Elementary podcasts -> Podcast 09 Home-> Conversations
This page has the online practice materials for:
LearnEnglish Elementary Podcast Magazine No. 09
Section 1 - Conversations in English
You can listen online or download the podcast at Podcast 09 Home
You can also get print versions of the practice materials below in our Podcast 09 Support Pack (pdf file - 351 KB)
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“Where are you going?” – plans for the weekend
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 00mins.19secs
Section 1 is based on the Introduction. This section looks at how to talk about what you are going to do on the weekend.
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: Hello once again and welcome to the LearnEnglish Elementary podcast number 9 with me, Ravi, from Manchester.
Tess: And me Tess, from London. And Gordon, our producer, from … where are you from Gordon?
Gordon_ Me? I’m from Keswick, in the Lake District, you know, but I’ve lived in London for about twenty years.
Tess: Keswick? Really? I’m going there this weekend.
Gordon: Really? What for? Having a weekend away?
Ravi: Are you going cycling again?
Tess: Yeah, we are, six of us. We’re getting the train up from London on Friday morning then cycling to Keswick, spending a night there then we’re going to do a really long ride on the Saturday ..
Ravi: You’re not going to camp, are you? Isn’t it a bit cold?
Tess: No, we’re not – it is a bit cold. We’re staying in youth hostels, you know.
Ravi: Oh right, I haven’t been in a youth hostel since I was a kid. Are they still really cold and uncomfortable?
Tess: No, not at all. Some of them are fantastic. I mean, they’re not like five star hotels or anything but they’re really comfortable and you meet some really interesting people in them.
Ravi: Hmm. Sounds OK, better than I remember. It’s the cycling I don’t want to do. How far are you going to ride each day?
Tess: About fifty miles or so. It depends. It’s more difficult with all the hills and stuff. We haven’t booked the youth hostels – they won’t be really busy at this time of year. So we’ll just stay at the nearest place if we get really tired.
Ravi: Ah OK. Sounds great. When are you coming back?
Tess: We’re getting a train on Sunday afternoon so we’ll get back to London in the evening, about six o’clock, I think.
Ravi: Do you know what I’m going to do this weekend?
Tess: No? What are you up to?
Ravi: Absolutely nothing. I’m going to sit on my sofa all weekend and watch TV. I’ve got loads of DVDs I want to watch. I’ll think of you on your bicycle though.
Tess: I don’t know how you can do nothing all weekend Ravi. I’d get so bored.
Ravi: I know, I know. I’m going to start going to the gym soon, honest. I can never find the time.
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Tom’s tip
Look at Tess and Ravi’s conversation. Ravi is asking Tess about her plans for the weekend. 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.
Practice materials: Exercise 1
Plans for the weekend: read the conversation between Stella and Paul and fill in the blanks.
Tom’s tip
This is a summary of part of the dialogue between Dave and Stella.
1. Stella asks Paul about his plans for the weekend:
2. Paul tells Stella what he’s going to do: I’m going to…..
3. Stella makes a comment and then asks another question: Where are you staying?
4. Paul answers and asks Stella about hotels: Do you know….?
5. Stella answers, makes a comment and then she asks another question: Are you driving down?
6. Paul answers: I’m going to…
7. Stella makes a comment and then asks another question.
Each time Paul answers, Stella makes a comment and then asks another question. She makes a comment to show that she’s interested and then she asks a question to move the conversation forward. This is a good way to make a conversation work.
Now imagine you are talking to a friend. Practise the following conversation:
You: [Ask about your friend’s plans for the weekend]
Friend: Yes, I’m going to ________________________________.
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: _______________________________________.
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. Have you got any plans?
You: ___________________________________
Friend: [Make a comment]. [Ask another question].
Now continue the dialogue.
Why not practise this dialogue with a friend?
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Next:
Continue to: Practice materials: Section 2: I'd like to meet
Return to: Elementary Podcast 09 Home Page
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