Series 02 Episode 09
While you listen
Listen to the whole podcast
These exercises help you when you listen to the podcast for the first time. To get ready to listen to the podcast on your computer:
- Read through the questions in the exercises in the practice materials below. This will give you an idea of the programme you are going to listen to.
- Read the questions and instructions carefully. Sometimes you must listen for the 'right' answers. But in some of these questions, you must choose the one answer that is not possible, or wrong.
Practice materials
Listen to the whole podcast and try to answer the questions while you listen.
Check your answers when you have finished. How many did you get right? Remember this, because if you listen to the podcast again later (say next month), you can do the exercise again, and see if you have improved!
1
Section 1 - Conversations in English
"I think I might stop." - Ravi thinks about quitting his Spanish lessons.
Part 1 is based on the Introduction. This section looks at encouraging people.
Suggestion: One way to use this is to read the transcript, and then do some exercises to help you to learn the common phrases. A good idea is to practise these with a friend who speaks English or is also learning English.
Practice materials: exercise 1
Put the lines of the dialogue in the right order.
Practice materials: further practice
For further practice activities please download and print the support pack.
2
Section 2 - I'd like to talk about
Section 2 is based on someone talking about something that they’re interested in – it could be anything – a hobby, a person, a place, a thing – something that they know a bit about and would like to share. It helps you to practise speaking for a little bit longer – for example, when you're explaining something, or telling people something about yourself.
Suggestion: The best way to practise is with a friend who speaks English or is also learning English. However, if you can't find someone, you can send us a paragraph in English.
In this section, you heard Pete talking about his grandfather's watch. Do you have a special possession that is very important to you? Write a paragraph describing the object and saying why it's important to you.
There is some useful language to help you on page 5 of the support pack.
If you want, you can add your paragraph to the "Your turn" comments on the website, or send your paragraph to learnenglishpodcast@britishcouncil.org.
3
Section 3 - Quiz
Section 3 is based on the Quiz. This helps you to learn the meaning of new words and how to remember them.
Suggestion: You can write your answers in our Support Pack. You might want to use a notebook or part of your folder to make your own word lists and maps.
The quiz today was about different forms of transport.
Practice materials: Exercise 1
Fill in the gaps with the correct forms of transport.
Practice materials: Exercise 2
Match the forms of transport with their descriptions.
Practice materials: further practice
For further practice activities please download and print the support pack.
4
Section 4 - Your turn
Section 4 is based on 'Your Turn'. It helps you to listen and understand people giving their opinions.
Suggestion: Download the support pack (below) and look at the phrases that the people use. Sometimes they don't use complete sentences. Write down notes and then say what you think.
In Your Turn you heard 5 people answer this question: "If you had a time machine, what 'time' would you visit?"
What about you? What do you think about time travel? Would you like to visit the same times as the people in the programme? What time would you like to visit?
We'd like you to tell us your opinion. Add your paragraph to the "Your turn" comments on the website, or send your paragraph to learnenglishpodcast@britishcouncil.org.
For some useful language, download the support pack.
Practice materials: further practice
For further practice activities please download and print the support pack.
5
Section 5 - Carolina
Section 5 follows Carolina – a girl who has come to the United Kingdom (UK) to live, study, and to have fun exploring a different country and culture. Listening to this can help you if you find yourself in a similar situation. You will see that there is often more than one way of saying the same thing in English.
Suggestion: listen to Carolina's conversations with her friends and then do exercises 1 and 2.
Practice materials - Exercise 1
Look at some parts of Carolina and Jamie's conversation at the restaurant.
Put the expressions in the right places.
Practice materials - Exercise 2
Look again at parts of the conversations.
Choose all the phrases that people can say.
Remember: there is always more than one correct answer.
Practice materials: further practice
For further practice activities please download and print the support pack.
6
Section 6 - Joke
Section 6 is a joke. A joke is normally a funny story you hear and tell someone else. But you can also describe funny things that happen to you. The most important thing is to watch your friends to see if they are enjoying the story or not – then you can make it longer or shorter.
