English File third edition Intermediate SB
File 4 Listening scripts
2.40
1
One very easy thing you can do, is just change the language to English on all the gadgets you have, for example on your phone, or laptop, or tablet. That way you’re reading English every day and without really noticing you just learn a whole lot of vocabulary, for example the things you see on your screen like Are you sure you want to shut down now, things like that.
2
My tip is to do things that you like doing, but in English. So for example if you like reading, then read in English, if you like the cinema, watch films in English with subtitles, if you like computer games, play them in English. But don’t do things you don’t enjoy in your language, I mean if you don’t like reading in your language, you'll enjoy it even less in English, and so you probably won’t learn anything.
3
What really helped me to improve my English was having an Australian boyfriend. He didn’t speak any Hungarian – well, not many foreigners do – so we spoke English all the time, and my English improved really quickly. We broke up when he went back to Australia but by then I could speak pretty fluently. We didn't exactly finish as friends, but I'll always be grateful to him for the English I learned. So my tip is try to find an English-speaking boyfriend or girlfriend.
4
I've always thought that learning vocabulary is very important, so I bought a vocabulary flash card app for my phone. I write down all the new words and phrases I want to remember in Polish and in English and then when I get a quiet moment I test myself. It really helps me remember new vocabulary. So that’s my tip. Get a vocabulary learning app for your phone.
5
I think one of the big problems when you’re learning something new is motivation, something to make you carry on and not give up. So my tip is to book yourself a holiday in an English speaking country or a country where people speak very good English, like Holland, as a little reward for yourself and so you can actually practise your English. It's really motivating when you go somewhere and find that people understand you and you can communicate! Last year I went to Amsterdam for a weekend and I had a great time and I spoke a lot of English.
6
If you love music, which I do, my tip is to listen to as many songs as possible in English and then learn to sing them. It’s so easy nowadays with YouTube. First I download the lyrics and try to understand them. Then I sing along with the singer and try to copy the way he or she sings – this is fantastic for your pronunciation. Then once I can do it well, I go back to YouTube and get a karaoke version of the song, and then I sing it. It's fun and your English will really improve as a result.
2.48
I always thought that good manners were always good manners, wherever you were in the world. But that was until I married Alexander. We met in Russia, when I was a student there, and I always remember when I first met him. He came to my flat one afternoon, and as soon as he came in he said to me, in Russian, Nalei mnye chai – which means ‘pour me some tea’. Well, I got quite angry and I said, ‘Pour it yourself’. I couldn’t believe that he hadn’t used a ‘Could you…?’ or a ‘please’. To me it sounded really rude. But Alexander explained that in Russian it was fine – you don’t have to add any polite words.
Some months later I took Alexander home to meet my parents in the UK. But before we went I had to give him an intensive course in pleases and thank yous . He thought they were completely unnecessary. I also told him how important it was to smile all the time. Poor Alexander – he complained that when he was in England he felt really stupid, ‘like the village idiot’ he said, because in Russia if you smile all the time people think that you’re mad. And in fact, this is exactly what my husband’s friends thought of me the first time I went to Russia because I smiled at everyone, and translated every ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ from English into Russian!
Another thing that Alexander just couldn’t understand was why people said things like, ‘Would you mind passing me the salt, please?’ He said, ‘It’s only the salt, for goodness sake! What do you say in English if you want a real favour?’
He was also amazed when we went to a dinner party in England, and some of the food was…well, it wasn't very nice, but everybody – including me – said, ‘Mmm…this is delicious’.
In Russia, people are much more direct. The first time Alexander’s mother came to our house for dinner in Moscow, she told me that my soup needed more salt and pepper, that it didn’t really taste of anything. I was really annoyed, and later after she left Alexander and I argued about it. Alexander just couldn’t see my point. He said, ‘Do you prefer your dinner guests to lie?’ Actually you know, I think I do. I’d prefer them to say ‘that was lovely’ even if they didn’t mean it.
Anyway at home we now have an agreement. If we’re speaking Russian, he can say ‘Pour me some tea’, and not say ‘thank you’ when I give it to him. But when we’re speaking English, he has to add a ‘please’, a ‘thank you’, and... a smile.
2.50
Christopher
How do you get to work?
I take the subway every day. I take two trains. I live in Brooklyn. I take a train from Brooklyn to Washington Square. And then I switch to a train that takes me to midtown Manhattan.
How long does it take?
It takes about 30 to 40 minutes.
What do you think is the best way to get around New York?
I think subways are an excellent way to get around New York. They serve all five boroughs and they’re open 24 hours a day, so they’re very convenient and they don’t get stuck in traffic.
Maria
Do you think women are better than men with young children, or do you think that’s just a stereotype?
I think women are, they have a, they’re more natural with young children, they have a natural ability with them, they’re better at sort of knowing what they need, and perhaps knowing if they need hugs or food or things like that, and perhaps their manner is better with young children. I think men can do it, but perhaps it takes a bit more practice.
Harry
Some new research says that men talk just as much as women. Do you think that’s true?
I definitely think that’s true. I would say that I know men who talk more than women talk, especially in my family it’s the men who do most of the talking, especially repeating the same story time and time again.
Do you think men and women talk about different things?
Yes, I think they do talk about different things. I think they have different interests, and so they will try and control the conversation to topics that interest them, rather than everyone else.
Sean
Is there anything you’ve tried to learn, but failed?
I’m having real problems with yoga, to be honest. I’ve been going to lessons for about three years now, and I’m still not making much progress, and I still can’t touch my toes.
Have you stopped trying?
No, I’m still trying.
Liz
Is there anything that people do with their phones that really annoys you?
I personally get quite annoyed by the fact that nowadays most people seem to have to have their phones out with them all the time, including in social situations like when you’re in the pub or at someone’s house for dinner, and people seem to think it’s fine to just mess around on their phones. Not necessarily make phone calls, but just kind of play with their phones, check Facebook on their phones. I don’t know, it seems to become quite standard behaviour now – that’s what people do.
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