Unit 5 So many kinds of English
Vocabulary Task
Answers/Script
A Sometimes I have trouble understanding native speakers. That’s because native speakers use a lot of slang. I wish I could speak English more fluently.
B I want a teacher who is a native speaker of English. And I think everyone should learn standard American English. It would make communication easier if we all spoke the same way.
C English is the language of international communication. People who speak English come from all over the place. Everyone who speaks English has accent of some kind. Sometimes you have to get used to how someone else speaks.
Listening Task
1) First Listening
Answers
1. Professor Lee’s English is hard to understand.
2. The people in a chat room used a lot of slang on purpose and he felt stupid.
3. Communicating in English with people from all over.
4. Their English teacher is Chinese.
2) Second listening
Answers
1. Don’t worry about it, though.
2. you can’t let them bother you.
3. Wow, that’s cool.
4. I’ll bet he can show us how he did it .
Script
1. A: So, how did you like Professor Lee’s class?
B: Not too much. Her English is so hard to understand. She has a strong accent, you know.
A: Everyone has an accent, including you! Hers is just different from yours, that’s all.
B: It sure is.
A: Don’t worry about it, though. You’ll get used to how she speaks pretty soon.
B: In a few weeks, maybe, but in the meantime…
A: In the meantime, pay attention to what she writes on the board. She uses the board a lot because she knows that some people have trouble understanding her. That’s one of the ways she’s such a great teacher.
2. A: Hey, Fong. What’s the matter?
B: I was just on my computer, in a chat room with three Americans. They used a lot of slang on purpose, and I didn’t understand, so I asked them what they meant. Then they started ignoring me, and after a while, I started to feel stupid.
A: Oh, you shouldn’t. Your English is really good.
B: But why did they have to be so mean? It seems like they were using their English ability to have fun with each other, but they didn’t really want to include me.
A: Well, some people are like that, that’s all. You can’t let them bother you .One nice thing about chat rooms is that you can leave and go to another one …or turn off your computer.
3. A: How was your trip to India?
B: It was incredible! There were so many new, amazing sights and sounds. And smells! And I was able to speak English everywhere!
A: Indian people speak English? Everybody?
B: A lot of them did. Indian English is a little different from my English, but I could understand it. I also used English with other travellers, who came from all over the place.
A: And, uh, no problems communicating ?
B: Well, of course, there were some misunderstandings. Like the grammar of Indian English is a little different. And sometimes I couldn’t understand someone’s accent. But the amazing thing was here we were, all these different people, with all these we were, all these different people, with all these different accents, and we could communicate.
A: Wow, that’s cool.
4.
A: I can’t believe it! Our English teacher is Chinese.
B: Yeah, well, so are you! What’s wrong with that?
A: But he’s not a native speaker. I want a teacher who is American or British, so that I can learn standard English.
B: But, uh, Mr. Chen can speak English fluently, and he knows things that native speakers don’t know.
A: Yeah? Like what?
B: Like how to learn English. I’ll bet he can show us how he did it, and that will make it easier for us, too.
A: Hmm. Maybe you’re right.
Real World Listening
1. Predict
Answer
Department manager
2. Get the main idea
Answers
1. She is talking to her husband.
2. She got a job in customer service.
3. She worked in travel management for five years and has her degree in Business Management.
4. Because she is not a native speaker.
5. She’ll try the job and see if she gets promoted.
Script
Richard: Hello?
Irma: Hi, it’s me.
Richard: Oh, hi! How was the job interview?
Irma: Well, he hired me.
Richard: You got the job? The management job? Oh,
Irma: No, I didn’t say I got the management job. He hired me for a job in customer service, selling hired me for a job in customer service, selling tours to Asia.
Richard: Just customer service? But what about the management position? You were perfect for that job. You can supervise people. You understand the business.
Irma: I know. I showed him my resume. I told him that I worked in travel management for five years back home, and that I even got a degree in Business Management here in the U.S.
Richard: Oh, I can’t believe that. You’re perfectly qualified for that management position.
Irma: That’s what I thought. It’s not fair! Why did I bother going to college here?
Richard: Wait, wait a minute. Did he know that you were applying for the management position.
Irma: Of course. And you know what he said?
Richard: What?
Irma: He said that everyone really expects the manager to be someone from the local community. But the person they hired is from New York. And she’s a woman, too, so it’s not because I am a woman. So that means the problem is my English.
Richard: But your English is fantastic!
Irma: But I’m not a native speaker, and I guess that’s what they want for the management job.
Richard: Well, you know, you spend a little time at the customer service job and then you can work your way up to the management position… |