(speaking: pt 1)
four teachers were asked: what do you like about where you live?
audioscript and variations on the same question
Ann
Well I like it because it's quite quiet, I prefer small towns than big cities in general, and particularly because I've got kids
so a small town is better for kids; lots of places to walk or they've got the beach to play on or run around on.
Kyle
I like it because it's near the ocean, they have a wonderful Paseo Maritimo,
and great places to go and have pinchos in the Casco Viejo.
It's a quiet town except during times of the fiestas that they have near the port.
The sense of community the people have a lot of pride in the community,
lots of cultural activities and things that people can get involved in.
Stanners
I used to live in San Ignacio so it's a lot more colourful,
and of course like going for pinxos on Sunday morning, it's great
and just that the buildings and the streets, it's lovely walking home from the metro through the Casco Viejo.
Gary:
It's 15, 20 minutes from Bilbao, there're three metros so it's very easy to get from Algorta to Bilbao and they come every 5 minutes, that's brilliant.
also it's right on the coast, my house is 3 minutes from the beach.
it's relaxed, quiet, no problems.....it's like a little village really
Note: Ann lives in Plentzia, Kyle in Castro, Gary lived in Algorta (now Kiev) Stanners lived in Casco Viejo (now Prague)
Many thanks to all!
What's it like?
What is there to do? What amenities are there?
Where is it? How far to/from ..? Is it easy to get to and from where you work or study?
Do you live in the centre, on the outskirts?
Do you live near eg. the beach, the shops, the countryside, your friends?
What's it like where you live eg. quite quiet, noisy, relaxed, hectic?
How about the neighbours?
Are there any general or particular reasons you like where you live?
Are there any places to go eg. for walks, to take the children, to relax, hang out with friends?
Are there some good places for pinxos, cafes, restaurants?
Do people feel like they belong to your neigbourhood?
Is it lovely walking around?
What's the nightlife like?
what do you like about where you live?
the perfect match
listening: pt 2)
storycorp listen twice, write your answers in the boxes One day Ruben P. Salazar got an email for an ´R.P Salazar´. It had been sent by 1. by one of Rachel´s colleagues. Luckily, Ruben managed to send it on to Rachel, even asking her about the weather. And so began their relationship, with Ruben in Texas and Rachel in 2.. read on As Ruben told her more about himself,she found it easier to be open about herself, even though they hadn´t seen what each other looked like. For Ruben it was like sending a letter in a 3.. Ruben used to 4. at night chatting with her. Before she knew it, Ruben was playing an important 5. in her life. She was falling in love despite him being 6. miles away. Even though her friends thought she was being 7. she decided to pay him a visit. They were together for 8 days. One night she told him he was the sweetest guy she´d ever met while they were 8.. It was at that moment that Ruben realized he had better do something in case he ended up 9. her, so he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him. Ruben´s friends couldn´t believe it, they even had 10. thoughts on his behalf, but Ruben and Rachel knew they had done the right thing. They had found their perfect match. storycorp ans,vid 
storycorp youtube storycorp podcasts
could do better
(listening: pt 2)
wivbtv
listen twice, write your answers in the boxes
A Pre-K teacher in Buffalo, NY, sent a controversial note to parents about some of their children. It was written by hand and 1. to miss.
Kimberly Wells, who found it in her granddaughter's 2., was shocked to read the note which said the teacher found it difficult to be 3. some of the children because of unpleasant smells. read on
In her view it wasn't right, she said the teacher could have phoned or had a 4. meeting at school instead. And it seems the note was sent 5. the principal's permission.
The Superintendent of Buffalo Public Schools, Dr. Pamela Brown, said it was important for all communication to be appropriate. The news crew 6. up with her at a meeting on Common core standards to ask her but she wouldn´t talk about the note.
The issue 7. up at the school board meeting but they decided not to take any 8..
However, Mary Ruth Kaspiak, of the school board, said it was important not to discourage students or send out 9. messages
Although the note had angered Kimberely, she doesn't want the teacher sacked, she wants the teacher to understand that some things can do more 10. than good.
original article wibv ans
cedella marley: life with bob
(Listening: pt 2)
from outlook podcasts.
listen twice, write your answers in the boxes read on bob was a cool dad, he never raised his 1., maybe because he was away so much. in fact because of work he might only be around for a 2. before going off again. when he was in the country he could usually be found with musicians or 3.. sometimes after school, he'd take his children 4. or for a swim at the beach. he was a workout fanatic and certainly 5. when it came to sports. her parents raised cedella to not expect to 6. just because she was their daughter. it was a lesson in life. bob made up for being strict about schoolwork by taking them to the cinema and so on, and doing his best to be 7.. music was something she was free to take up, but if she had her father would have expected it to be 8.. looking back she has some regrets about not going to 9.. cedella used to like watching bob with his guitar when the tv was on, for him writing songs at home was a very relaxed 10..
