Conversation Practice Harry's Weekend
Harry is American He works as a sound engineer in a recording
studio in San Francisco.
Interviewer: Harry, could you tell me something about your weekends?
Harry: Sure.
I: Are they busy, or ... don't you do much?
H: No, they tend to be very busy. I don't have much spare
time during the week, so when the weekend comes, we try very hard to have a good time.
I; So what sort of things do you do?
j-j: Well, let's see. It begins on Friday night, of course,
er ... we maybe go to a bar but we usually go to the theatre. Saturday morning, that's the time for cleaning the house, washing the car, doing the laundry. After lunch we go for a walk on the beach, or play tennis, or go for a run. In the evening we sometimes go to a movie, but usually we go to watch a band.
I: Oh.
H: Yea. Not, not in a concert, in a bar — you know bars
in America are more like clubs.
I: Oh, yes. So plenty to do on Saturday. Mmm. What
about Sunday?
H: Well, on Sundays we get an enormous pile of newspa-
pers, and we just sit in the garden over a cup of coffee with maybe a continental breakfast and read the newspapers.
I: Relax. What about Sunday evening then?
H: Well, Sunday evening we quiet down a bit. It's time
to get ready for Monday. Another week. So we usually have an early night. Maybe watch a little television.
I: Oh, that's very interesting, Harry. Thank you very
much.
I. Listen to the conversation "Harry's Weekend" and answer the questions:
Are Harry's weekends usually busy? What do they do on Friday night? on Saturday morning (evening)? on Sunday?
//. Listen to the conversation again. Tell about Harry's weekends.
III. Situation: You and your friend are speaking about your weekends.
What are You Doing this Afternoon?
Roger: Hi! It's me.
Peter: Oh, hi! How are you?
Roger: Fine. Tell me, what are you doing this afternoon?
Peter: I'm not sure. I'll probably stay home and read a book. How
about you?
Roger: Well, I'm planning to go fishing. Would you like to join me? Peter: Sure. I'd be happy to. Going fishing sounds a lot more
exciting than staying home and reading a book. Roger: Good! I'll pick you up at around one o'clock. Peter: See you then.
/. Listen to the conversation and answer the questions:
Where is Roger planning to go this afternoon? What does Peter prefer: reading a book or going fishing?
//. Listen to the text again and pick out the phrases expressing a future action.
III. Act out the conversation.
A Picnic
Tim: Hullo?
Mary: Hullo, Tim. This is Mary. Alan and I are going on a picnic.
Do you want to come? Tim: Isn't it going to rain, Mary? Mary: I don't think so. The sun's shining and there isn't a cloud
in the sky. Tim: Well, I've got some work to do, but I suppose I could put
it off till tomorrow. Where are you thinking of going? Mary: Near Stroke. There's a nice spot by the river with some
tall elm trees.
Tim: It is just before Stroke, on the left of the road? Mary: That's right. It's very easy to find. Tim: I'll come, and I might even go for a swim. Are you taking
any food or drink? It's a pity you didn't mention it yesterday.
I don't think there's any beer in the house. Mary: Don't worry. We've got some bottles of beer and lemonade
and there's half a chicken in the fridge. Tim: Right then. See you there in about an hour.
/. Listen to the conversation "A Picnic" and answer the questions:
Where are Mary and Alan going today? What is the weather like? Does Tim feel like going to the country?
//. Read the conversation and analyse its language peculiarities.
III. Find in the text appropriate English phrases for the following:
Куда вы думаете поехать? Это место легко найти. Жаль, что вы не упомянули об этом вчера.— А дождя не будет? — Не думаю. Возможно, я искупаюсь. Не беспокойтесь. На небе ни облачка. У меня есть работа, но думаю, что я мог бы отложить ее до завтра. Вы берете с собой еду и напитки? Хорошо. Встретимся там приблизительно через час.
IV. In one paragraph of about 50 words give a brief account of the conversation.
V. Act out the conversation.
VI. Tomorrow is Saturday. Your friend phones to invite you to the country for the weekend. You are free tomorrow and would like to come. Your friend has a car, he is going to pick you up at 7 a. m.
