ideas into English - Module 7 - Creating a digital English environment - step 3

7.3.1         The Life of a Chef – Jing Chong watch

This is Jin Chong. He lives in Washington DC and he is a chef. Jin Chong works six days a week and he is always very busy. This is a typical day in his life. Jin Chong usually gets up at 7.00 a.m. He stretches and gets dressed. He always has a big breakfast. He often cooks eggs and makes toast. He has coffee every morning. He never drinks anything else. Jin Chong leaves the house around 8.00 a.m. He usually cycles but sometimes he takes the bus. He doesn’t have a car, so he never drives. Jin Chong always goes to the market before he starts work. Here he buys fresh vegetables. He buys tomatoes, broccoli, peppers and eggs. Jin Chong arrives at work around 9.00 a.m. He opens the restaurant and starts cooking. First he prepares the vegetables. He chops onions and tomatoes. Then he cooks the meat. He grills beef and chicken. For the rest of the day Jin Chong is very busy. He doesn’t have a break until 3.00 p.m. and he doesn’t finish until 7.00 p.m. When he finishes, he goes home, prepares his dinner and goes to bed. He rarely stays up late. In fact he usually goes to bed around 9.00 p.m. so he is ready for another busy day tomorrow.

7.3.2         A Pilates Instructor – Sarah watch

Hi, I’m Sara. I’m a Pilates instructor. I really love my job because I love working with people. I work six days a week. Usually I get up at 7.00 a.m. to go to work. Every day, when I wake up, I take a shower, brush my teeth, make coffee and read the news. I don’t have a tv so I do everything on my computer. Usually I go to work at 9.00 a.m. but on my days off I don’t like to leave the house. Today is Sara’s day off so she isn’t going to work. At the moment she is reading. But Sara does a lot of other things on her days off. So what is she doing today? I’m learning to play the guitar but I’m not very good at it yet. Sara practises the guitar every day. She can’t play very well. But she is improving over time. Sara also likes to knit. She can knit very well. She is knitting a sweater for her brother. Sara is also learning a new language. I don’t have a lot of time on workdays but on my day off I like to practise learning French. Sara has French classes twice a week. She has a friend from France called Eve. Today she is talking to Eve on Skype. Sara also does some housework. She is watering the plants and washing the dishes. But she isn’t doing a lot of housework. She just wants to relax. 

7.3.3         An Argentinian Family – The Menna Family watch

This is the Menna family. They live in Colegiales a neighbourhood in Venasaris. During the week they are very busy. This is Roberto. He works as a reporter for Channel 9 an Argentinian television network. He reports on lots of different news stories. Every day is different and there's a lot to do but he loves his job. This is Gabriela. She is always busy too. She works at a local radio station and she starts very early. She wakes up before the rest of the family and leaves the house at around 6.30 a.m. Milagros and Juliata are Roberto and Gabriela's daughters. Milagros is 11 and Juliata is 7. They go to the same school and they start at 8.00 a.m. So it's always a rush in the morning. During the week the Menna family don't have a lot of free time, so they really enjoy the weekend. On Saturday they usually get up around 9 or 10 a.m. and they all make breakfast together. They eat toast with cheese and butter but Juliata has cereal with chocolate milk. Roberto and Milagros drink Muttae, a typical Argentinian drink. And Gabriela drinks coffee. Sometimes Roberto makes special omelets. They are delicious. After breakfast the family often play games. Sometimes they play board games but the girls often prefer to play video games. In the afternoon they often go for a walk or go to the park near their house. It's a small park but it has swings and a slide, so the girls have lots of fun. In the evening they play music. Milagros plays the guitar and the rest of the family sing. Sometimes Roberto plays the bongos. Sunday is a relaxing day too. In the morning they stay home. Gabriela reads the paper. Roberto drinks more Muttae and the girls play on the computer. In the afternoon they usually visit Gabriela's parents and have a large meal with them. They all eat outside. They have barbecued meat with salad and bread. After the meal they have coffee and go home. By the time they get home, it's time for bed. On Sunday they go to bed early, so they have lots of energy for the week ahead.

7.3.4         Conversation listen

Talking about the weather – 1

1. Hot Weather

Henry and his co-worker are at their desks.

Henry:      Did you see the weather forecast for tomorrow?

Vick:        Yeah. It’s supposed to be glorious. Sun and clear skies all day.

Henry:      Great! I’m going to the park with my girlfriend to fly kites and have a picnic lunch.

Vick:        Lucky you! I’ve been waiting all month for a beautiful day with clear skies and fresh air but I’ll be stuck inside working.

Henry:      Maybe, it’ll be too hot. You know how bad it can get on a summer day. I’ll probably get sunburnt.

Vick:        Please! I can get a lotion for a sunburn. There’s no cure for a boring day at work.

7.3.5         Conversation listen

2. Rainy weather

Ronnie and Henry are in their living room.

Henry:      Well, it’s still pouring down rain.

Ronnie:    That’s not fair. It was supposed to be sunny and warm. Our plans are ruined.

Henry:     I wouldn’t say that a storm can be romantic.

Ronnie:    We could have our picnic inside. I suppose.

Henry:     Sure we can. Wow! Look at that lightening. Nature’s fireworks.

Ronnie:    It is beautiful. Oh, my!

Henry:     Thunders can be scary. But don’t be afraid. You’re safe inside with me.

Ronnie:    I guess bad weather isn’t so bad after all.  

7.3.6         Conversation listen

3. Extreme Weather

Henry and Kelly are back in the office after a typhoon.

Part A

Henry:     I guess you made it through the typhoon, alright? That was a big one.

Kelly:       Yeah. Luckily I got all my supplies before the rain started coming down. Water, candles, a flash light.

Henry:     It’s good to be prepared in case you get stuck inside.

Kelly:       I taped my windows so they wouldn’t break if the wind blew hard.

Henry:     The wind was howling so loud I could hardly sleep at all and my cable TV and ADSL were down for hours.

Kelly:       We didn’t sleep either. We spent most of the night putting out buckets because the roof was leaking.

7.3.7         Conversation listen

Part B

Henry:     The strangest part was the middle of the storm the eye. When it passed over, the sun came out.

Kelly:       The sky cleared up. The birds started singing.

Henry:     I even went out for a walk to check on the damage. Trees were down.  The streets were littered with debris.

Kelly:       We couldn’t go out. A river near my place burst its banks and the streets were flooded.

Henry:     Then the dark clouds started coming back along with the wind and the rain.

Kelly:       Yeah. You think it’s over. Then the other half of the typhoon hits. Time to batten down the hatches again.

7.3.8         Song listen

I can see clearly now – Jimmy Cliff

I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind

It's gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
It's gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day

Oh, yes I can make it now the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is that rainbow I've been praying for

It's gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day

look all around, there's nothing but blue skies
Look straight ahead, there's nothing but blue skies

I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Here is that rainbow I've been praying for

It's gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
It's gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day

Bri-ri-ri-ri', bright, (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day, yeah, eh
It's gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
It's gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day, yeah, na
It's gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
Bri-ri-ri-ri', bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny...