unit 20 Society
2 Talking about life in your country
What do you do back home?
Well,I was working in a car factory,but it closed down.
That's why I'm here,really.
I got some money when I lost my job
and I decided to go travelling for a while to think about what to do next.
And what are you going to do?
I still haven't decided.The economy's in a bit of a mess at the moment.
There's a lot of unemployment and people aren't spending much money,
so it's going to be difficult to find a new job.
I might try to retrain and do something completely different.
Have you got any idea what you want to do?
Not really.Maybe something with computers.
I might try to find a job abroad for a while before I do that.
What about your country? Is it easy to find work there?
Yes.A few years ago it was quite bad,
but the economy's doing quite well at the moment.
I think unemplohyment is about four per cent,
so finding a job isn't really a problem.
The problem is the cost of living.
Prices have gone up a lot over the last few years.
Everything is more expensive,so the money you earn goes really quicky.
Right.Sometimes I think I should move to somewhere like here.
I'm sure people don't get paid very much,
but the cost of living is so low and there's a better quality of life.
People don't work as hard;life is more relacxed;
the food's great;the weather's great;it's just very nice.
Yes,maybe,but don't forget that you are on holiday.
Maybe it's not like that for the people who live here.
No,maybe not.
So anyway,how long are you going to stay here?
Just till Friday.I have to get back to work.What about you?
How long are you staying?
Till I get bored or I run out of money.I don't have any plans.
4 Proununciation:of
the quality of life
a lot of money
the cost of living
out of business
lots of problems
a bit of a mess
3 While you listen
Did you see those two young people at the bus stop?
I did.Young people nowadays have got no shame.
We were never alowed to kiss in public like that,were we,Doris?
No.We lived in a more polite time.
The language young people use today-it's awful.
They swear all the time-using all those bad words.Honestly,it's shameful.
I know.Did I tell you what happened to me in the supermarket the other day?
No,what happened?
Well,you know I have a bad leg.
Oh yes.You have to use a stick sometimes,don't you?
Yes.Well,I did my little bit of shopping-you know,
just a little bit of bread and cheese-I don't eat much these days.
And then I bought some tins of cat food.
Just a few things,then.
Yes,and I came to the checkout to pay and there was a queue.
Well,my leg was hurting because I'd been walking round the shop,you know.
Well,you've got a bad leg,haven't you?
Mm.But no one offered to let me go first.
I just had to wait.
Oh,young people!
When we wer young,we always used to let old people go first,didn't we?
I know,but it just doesn't happen any more.
No.Young people today-they're always in such a rush.
Anyway,I told the boy in front of me.I said,'My let's hurting.
They should have help for old people like me.
We should get treated better.'
Good for you.
But do you know what he did then?
He called me something which I'm not going to repeat and he laughed at me!
No!That's terrible,Marge.They've got no respect,these young people.
Oh,look at those two standing by the door.
Are they boys or girls?You can't tell the difference sometimes
with these girls with their short hair and trousers
and the boys with rings in their ears and noses and everywhere.
Oh,I know.It wasn't like that in our day.
Girls were girls and boys were boys.
(sound of a mobile phone?Oh that's mine.
Hello,Reg.Is that you?Yes,I'm on the bus.
I said I'm on the bus!
Review:Units 17-20
1 Contrastive stress:weak and strong forms
Listen to these conversations.
I'm 18.Really?I don't believe you.
IAM(18).I can do it.
No you can't.I CAN(do it)
I like it.Really? I DO (like it).
Listen to these pairs of weak and strong stressed auxiliaries.
He's married.He is.
She runs a company.She does.
He's been learning English.he has.
He went to a bilingual school.He did.
She's never been on a plane.She hasn't.
I'll pay you tomorrow.I will.
I love running.I do.
I can run a mile.I can.
2 Vowel sounds:dipthongs
years shade
coast square
where below
weird hair
blow your nose
this tastes great
it's really serious
the air fare
3 Problem sounds:/w/and/j/