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Instructor: Do you remember Regine? Where does she come from? Is she married? Where does she work? Listen to Regine speaking.
Regine: My name is Regine. I'm German. I live in a small town. I'm not married. I live at home with my mother and father, my sister Heidi and my brother Rolf. I work in a department store. I sell writing paper, envelopes, ball pens, pencils and colored postcards. I walk to work every morning. I don't work on Saturday afternoon or Sunday and I have a three-week holiday in the summer.
Instructor: Regine was seventeen then. Now she's twenty-two. Her life is very different. Listen to this television interview.
Interviewer: Regine, at seventeen you worked in a big shop. Now you are the manager and you are only twenty-two. From seventeen to twenty-two. Five years to success. Can you tell us? The secret of your success?
Regine: The 'secret', as you call it, is work. When I was seventeen, I lived at home. I walked to the shop every morning. I saved my money and I went to evening classes. I worked in a good department and I sold so much that I got a good commission. I really wanted to be a success. Now I'm the manager.
Interviewer: Congratulations, Regine. But please tell us ... do you like your job? Are you happier?
Regine: You are asking me two questions. The first answer is 'yes' and the second answer is definitely 'no'.
Good afternoon, my name is Schwartz. That is S-C-H-W-A-R-T-Z and I come from New York. My wife and I would like a double room with a shower. I have our passports here. We are hoping to stay for about a week. I have a question. Do you know where I can get two tickets for the performance at the theatre tonight?
On my first day in London I felt hungry, so I went into a restaurant and sat down at a table. I waited for ten minutes, but nobody came to serve me. Then I saw that there were no waiters. The customers stood in a queue and got their food themselves. That was my first experience of a self-service restaurant.
—Is that Mr. Smith's son?
—No, it isn't. It's Mr. Morgan's son.
—Is he Irish?
—No, he isn't. He is Welsh.
—Where are your parents now?
—They are in Zagreb.
—Is that in Austria?
—No. It's in Yugoslavia.
—Who is the girl by the door?
—It's Jone Smith.
—Is she a nurse?
—No. She's a librarian.
—My hat and coat, please. Here is my ticket.
—Thank you, sir. Here they are.
—These not mine. They are Mr. West's.
—I'm sorry, sir. Are these yours?
—Yes, they are. Thank you.
—Whose handbag is that?
—Which one?
—The big leather one.
—Oh, that's Miss Clark's.
—What are you looking at?
—I'm looking at some stamps.
—Are they interesting?
—Yes. They are very rare ones.
—Where's Miss Green at the moment?
—In her office.
—What's she doing there?
—She's typing, I think.
—Are there any pencils in the drawer?
—No, I'm sorry. There aren't any.
—Are there any ball-point pens then.
—Yes. There are lots of ball-points.
—I need some oil, please.
—How much do you need, sir?
—Three pounds, please.
—Thank you, sir.
—Is there any shampoo in the cupboard?
—No, I'm sorry. There isn't any.
—Is there any soap, then?
—Yes. There is a whole pack of soap.
—Where does Miss Sue come from?
—She comes from Tokyo.
—What language does she speak, then?
—She speaks Japanese.
—What does Miss Jenkins do?
—She is a nurse.
—Where does she work?
—At the Westminster Hospital.
—Do you like your manager?
—Yes. He is nice and kind. Is yours kind, too?
—No. Mine is rather a brute.
—Oh, I'm sorry about that.
—Is anyone attending to you, sir?
—No. I should like to see some dressing gowns.
—What sort are you looking for, sir?
—I fancy a red, silk one.
Instructor: Henry wants tickets for Romeo and Juliet so he tries to telephone the box of office. First he hears: (wrong number tone). He has dialed the wrong number. Then he tries again. (busy tone) Henry is fed up but he must get some tickets. He tries again and finally, he gets through.
(sound of phone ringing, receiver picked up)
Clerk: Cambridge Theatre. Box Office.
Henry: Have you got any tickets for Romeo and Juliet for this Saturday evening?'
