Elementary podcasts -> Podcast 02 Home -> Conversations
This page has the online practice materials for:
LearnEnglish Elementary Podcast Magazine No. 02
Section 1 - Conversations in English
You can listen online or download the podcast at Podcast 02 Home
You can also get print versions of the practice materials below in our Podcast 02 - Support Pack (pdf 400 k)
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“Where did you go?” – a weekend away
This section starts at the beginning of the audio file, immediately after the Introduction, e.g. when the counter on your audio player is on 00.20
Section 1 is based on the Introduction. This section looks at things we often say and do in friendly conversations.
Suggestion: One way to use this is to read the transcript, and then look at Tom's tip in this section. You can 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.
Transcript
Ravi: Now, last week I told you that Tess loved riding her mountain bike and you’ve been away riding your bike this week, haven’t you.
Tess: I have, yes.
Ravi: Where did you go?
Tess: We went to the Lake District, in the North West.
Ravi: Oh. Beautiful. For our listeners who don’t know, the Lake District is in the north west of England and it’s a really beautiful part of the country. I went there last year, you know. It’s a difficult place to ride a bike though – lots of hills.
Tess: I like riding up hills!
Ravi: I prefer riding down them. Did you stay in hotels?
Tess: No, we were camping. We took two small tents with us and at the end of every day we just put the tents up on a camp site. It was great. Really relaxing.
Ravi: What was the weather like? Camping’s great when the weather’s OK but when it’s raining …. it’s horrible.
Tess: Yeah, we were really lucky. It was really sunny. Well, it rained one day but that was OK.
Ravi: Sounds great – I need a holiday! But, well, I think I prefer to spend my holidays on the beach. It sounds like a lot of hard work Tess.
Tess: I love it! I’m going again next year. I can’t wait! But it’s time to move on to the rest of the show – I know we’ve got lots of interesting people to hear from.
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Tom’s tip
Look at Tess and Ravi’s conversation. Ravi is asking Tess about her weekend away. But notice that Ravi doesn’t only ask questions. He also makes comments about what Tess says. This is normal in a conversation. We respond to what people say – maybe with our opinion, or some extra information about ourselves. Now look at the exercise. Put the phrases in the box in the correct place in this dialogue between Dave and Stella.
Practice materials: a weekend away - gapfilling activity
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Now look at this summary of part of the dialogue between Dave and Stella:
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Dave asks Stella a question about her weekend |
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then asks another question |
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You went with Amy? That's nice |
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and asks another question |
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Amy wanted to go – she’s really into old buildings. |
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Yes, I went there a few years ago. I remember the Roman Baths – and of course, all of the old city’s beautiful. There’s a lot of stuff to see. |
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and asks another question |
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Now look at the rest of the dialogue. Notice how it continues in the same way. Every time Stella answers a question, Dave makes a comment before he asks another question. He makes a comment to show that he’s interested in what Stella is saying. Then he asks another question to move the conversation forward. This is a good way to make a conversation work.
Tom’s Tip
If we know something about the person we’re talking to, and the place they visited, we can either ask a general question: What did you do?’, or show that we’re interested by asking a more specific question: ‘Did you go to that wonderful museum?’.
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Practice materials: Matching specific questions to general questions
Now imagine you are talking to a friend. Practise the following conversation:
You: Hi [name] ______________! Good weekend?
Friend: Yes, I went away
You: Where did you go? Anywhere interesting?
Friend: Yes, I went to [place] __________________.
You: I know [place] _________________ . It’s [describe the place]
_________________.
[Ask another question] ________________________________?
Friend: _______________________________________
You: [Make a comment] __________________________.
[Ask another question] ________________________________?
Friend: _______________________________________
You: [Make a comment] ______________________________.
[Ask another question] ___________________________________?
Friend: ___________________________________
You: [Make a comment] ___________________________.
[Ask another question] ___________________________________ ?
Friend: ____________________________________
You: [Make a comment] _____________________________.
[Ask another question] ______________________________________?
Friend: And what about you. Did you manage to get away?
You: Yes, I went to _____________________ .
Friend: [Make a comment] ___________________________.
[Ask another question] __________________________________?
Now continue the dialogue.
Why not practise this dialogue with a friend?
Next:
Continue to: Practice materials: Section 2: I’d like to meet
Return to: Elementary Podcast 02 home page
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