On a Phone
Mary: Extension seven five three.
Jim: Hi, Mary! It's Jim here.
Mary: Oh, it's you again.
Jim: Yes, what shall we do this evening?
Mary: What do you suggest?
Jim: I don't know. You decide.
Mary: What about a game of tennis?
Jim: No. Not today. How about going to the cinema instead?
Mary: Oh, good idea! We could meet at the box-office. At a quarter
past seven? Jim: OK. Let's do that.
/. Listen to the conversation "On a Phone" and answer the questions:
What does Mary want to do this evening? What does Jim suggest? What are his exact words?
//. Listen to the conversation again, reproduce the phrases expressing suggestions.
III. Act out the conversation.
IV. Situation: Your friend and you are staying in town this weekend. At the moment you are making plans for the coming weekend.
Do you Want to Come withMe?
Angie: Colin? It's Angle.
Colin: Oh, hi, Angie! How are things?
Angie: О. К. thanks. Listen, are you doing anything on Saturday?
Colin: Saturday? I'm not sure. Why?
Angie: Well, it's the international athletics meeting at Crystal
Palace. I've got two tickets. I think it is going to be good.
Do you want to come? Colin: It sounds fun. I'll check in my diary. Hang on.
Angle: О. К.
Colin: Let's see. Oh, that's a pity!
Angie: What's wrong?
Colin: I am playing in a college football match that afternoon,
I'm afraid.
( Angie: That's a shame! Who else can I ask? Colin: You could ask Mike. He's quite keen on athletics. Angie: Yes, О. К. What's his number? Colin: I can't remember. But I know he is going to be at college
this afternoon and I'll ask him to phone you. Angie: Fine. I'll call you home about nine. Colin: О. К. Angie: Thanks. Look, I'd better go now. I'll be late for work if
I'm not careful. Bye for now! Colin: Bye, Angie!
/. Listen to the conversation and answer the questions:
Where is Angie going on Saturday? Why can't Colin come with her? What do they agree to do?
//. Listen to the conversation again and reproduce the phrases expressing a future action.
III. Find in the text appropriate English phrases for the following:
Он увлекается легкой атлетикой. Послушай, у тебя есть какие-либо планы на субботу? Как дела? Я не уверен. Какая жалость. Мне бы лучше поторопиться. Не клади трубку. В чем дело? Это звучит интересно.
IV. Express regret in response to the following statements:
e.g. — Donald won't come to the party.
— That's a pity, (or That's a shame)
1. Robert failed in his chemistry exam. 2. I'm afraid I can't lend you any money. 3. I lost 20 pounds yesterday. 4. I couldn't get the tickets for the match. 5. Roger won't take part in the discussion. 6. We have no vacancies.
V. Give advice in response to the following statements:
e.g. — I've got a cold, (stay in bed)
— You'd better stay in bed.
1. I haven't enough literature for my report, (go to the library) 2. The train is leaving in an hour, (take a taxi) 3. It's 6.30. (start at once) 4. The dress is both cheap and nice, (buy) 5. I don't know what's the matter, (ask her) 6. I am going to travel by plane, (go by train) 7. Susan doesn't know about the picnic yet. (phone)
VI. Use the conversational phrases from the text in response to the following utterances.
1. How are you getting on? 2. The airport is far away from here. 3. We are going to the seaside for the weekend. Do you want to come with us? 4. Are you free on Tuesday evening? 5. The Browns won't be coming to the party. 6. It's 10 o'clock. 7. What shall we do this evening3
VII. Write the note to Mike which Colin leaves on the college notice board to tell him about Angle's telephone call. Start like this:
Dear Mike,
Sorry I missed you but I've got a message from Angie: She's got... I can't go myself because ... She wants to know if you ...
VIII. Act out the conversation "Do you want to come with me?'.'
IX. Situations: a) Mike has read Colin's note and he is phoning Angie to tell her he would like to come, b) Your friend calls you to invite you to the theatre some time next week. But you've got a very busy week and you can't find a suitable day and time. You agree to go to the theatre the week after next.
