype that people believe?
And, from the comments that we received, it seems that most of you do think that the British are a little reserved and sometimes unfriendly. Giulia12 from Brazil lived in London for a year. She says 'I had very few British friends but they were very friendly with me all the time which I truly appreciated 'cause they made me feel at home.' But although she had a few good friends, Giulia found most other British people very polite but a little cold. Maybe, as Meli12 and Antomun both say, British people need to get to know you a bit before they can relax and be more open to friendship.
Betty1 sent a comment from the UK and she also thinks that the British aren't very friendly. She's lived in Britain for a few years and says that she doesn't have any British friends at all. But she finds elderly people often ask her where she's from and enjoy talking to her. That's interesting, Betty – perhaps older people do enjoy talking to strangers more than young people.
Tanni from Pakistan agrees with the British attitude to the home and privacy. She thinks it's the only place where you can be comfortable and it should be private. And Emir Çağrı from Turkey says that he thinks the British seem to be reserved, but he actually likes that about us – it isn't always a bad thing.
And finally, Englishlover2015 writes about some other ideas that people in Yemen have about the British – we always talk about the weather, we say 'please' and 'thank you' a lot, we're well organised in queues and we're always punctual. Tess and Ravi have talked about some of these topics in earlier podcasts. So listen back if you want to hear what they said.
So thanks for all your comments and, please, keep sending them in. And I'd like to remind you again about the Elementary Podcasts app with lots of features for you to help you learn more English, including questions to test your understanding of the podcast. You can download the app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store and there's also a link to the app on the LearnEnglish website. And there are even more exercises on the website plus other features.
And now for today's episode. We're going to see what Carolina and her friends are up to. Do you remember what happened in the last episode? Yes! Carolina and Jamie saw Emily's boyfriend Cameron kissing another woman. Will they tell Emily .... or won't they? Let's find out.
Carolina – In the kitchen
Carolina: Where are the potatoes?
Jamie: In the shopping bag.
Carolina: Can you wash them? I'm making the salad.
Jamie: If you’re washing the salad then I can't wash the potatoes.
Carolina: Here. Look. I've nearly finished. I don't know why you're angry with me.
Jamie: No, you don't, do you?
Carolina: Is it because I told Emily that we saw Cameron with another woman?
Jamie: Mmm. There might be a connection.
Carolina: Oh, Jamie. What did you want me to do?
Jamie: I wanted you to wait.
Carolina: Wait for what?
Jamie: Wait until we know the whole story. Maybe the other woman was an old girlfriend and he was saying goodbye to her …
Carolina: Can you pass me that knife?
Jamie: Here. Maybe he just met her that day and then didn't want to see her again … maybe …
Carolina: Maybe, maybe, maybe. He was kissing her, Jamie. That's not ‘maybe’. Maybe you're afraid that Cameron will be angry with you and leave the band? Is that the problem?
Jamie: How do you want these potatoes? Chips? Mashed?
Carolina: Mashed. Do you want tomatoes in this salad?
Jamie: Yes, please.
Carolina: Can you get them out of the fridge?
Jamie: Sure ... OK, Carolina. I'm sorry. You're right. I know you're right. You had to tell Emily. I don't want to fight about this any more. It's just … I don't know … Cameron's my friend.
Carolina: I know. But he's not a nice man, Jamie. He's made Emily so upset.
Jamie: Where is she tonight?
Carolina: She went home to her parents for the weekend. She'll be back tomorrow.
Jamie: Poor old Emily. Where's the salt?
Carolina: In the cupboard over there. Yes, poor Emily. Grrr. I'm so angry with Cameron.
Jamie: Calm down. You're killing that salad.
Carolina: I never want to see Cameron again.
Jamie: Well, you have to see him sometimes. We're in a band together, remember? He's the lead singer.
Carolina: So you have to see him – but I don't.
Jamie: Don't be stupid. What about the gig at the Students' Union? Our first concert? You'll see him there.
Carolina: I don't know if I want to go to the concert.
Jamie: What! Are you serious?
Carolina: Maybe … Yes … oh, I don't know. And don't call me stupid.
Jamie: I'm in a band, it's really important to me, we've got our first gig soon and my girlfriend tells me she doesn't want to come. Fantastic … What do you want on the salad? Oil and lemon?
Carolina: Yes, please.
Jamie: Have you got any lemons?
Carolina: They're in the fridge. Anyway, I'm working the night of the gig. I'll be in the shop.
Jamie: You can ask Alice to swap days with you. She can do your Saturday evening and you can do her Sunday. Don't use work as an excuse.
Carolina: I'll think about it.
Jamie: Great.
Carolina: Come on. Let's eat.
Jamie: Yeah. Let's.
Jo and Adam
Adam: Hello again, Jo!
Jo: Hello everybody!
Adam: So ... Carolina told Emily about Cameron and the woman in the pub!