wheels: cyclos and zoobombers
(Listening: pt 2)
from bbc listen twice, write your answers in the boxes read on cyclos cyclos were originally brought to phnom penh by the 1. colonialists over 70 years ago. they carry all sorts of things, from a 2., to sacks of cement and even motorbikes. a good way to get customers is by going around the markets or waiting at the 3. spots. and while there are about 1500 cyclos in phnom penh, there was 4. that number 5 years ago. and life is difficult for the drivers, many don´t go home for months and 5. in their cyclos. however, hope lies in the increasing number of 6. who like to go around in them because like 7. in san francisco - they are part of the local way of life. zoobombers the pile of bikes in downtown oregon are 8. for zoobombing on sunday nights. the club is open to anyone over 18, prepared to be 9. and, as well as wanting to have a great ride. "zoobombing" gets its name from the 'zoo' where the ride starts and ´bombing´ which means going downhill very quickly on 10..
mocking around too
(Speaking: mock)
all parts
pt 1 only
part 2, A photos & audio
part 2 A
part 2, B photos & audio
part 2 B
part 3, 4 photos & audio
part 3
part 4
a big thanks to mikel and saioa for helping out.
you can find the above part 2 photos and more here
mocking around
(Speaking: mock)
pt 1 only
part 2, A photos & audio
part 2 A
part 2, B photos & audio
part 2 B
part 3, 4 photos & audio
part 3
part 4
many thanks to zigor and josé who came straight from class with no time to prep and the interviewer richard for helping out at a very busy time. congrats to josé and zigor on passing their FCE exams in June.
you can find the above part 2 photos and more here
acting up
(Listening, pt 3)
Listen twice
You will hear 5 speakers talking about the best performances by an actor/actress.
Choose from the options A-F. There is one extra letter.
A. The speaker was impressed by the physical characteristics of the actor/actress.
B. The speaker thought the end of the film was a disappointment.
C. The speaker was happy to see a different type of acting.
D. The speaker liked both the performance and the film.
E. The speaker was impressed by how the actor/actress interpreted pain.
F. The speaker knows what a certain group of people are like.
answers
A special thanks to MZ for help with the audio.watch vids
Toying around
(Listening: pt 2)
listen twice write in your answers
answers
watch the vid
what do you like about where you live?
(speaking: pt 1)
four teachers were asked: what do you like about where you live?
ann
kyle
stanners
gary
tapescript
Note: Ann lives in Plentzia, Kyle in Castro, Gary lived in Algorta (now Kiev) Stanners lived in Casco Viejo (now Prague)
Gary:
It's 15, 20 minutes from Bilbao, there're three metros so it's very easy to get from Algorta to Bilbao and they come every 5 minutes, that's brilliant.
also it's right on the coast, my house is 3 minutes from the beach.
it's relaxed, quiet, no problems.....it's like a little village really
Ann
Well I like it because it's quite quiet, I prefer small towns than big cities in general, and particularly because I've got kids
so a small town is better for kids; lots of places to walk or they've got the beach to play on or run around on.
Kyle
I like it because it's near the ocean, they have a wonderful Paseo Maritimo,
and great places to go and have pinchos in the Casco Viejo.
It's a quiet town except during times of the fiestas that they have near the port.
The sense of community the people have a lot of pride in the community,
lots of cultural activities and things that people can get involved in.
Stanners
I used to live in San Ignacio so it's a lot more colourful,
and of course like going for pinxos on Sunday morning, it's great
and just that the buildings and the streets, it's lovely walking home from the metro through the Casco Viejo.
Many thanks to all!
variations on same question
What's it like?What is there to do? What amenities are there?
Where is it? How far to/from ..? Is it easy to get to and from where you work or study?
Do you live in the centre, on the outskirts?
Do you live near eg. the beach, the shops, the countryside, your friends?
What's it like where you live eg. quite quiet, noisy, relaxed, hectic?
How about the neighbours?
Are there any general or particular reasons you like where you live?
Are there any places to go eg. for walks, to take the children, to relax, hang out with friends?
Are there some good places for pinxos, cafes, restaurants?
Do people feel like they belong to your neigbourhood?
Is it lovely walking around?
What's the nightlife like?