Listening APicnic in the Country
A week ago the Smith family went for a picnic in the country. It was early spring, so they thought it was too cold to go to the seaside. Mrs Smith packed a large basket of food and David put it in the back of the car.
They set off early after breakfast and drove about 30 miles into the country until they came to the woods. The sun was shining brightly and the ground was dry. Susan put the blanket on the ground, so that they could sit on the grass. David took the food out of the car. Mr Smith made a fire and Mrs Smith made tea. "Isn't it beautiful here?" said Mrs. Smith. "It's very quiet and green". David had a kite, and soon he was running across the grass with it. "Be careful", shouted his mother, but it was too late! David fell over the basket of food and everything fell out. "Look!" cried Susan. "There are ants in the food!" Yes, there were. There were hundreds of them. The blanket was on the ants' nest!
/. Listen to the text and answer the questions'.
Where did the Browns go for the weekend? What was the weather like? What happened after they came to the woods?
//. Imagine you are David. Tell about your last picnic in the country. Give more details.
III. When did you last go to the country? What was the weather like? What did you do there? Did you enjoy yourself? How are you going to spend your next weekend?
Weather Reports
Weather reports are often misleading. They report what happened yesterday or the day before yesterday and not what is going to happen today.
I remember a Sunday in autumn that was spoiled because of the weather report in the newspaper. "Heavy rains and thunderstorms today", it said and we had to give up our outing and we stayed at home all day waiting for the rain to start.
In the morning the sun was shining brightly and there was not a cloud in the sky. People passed our house on their way to the country. "Ah,", we said, as we stood looking out at them through the window, "Won't they come home soaked?
At 12 o'clock it became very hot and we began to wonder when those heavy rains were going to come. "They'll come in the afternoon", we said to each other. But not a drop of rain ever fell, and it finished a grand day and a lovely night after it.
The next morning we read that it was going to be a fine warm day and we went out without our raincoats and umbrellas. Half an hour later it began to rain heavily and a cold wind blew so that we came home with bad colds and had to go to bed.
/. Listen to the text and answer the questions:
What does the writer think about weather reports? How did the weather reports spoil the writer's weekends?
//. Do you share the writer's opinion that weather reports are sometimes misleading?
A Wet Night
Late in the afternoon, the boys put up their tent in the middle of a field. Not far from the tent they made a fire and cooked a meal. They were all hungry and the food smelt good. After a wonderful meal, they told stories and sang songs by the camp fire. But some time later it began to rain. The boys felt tired so they put out the
fire and got into their tent. Their sleeping-bags were warm and comfortable, so they slept soundly. In the middle of the night, the boys woke up and began shouting. The tent was full of water! They all got out of their sleeping bags and hurried outside. It was raining heavily and they found a stream in the field. The stream ran across the field and right under their tent.
/. Listen to the text and answer the questions.
Where did the boys put up their tent? What did they do then? What happened at night?
//. Ask your friend questions about his last picnic т the country.
Iff. Tell about a picnic in the country you enjoyed.
Cycling
David likes cycling very much. He belongs to a cycling club, and almost every Saturday afternoon, he goes off on his bycycle with his friends. In summer he takes his little tent and his bike with him, and camps in some beautiful places of the country When it rains, it is not very pleasant, but when the sun shines and the weather is warm, camping is very nice. David and his friends cook their meals on their little stoves, make a fire and then sing round it until it is almost midnight. Then they get under their blankets in their little tents and go to sleep.
Sometimes there are bicycle races, and David goes to see them. They are very interesting. Sometimes David's big brother George rides in these races. Once he won a race and got a beautiful silver cup. David was very happy.
David wants to take his bicycle to Germany next summer. He will go from England to Belgium by ship and then ride to Cologne on his bicycle. He will go with some of his friends from the cycling club They will camp every night. Cycling and camping are quite cheap, and David's father will give him money for the ship. He will have a very good time, I think.