Jo: And Jamie isn't very happy about it!
Adam: No – they don't sound very happy, do they? I hope they enjoy their dinner!
Jo: Hmm. They're having mashed potatoes. I love potatoes!
Adam: I love roast potatoes. They're the best!
Jo: Jacket potatoes, loads of butter is delicious! Or chips ... Do you cook at home a lot, Adam?
Adam: I cook as much as I can. Sometimes I'm too tired and I do something really simple – just pasta and pesto. I try not to eat too many takeaways or frozen meals.
Jo: I hardly ever cook at home, to be honest. My husband is a brilliant cook.
Adam: And what about you, listeners? Do you cook at home? Or do you eat in a canteen, or buy something to eat on the way home? Write and tell us.
Jo: And I'd like to know your favourite way of eating potatoes!
Adam: The address is www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish. ... Now, let's look at some of the language that we heard in the podcast. Jo?
Jo: Carolina and Jamie saw Cameron in the pub – with another woman. Listen to Jamie. Listen to the verb forms.
Jamie: Maybe the other woman was an old girlfriend and he was saying goodbye to her …
Jo: 'Maybe he was saying goodbye to her'. 'Was saying'. This form of the verb is the past continuous.
Adam: And some grammar books call it the past progressive.
Jo: It's the verb 'to be' in the past and the 'ing' form of the verb. Listen to another example.
Carolina: Maybe, maybe, maybe. He was kissing her, Jamie. That's not ‘maybe’.
Jo: 'He was kissing her'. Carolina saw Cameron – and what was he doing? He was kissing the woman in the pub. Let's have another example, Adam.
Adam: OK. Um ... Hey, Jo. I saw you yesterday in the street.
Jo: Really? What was I doing?
Adam: You were carrying three big bags of shopping.
Jo: Ah, yes ... I was going home from the supermarket. ... So why didn't you help me!
Adam: Sorry! I was in my car – I was driving! There are exercises on the website and in our LearnEnglish Elementary Podcasts app about past continuous and other things connected to the podcast – including ways of cooking potatoes, Jo.
Jo: Mmm. And don't forget to write to us with your comments. See you next time!
Adam: Bye!
Comments
hi, i'm Phu, a newcommer.
I always cook at home ans think that do it OK. But I hate cooking every day. I like to cook in the mood only. It's hard for me to cook every day but I have to do it beacuse it more cheap than go to a cafe or a restaurant.
I like fried eggs with tomatoes. It's tasty and easy to cook)
Sometimes I cook at home. Especially I really enjoy cooking meal when I try to new recipes. Because I believe that trying different flavours enhance my creativity. Besides I think that is more healthy, tasty and low-cost . But lack of time is one of the factor of restrictive.
I prefer fried potato together other fried vegetables like squash, eggplant, pepper and tomato. Optionally we can sprinkle yogurt with garlic over.
I cook very often! I cook for my friends,my family and my boyfriend,i find cooking relaxing! I don't eat very often potatoes but when i do,i cook them in the oven.
Hello,
Thanks for this.
I really don't like to cook, i like every thing ready for me and sometimes I order delivery.
Hello,
I'm new hère, and after a long search on net, i found you program is the best but, if possible to add one thing very important, about connecting speech, mean add another transcript of each episode showing linking, stress, assimilation, elision ,...
Hello karroum_oguad,
Thank you for the suggestion. We may include more exercises on pronunciation in the future, including exercises on connected speech. I think it would be an enormous task, however, to show any more than a few examples in the transcript.
You can, of course, listen to and read the text at the same time and identify which words are linked in that way. Trying to speak with the recording - keeping pace with it - is a good way to practise speaking quickly and linking your speech.
Best wishes,
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
I like cooking and potatoes, but I have no much time to do it though. My wife and I usually do simple and quick meals for breakfast or dinner. In Mexico we cook potatoes in many ways, one of them that I like is, you mashed the potatoes and then fry them with oil then serve them with a salad and salsa. I love fried potatoes with ketchup and salsa. :P
hi, I was studying English in my youth but I let them go for a long period of time. You see I'm a sixty years old widow now, with two adult children, who has their own life. I always wanted to travel but I had no time. Now I have all the time to do what always wanted to. That is the reason why I registered in your site. The episode 6, is the first I read and I found it very interesting and helpful. Thanks in advanced for any help you could give me. I look forward to it and for your reply too. As for the potatoes I like them fried and I cook them often enough despite their bad effect on my health.
my regards
ioanna
Hello ioanna,
Welcome, and thanks for your message. You've chosen a good place to start - Elementary Podcasts is great for reviewing general English and can help you especially with improving your vocabulary, listening comprehension, grammar and essential English for talking with other people. You might also want to read through our Frequently asked questions, where there's some general advice on how to get the most out our site.
We look forward to seeing more comments from you, and please don't hesitate to ask us any questions you may have.
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
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