Suggestion: We suggest you do this:
- Listen to the joke on your computer/mp3 player.
- Do Exercise 1, in which you put the lines of the joke in order.
- Then try telling the joke from the podcast.
- Think of a funny story that you know. Write down the most important words in English (use a dictionary?). Then try telling your joke.
Practice materials - Exercise 1
Put the lines of the joke in the correct order.
Practice materials: further practice
For further practice activities please download and print the support pack.
7
Section 7 - Tom the Teacher
Section 7 is Tom the Teacher. These are more traditional exercises. They look at being accurate in English, and often use the type of exercises you may find in English tests and exams.
Practice materials - Exercise 1
Match the question tags to the sentences.
Practice materials - Exercise 2
Fill in the gaps with the correct question tags.
Practice materials - Exercise 3
Match the interjections with the descriptions of their uses.
Practice materials: further practice
For further practice activities please download and print the support pack.
- Login or register to post comments
- Printer-friendly version
Comments
Hello :) where can we see the picture off the watch that Tess said she would publish on the website? Thank you!
Hello!
Ravi, if you're going to Barcelona I think you'd better learn Catalan! In Catalonia, although some people speaks Spanish (but they understand Catalan), most people speaks Catalan and most public advertisements, signs and posters are in Catalan. The education is given in Catalan and the language of the Catalan autonomous government is, of course, Catalan. Remember that Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia.
Besides, Catalan isn't as common as Spanish, I mean, it's more special as a lot more people speaks Spanish ( I mean in the world), so if you learn Catalan you would impress your friends much more that if you learn Spanish. Moreover, if you speak Catalan then it's really really easy to learn Spanish because they're pretty similar.
By the way, I'm from the Catalan side of la Cerdanya, just next to France ( two hours from Bcn at the most).
Congratulations for the podcasts, they are wonderful and very useful!
All the best,
Laia.
Hi every one
I'm new. Nice to meet u and i hope to be hepled to learn English well.
Hello! Adam.
I have a lot of expression to ask you please help me. I tried in dictionary but there's no answer. .exp: 1-i can fit you in
2- I've got a date
3- what did your last slave die of?
Hello Marjan,
Here are some suggestions:
I hope that helps.
Best wishes,
Adam
The LearnEnglish Team
Hi, All
I'm new here today, this is a great wed side for English Learner, I like the way learning, that is such an good way to improve listening, and writing as well, I have a problem with writing, I just don't know how to get my writing better, if ok, i hope I can do some writing in here by answer those question. Anyway, nice to know everyone here.........
hi.
i am jagadeeswari from india. i like this podcast very much. it's really very useful. definitely you are ding a wonderful job.
thanks
Section 2 - I'd like to talk about
I have a precious diray that my best friend give me present on my birthday in 2008. It is smaller than notebook and is convenient to keep with me. It was made from Japan. My friend love Japan.
I came in Newzealand in March this year and I had started to record in February same year.
In Zealand when I go to the school, I always keep it in my bag.
Bebere I came here, I promised with myself to study hard.
So I recorded every thing related to English
It is like dictionary, writing paper and payment list about somthing.
If I lose it, I will be so depressed.
It is my a friend who know about me in Newzealand.
I'm living in Newzealand. Few days ago, I started to learn english from the british site. It's difficult for me to hear english converstion. That's my weakness. But, I'm enjoying studying and love english. I hope I will talk to someone freely and I will hear correctly soon. After graduating a general course, I'm studying IELTS alone and I' ll go back to languge school a month later. I want to know where I can be checked my writing. I'll always write essay.Thank you.
Hello Lina
There are a lot of websites that offer practice materials for IELTS and a few do offer writing assessment, but you would have to pay. You might also like to think about finding a local tutor if you prefer to have some face to face advice - your language school may be able to recommend someone.
Here are some sites offering useful tips, exercises and samples of writing for IELTS: The British Council's IELTS page, Road to IELTS on-line course and IELTS.org.
They don't offer marking for students' essays, I'm afraid, but I think you will find them helpful.
I hope this helps
All the best
helen
The LearnEnglish Team