Clerk: Which performance? 5 pm or 8:30 pm?
Henry: 8:30 pm please.
Clerk: Sorry, that performance is sold out.
Henry: Well, have you got any tickets for the 5 pm performance?
Clerk: Yes, we have tickets at 4.50 pounds, 5.50 pounds and 6 pounds.
Henry: I'd like to reserve two seats at 4.50 pounds, please.
Clerk: Right. That's two tickets at 4.50 pounds. Saturday, 5 pm performance. What's the name please?
Henry: Bishop. Henry Bishop.
Clerk: Thank you. You'll collect the tickets before 3 pm on Saturday, won't you?
Henry: Yes, of course. Thank you. Goodbye.
Clara: That number has been engaged for ages. Nobody can be that popular. I wonder if her number has been changed. I think I'll try again.
(Sound of dialing and ringing tone.)
Sue: 3346791.
Clara: Is that you, Sue?
Sue: Who's calling?
C1ara: This is Clara. Clara Ferguson. Don't you remember me?
Sue: Clara! Of course I remember you. How are you? I haven't heard from you for at least two years. What are you doing?
Clara: Nothing very exciting. That's one reason I'm ringing. I need some advice.
Sue: Advice. Hmm. That's a good one. I've just been sacked.
Clara: There are the pips. Hang on, Sue.
Clara: What do you mean ... you've just been sacked? Sue, you're the most successful woman I know.
Sue: That's probably why I've been sacked. But let's talk about you. You said you needed some advice.
Clara: I certainly do. I wanted to ask you about interviews. Have you had a lot of them?
Sue: Yes, I have. Too many.
Clara: So, could you tell me the sort of questions you're usually asked?
Sue: Let me think. The first ten questions are almost always the same. I call them the 'whys', 'hows' and 'wheres'.
(Sound of pips.)
Clara: Not again. Don't go away, Sue. I've got one more coin.
Clara: Are you there, Sue?
Sue: Yes, I'm still here.
Clara: Sorry, I didn't understand what you were telling me. Could you repeat it?
Sue: It's very boring, but here you are:
I'm always asked:
Why I want to leave my present job?
Why I am interested in the new job?
How I intend to get to work?
How long I intend to stay in the job?
Where I live?
Where I went to school?
How much I'm paid in my present job?
How much I expect to be paid in the new job?
Oh yes. I'm always asked if I'm married.
(Sound of pips.)
Clara: That's it, Sue. No more coins. I'll write to you soon ... and many thanks.
I am not going out with George again. Last week he invited me to go to a football match. I do not like football, so it was silly of me to say yes. We did not have seats, so we had to stand for two hours in the rain. I was cold and wet and I could not see a thing. So I asked George to take me home. He got very angry and said some very unpleasant things.
Last week the sun shone and it got quite hot. I decided to put on my light grey summer trousers. But I got a shock. I could not put them on. They were too small. It is possible that they got smaller during the winter, but I do not think so. I am afraid I got bigger. So I am going to eat less and I am going to take more exercise. I am definitely going to lose some weight.
—Is that Mrs. Brown?
—No, it isn't. It's Mrs. Bright.
—Is she English?
—No, she isn't. She is American.
—Where is Susan now?
—She is in Glasgow.
—Is Glasgow in England?
—No. It's in Scotland.
—Who is the man over there?
—It's Mr. Watson.
—Is he a teacher?
—No. He is a doctor.
—My bag, please. Here is my ticket.
—Thank you, Madam. Here's your bag.
—This is not my bag. It's Mrs. Brown's.
—I'm sorry, Madam. Is this yours?
—Yes, it is. Thank you.
—Excuse me. Is this your book?
—No. It's not mine.
—Whose book is it, then?
—It's Pedro's, I think.
—Whose bicycle is that?
—Which one?
—The old green one.
—Oh, that's Robert's.
—What are you looking at?
—I'm looking at a photograph.
—Is it interesting?
