MY FAMILY
| Hello, Ann! Where have you sprung from? | If it isnt Helen! What luck running into you like this! Going for a walk? |
| Yes. | I also like to take a walk in the evening. Oh, Helen, darling, just fancy, we havent seen each other for such a long time |
| In fact, since you and I finished school. It was the last time we saw each other. | Yes, thats so. I say, Helen, how are things at home? |
| Thank you, fine. | I hear one of your sisters is getting married. |
| Yes. | She is the eldest among you, isnt she? |
| Yes, She is five years older than I am. Shell be 23 in May. | Twenty three! How time flies. I say Helen, Its a love match, isnt it? |
| Oh, yes. | What does the young man do? |
| He works at the bank. Hes an accountant. | Well, your parents must be happy at such a good match, mustnt they? |
| It goes without saying. Father is as happy as the day is long. By the way, how are your parents getting on? | So-so. Things are not bright, I should say. |
| Anything wrong? | No, nothing is wrong. But they are a little upset, of course. Parents are always upset, when their children leave the family, arent they? |
| Yes, thats true. There are no two ways! I say, Ann., your parents are already pensioners, arent they? | No, they arent. They still work. |
| Thats very nice. But who keeps house then? | Granny does, but of course, we all share in the house work. I do some shopping every day and help mother to do the room. |
| By the by, you have a brother, dont you? I dont see him at all. | I dont see much of him either. |
| So, he doesnt live with you, does he? | He does. Oh, he is always as busy as a bee. He is a fifth-year student and hell graduate in a couple of months. |
| I see. I say, Ann, Ive got a very poor memory for faces. But it seems to me, you are as like as two peas. Do you really look like him so much? | Oh no, on the contrary. We are as unlike as can be. He takes after father. I should say, middle-sized, auburn-haired, blue-eyed and a bit snub-nosed. |
| He is married, isnt he? | Oh, no, he isnt. And what about you? |
| Now, you are always joking. I am not a spinster, am I? Is there any hurry? | Well, I asked you only for fun |
| I say, Ann, you know my address, so come and see me some evening. | Well, Ill come by all means. Remember me to your family. Good-bye. |
Module ______________________
LEARNING ENGLISH
There has never been a language spoken by so
many people in so many places.
(Professor David Crystal,
The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language)
Ex.1. Complete the following sentence. ompare it with other students ideas.
'For me, learning English is_____________
a pleasure, a hobby, an opportunity, an investment, a necessity, an effort, a problem, a pain, a nightmare
Why are you learning English? Complete the sentences below and number them in order of importance for you. Compare with a partner.
In general, I want to:
learn write read improve feel make
|
|
|
a ______ more confident when I speak.
b ______ my listening skills.
______ lots of new vocabulary.
d ______ fewer grammar mistakes.
e ______ better, clearer English.
f _____ without using a dictionary
In particular, I need English for: (match the parts)
| doing | on business. |
| travelling | business on the phone. |
| socialising | e-mails, faxes and letters. |
| giving | with clients and colleagues. |
| writing | part in meetings. |
| taking | short presentations. |
Are you learning English for any other reasons? Add them to the lists above.
Ex.2. INTRODUCTORY TEST
1. Use the words in the box to answer the questions.
Consonant /culture / grammar/ functional language / intonation/ pronunciation / vowel / stress / situational language / spelling / vocabulary/
1. A foreigner asks for 'fire' instead of 'a light' for a cigarette. What kind of mistake is he making?
2. A foreigner is asked 'How long are you here for?' She replies 'Since April' (the correct reply would be 'Till November'). What kind of mistake is this?
3. A foreigner tries to buy paper and is given pepper. What is the problem here?
4. The verb record is pronounced differently from the noun record. Do you know what the main
difference is?
5. These two sentences don't sound the same if you hear them. What makes the difference? That's Mrs Lewis. That's Mrs Lewis?
6. If you don't know whether to write necesary, necessary, neccesary or neccessary, you have a problem with - what?
7. Which is the odd one out: b, m, a, c, f, z? Why?
8. A foreigner is asked 'How are you?' and replies with a long description of her health problems.
She needs to learn more about - what?
9. A foreigner knows a lot of grammar and vocabulary, but doesn't know what to say in a shop or when making a phone call. What does he need to learn?
10. A foreigner knows a lot of grammar and vocabulary, but doesn't know how to apologise, complain, interrupt politely, give warnings or change the subject. What does she need lessons in?
