teachers 10 / SPOTLIGHT10_Ts_219-224

1Teenage boy: It’s difficult for me to say what my favourite pastime is. I enjoy hanging out with my friends and playing computer games. I’m also the sporty type and I love playing football. But above all, I suppose going clubbing is what I most like doing in my free time.

2Teenage girl: My best friend’s name is Alex. We’ve been friends for years. She’s very kind and she’s never mean to anybody. I enjoy spending time with her. She’s a little moody at times but I don’t mind that at all. What drives me crazy, though, is when she gets jealous of me.

3Teenage girl: I love Batman. It’s brilliant. I really like his mysterious character. I’m crazy about Meet the Parents as well; I laugh a lot every time I watch it. I also found Harry Potter an enjoyable film. The main character Harry is a clever teenage wizard who is respected by his friends.

4Woman: I’m not sure where I’ll go on holiday this summer. Italy has always been my favourite holiday destination, but I’d like a change this year. I’ve always wanted to visit Ireland and I had been thinking of going there, but I heard it’s very expensive. I was reading about Greece in a newspaper yesterday and liked what I read, so I think I’ll go there this year.

5Teenage boy: I think you should find ways to spend your free time. Try joining a sports club. That’s a great way to make new friends, especially when you move to a new town. When I come to visit next week we can check out some places together if you want.

6Teenage girl: I really like shopping for clothes. I go for the sporty look. I never buy new clothes. I go to second-hand shops where the best bargains are. Also, window shopping around the expensive shops costs nothing!

7Man: I think it’s very important for everybody to do something for the environment. The easiest way to do this is by recycling household waste. I try to recycle as much as I can. I mostly recycle paper, but also take glass and old clothes to the local recycling centre.

Interviewer: Welcome back. If you’ve just joined us, I’ve been asking callers about what they do to help keep the environment clean and it’s quite a topic. Have a listen and if you feel like calling, go right ahead.

Speaker 1: If no one makes an effort to walk or cycle to school I don’t think there’s any point in me doing it. Speaker 2: I always keep the plastic bottles I use and put them in the recycling bin. Every little bit helps.

Speaker 3: I don’t think anyone is really interested in the environment. We all cause pollution and that’s just the way it is.

Speaker 4: Well, I do everything I can to help. I try to save on heating at home and I recycle as much as I can. Speaker 5: I want to recycle but it’s not easy. I mean there are no recycling bins in my neighbourhood. Where can I take my used batteries, for example? The local authorities should take care of that.

Unit 3

Listening Ex. 5 (p. 24)

Presenter: Good morning and welcome to this week’s edition of Fashion on Friday. Now, we’ve had lots of queries about the type of thing to wear if you want to impress a future employer. To help us out with her valuable advice, we have invited Annie Winter from Catwalk magazine onto the programme. Hello Annie. Great to have you with us.

Annie: Great to be here. Hope I can help some of your listeners out.

Presenter: So, Annie, I bet you’ve never been in a situation where you were completely inappropriately dressed for an interview.

Annie: Well, believe it or not, Shauna, I wasn’t always as interested in fashion as I am now. When I was starting off, I went for an interview for a fashion designer wearing the dullest clothes possible. I looked so awful that they didn’t even interview me! They just sent me home!

Presenter: Oh dear. But you’ve certainly changed. You dress very fashionably now. So what would you say to young people facing their first interview?

Annie: Well, first of all, there is so much competition for jobs these days that you have to stand out a little if you want to make an impression.

Presenter: You mean, wear something really outlandish? Annie: No, I don’t mean that at all. Just like experts tell us to brighten up our CVs and tailor them to the job in question, I would say to do the same with our appearance.

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Presenter: How?

Annie: Well, if the interview is for a creative job, let’s say the position of art director, you’re not going to show up in a long, black suit and white shirt. But then again that’s exactly appropriate if you’re interviewing for a marketing manager’s position. You know what I mean?

Presenter: I see. And what about the guys out there? Any ideas?

Annie: I’m afraid women have a lot more opportunities to be creative in their dress than men but the lads can do something too. They can show their individuality in their choice of tie, or wear an unusual tiepin. The most important thing to bear in mind is that you should be presentable. No visible tattoos or body piercings.

Presenter: I see.

Annie: And I can’t stress this enough. The more research you do about a company, the better. This can benefit you in many ways. You will handle the interview better and you will get a clearer idea of what the dress code might be like.

Presenter: Dress code?

Annie: Yes. It’s like the rules of what you should and should not wear. Some companies are very conservative while others allow a bit of individuality.

Presenter: And how can our listeners find out this information?

Annie: Try to get in touch with people who already work for that company and ask questions about the dress code. Another alternative is to take the bull by the horns and just call the Human Resources office and ask. Presenter: Great. Any general tips that you consider a must for any potential interviewee?

Annie: Well, first and foremost, never wear jeans. They are far too casual for any interview. Women should avoid short miniskirts and loud noisy jewellery. Men should not wear casual jumpers or leather jackets. Better stick to a suit, either blue or grey in colour.

Presenter: Well, that’s all been so helpful. Thank you so much for being with us today.

Annie: You’re very welcome. Glad to be of help.

Unit 4

Listening Ex. 4 (p.34)

Middle-aged hippy: Well, I think that’s all we’ve got time for this week. I want to thank both our guests for their talks and thank all of you for coming. Before you go, let me just take a moment to remind you about our next meeting on Thursday the twelfth of August. As always we’ll start at eight pm. I think you’re really going to like this meeting. The world famous marine biologist Douglas Stevens is going to give a speech and so is Jill Adams. I’m sure you’re all familiar with Jill’s wonderful books about the coral reefs of Australia. Douglas is going to give a speech entitled Empty Arctic, which sounds very interesting, and Jill is going to give us a speech called Sinking Islands. I do hope you can all come.

