Charlie: Mum! That’s my computer!
Mum: I know, I know. Don’t worry, I’m changing your privacy settings.
Charlie: Privacy settings?
Mum: Yes. There are privacy settings on your social networking sites. Your account is totally public at the moment, and you’re logged in!
Charlie: Oh. What are the privacy settings for?
Mum: To make you safe online. You want to be safe, don’t you? And for the right people to see your information, not EVERYONE.
Charlie: Everyone?
Mum: Yes. If you don’t change your privacy settings, when you upload a photo, anyone can see it. It’s important to change them so only your friends can see them. You don’t want everyone to see everything, do you?
Charlie: No! But I can delete things, can’t I?
Mum: Well, you can, but it’s very difficult. Some things stay there forever.
Charlie: That’s really scary, Mum.
Mum: Don’t worry, but you must learn how to stay safe. You mustn’t tell anyone your password!
Charlie: I won’t!
Mum: Crazy Charlie one two one, isn’t it?
Charlie: Mum! Yes, it is. How …
Mum: It’s on your notebook. Right there. On your desk. It isn’t a very secret place, is it?
Charlie: No, it isn’t.
§ 10. Ordering food in a café
Café worker: Next, please! What would you like?
Andi: Can I have a burger, please?
Café worker: A cheese burger or double cheese burger?
Andi: Double cheese burger, please.
Café worker: Anything else?
Andi: Yeah, I'd like some banana cake.
Café worker: Would you like a drink?
Andi: Yes, can I have an apple juice, please?
Café worker: OK, so that’s one double cheese burger, one banana cake and an apple juice. What’s your table number?
Andi: Table 3. How much is that?
Café worker: That’s £8.37, please.
Andi: Here you are.
Café worker: Thank you... that’s £10.00... and £1.63 change. Next, please...
Study tips
Ben: You always get good marks at school. You’re lucky! I study but I don’t always get good marks.
Katy: I’m not lucky! I know how to study. I always do three things. Do you want to know them?
Ben: Yeah, please!
Katy: OK, number one. Always study in a quiet place.
Ben: I usually study in my bedroom. It’s very quiet.
Katy: Number two. Have a clear desk!
Ben: Right. A clear desk. My desk isn’t clear. There are lots of papers and books and pens on it.
Katy: Well, that isn’t very good!
Ben: What’s tip number three?
Katy: Have lots of breaks. I always study for thirty minutes. Then I have a break for five minutes. I move my arms and legs and drink some water. Then I study again for thirty minutes.
Ben: I never have a break. I sometimes study for two or three hours.
Katy: That isn’t a good idea! It’s important to get up and move your body.
Ben: OK. Thanks. Next time I think I can get good marks!
Eating out
Waiter: Hello.
Jamie: Hi. A table for two, please.
Waiter: Of course. Over here, please. Here’s the menu.
Sally: Thank you.
(pause)
Waiter: Are you ready to order?
Sally: Yes, we are.
Waiter: What would you like for your starter?
Jamie: I’d like French onion soup, please.
Sally: And I’ll have a tomato salad, please.
Waiter: And for your main course?
Jamie: Mm, I’m not sure. I don’t know whether to have the steak or Thai chicken.
Sally: Oh, I’d like the Thai chicken and rice please.
Jamie: OK, me too.
Waiter: So that’s two Thai chicken and rice. What would you like to drink?
Jamie: I’ll have a fresh orange juice and...
Sally: I’d like some mineral water, please.
Waiter: OK, thank you.
Free time
Receptionist: Good morning, Brownton swimming pool.
Tyrone: Hello, I’d like some information about the water polo club.
Receptionist: Yes, of course. We have an under 14s club, an under 16s club, an under 18s club and an adults club. How old are you?
Tyrone: I’m 15.
Receptionist: OK, so you want the under 16s club.
Tyrone: Yes.
Receptionist: Just a moment... yes, we have two places in the under 16s club.
Tyrone: When do they train?
Receptionist: Let’s see, the under 16s train two evenings a week, on Mondays, no sorry, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 – 8:00pm. And matches are on Saturday mornings.
Tyrone: When does the training start?
Receptionist: Training starts next week, on September 2nd.
Tyrone: OK. And how much are the classes?
Receptionist: Classes are free for under 18s.
Tyrone: Great! What do I have to do to join?
Receptionist: You have to come to the swimming pool and complete a form. You need to bring a photograph too.
Tyrone: OK.
Receptionist: Can I take your name?
Tyrone: Yes, it’s Tyrone Williams.