—Yes, it's a picture of my girlfriend.
—Are there any oranges in the kitchen?
—No, I'm sorry. There aren't any.
—Are there any bananas, then?
—Yes. There are plenty of bananas.
—I want some butter, please.
—How much do you want, Madam?
—Half a pound, please.
—Thank you, Madam.
—Is there any cream in the refrigerator?
—No. There isn't any, I'm afraid.
—Is there any milk, then?
—Yes, there is plenty of milk.
—Where does Pedro come from?
—He comes from Mexico City.
—What language does he speak, then?
—He speaks Spanish.
—What does your friend do?
—He is a bank clerk.
—Where does he work?
—At the Middleland Bank in Birmingham.
—Do you like your apple?
—Yes. It's nice and sweet. Is yours sweet, too?
—No. Mine is rather sour.
—Oh, I'm sorry about that.
—Can I help you, Madam?
—Yes. I want to see some cardigans.
—What size do you take, Madam?
—About fourteen inches, I think.
1. I really need some new curtains but I'm afraid I can't sew.
2. My problem is that I can't find a job. Managers always say my hair is too long.
3. I do love listening to the radio but I'm afraid my radio isn't working.
4. Just look at these shoes. They cost forty-five pounds last year and they have holes in them now.
5. Do you know anything about cars? My car is using too much petrol.
John Haslam is talking about his garden.
You know, I don't really like the country. It's too quiet. There's not enough movement,
not enough action, not enough to do. But I'm like most other people: I need some peace and
quiet sometimes, and this little garden is my peace and quiet. It's big enough for me.
During the summer I may spend three or four hours out here. But even in the winter I may
come out here for an hour or two at the weekends, if the weather's good. It's a good place
to sit with my typewriter. And it's a good place to sit with a book and a drink.
And do you know something? I spend as much time out of the house now as I did
when I lived in the country. Funny, isn't it?
(Sound of radio playing. Telephone rings.)
Betty: Listen, Mum. The phone's ringing. Can I answer it?
Julie: Yes, of course. But please answer correctly.
(Receiver being picked up.)
Betty: (excited) Hello. This is Betty.
Male Voice; (confused pause) Uh ... good evening. Is that 789-6 double 4 3?
Betty: Yes, it is. Would you like to talk to my mother?
Male Voice: Well ... I'd like to talk to Mrs. Henderson ...
Betty: Just a moment. I'll tell her.
Julie: Mrs. Henderson speaking. Who's calling please?
Male Voice: This is Brian Murphy, Mrs. Henderson. I'm your new neighbor. I moved in yesterday.
Julie: Oh, good evening, Mr. Murphy. Welcome to Oak Lane. Can we give you any help?
Male Voice: Sorry to bother you, Mrs. Henderson, but I'd like to ask you some questions.
Julie: I'm never too busy to help a neighbor, Mr. Murphy. What would you like to know?
Male Voice: Well, first, could you tell me what time the milkman calls? And which day
do the dustmen come? Who's the most dependable newsagent? (pause) Oh, yes ...
where is the nearest police station?
Julie: My goodness, Mr. Murphy. You have got a lot of questions. Look, I have an idea.
Why don't you come to tea tomorrow afternoon? Then we can meet you and answer
all your questions.
Male Voice: That's very kind of you, Mrs. Henderson. What time shall I come?
Julie: Any time after 3 o'clock. We look forward to meeting you. Goodbye.
Male Voice: Goodbye, Mrs. Henderson.
(Receiver being replaced.)
Everything changes. Once a lot of people went to the cinema to see silent films. Then when talking pictures started nobody wanted to see silent films any more. But people still went to the cinema and everybody knew the names of all the great film stars. Now we have television. People sit at home night after night watching their favorite programs. But what is going to happen to the cinema?
Dear Mr. Scott,
Thank you for your letter of 15th January. You say that you telephoned our office five times in two days and did not receive a reply.
I am sorry about this, but we have had problems with our telephone.
Yours sincerely,
D. Renton
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