Pre-Listening Exercises
What kinds of questions do people ask when they meet other people for the first time? For example, they might ask about their jobs before they ask their names (example, “So, where do you work? How do you like your job?“)
Idioms
“a balancing act” = a difficult situation where you try to do several different things at the same time
“Working and studying at the same time is a real balancing act.”
“high-and-mighty” = self-important and proud
“Sarah always acts high-and-mighty, and she thinks she is better than everyone else because she is a well-known movie star.”
Listening Exercises
A. Listen to the phone message and answer the questions.
News Reporter: Hello. This is James Goodfellow from Channel 4 news. Today, we are interviewing Sarah Roberts, the star of the new movie, Zombies on Mars Part 4. Sarah, uh, thanks for joining us.
Sarah: You’re welcome, Jimmy.
News Reporter: It’s, uh, James.
Sarah: Whatever . . .
News Reporter: Well, let’s start off the interview with a few basic questions. First of all, where are you from?
Sarah: Well, I’m originally from Miami, but we moved to New York when I was three years old. [Oh.] I lived there until I was 17, and then I moved to Los Angeles to be an actress.
News Reporter: Okay, and where did you go to college?
Sarah: I attended Fernando’s School of Acting, and all of my teachers LOVED my acting.
News Reporter: And, did you have a part-time job while you were in school?
Sarah: Yeah. I worked at a movie theater, and everyone LOVED the way I made the popcorn.
News Reporter: Really. Okay, and how old are you now?
Sarah: Well, I’m only 20, but everyone I know says I look at LEAST 22.
News Reporter: Oh, right. Okay. And, what are your hobbies outside of acting?
Sarah: Oh, I love shopping for clothes and makeup and, and . . . . Did I say I love shopping for clothes?
News Reporter: Well, you DID say clothes . . .
Sarah: Oh, yeah. Well, do you want to take some pictures of me . . . you know, for your homepage or your blog and you can even use them on your Facebook fan page.
News Reporter: Uh, I think we’ll be okay.
Sarah: Okay, well, um . . . Oh, oh look, all of my fans. Hey, gotta go, honey. Hi everyone.
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- start off (verb): begin
– Ashley started off her acting career in New York City. - basic (adjective): simple
– We lived in a very basic house when I was little. - originally (adverb): at first, in the beginning
– My mother is originally from Mexico, but she grew up in the United States. - gotta go (informal expression): have to go
– Hey, I (I’ve) gotta go to work now. See you later.
– My brother’s gotta study more if he wants to pass the class. - honey (adjective): sweetheart, dear, love
– Hi, honey! Will you make me lunch, please?