Receptionist: OK, thanks. Tyrone.
Tyrone: Thanks. Bye.
Giving directions
A. Go straight on. Then take the first left on to Green Street. Walk past the library and it’s the building next to the library on the left.
B. Go straight on. Go past the traffic lights. You will see a shop on the right. Go past that and it’s on the right next to the shop.
C. Go straight on. Go past the traffic lights and go straight on until you get to the roundabout. At the roundabout turn left. Go past the theatre. It’s the building next to the theatre, opposite the hospital.
D. Go straight on. Go past the traffic lights and take the second right on to King’s Road. Go past the bookshop. It’s the building next to the bookshop opposite the café.
Going to the cinema
Tamara: Hi, Mario. Do you want to go and watch a film?
Mario: Hi, Tamara. Sure, what’s on?
Tamara: Well, there are two action films, Mr. and Mrs. Jones and War Games, and they’re both in 3D.
Mario: I’ve already seen Mr. and Mrs. Jones. I haven’t seen War Games, but I don’t really want to see an action film. What else is on?
Tamara: There’s that science fiction film, Robot 2075, but I’ve already seen it.
Mario: Is it good?
Tamara: Yes, it is, but I don’t want to see it again. There’s a romantic comedy called Forever.
Mario: Mm, I’m not sure. Are there any horror films on?
Tamara: Yes, there’s Midnight Moon. It’s got vampires in it.
Mario: OK, sounds good. Let’s go and watch Midnight Moon. What time is it on?
Tamara: It’s on at 12 o’clock or at half past two.
Mario: Is it on this evening?
Tamara: Yes, at 7:30.
Mario: Perfect. Let’s go at 7:30.
Tamara: OK, shall we meet at the cinema at 7:00?
Mario: Great! See you later.
Tamara: Bye.
Shopping for clothes
Shop assistant: Can I help you?
Customer: Yes, have you got this T-shirt in other colors?
Shop assistant: We’ve got it in white, black, red and purple. What size do you want?
Customer: Medium.
Shop assistant: OK, in medium we’ve got black and red.
Customer: And in purple?
Shop assistant: No, just black and red.
Customer: OK, red. Can I try it on?
Shop assistant: Yes, of course. The changing rooms are over there.
(pause)
Shop assistant: Is it OK?
Customer: Yes, I’ll take it.
Shop assistant: That’s £10.95. Would you like to pay by credit card or with cash?
Customer: Cash please. Here’s twenty.
Shop assistant: OK, thanks, that’s nine pounds, 5 p change and here’s your receipt.
Customer: Thanks. Bye.
Stop wasting time
Tom: I don't know what to do. I start off studying but I always end up doing something else.
Mum: I’ll help you but please listen to me.
Tom: Of course! Go on!
Mum: Now first, you need to take away all of the things that stop you working.
Tom: What do you mean?
Mum: First, turn off your music. Music doesn’t help you study.
Tom: OK. No music.
Mum: And put the dog outside!
Tom: What?
Mum: Well, every time the dog goes into your room, you stop studying to pat it. Spot stops you working!
Tom: OK. Bye, Spot!
Mum: Have an apple and a glass of water on your desk before you start. Here you are.
Tom: Why?
Mum: Because then you don’t need to go to the kitchen for something to eat or drink.
Tom: OK.
Mum: Turn off your phone.
Tom: No way!
Mum: Yes. It stops you working. If you turn it off, it’s easier to concentrate. You can read your messages later.
Tom: OK, but I can’t turn off the internet on my computer. I need it to look up information.
Mum: OK, but you can turn off your instant messages.
Tom: I know! Mum?
Mum: Yes?
Tom: Thanks.
Taking notes
Mark: What’s the matter?
Clare: I’ve got a history exam on Friday and I’m worried I’ll fail it.
Mark: Why? You’re brilliant at history.
Clare: It isn’t difficult but I have to remember a lot of information. These are my notes from today.
Mark: Can I see?
Clare: Yes.
Mark: These aren’t notes! This is a full text!
Clare: What do you mean?
Mark: You don’t have to copy everything! ‘Notes’ are just a few words. You have to write the important words. You don’t need to write the extra bits. Look. King Henry the Eighth was married six times.
Clare: That’s important information.
Mark: But you don’t need to write all of those words. You can draw little pictures too. Pictures can help you to remember things and then you don’t need to write so many words. Look.
Clare: That’s so good! The crown is for ‘King’ and the ‘H’ is for Henry. That’s cool. Then the heart is ‘love’ and a number six … well that is hem … six.
Mark: Yes. So, look at these notes. Let’s test your memory.
Clare: King Henry the Eighth was married six times.
Mark: Exactly! Write notes like this, Clare. Then you won’t have six pages of notes, you’ll only have two or three!
Tour of London
Tour guide: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen and welcome to this fantastic tour of London by bus. My name’s Greg and I’m your guide this afternoon on our tour of London. As you can see, we’re on an open-top bus, so you can see all the attractions from your seat and you don’t need to walk anywhere. And please don’t worry about the rain, I’m sure it’ll stop soon. A-a-and please ask any questions at any time.
Tourist 1: I have a question.
Tour guide: Yes?
Tourist 1: Do you have extra umbrellas? I mean, if it rains a lot.
Tour guide: Err, no, we don’t have any extra umbrellas, but don’t worry, I’m sure the rain will stop soon. Right, OK, so where are we going on our wonderful tour? Well, the tour takes two hours and we are going to visit all the famous sites. First, we’ll see Madame Tussauds, the museum with wax models of famous people and celebrities, then we’ll drive along the most famous shopping street in the world, Oxford Street. After that we’ll see the famous clock Big Ben and The Houses of Parliament. As we drive along the river you’ll see the popular attraction, the London Eye, from which you can see the whole city on a sunny day. Then we’ll see Tower Bridge and the famous Tower of London before arriving at Buckingham Palace, just in time for a cup of tea with the Queen.
Tourist 2: Is that included in the tour? A cup of tea with the Queen?
Tour guide: Err, well, no, not exactly, but there’s a lovely café near the palace where you can get a cup of tea. (Sound of a storm right overhead, loud thunder and very heavy downpour)
Tourist 1: I have another question.
Tour guide: Yes?
Tourist 1: Can we have our money back? We’re getting off the bus.
Tour guide: Err, well, you see... Quick! Run! Everyone off the bus!...
Trains and travel
A. Passenger: Excuse me? Which platform does the train to Cambridge leave from?
Train station attendant: The 10:15 train or the 10:40?
Passenger: The 10:15.
Train station attendant: The 10:15 train leaves from platform 3.
Passenger: Thanks.
B. Passenger: Hi. Could I have a ticket for the next train to Manchester, please?
Train ticket vendor: Single or return?
Passenger: Err, single please.
Train ticket vendor: The next train is at 12:30pm, leaving from platform 2.
Passenger: And how much is it?
Train ticket vendor: £13:50
C. Ticket inspector: Tickets, please. Can I see your ticket, please?
Passenger: Yes, here you are.
Ticket inspector: This ticket is for Oxford.
Passenger: Yes, that’s right.
Ticket inspector: But this train doesn’t go to Oxford, it goes to Liverpool.
Passenger: What? Liverpool? Oh no!
D. Train station announcement: The next train arriving at platform 1 is the 15:45 train to Exeter, stoppingat Bristol Temple Meads and arriving at Exeter St David’s at 18:30.
E. Harry: What time is our train back to London?
Angel: It leaves at 4:30. We’ve only got 5 minutes.
Harry: What platform does it leave from?
Angel: Platform 2. Look, over there.
Harry: I can’t see our train anywhere. Let me see the ticket. Look, it says 4:20, not 4:30!
Angel: Oh no, we’ve missed it.
Harry: No, we haven’t, it’s late. Look, here it is now.
Angel: Phew, that was lucky!
Travelling abroad
A. Good morning. This is an announcement for all passengers travelling on the 9:25 flight TOM1223 to Rome. This flight is delayed by two hours because of bad weather.
B. Would all passengers travelling to Tokyo on flight FR3421 please have your boarding passes and passports ready for boarding? Flight FR3421 now boarding at gate 21.
C. This is the final boarding call for passengers Gemma and Ryan Grey flying to Athens on flight EZ9753. Your flight is ready to leave. Please go to gate 14 immediately. The doors of the plane will close in five minutes. Final boarding call for passengers Gemma and Ryan Grey.
D. This is an announcement for passengers travelling to Amsterdam on flight KL1050. Will all passengers with express boarding tickets and passengers travelling with young children please go to gate 6 for boarding? That’s all passengers with express boarding tickets and passengers travelling with young children go to gate 6 for boarding. Thank you.
E. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. We have landed at JFK airport in New York where the local time is 18:30 and the temperature is 76º. We hope you have enjoyed your flight with American Airlines this evening and wish you a very safe journey to your final destination.
