Review 1 - 4
- I learned a lot from…
- Did you hear about …?
- I can’t stand it when…
- You put up with a lot.
Part 1
Preview
Look at the photos. Maria needs a new roommate. She is talking to Kate to see if she would be a good roommate.
- What do you think they are talking about?
What questions would you ask Kate?
Example answer
- I think they are talking about the apartment, the (cost of the) rent and utilities, and the furniture.
- I would ask Kate about her job, her daily routine, and why she is leaving her current living situations.
Part 2
Practice
Watch the video. Mark the statements T (true) or F (false).
_______ 1. Kate likes Marias apartment.
_______ 2. Kate is the first person that Maria has interviewed.
_______ 3. Kate is upset because she lost her job.
_______ 4. Maria has a new job.
_______ 5. Kate didn’t get along well with one of her old roommates.
_______ 6. At the end, Maria thinks Kate is a wonderful roommate.
Watch the video again. Rewrite the false statements so they are true.
Answer
- T
- F (Maria interviewed about five people before Kate.)
- F (She was upset, but it turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to her.)
- F (Maria is still looking for a job.)
- T
- F (Maria is upset because Kate has just moved in but the place is a mess.)
Transcript
Maria: Hi... Kate, right? I’m Maria.
Kate: Nice to meet you in person.
Maria: Come on in... take a look around.
Kate: Wow, this place is really nice! Big, and light... and so neat!
Maria: Yeah, I’m kind of a neatnik.
Kate: Oh, I know what you mean. I’m totally the same way.
Maria: Really?
Kate: Yeah, I just can’t stand it when people leave their stuff all over the place, or, you know, leave dirty dishes in the sink.
Maria: That’s great to hear! So, have a seat. Can I get you anything to drink?
Kate: Oh, no thanks. I stopped for coffee on the way here. So, how long have you been looking for a new roommate?
Maria: Oh, for a couple of weeks or so. I’ve talked to about five people, but no one has seemed quite right. So, in your profile you said you’re new to the city, right?
Kate: Yeah, I lost my job a few months ago. I couldn’t find another job near where I lived, so I decided to take a job in a different city. At first I was pretty upset about losing my job, but then I got a lucky break. Losing my job was one of the biggest challenges I’ve ever faced, but it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me.
Maria: Well that’s great! I’m still looking for a job. I’m not really sure what I want to do…
Kate: I’m sure you’ll figure it out.
Maria: Yeah. I hope so. So, did you live with roommates before, or your parents, or...
Kate: Yeah, I lived with a couple of roommates. I got along great with one of them. But the other... well... she was basically a nice person, but we were just really different.
Maria: Oh? In what way?
Kate: Well, like I said, I’m really neat, and she was pretty messy. And she was noisy... you know, she was always watching TV and talking on the phone and having her friends over. She just really got on my nerves.
Maria: Oh no! I can’t stand messy people. Did you hear about the woman who sued her roommate?
Kate: No. What happened?
Maria: Apparently, the woman had asked her roommate to clean up. She never did. The house got so messy that the woman sued her roommate.
Kate: What a nightmare!
Maria: Yeah, I hear you. I’m lucky... my old roommate was wonderful. The only thing that bugged me about her was that she was always late.
Kate: Oh, I hate it when people are late! I always try to be on time. A lot of times I arrive at places early, actually.
Maria: So, it sounds like we’re the perfect match! When can you move in?
[Later that day… ]
Maria: Okay, so Tom, you’re not going to believe this...
Tom: What happened?
Maria: Well I just got home, and Kate’s not here, and...well, just take a look at this.
Tom: Wow. Oh, no.
Maria: Yeah! Kate said she was really neat! What am I going to do?
Tom: Well, uh, you might want to consider the direct approach. You know, just confront her about it when she gets home.
Maria: I don’t know... Do you really think that’s a good idea? I mean, she just moved in. I’m not sure how she’d react... it could be pretty awkward.
Part 3
Discuss
Answer the questions
Do you think Kate lied to Maria? Why or why not?
Do you agree with Tom’s advice? What do you think Maria should do?
Have you ever had problems with people you live with? What kinds of problems?
Part 4
Review: I learned a lot from...
Imagine that you recently experienced one of the big changes listed below. Describe the change to your teacher.
You lost your job.
You moved to a new country.
Try to:
- Ask about significant experiences
- Talk about important events.
Asking about significant experiences
I hear that + you just moved.
(Ana) tells me that + you just moved.
Oh, that reminds me, (Ana tells me that you just moved).
Talking about important events
It is one of the most exciting things I’ve ever done.
It turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me.
It’s the best decision I’ve ever made.
It was one of the biggest challenges I’ve ever faced.
Example conversation
A: I heard that you lost your job.
B: Yeah. It was one of the most challenging things I've ever experienced. The good news is that I have found a better job! But what about you? I heard...
Part 5
Review: Did you hear about...?
Introducing and asking for details on the stories below. Use your imagination to make up details of the story.
A man found a box full of gold coins hidden in his basement.
A six-year-old girl wrote a novel.
A dog learned how to tell the time.
Try to:
- Introduce interesting stories.
- Ask for details
Introducing interesting stories
Did you hear about (the man who fell onto a subway track last week)?
You’ll never believe what happened.
You’re not going to believe the story I heard.
Asking for details
So what did (he) do?
How did (he) react?
How did that happen?
What happened?
Example conversation
A: Did you hear about the man who found a box full of gold coins hidden in his basement?
B: No! Where did they come from?
A: No one knows. The house was over 100 years old, and some people think the coins were left there by pirates!
B: Amazing. But did you hear about the dog that learned how to tell the time?
A: How did that happen?
Part 6
Review: I can't stand it when...
Choose one of the pet peeves below. Describing why it bothers you and sympathizing.
People who eat with their mouths open.
People who finish your sentences.
People who are always late to appointments.
Try to:
- Describe pet peeves.
- Sympathize
Describing pet peeves
I hate it when
I can’t stand it when
It bugs me when
It gets on my nerves when
people chew loudly.
people are rude.
Sympathizing
Yeah, I know what you mean.
I can’t either.
Same here.
Yeah, I hear you.
Example conversation
A: I hate it when people eat with their mouths open. It makes me lose my appetite.
B: Yeah, I know what you mean. Who wants to see the food in someone's mouth? And it gets on my nerves when people are always late to appointments.
A: Same here. I respect their time. They should respect mine.
Part 7
Review: You put up with a lot.
Choose one of the friendship problems below. Describing a problem and making suggestions.
Your friend is gossiping about you.
Your friend borrowed money from you and won’t pay you back.
Your friend said he was busy, but he lied.
Try to:
- Make suggestions.
- Comment on suggestions.
Making suggestions
Have you thought about
Have you tried
confronting him?
You might want to consider
You might want to think about
texting him.
Commenting on suggestions
Do you really think that’s a good idea?
That might work.
That’s worth thinking about.
l’m not really sure that would work.
That’s not a bad idea.
Example conversation
A: My friend has been gossiping about me.
B: I'm sorry to hear that. Have you thought about telling her how much it hurts your feelings?
A: I'm not really sure that would work. She gossips about everyone! She's just never gossiped about me before this.