English Lesson 70

Health and waiting

Staying healthy, a time you had to wait a long time, and being on time and being patient.

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

Health

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

Is it important to you to eat healthy food? Why?

Yes, it's important to me. I feel more energetic when I eat well. I try to eat a lot of fruit and vegetables and cook at home. But I'm not perfect. I still love pizza and sweets at the weekend.

  • I feel more energeticI have more energy
  • eat welleat healthy food
  • I'm not perfectI make mistakes too

If you catch a cold, what do you do to feel better?

I rest as much as I can and drink a lot of warm drinks, like tea with honey and lemon. My mother always makes chicken soup for me. If it gets worse, I go to the doctor.

  • catch a coldget a mild illness with a runny nose
  • as much as I canthe most possible
  • If it gets worse, …if I become sicker

What could you do to have a healthier lifestyle?

I should sleep more. I usually go to bed after midnight, and I wake up tired. I should also do more exercise and spend less time sitting at my computer. Maybe I'll start by walking to work twice a week.

  • a healthier lifestylea more healthy way of living
  • I should…give advice to yourself
  • Maybe I'll start by…a small first step

Do you do any exercise? How long?

I go running three times a week, for about thirty minutes. I started last year, and now I can run five kilometres without stopping. It's the best part of my morning, because I feel fresh for the rest of the day.

  • three times a weeksay how often
  • without stoppingcontinuously
  • I feel fresh for the rest of the dayI have energy all day

Part 2 · Cue card

A time you waited a long time for someone or something

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 occasion when you had to wait a long time for someone or something to arrive.

You should say:

  • who or what you were waiting for
  • how long you had to wait
  • why you had to wait a long time
  • and explain how you felt about waiting so long
Ready 1:00

Start

I'd like to talk about a time I waited for a flight at an airport. It was the longest wait of my life.

What you were waiting for

I was waiting for a flight from Istanbul back to my country. I was coming back from a business trip, and I wanted to get home for my sister's birthday.

How long you waited

I had to wait for almost eleven hours. The flight was supposed to leave at nine in the morning, but it finally left at eight in the evening.

Why you waited

First, there was a technical problem with the plane. Then, there was bad weather, with snow, so many flights were delayed. The airline kept saying 'one more hour', but nothing happened.

How you felt

At first, I was calm. I read a book and had coffee. But after five or six hours, I felt very tired and frustrated. The airport was crowded, and there weren't enough seats. In the end, I missed my sister's birthday dinner. But I learned to always carry a good book and a phone charger when I travel.

  • the longest wait of my lifea strong opening
  • was supposed to leave at…was planned to leave
  • flights were delayedflights left later than planned
  • nothing happenedno change
  • I felt very tired and frustratedfrustrated = annoyed because you can't change something
  • I missed…I wasn't there in time for

Part 3 · Discussion

Being on time and being patient

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

In what situations should people always arrive early?

People should always arrive early for job interviews, exams and flights. In these situations, being late can cause big problems. It's also polite to be on time for meetings and doctor's appointments.

  • job interviewsmeetings to get a job
  • being late can cause big problemsexplain the reason
  • doctor's appointmentsplanned visits to a doctor

How important is it to arrive on time in your country?

For work and official things, it's important. But for social events, like parties, people are often a little late, and it's not seen as rude. If a party starts at eight, many guests arrive at nine.

  • official thingsformal events
  • it's not seen as rudepeople don't think it's impolite
  • many guests arrive at ninea real example

How can modern technology help people arrive on time?

Map apps show the fastest route and tell you how long the trip will take, including traffic. Phones also have alarms and reminders. And you can see when the next bus or train will arrive, so you don't have to wait.

  • the fastest routethe quickest way
  • including trafficwith traffic in the calculation
  • remindersmessages that help you remember

What kinds of jobs need the most patience?

Teaching young children needs a lot of patience. Doctors and nurses also need patience with worried patients. And jobs in customer service, like call centres, need patience, because some customers are angry or rude.

  • needs a lot of patiencerequires being calm and waiting
  • worried patientssick people who are afraid
  • call centresoffices where people answer phone calls

Is it always better to be patient at work or in your studies?

Usually, yes. Patience helps you learn slowly and well, and work calmly with others. But not always. Sometimes you need to act quickly, for example when there's a problem or a good opportunity. Being too patient can mean missing chances.

  • Usually, yes.mostly yes
  • act quicklydo something fast
  • missing chanceslosing opportunities

Do you agree that older people are more patient?

In general, yes. Older people have more life experience, so they know that most problems can be solved with time. They also worry less about small things. But of course, some older people are impatient, and some young people are very patient.

  • In general, yes.usually yes
  • life experienceknowledge from living
  • can be solved with timewill get better later
  • impatientnot patient

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