/. Listen to the text and answer the questions:
What is David's hobby? How does he spend his weekends? What is David planning to do next summer?
//. Tell about David's hobby.
III. 1. Are you fond of cycling? Did you use to cycle when you were a child? 2. They say camping is very pleasant. What do you think of it? 3. What is your favourite pastime?
Hobbies
My hobby is collecting stamps. When I began, I collected the stamps of all countries, but there are too many, so now I collect only Greek and Indian ones, because I have friends in Greece and I live in India. Some of my stamps are very pretty, and they are all interesting. When you look at the stamps carefully, they teach you a lot about the history of their country.
My small brother's hobby is watching trains. He goes to our station and watches them there. When an engine goes through the station, he writes down its name and number. He likes train-watching very much, but I don't. I went to the station with him one day but it wasn't interesting, I thought.
My big sister's hobby is sewing. She makes most of her clothes and when I tear my shirt or my trousers, I take them to her and she mends them.
My father has a hobby, too. It is gardening. Every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, and sometimes on other summer evenings, too, he digs, or plants flowers, or cuts the thick grass.
/. Listen to the text and answer the questions:
What is the boy's hobby? What is his brother's? sister's? father's hobby?
//. 1. Do you collect stamps? Do you think it's an interesting hobby? 2. Are you fond of gardening? 3. What is your hobby? Do you spend much time on your hobbies? 4. What hobbies do the members of your family have? Do you think it's good when all the members of the family have the same hobby? 5. I have no hobby. What hobby would you advise me to choose?
Self check
/. Put the verbs into the correct tense forms:
It (be) Sunday. I never (get) up early on Sundays. I sometimes (stay) in bed until lunch time. Last Sunday I (get) up very late. I (look) out of the window It (be) dark outside. "What a day"! I (think) . "It (rain) again". Just then, the telephone (ring) It (be) my aunt Lucy. "I've just arrived by train", she (say). "I (come) to see you". "But I (still, have) breakfast," I (say). "What (you, do)?" she (ask). "I (have) breakfast", I (repeat). "Dear me," she (say). "... you always (get) up so late? It (be) one o'clock!"
//. Translate into English: 1. — Что ты собираешься делать сегодня вечером?
— Ничего особенного.
3.
— Пойдем в кино.
— Хорошая идея.
2. — Я не смог вчера купить билеты на этот фильм.
— Какая жалость!
— Ты любишь играть в теннис?
— Да, это мой любимый вид спорта.
4. — Ты поедешь в этом году на юг?
— Нет, в этом году у меня отпуск в ноябре. Ноябрь на юге дождливый и прохладный.
5. Мой отец очень увлекается содоводством. У нас хороший сад,
и он им очень гордится.
6. В прошлое воскресенье мы ходили в ресторан праздновать
годовщину нашей свадьбы. Мы хорошо провели время.
Fluency
/. Talking points
1. What do you think is the best way of spending a weekend? Why? 2. What are the most popular hobbies? What do you think of them? 3. I think watching television is a pleasant pastime. Are you of the same opinion? Why do you think so? 4. Are you tor or against spending your next weekend in the country? Give reasons. 5. There is no point in making plans for anything. You never know what may happen tomorrow. What do you think of this opinion?
//. Situations:
1. With two or three other students discuss where you might go for the weekend. Before you start you should each write down brief answers to these questions: Where shall we go? How shall we get there? How much can I afford? How much will it cost? What shall we do there? What arrangements do we need to make? 2. You don't like your friend's suggestion for an evening at the theatre. How would you suggest an alternative? 3. You've made plans to' go to the country with a friend in your old car. Your car has just gone wrong and will cost too much to repair. Phone your friend, explain the situation and make an alternative suggestion about the weekend arrangements. 4. You and your friend are speaking about your pastime and hobbies.
///. Look at the pictures. Say what the people in the pictures are doing. What is the weather like?
IV. Write a postcard to a friend describing your last weekend.
U N I T 23 GRAMMAR: SIMPLE PRESENT AND PRESENT CONTINUOUS