Unit 5

Listening Ex. 1 (p.43)

Speaker 1: Well, I can’t really say anything about my summer holidays this year for the simple reason that I haven’t been away yet! I’m taking two weeks off in September and I can tell you that it isn’t too soon either. Speaker 2: I went to Ibiza. It was amazing. It’s the best place in the world. I’ll never forget it for as long as I live …

Speaker 3: Terrible and a waste of money. Everything went wrong. Our flights were delayed. Then the airline lost our luggage. The hotel was beside an oil refinery. And then to top it all, my wallet was stolen and I didn’t have any money for three days …

Speaker 4: Well, every year I go with my friends but I wanted a holiday alone with my girlfriend this year so I booked a week in Bulgaria. When we turned up at the hotel who did we see there but all my friends sitting around the swimming pool? I couldn’t believe my eyes. They had booked the same holiday without knowing it. We had a good laugh about that.

Speaker 5: It was okay but I wasn’t exactly thrilled. Let’s say I’ve had a lot better. I think I’ll have to choose more carefully where I go next time.

Unit 6

Listening Ex. 1 (p. 51)

A:BoHo Hotel. How may I help you?

B:Good afternoon. I would like to book a room for a Christmas party on the 23rd of December.

A:Certainly sir. We have a couple still available. How many people will be attending?

B:Around a hundred or so.

A:That’s no problem at all. Our bar area will easily accommodate your guests.

B:Fantastic. How much is it to hire out?

A:It is 600 pounds, but you have to spend a minimum of 2000 pounds all together.

B:That’s not a problem. Now, what about food? We didn’t want a sit down meal. They can get a little

boring. We would prefer a buffet. Is that possible?

A:Of course! We have a party food menu especially for occasions like this.

B:What kind of dishes are there to choose from?

A:Well, there are lots of dishes, for example … chilli with nachos, smoked salmon, potato skins, vegetarian spring rolls, fish and chips … that kind of thing.

B:Umm stop! You are making me hungry. How about desserts?

A:Well there’s Christmas Pudding of course, Crème Bruˆ le´e, a selection of cheeses.

B:Sounds just the job. Now what else ...

A:(interrupting) Would you like us to arrange a DJ?

B:Oh yes, it wouldn’t be a party without some happy Christmas music to get things swinging.

A:OK. That is easily arranged.

B:Marvellous, will you do me a favour and put all this

down on paper and send it to me as soon as possible? I need to show my boss.

A:Yes. I will draw up a plan and email it over to you tomorrow.

B:Great. Thank you very much for your help.

A: My pleasure.

Unit 7

Listening Ex. 1 (p. 59)

1I’ve never seen such a cool band. I mean a lot of the other bands do really nice songs and I love their videos and all that, but these guys can dance. They really know how to move on stage.

2No, I’m quite shy so I’m always a bit nervous meeting fans or signing autographs. I mean I do enjoy it a bit, but it’s just that I feel uncomfortable about it. I think I like a lot of things about my job but I think that being on the set is what gives me most satisfaction. I just love playing role … pretending to be other people. Yeah. That’s what my job is about.

3I’ve never seen anything like it! Terrible! Well, all I can say is that I’m glad I saw it before my children did. They certainly won’t be seeing it. No way! I can’t believe that people make films with no story or meaning to it, just guns and fights. And they call that a thriller.

4It’s not easy to say because I like all of them. They’re all great actors and quite handsome too. I think Danny Brown is probably one of the most talented actors of our time but I must say John Moore is probably my favourite; even though I’d never miss a Sammy White film either.

5What I’m saying is that I’d like some more quality programmes. It’s unbelievable! Every time I turn on the TV, I see the same old thing. Doesn’t anybody watch documentaries anymore? I mean, apart from the news, all we seem to get on TV these days are those shows about the boring everyday lives of a bunch of friends or neighbours. I’ve had it!

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6Now the next book, which was written by someone you all know and who’ll be joining us shortly, is not difficult to follow. It’s a romantic story about two friends who meet at college. But, I must say it’s not your typical romance that makes you cry. No, in fact it’s also a story full of mystery and suspense that makes you want to read on. I couldn’t put the book down, and I read it in six or seven hours.

7In can’t believe it! It was so loud and everyone was screaming and jumping and pushing. I almost lost my camera in the crowd. It was the worst concert I’ve ever been to. They should have been more organized for all of those people.

Unit 8

Listening Ex. 1 (p. 67)

Teenage boy: Hi, I’m looking for something to listen to music on while I’m travelling to and from school. Sales assistant: Would you be interested in a Walkman? Teenage boy: No, not really, as I don’t have any tapes. Sales assistant: What about a Discman, then?

Teenage boy: No. I want something that I can listen to digital music on.

Sales assistant: OK. Well then you need an iPod or another MP3 player.

Teenage boy: Hmm. What do you suggest?

Sales assistant: Well, the iPod is a great product and most popular, but is a little bit expensive. This MP3 player, for example, does much the same thing and is much cheaper.

Teenage boy: I see. I’m also interested in getting a new mobile phone.

Sales assistant: Well then you should think about this model. It’s a mobile phone, camera and MP3 player all in one!

Teenage boy: Fantastic. I think I’ll go for one. How much does it cost?

Sales assistant: Well, this one here costs ú199 while this one costs ú150.

Teenage boy: Well, I’ve been saving for weeks, so I’ll take the more expensive one, please.

Sales assistant: Certainly. You can pay over there.