English Lesson 24

Home village and phone calls

Your hometown and how it is changing, an interesting phone conversation, and keeping in touch.

How to practise
  1. Listen to an answer two times. Read the text while you listen.
  2. Shadow it. Set the speed to 0.75×. Play it again and speak at the same time as the voice.
  3. Turn on practice mode. The answers are hidden. Read each question and answer it out loud.
  4. Make it yours. Use the same phrases, but say true things about your city, your job and your life.
  5. Practise with a partner. One person reads the questions. The other answers without looking.
Speed

Part 1 · Interview

Your hometown or village

Short answers. About 20 to 30 seconds each. Answer, give a reason, add one detail.

What kind of place is your hometown?

It's a small town in the mountains. Only about twenty thousand people live there. It's quiet and green, and the air is very clean. In winter, it often snows, so the town looks like a picture on a postcard.

  • It's a small town in…describe the place
  • Only about … people live theresay the size
  • looks like a picture on a postcardis very pretty

What's the most interesting part of your hometown?

The most interesting part is the old castle on the hill. It's more than eight hundred years old. From the top, you can see the whole town and the valley. Many tourists climb up there to watch the sunset.

  • The most interesting part is…answer directly
  • From the top, you can see…describe a view
  • to watch the sunsetto see the sun going down

What kind of jobs do people in your hometown have?

Many people are farmers. They grow apples, walnuts and potatoes. Some people keep sheep and cows. In recent years, tourism has grown, so more people work in small hotels and restaurants, especially in summer.

  • They grow…grow = plant and take care of crops
  • keep sheep and cowskeep = have animals on a farm
  • In recent years, …means in the last few years
  • tourism has grownthere are more tourists

What changes would you like to make to your hometown?

I'd like to see better roads, because the road to the city is narrow and dangerous in winter. I'd also like a better hospital, because people have to drive two hours for a specialist. And I'd love some new jobs for young people, so they don't have to leave.

  • I'd like to see…say what you want to happen
  • people have to drive two hours for…explain a problem
  • so they don't have to leaveexplain the purpose

Part 2 · Cue card

An interesting phone conversation you had

You get 1 minute to prepare and then speak for 1 to 2 minutes. Follow the four points on the card in order.

Candidate task card

Describe an interesting phone conversation you had with someone.

You should say:

  • when you had this conversation
  • who you talked to
  • what the conversation was about
  • and explain why this conversation was so interesting
Ready 1:00

Start

I'd like to talk about a phone call I had with my old school friend, Mina. We hadn't spoken for almost ten years.

When

It happened about six months ago, on a Sunday evening. I was cooking dinner when my phone rang. It was an unknown number, so at first I didn't want to answer.

Who

When I answered, the woman said, "Do you remember me? We sat together in class for three years." I recognised her voice immediately. It was Mina. She had moved to Canada after high school, and we had lost touch.

What it was about

We talked for almost two hours. She told me about her life in Canada, her job as a nurse and her two children. We also remembered funny stories from school, like the time we got lost on a school trip.

Why it was interesting

It was interesting because it felt like no time had passed. We were laughing like teenagers again. She also told me she's coming back to visit next summer. Now, we talk every week, and I'm so happy that she found me again.

  • We hadn't spoken for…past perfect: before that moment
  • an unknown numbera number you don't have saved
  • I recognised her voice immediatelyrecognise = know who it is
  • we had lost touchwe stopped contacting each other
  • it felt like no time had passedit was like the old days
  • she found me againshe contacted me again

Part 3 · Discussion

Phones and keeping in touch

Longer answers. About 30 to 45 seconds. Give your opinion, explain why, and give an example.

Which do you use more often, a mobile phone or a landline? Why?

I use my mobile phone much more. I carry it everywhere, and I can call, text and use the internet. We still have a landline at home, but we only use it to call my grandparents, because they're not comfortable with mobile phones.

  • a landlinea home phone with a cable
  • I carry it everywhereI always have it with me
  • we only use it to…explain the one use
  • not comfortable withnot happy or easy using it

Are international phone calls expensive in your country?

Normal international calls are quite expensive. But almost nobody uses them now. Most people use apps like WhatsApp to make free calls over the internet. The only problem is that the internet is sometimes slow, so the call quality can be bad.

  • quite expensivefairly expensive
  • almost nobody uses themvery few people use them
  • make free calls over the internetcall without paying, using the internet
  • the call quality can be badthe sound may not be clear

How important is it in your culture to talk regularly with friends and relatives?

It's very important. If you don't call your relatives for a long time, they may feel hurt. Older people especially expect a call on holidays and special days. With friends, we usually chat every day in group chats.

  • they may feel hurtthey may feel sad and upset
  • expect a callthink you will call
  • group chatsonline chats with many people

What is the best way to keep in touch with friends abroad?

I think video calls are the best way. When you can see someone's face, it feels much closer. But time differences can be a problem, so it's good to plan a regular time, for example every Sunday morning. Sending short voice messages during the week is also nice.

  • keep in touchcontinue to talk with someone
  • it feels much closeryou feel near to them
  • time differencesdifferent hours in different countries
  • voice messagesshort recorded messages

How has social media changed the way we make friends and contact them?

Social media makes it easy to find old friends and meet new people with the same interests. We can also follow their lives without calling them. But I think it has made some friendships less deep. People 'like' a photo instead of having a real conversation.

  • makes it easy to…helps you do it without difficulty
  • with the same interestswho like the same things
  • follow their livessee what happens in their lives
  • less deepnot as strong

How dangerous is it to use a mobile phone while driving?

It's extremely dangerous. When you look at your phone, even for two seconds, the car moves many metres. Many accidents happen because of this. I think the police should give bigger fines, and drivers should use hands-free systems if they must talk.

  • extremely dangerousvery, very dangerous
  • even for two secondseven for a very short time
  • bigger finesfine = money you pay for breaking a rule
  • hands-freeused without holding the phone

Audio: Microsoft neural voices. A British voice reads the examiner's questions, and an American voice reads the model answers.