Essential English 5: Student’s Book Transcripts
Unit 1
Track 1.1
Deng’s university course was over at last! The good news was that he finally had his degree. The bad news? He was heavily in debt. So he sent out loads of CVs and he applied for every job he saw in the paper. He was sure he’d walk into a well-paid job at a big company. But he didn’t get any replies and he was soon under a lot of stress. So in the end, he decided to do work experience – unpaid! He’s still there now, three months later, and he’s sick to death of it!
Track 1.2
A
I left school a year ago and I still haven’t found a job. I’ve been looking for ages. I want to talk to my friends about it but I can’t because I get so embarrassed. They’ve all got really good jobs and I’m the only one who hasn’t. It’s really depressing.
B
I’m living with my parents. I moved back here after university. It was difficult at first because I had been living on my own – now, every time I do anything, my parents ask “Where are you going? What time are you coming home?” It’s terrible. But what can I do? It’s impossible to find a cheap apartment in Buenos Aires.
C
I don’t come from a rich family so I had to get student loans to pay for my college education. Now I’m thousands of pounds in debt and I worry about it all the time. Will I ever be able to pay it all back?
D
I took a degree in Media Studies but there weren’t any jobs out there. So now, after the summer I’m going to work on my local newspaper – for free! It’ll be a good way to make contacts and maybe get a proper job in the future. One that’ll pay the bills!
E
When I took the job, I hadn’t realised how boring it was. For example, today I was just typing information into a database, all day. So I’ve had enough. I’m leaving my job next week and I’m going travelling in Asia.
Track 1.3
My name is Qui. I’m 21 and I’m from Vietnam. I grew up in Hanoi, the capital city. I really take after my mum. We look almost the same. Er.... but my parents broke up when I was 5. Then I was brought up by my mother. I was very naughty as a child and she used to tell me off a lot. I did badly at school and I didn’t live up to her expectations. I fell out with her when she remarried. I moved out and I went to study at university. I met my boyfriend Thao there, and we started going out. We get on really well together and I love being with him. And that’s me!
Track 1.4
Zhu Zhu
I know that I’m his only child but I still don’t understand why he calls me up all the time. He must ring me two or three times a day. It’s ridiculous. And he tells me off if I don’t call him – but I’m busy! He worries about me because I’m studying here in Switzerland, at a HotelSchool. But, really, I’m fine. He wasn’t like this when I was growing up. Back home in China, he hardly ever spoke to me!
Lisa
It has to be my brother. I cannot understand how he manages to get the bathroom so dirty. When he has a shower, he gets water all over the floor ... and he’s always using my shampoo without asking me. We fall out over it all the time. Last week, he cut his nails and then left them in the sink. How disgusting is that! I can’t put up with it any more. My parents don’t do anything about it either! If I ever have children,I will not bring them up like that.
Claudia
My older brother broke up with his girlfriend recently, and since then he’s always hanging around the house. He never goes out! I had thought that they always got on well together but now he spends all his time telling me how awful she was. It doesn’t help that she’s now going out with his best friend...
Ben
Well, I take after my dad. He’s really relaxed, really good fun. I’m like that. But his father is the complete opposite. He’s always telling me that I need to change my job or go back to university or do something else with my life. But I’m happy with my life now. The fact is that I can’t live up to his expectations. It wouldn’t be a problem but he lives right next door to us so I see him almost every day!
Track 1.5
1He wasn’t like this when I was growing up.
2We fall out over it all the time.
3I had thought that they always got on well together.
4Well, I take after my dad.
Track 1.6
1down
2excited
3nervous
4exhausted
5shocked
6appalling
7go white
8astonished
9delighted
10confused
11go red
12stressed out
Track 1.7
Martina: So how was the holiday?
José: Well,...
Martina: Did something go wrong? Everyone looked really happy in the Fotolog.
José:That was day one, when we went canoeing. After that, things changed.
Martina: What happened?
José: Well, Mitch is obviously incredibly organised. So he had booked all the accommodation online. The first night was fine. We were in a youth hostel in the city centre. Everyone was excited to be there and it was really good fun.
Martina: Right.
José:But afterwards, we weren’t sleeping in hotels. We were going to houses, and the owners had given us the key.
Martina:And no one would be in the house when you arrived?
José:Exactly. The houses were empty. I was a bit nervous about that but Mitch said it would be OK.
Martina:Typical Mitch.
José:Exactly. The houses were empty. I was a bit nervous about that but Mitch said it would be OK.
Martina:Typical Mitch.
José:Yeah. Well, when we got to the place for the second night, we had been walking in the mountains all day. Everyone was exhausted. Er... when we got to the house, it was unlocked, so we didn’t need the key. We just went inside. Well, when we saw the place, everyone was shocked.
Martina:Why? What was wrong?
José:It was appalling! There were no beds, no kitchen, the bathroom only had cold water. Mitch was absolutely furious, so we didn’t say anything. Uhm... we just ate some bread and cheese, got our sleeping bags out and went to sleep on the floor.
Martina:That doesn’t sound very comfortable.
José:No. Then, later, while everyone was sleeping, I heard a noise outside. I got up and met Becky in the living room. Er... because... someone was trying to get into the house. Becky went white. The door opened, and three men walked in. They looked at us, astonished.
Martina:Who were they?
José:They were the people who had booked the house.
Martina:Who?
José:The people who had booked the house. And they weren’t exactly delighted that we were staying the night there.
Martina:I don’t understand.
José:We had gone to the wrong house! It was my fault actually. I’d been reading the map, and had got confused.
Martina:Oh no!
José:I know. Everyone looked at me and I just went red.
Martina:Poor you!
José:Mitch had said that the house didn’t look like the photos on the website...
Martina:So what happened?
José:Well, luckily, the three men thought it was hilarious. They were very experienced mountaineers. They cooked us some food and we all agreed to spend the night there.
Martina:Why didn’t you go to your other accommodation?
José:Because it was late and it was raining.
Martina:So, I guess that things went well after that at least?
José:No, wait, it gets worse...
Track 1.8
AHe had booked all the accommodation online.
BWe had been walking in the mountains all day.
CThat doesn’t sound very comfortable.
DWhile everyone was sleeping, I heard a noise outside.
EThey were the people who had booked the house.
FBecause it was late and it was raining.
Track 1.9
1incredibly intelligent
2absolutely astonished
3extremely embarrassing
4ridiculously rich
5totally terrified
6completely crazy
7unbelievably uncomfortable
Track 1.10
Anna
I grew up in a small town in the States. Er... So the first thing that I noticed about Tokyo was the number of people. The trains in the morning are incredibly crowded, all of them. I have to take the bullet train to work so I’m used to them now but in the beginning, I didn’t want to get on.
Bruno
Even in Rome, we don’t have that many Indian restaurants. So to be honest, I had never eaten curry before I came here to Birmingham. Er... and when I went to a curry house for the first time, I couldn’t eat the food at all. For me, it was unbelievably hot. But now I’m used to spicy food and I love a curry. It’s amazing how my taste has changed.
Otis
I came here to Mallorca to work as a chef, er... to cook food for all the German tourists that come here from my country. It was a dream for me to live here. I totally adore Spain, I really do. But in summer, it’s absolutely boiling. It’s so hot, and I work in the kitchen. I’ll never get used to it. Really, I won’t.
Tessa
People from my country, from Ireland, think of Moscowas a cheap place, because they remember the news stories from twenty, thirty years ago. But... um... but the change in the country over the last few years has been completely incredible. I’m working there now and the cost of everything is so expensive. I’m getting used to the prices now, but they still surprise me from time to time. Mind you… you can get literally anything you want 24/7, so there are some advantages.
Track 1.11
1We used trams to get around Dublin.
He’s not used to eating spicy food.
2I usually read the paper on my way to work.
I read a really good book while I was on holiday.
3We need someone to lead the jungle expedition.
X-rays cannot move through lead.
4You’re standing too close to me!
Can you close the door please?
5Mike has had a huge row with his grandmother and now they’re not talking to each other!
We’ll be waiting on the row of seats outside the station.
Track 1.12
10I love watching DVDs with you. We don’t often get to stay in.
11He’s wearing this so he can’t get away. If I leave him alone for a minute, he runs off.
12Poor Henry! He’s really getting older now.
13I’ve got a text!
14These old photos have got me thinking about my grandma.
15It’s not coming out! I’m never getting a drink from this machine again!
16I was so happy when we finally got to the port!
17He got malaria when he was travelling in the jungle.
Track 1.13
Mauro:Another delay. It’s always the same. If you get to the airport on time, the plane’s always late.
Nancy: It’s only thirty minutes, Mauro. Let’s get a coffee while we’re waiting.
Mauro: Yeah OK. What a pain, though.
Nancy:Don’t get stressed about it. If we didn’t have planes, it would take a lot longer to get to Cape Town.
Mauro: If we didn’t have all these problems, I wouldn’t be so fed up.
Nancy:I should be fed up, not you. I’m only on this trip because Miranda’s got the flu. Remember?
Mauro: Yeah, I know.
Nancy:So is something wrong today? You look a bit down.Is it the job? If there’s anything wrong, I’ll try and fix it for you.
Mauro:No, no, it’s not the job. I love it. We get to travel all around the world. We get to stay in expensive hotels. We get to meet famous people... Yeah. I’m happy.
Nancy:But?
Mauro:But I heard from an old friend this week. Vanessa. We went to the international school together in London.
Nancy:And?
Mauro:Well, Vanessa has just finished drama school and now she’s working as an actor! She’s travelling the USA doing Shakespeare.
Nancy:That’s great news. Good for her!
Mauro:But it’s got me thinking, you see.
Track 1.14
Mauro:Well, Vanessa has just finished drama school and now she’s working as an actor! She’s travelling the USA doing Shakespeare.
Nancy: That’s great news. Good for her!
Mauro: But it’s got me thinking, you see.
Nancy: Has it?
Mauro:It’s because I always wanted to be an actor. When I was a kid, that was my dream.
Nancy: We all have those. I wanted to the first female president of the USA!
Mauro:But you’re not American. You’re Canadian!
Nancy: Children don’t worry about things like that.
Mauro:No. Anyway, now I’m thinking I made the wrong decision. Maybe I should be doing something else...
Nancy:Really? Well, if you wanted, you could give up your job and go to drama school. It’s a big step though.
Mauro: Yeah, and I’m earning good money now too. But I still think...
Nancy: The grass is always greener on the other side.
Mauro: What do you mean?
Nancy:If you were an actor, you’d have a very stressful life. You’d probably want to come back to your old job.
Mauro: But if I were in the theatre, I’d be doing something I love.
Nancy: There are a lot of actors who never get near a theatre.
Mauro: Vanessa did.
Nancy:Then why don’t you email her and ask her what it’s like being a professional actor? Maybe it looks different from the inside.
Mauro: Yeah, you’re right. Wait... is that our flight?
Track 1.15
11fit in
12get by
13run out of
14figure out
15find out
16call up
17hang around
18turn up
19eat out
Track 1.16
Nick:So Kate, you’ve finally decided to come to Greece. That’s great news!
Kate:I’m really excited, Nick, but I’m a bit nervous too. That’s why I phoned you up!
Nick:Nervous? Why? You’ll love it! Greece is beautiful and the people are so friendly.
Kate:But I mean, I’ve never lived abroad before, and I’m flying out there next week!
Nick:Yes, but you’re not alone. I’m meeting you at the airport. When I arrived here, I didn’t know anybody.
Kate:That’s what I want to ask you. What was it like? What were your first impressions?
Nick:Well, I came to Athens, and that’s very different to Paros, where you’re going. Paros is a beautiful island. Athens is much more urban.
Kate:Is it?
Nick:Oh yeah. And when I arrived here in 2003, Athens was preparing for the Olympic Games. There was building work all over the city: people building new roads, new stadiums, everything. It was really polluted and noisy too. But it’s not like that now, because the Olympics are over.
Kate:So what are we going to do in Athens?
Nick:Well, my friend Yannis is going to drive us around the city and he’s going to show us the sights. You know, the Acropolis, all the famous buildings.
Kate:Sounds lovely.
Nick:And in the evening we might go to Plaka. It’s a bit touristy but it’s still nice and you can eat some classic Greek food there.
Kate:Wonderful!
Nick:Now, how long are you staying in Athens?
Kate:Just a week. My ferry to Paros leaves on Monday morning.
Nick:Have you bought a ticket yet?
Kate:No, no, but I looked at the timetable online.
Nick:Well, don’t get a ticket until you’re in Athens. Sometimes the ferries don’t run if it’s stormy. You don’t want to be hanging around the port all day if there’s bad weather.
Kate:Is it OK to wait to buy the tickets?
Nick:Yes. There’ll be lots of tickets on sale. You can turn up on the day to buy them.
Kate:OK. Great!
Nick:So do you have any other questions for me?
Kate:Oh, Nick, I’ve got hundreds.
Nick:Fire away then...
Track 1.17
1That’s what I want to ask you.
2So what are we going to do in Athens?
3Well, don’t get a ticket until you’re in Athens.
Track 1.18
1That’s whyI phoned you up!
2I’m meeting you at the airport.
3Athens is much more urban.
Track 1.19
Mehmet:James! how are you?
James:I’m OK, Mehmet, and you?
Mehmet:I’m good. Hey, did you take my advice and visit the hamam, the Turkish baths?
James:I was there on Tuesday. It was good but...
Mehmet:But?
James:Well, there were some things about the bath that you hadn’t explained to me.
Mehmet:Really?
James:For example, I arrived at the bath that you recommended. Except that Tuesday is women’s day and men aren’t allowed in.
Mehmet:Oh, I forgot that, yes.
James:So I went to a different bath.
Mehmet:Did you go to a good one?
James:I went to an expensive one.
Mehmet:Ah – maybe that’s cos you’re a foreigner. Oh, well, I’m sure it was great. So what happened?
James:Well, I went in with my soap and shampoo and everything that you had told me to bring.
Mehmet:OK.
James:But you didn’t tell me about the shoes.
Mehmet:Shoes?
James:You’re supposed to wear special wooden shoes in a hamam.
Mehmet:Oh, yes.
James:I didn’t know, so I walked into the bath house in my bare feet. When I went in, everyone stopped talking and looked at me. I think they were a bit shocked. Luckily one of the assistants gave me some shoes.
Mehmet:Oops!
James:Then, I had to have a wash. Well, I was a bit nervous and I was waiting to see what everyone was doing but noone was washing at all. So I started putting the water in the bowl and the soap too...
Mehmet:But that’s not right!
James:I’ve learned that now! You should only put clean water in the bowl. When my bowl was filling up with soap, the same assistant looked at me very shocked, and told me off. In a very nice way, but I still went red.