English Conversation (video teaching): May 2015

Sitcom: I'm a little early, aren't I? (Top Notch 3, Unit 1-1)

source: Dương Thu Thuỷ / Pearson Education, INC 2015年3月3日
* social language: make small talk; ask how someone would like to be addressed; explain customs
* grammar: tag questions

# video script

(Marie is working very hard to finish something, but she is constantly interrupted by Mrs. Beatty.)

Cheryl: Marie, Can I have that information for Mr. Rashid’s group? He’ll be here in a few minutes.

Marie: I’m working as fast as I can. (to Mrs. Beatty) Mr. Evans will be with you very soon.

Mrs. Beatty: That’s fine. I’m a little early, aren’t I?

Marie: Just a few minutes.

Mrs. Beatty: Is your last name pronounced “Le-PAIGE”?

Marie: It’s “Le-PAHGE,” actually.

Mrs. Beatty: OH, that’s beautiful.

Marie: Thank you.

Mrs. Beatty: No, is it Ms. LePage or Mrs. Lepage?

Marie: Um, it’s Ms., but you can call me by my first name.

Mrs. Beatty: Do you mind if I call you Ms. LePage? I love the way it sounds.

Marie: That’s fine.

Mrs. Beatty: I’m keeping you from your work, aren’t I?

Marie: I’m sorry. I’d love to talk, but I really have to get this done right away.

Mrs. Beatty: I understand. You’re not from here, are you?

Marie: Excuse me?

Mrs. Beatty: Your accent. You come from France, don’t you?

Marie: Yes. Paris, actually.

Mrs. Beatty: That’s nice. It sure is a beautiful day, isn’t it?

Marie: Mmm-hmm.

Cheryl: Can I have that information?

Marie: I’m not quite done.

Cheryl: What’s taking so long? (to Mrs. Beatty) Mrs. Beatty, I can take you to Mr. Evans’s office. He’ll be here shortly.

Mrs. Beatty: Why, thank you. Beautiful day, isn’t it?

Cheryl: Yes, it is.

(Top Notch 3, Unit 1-2)

source: Dương Thu Thuỷ / Pearson Education, INC 2015年3月3日
* social language: make small talk; ask how someone would like to be addressed; explain customs
* grammar: tag questions

# video script

(Mr. Rashid teaches Paul how to greet people from India.)

Mr. Evans: Paul, we have our first group from India coming next week. Since Mr. Rashid has traveled to India many times, I’ve asked him to talk to you about etiquette in India. Mr. Rashid?

Mr. Rashid: Paul, why don’t you greet me as if I were an Indian tourist? Ask me to come with you and show me to the tour bus.

Paul: OK. Hi, there! I’m Paul.

Mr. Rashid: If I were an Indian woman, you would have just insulted me. Women and men generally do not touch.

Paul: OK. Uh, hi, there.

Mr. Rashid: You just told me to go away.

Paulo: Oh, I’m sorry.

Mr. Rashid: Oh, too close. You should stand this far away from someone. Instead of of shaking hands, do this and say “Namaste.”

Paul: Namaste.

Mr. Rashid: Excellent. Now tell me to come with you to the tour bus.

Paul: OK. Come with me.

Mr. Rashid: Good.

Paul: ...to the bus over here. I know. I’ve just insulted you.

Mr. Rashid: Pointing with your fingers is considered impolite. Use your chin instead.

Paul: ...to the bus over there. I’m never going to get this.

Mr. Rashid: You’re doing wonderfully.

Paul: Oh, thank you, Mr. Rashid.

Mr. Rashid: Oh, too close.

Sitcom: Are you OK? (Top Notch 3, Unit 2-1)

source: Dương Thu Thuỷ / Pearson Education, INC 2015年3月3日
* social language: describe symptoms; show concern
* grammar: modals may, might, must; be able to

# video script

(Paul is not feeling well, and Cheryl, Marie, and Bob try to give him suggestions.)

Cheryl: Let’s get Ms. Novak’s tickets ready. She may be stopping by this afternoon. Marie: Paul, are you OK?

Paul: No. I feel awful.

