Listening: A2
Four conversations
Listen to four conversations to practise and improve your listening skills.
Before listening
Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.
Preparation task
Write the words and phrases in the correct group.
Right. No way! Let’s see … Really? Umm …
And? I mean … Well … I know.
When you’re thinking of something to say When you show the other person you are
(4 expressions) listening (5 expressions)
Tasks
Task 1
Match the topics (1–4) with the conversations (a–d).
Topic Conversation
1. …… An old photo a. Conversation A
2. …… A university project b. Conversation B
3. …… A holiday c. Conversation C
4. …… A work interview d. Conversation D
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Task 2
Are the sentences true or false?
Answer
1. (Conversation A) The woman was in the interview for 15 minutes. True False
2. (Conversation A) The woman thinks she is going to get the job. True False
3. (Conversation B) The woman was trying to look at art. True False
4. (Conversation B) The woman is thinking about not taking photos on True False
holiday any more.
5. (Conversation C) The man and the woman grew up in the same family. True False
6. (Conversation C) The girl had an older boyfriend at school. True False
7. (Conversation D) The man is not in the group because the others don’t True False
like his work.
8. (Conversation D) The man needs to find another group. True False
Discussion
Have you ever had a similar conversation? What new phrases did you learn in these
conversations?
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Transcript
A
Man: How did it go?
Woman: Umm, I think it went quite well. I did a lot of research and prepared a lot. I was in
there for ... I don’t know ... half an hour?
Man: And? What did they say?
Woman: Nothing much. At the end I asked them, ‘What happens now?’, and the woman said,
‘We’ll call you back with news in three or four days.’
Man: Really?
Woman: Yeah, I think I’ve got the job. There weren’t a lot of other people there. I was the only
interview that day, you know?
Man: Well, good luck with it.
B
Man: Anyway, you were saying ...
Woman: Oh, yeah, um ... let’s see. Yes, so I was in the museum and there were, I don’t know, a
hundred people waiting to get into the room. Finally, I got in, and I tried to see the Mona Lisa
but I couldn’t look at it.
Man: Why not?
Woman: Because the room was filled with people taking photographs of it!
Man: Oh, right.
Woman: Yes! And selfies.
Man: Wait a minute. You can take photos while you’re in there?
Woman: Yes, but you can’t use flash. I don’t know ... Why do we take photos of everything we
see when we travel?
Man: I know. And we never look at the photos after.
Woman: Exactly! I’m tired of always taking photos. I don’t feel I’m enjoying things.
© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish
C
Man: Who took this?
Woman: I can’t remember. Hmmm ...
Man: What am I doing?
Woman: You’re sitting on the sofa, watching TV and eating chocolates. Nothing changes!
Man: Ha! Very funny. You look very young, though.
Woman: I know. Look at my hair – it was so long!
Man: Mine too, look at me! Hey … I think I know who took this photo.
Woman: Umm … who? Was it Dad?
Man: No, it wasn’t Dad or Mum. Do you remember Barry?
Woman: No.
Man: Yes, YES! You do remember. Barry, your boyfriend at high school. You were seventeen
and he was sixteen and he was so very polite: ‘Hello, I’m Barry. It’s very nice to meet you ...’
Woman: Stop it! He was nice.
Man: Yeah, well, he took the photo.
D
Woman: Let’s see. OK. I’m glad we could talk about this. It’s not easy to say.
Man: What?
Woman: Well, you’re not in our group – for the class project.
Man: What do you mean? You know I’m always in a group with you.
Woman: I know. It’s just that this time … this time we made the group differently and because
you were late ...
Man: I see. You don’t want me in the group?
Woman: No, no. It isn’t that. It’s that we’ve already made the group, see? There’s four of us
already.
Man: So? We can’t be a group of five?
Woman: Well, the teacher said four people per group.
Man: Oh.
Woman: It’s not about you or your work or anything like that. It’s ... errrr ... well, we already
have the group.
Man: So I have to find another group.
Woman: I’m sorry.
© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish
