Ex. 19. Read, translate and learn the dialogue by heart

MY FAMILY

Hello, Ann! Where have you sprung from? If it isn’t 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 haven’t 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, that’s 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, isn’t she?
Yes, She is five years older than I am. She’ll be 23 in May. Twenty three! How time flies. I say Helen, It’s a love match, isn’t it?
Oh, yes. What does the young man do?
He works at the bank. He’s an accountant. Well, your parents must be happy at such a good match, mustn’t 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, aren’t they?
Yes, that’s true. There are no two ways! I say, Ann., your parents are already pensioners, aren’t they? No, they aren’t. They still work.
That’s 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, don’t you? I don’t see him at all. I don’t see much of him either.
So, he doesn’t live with you, does he? He does. Oh, he is always as busy as a bee. He is a fifth-year student and he’ll graduate in a couple of months.
I see. I say, Ann, I’ve 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, isn’t he? Oh, no, he isn’t. 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, I’ll 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. Сompare 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.

с ______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?