Cheryl: What’s wrong?

Paul: I’ve got this horrible cold. I’m sneezing, and my back is killing me. I’ve got this pain in my hip. My neck has been bothering me all day. And I have a stomachache.

Marie: You may have to go see a doctor.

Paul: No! I hate doctors.

Cheryl: I wonder what could be wrong.

Bob: Maybe he’s allergic to work.

Paul: I’m not kidding here. I’m in pain.

Bob: I used to want to be a doctor, you know. Say “Ahhh.”

Paul: Ahhh-choo!

Bob: Now I remember why I didn’t become a doctor.

Cheryl: Paul, you really must get some medical help.

Bob: A little acupuncture might help you feel better.

Paul: Stay away from me.

Cheryl: Cr. Anderson is meeting Mr. Evans downstairs in the café. Should we ask her to come up? She may be able to help.

Marie: Great idea. I’ll go get her.

Bob: You might prefer an herbal remedy.

Paul: Stop it.

Sheryl: How long have you been feeling this way?

Paul: I got the cold last night, and the pain in my back started this morning.

Bob: Want to try a little spiritual healing?

Paul: You’re making me laugh.

Bob: Laughter is the best medicine, you know.

Paul: But it hurts!

(Top Notch 3, Unit 2-2)

source: Dương Thu Thuỷ / Pearson Education, INC 2015年3月3日
* social language: describe symptoms; show concern
* grammar: modals may, might, must; be able to

# video script

(Dr. Anderson comes to examine Paul.)

Dr. Anderson: Say “Ahhh.”

Bob: Cover your face, doc.

Paul: Ahhh.

Dr. Anderson: Well, you have a cold, that’s for sure.

Cheryl: What about the other stuff? The pain in the back and the side...?

Dr. Anderson: Have you taken any medications lately?

Paul: Just some over-the-counter stuff--pain killer, cold tablets, nasal spray.

Dr. Anderson: That sounds OK.

Paul: And some cough medicine, vitamins, antacid.

Dr. Anderson: That’s a lot of medicine.

Paul: And some decongestant.

Dr. Anderson: That’s too much medicine in one day.

Marie: That must be why you’re feeling so bad.

Dr. Anderson: Have you been around anyone else who’s sick?

Paul: My friend Don has had a cold all week. We lifted weights last night for aobut an hour and ran five miles. He had to walk the last mile.

Dr. Anderson: Is that your usual exercise routine?

Paul: Yep. I started it yesterday.

Dr. Anderson: Well, that explains it. You exercised too much.

Paul: That’s all?

Dr. Anderson: That’s all.

Bob: A little chiropractic treatment might help you.

Paul: Stay away from me.

Interview: Are you traditional in your medical ideas? (Top Notch 3, Unit 2-3)

source: Dương Thu Thuỷ / Pearson Education, INC 2015年3月3日
* social language: describe symptoms; show concern
* grammar: modals may, might, must; be able to

# video script

Interviewer: Are you traditional in your medical ideas? That is, do you kind of believe in Western medicine, or do you like to explore nontraditional treatments, such as acupuncture or homeopathic medicine?

Joe: I don’t explore nontraditional treatments as much as I would probably like to. I think there’s probably a lot of merit in them, and they haven’t been studied enough.

James: I’m more traditional than anything else in my medication, in my medical practices.

Vanessa: I’m more for the naturalistic approach. I like, you know, more natural herbal medicines.

Interviewer: In your opinion, what are the advantages of traditional Western medicine and surgery?

James: I think the enormous amount of research and ... and ... proven fact that’s behind our medicine just makes it ... makes me feel more comfortable with it.

Interviewer: What do you see as maybe some disadvantages of Western medicine?

Joe: I think at times Western medicine can make the problem worse than trying to make the problems better.

Interviewer: Are there any nontraditional therapies that you use?

Lisa: I drink a lot of tea actually, so I guess that’s pretty nontraditional.

Vanessa: Usually when I feel myself coming down with something, I will take an Echinacea, which is an herbal medicine. I’ll probably drink a lot of orange juice because vitamin C helps you. But if I feel really sick, then I’ll take cough medicine.

Sitcom: I need to get a package to Australia a.s.a.p.! (Top Notch 3, Unit 3-1)

source: Dương Thu Thuỷ / Pearson Education, INC 2015年3月3日
* social language: request express service; recommend a service provider; plan a social event
* grammar: causatives

# video script

(Mr. Evans misplaced some travel documents, and the staff scrambles to reproduce the documents and have them sent to the right client.)

Mr. Evans: Now, about the travel documents for the Australian group. We’ve had everything mailed to them, right?

Cheryl: Mr. Evans, we gave you the package of travel documents to give to Mr. Wells the other night at dinner, before he flew home to Sydney.

Mr. Evans: A white envelope about this big?

Cheryl: Yes.

Mr. Evans: I gave it to Mr. Rashid before he left for Lebanon.

Cheryl: Oh, Mr. Wells needs those documents the day after tomorrow! His group is flying in on Thursday.

Marie: I’ll call the courier. If they can pick up a package by 5:00 P.M., we should e OK.

Paul: That gives us an hour. I’ll reprint the tour information, but what about the travel guides? I can’t print twenty-five copies that fast.

Cheryl: I’ll call Copies To Go and have them reprint the travel guides.

Marie: They can’t do a rush job. Call Harper’s instead. They’re faster and much more reliable. (on the phone) Hello, National Express? I need to get a package to Australia a.s.a.p.!

Paul: If Harper’s can’t make the color copies that fast, we’ll take black and white.

Cheryl: Bob, are you reprinting the tickets?

Bob: Yep.

Cheryl: (on the phone) Hello. I need to get twenty-five color documents printed right away.

Mr. Evans: (on the phone) Yes, it’s very much a hurry.

Cheryl: Who are you calling, Mr. Evans?

Mr. Evans: What’s that? Oh, un ... my tailor.

Cheryl: Your tailor?

Mr. Evans: These sleeves are too long, and they’re driving me crazy.

(Top Notch 3, Unit 3-2)

source: Dương Thu Thuỷ / Pearson Education, INC 2015年3月3日
* social language: request express service; recommend a service provider; plan a social event
* grammar: causatives

# video script

(Bob, Paul, and Marie help Cheryl plan a party for a client.)

Mr. Evans: Thank you, everyone, for fixing my mistake with Mr. Wells. Now, I’ve asked Cheryl to plan a party for his group next Friday. I’d like for everyone to help. Cheryl, do you have a plan?

Cheryl: Yes, I do. Marie, I’d like to have you choose a restaurant for the party.

Marie: I’d love to!

Cheryl: Bob, I’ll let you choose the menu.

Bob: You will?

Cheryl: Paul, could you plan the music?

Paul: Yes!

Cheryl: Good. Now, Marie, I called ten restaurants and had them give us a price for a party room. These two had the best prices.

Marie: The Green Room is a nice restaurant.

Cheryl: Great! That’s my favorite, too. Now, Bob, about the food ...

Bob: I was thinking steak and potatoes and ...

Cheryl: Well, the client asked for fish or chicken. So I had the restaurant put together a menu with each. Which do you like better?

Bob: I like chicken more than fish, I guess.

Cheryl: Great! Chicken it is. Now Paul ...

Paul: Let me guess. You have a list of music choices.

Cheryl: Yes!

Paul: These look fine.

Cheryl: Great! I think we’re all done.

Mr. Evans: You see how easy it is to plan something when we do it all together?

Marie: So glad we could help.

Sitcom: May I ask you what you're reading? (Top Notch 3, Unit 4-1)

source: Dương Thu Thuỷ / Pearson Education, INC 2015年3月3日
* social language: agree to lend something; describe reading material
* grammar: noun clauses

# video script

(Bob is reading a book and eating lunch in the café when Mr. Evans enters to join him.)

Mr. Evans: Hello, Bob. Dining alone?

Bob: Paul and Marie went to get newspapers.

Mr. Evans: Do you mind if I join you?

Bob: Please, sit down.

Mr. Evans: May I ask what you’re reading?

Bob: Um ... A History of the World.

Mr. Evans: The bestseller? I’m very impressed! Reading nonfiction over lunch! I hear that it’s a very difficult book.

Bob: Oh ... uh, no. It’s a pretty easy read. I ... I can’t put it down, actually.

Mr. Evans: A real page-turner, huh? Do you think I could borrow it when you’re done?

Bob: Sure.

Mr. Evans: I usually prefer fiction myself. You know, thrillers, mysteries ... There’s nothing like curling up with a good science-fiction novel, is there?

Bob: You read science fiction, too?

Mr. Evans: Don’t tell anyone. Are you learning a lot from your book?

Bob: Uh, yes. I think so.

Mr. Evans: So tell me what you’re reading about right now.

Bob: Um ... this part is about Great Britain.

Mr. Evans: Really? Do you mind if I take a book?

Bob: Cheryl hates when I read comics.

Mr. Evans: Then I can understand why you can’t put the book down. Do you think that I could borrow it, then?

Bob: I’m still reading this one, but I have another one I can loan you.

Mr. Evans: I meant this one.

Bob: Oh, help yourself.

(Top Notch 3, Unit 4-2)

source: Dương Thu Thuỷ / Pearson Education, INC 2015年3月3日
* social language: agree to lend something; describe reading material
* grammar: noun clauses

# video script

(Over lunch in the care, Paul and Marie argue about newspapers.)

Paul: Look at this. The paper says that a tornado carried a woman for 33 miles, and she lived to tell about it.

Marie: I’m not sure if you know this, but that story isn’t true.

Paul: It’s in the paper. It must be true.

Marie: That paper is trash. I can’t believe you’re reading it.

Paul: What do you mean?

Marie: It’s fiction, not news. Nothing in there is true. If you want real news, you have to read this paper.

Paul: That paper is boring. This one’s much more interesting.

Marie: “Woman Gives Birth to Cow!” “Man Builds House from Bread!” “Baby with Two Heads!” Come one. This is offensive.

Paul: “Storm Kills 100 in Texas.” “Train Accident Kills Five, Injures More.” “Man Kills Wife and Son.” I’m sorry, but all that death and destruction is pretty offensive to me.

Marie: I know that these things happened. And I know that those didn’t.

Paul: You don’t know that. You just assume that it’s true.

Marie: Let’s ask Bob and Mr. Evans what paper they read. Never mind. Let’s just read.

Paul: That sounds good to me. Look at this! “A Man with Four Legs!”

Interview: Do you do a lot of reading? (Top Notch 3, Unit 4-3)

source: Dương Thu Thuỷ / Pearson Education, INC 2015年3月3日
* social language: agree to lend something; describe reading material
* grammar: noun clauses

# video script

Interviewer: Do you folks do a lot of reading?

Herb: She does.

Blanche: I do, particularly. I like to read novels and mystery stories, sometimes travel stories.

Interviewer: Do you buy books, or do you get them from the library?

Lorayn: I buy books, and I tend to trade them with friends.

Interviewer: How about books on tape?

Blanche: I tried that. They put me to sleep.

Interviewer: So, novels. You like to read fiction. Who are some of your favorite authors?

Dan: I just read Nick Hornby--How to Be Good--which was probably the funniest book I’ve ever read.

Interviewer: Would you say it’s a real page-turner?

Dan: Absolutely. Absolutely. I mean, belly laughs on every page.

Interviewer: So, do you read anything else like newspapers, magazines?

Alvino: I do read magazines, yes.

Interviewer: Could you tell me, let’s see, what sorts of magazines you like to read?

Alvino: Fashion. I enjoy fashion--Details, actually.

Interviewer: How about how-to magazines? Do you ever buy magazines about home repair or cooking, for instance?

Lorayn: I buy my husband magazines on ... how-to magazines. He’s the one that’s good at fixing things and repair, even cooking.

Interviewer: How about newspapers? Do you read newspapers?

Dan: The New York Times when I’m home.

Interviewer: And what part of the newspapers are most important to you?

Dan: The front page and “Arts and Leisure.”

Sitcom: I want to go someplace different. (Top Notch 3, Unit 5-1)

source: Dương Thu Thuỷ / Pearson Education, INC 2015年3月3日
* social language: express fear of disasters; reassure someone; convey a message
* grammar: indirect speech

# video script

(Mr. Evans tries to come up with a place for Mrs. Beatty’s vacation--a place that does not have natural disasters.)

Mr. Evans: So, Mrs. Beatty, you’re looking for an exciting place for your next vacation.

Mrs. Beatty: I usually travel to major cities in Europe, but this time I want to go someplace different--someplace away from the city--as long as it’s safe.

Mr. Evans: How about California? The Big Sur area is spectacular.

Mrs. Beatty: California has lots of earthquakes, doesn’t it?

Mr. Evans: Well, they have earthquakes occasionally, but not very often.

Mrs. Beatty: But it does have earthquakes.

Mr. Evans: Yes.

Mrs. Beatty: I’m not going.

Mr. Evans: OK. How about someplace in Asia? A beach in Thailand? Ko Chang has beautiful beaches, and it’s very quiet there.

Mrs. Beatty: A quiet beach sounds nice. But they said on the news there’s a nonsoon in Thailand.

Mr. Evans: But the monsoon will be over by the time you go.

Mrs. Beatty: What else can you recommend?

Mr. Evans: Australia. The Australian outback is amazing.

Mrs. Beatty: I’ve heard they have tornadoes in Australia.

Mr. Evans: Well, some parts ...

Mrs. Beatty: Where else?

Mr. Evans: Jamaica?

Mrs. Beatty: Hurricanes.

Mr. Evans: South Africa?

Mrs. Beatty: Floods.

Mr. Evans: Hawaii?

Mrs. Beatty: Landslides.

Mr. Evans: You know a lot about natural disasters, don’t you, Mrs. Beatty? Let’s see. What about Finland?

Mrs. Beatty: Finland?

Mr. Evans: It’s wild, beautiful, and very different from other parts of Europe. And nothing bad ever happens in Finland.

Mrs. Beatty: Finland sounds good. I’ll go to Finland.

Mr. Evans: Great. I’ll book your tickets.

(Top Notch 3, Unit 5-2)

source: Dương Thu Thuỷ / Pearson Education, INC 2015年3月3日
* social language: express fear of disasters; reassure someone; convey a message
* grammar: indirect speech

# video script

(After Mr. Evans has booked Mrs. Beatty’s vacation, something happens that changes Mrs. Beatty’s mind.)

Mr. Evans: OK, I just booked your tickets to Helsinki, Finland. You’ll be staying at the Palace Hotel.

Mrs. Beatty: That’s great.

Marie: Excuse me, Mr. Evans?

Mr. Evans: Yes, Marie?

Marie: Mr. Woods is on the phone. He told me to tell you it’s urgent.

Mr. Evans: Urgent?

Marie: He’s traveling, you know.

Mr. Evans: Yes?

Marie: He said there’s some kind of epidemic.

Mr. Evans: What kind of epidemic?

Marie: It sounds like it’s that new influenza.

Mr. Evans: But he was vaccinated for that before he left.

Marie: I know. But he told me to tell you that he wants to fly home today.

Mr. Evans: On the Internet it says only three people are sick. That is not an epidemic. And it’s not like anybody’s dying from this flu.

Marie: He said he didn’t want to be the first.

Mrs. Beatty: Where is he traveling, may I ask?

Marie: He’s in Finland.

Mrs. Beatty: Finland? I just booked tickets to Finland!

Mr. Evans: Mrs. Beatty, everything will be fine. You’ll get vaccinated, and you’ll have nothing to worry about.

Mrs. Beatty: I’m not going to Finland. You told me nothing bad ever happens in Finland.

Mr. Evans: Mrs. Beatty, I can’t think of anywhere in the world you can go and be completely safe. Right here in this city you could go outside and get hit by a bus. But you can’t let that stop you from doing the things you want to do. Look, why don’t we go to lunch and we’ll talk it over?

Marie: I don’t think she’s going anywhere.

Sitcom: I could have been a great dancer... (Top Notch 3, Unit 6-1)

source: Dương Thu Thuỷ / Pearson Education, INC 2015年3月3日
* social language: explain life choices; express regrets
* grammar: the future in the past; perfect modals
# click for grammar videos on modals: modal + have + pp

# video script

(After dinner in Cheryl’s apartment, Cheryl and Bob talk about their future plans when they were younger.)

Marie: Another wonderful dinner, Cheryl. Thank you.

Cheryl: You’re welcome. I really enjoying cooking. Actually, when I was young, I thought I was going to be a chef.

Paul: You could be a chef. These cookies are fantastic.

Marie: Why didn’t you become a chef?

Cheryl: My mother talked me out of it. She thought I would always have to work at night. She was afraid I would never meet a man and get married.

Paul: She was probably right. If you were a chef, you wouldn’t have met Bob.

Cheryl: How do you know?

Paul: Before he met you, Bob only ate fast food.

Bob: It’s true.

Mr. Evans: Your mother must have been very happy when you and Bob got engaged.

Cheryl: She was. Hey, you’ll never guess what Bob was going to be.

Bob: Cheryl ...

Marie: A rock musician?

Paul: A basketball player?

Cheryl: No, Bob was going to be a dancer. He was actually in the state ballet when he was young.

Marie: No kidding!

Paul: You never told me this!

Bob: I could have been a great dancer.

Paul: What made you change your mind?

Bob: The diet was too hard. I had to stop eating everything--chocolate cake, fried chicken, potato chips. I tried. I might have been able to do it. But then they said no more bread and butter. Bread and butter! Can you believe it? And that was the end.

Marie: Wow, Bob. I never knew. Do you enjoy watching ballet at all?

Bob: I can’t. I’d like to, but as soon as the music starts, I get very, every ... hungry.

(Top Notch 3, Unit 6-2)

# video script

(Mr. Evans tries his hand at being a TV host for etiquette.)

Marie: What about you, Mr. Evans? What did you think you were going to be when you were younger?

Mr. Evans: If I tell you, will you try not to laugh?

Marie: Of course.

Mr. Evans: I always thought I would have my own television program to talk about etiquette.

Cheryl: I didn’t know you were so interested in etiquette.

Mr. Evans: I have always loved etiquette. I think I would have made a great television etiquette teacher.

Cheryl: Well, you’re very polite, for one thing.

Bob: You always know which fork to use at a restaurant. That’s a real talent.

Paul: You’ve taught me a lot about the customs of other cultures.

Mr. Evans: Maybe I could still give it a try. “Today’s topic: dinner conversation. If your international guests look offended and are leaving the table early, you’re probably chosen a topic that’ taboo in their home country. Find out what’s acceptable and what’s not ... coming up on International Etiquette with Evans.” What do you think?

Bob: Wow.

Cheryl: Amazing.

Marie: Unforgettable.

Paul: You have a real ... talent all right.

Mr. Evans: Thank you.

Interview: How would you describe your skills and abilities? (Top Notch 3, Unit 6-3)

# video script

Interviewer: Could you tell me what your career or occupation is?

Rita: I’m an elementary school teacher.

Matt: My career path will be in marketing, helping companies build their brand and help market products to the general consumer.

San: I work in television, and I would like to eventually produce and direct.

Interviewer: Did you think that you’d be in marketing when you were a child?

Matt: NO. I thought I’d be president of the United States or drive a fire truck.

Interviewer: What made teaching a good career for you?

Rita: First of all, I love children, and I liked the idea of imparting some on my knowledge to young ones.

Interviewer: Everybody has skills, talents, and abilities, so, you know, some people are artistic, others have mechanical ability. What would you say are some of your skills?

San: I would say I have a lot of artistic ability. I did a lot of art in school.

Matt: Good question. My skills and talents would be coming up with new ideas, different ideas, creative ideas that kind of build a buzz around a product.

Interviewer: Do you think that talents and abilities are genetic?

San: I think they’re a combination of both genetics and environment. I think that you are born with certain qualities that your parents I think have, and just living with some people around you and learning from your teachers and those that you’re constantly interacting with, you pick up certain skills.

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