English Recordings

We have been talking about a place you have enjoyed visiting and now I would like to ask you some more general questions relating to this topic.

DESCRIBE different types of holidays which people choose

Firstly, I think it’s important to say that for the majority of the world’s population, a holiday is probably an unattainable luxury. If you are living in poverty and hardly have enough money to put food on the table, then you’re not going to spend a lot of time thinking where to go for a break. The best you can probably do is visiting a relative or friend. For more affluent people though, there are lots of types of holidays to choose from. Many people fly to other continents where they can do some exotic sight-seeing or sunbathe on a tropical beach. Others go on adventure holidays or hike round the countryside with a rucksack on their back, staying in youth hostels or camping. I’ve heard of some people doing house swapping, so they live in somebody else’s house, probably in a foreign country, and somebody stays in their home. And some people go on spiritual retreats or working holidays. Of course, there are those who just carry on working and say they don’t need a holiday at all.

EXPLAIN why some people prefer not to take holidays

Some people seem to see it as a waste of time. These are probably high-flying business executives who are keener on making money than spending it. If they take time off, they are worried sick that something will go wrong at work. Other people just hate the hassle of travelling: long queues at the airport, stress over the plane being late, eating dodgy foreign food, getting sun-stroke. You hear all sorts of nightmare stories from travellers and some just prefer to avoid it. Personally, I know there are stresses and strains involved in going on holiday, but I just love the chance to experience new destinations.

DESCRIBE the benefits of travelling to another country

They say that travel broadens the mind and I think it’s absolutely true. When you go abroad, you get the chance to see how other people do things, how they have a different outlook on life and a different perspective on living. You get the opportunity to see amazing sights and try out wonderful new foods. Lots of people who visit foreign countries make life-long friends with the locals. When I was a bit younger, I went back-packing round the world and it was an eye-opening experience for me. It really changed the way I felt about myself and the world around me.

DESCRIBE the dangers of travelling abroad

Obviously things can go terribly wrong when you’re travelling in foreign countries, because you don’t know your way around, you can’t recognise danger signs, you are an easy target. Some of the problems which travellers have in other countries are because of things like food poisoning, diseases, sun-burn and that sort of thing. Sometimes they just get lost or do things which local inhabitants find offensive or inappropriate. It’s generally a pretty good idea to prepare yourself well, arm yourself with knowledge and information, before visiting a foreign country. Learning a few key phrases in the local language or dialect makes a lot of sense as well.

COMPARE the types of holidays people take now with holidays taken in the past

Nowadays people from my country, at least those rich enough, often go extremely long distances to seek out something new, exotic, entertaining and novel. For a lot of them, holidays seem to be something to boast about and show off about later. Half the point of the holiday appears to be to collect photos or video shots or souvenirs to show the neighbours. Maybe it’s always been like that but I feel holidays have become less about relaxing, winding down and taking it easy, and more about status and social position. I’m probably being a bit cynical but I think that in the past when people went away they wanted to have some fun, spend time in each other’s company, mess about and do things that didn’t really matter, take a break from the monotonous daily routine. All that seems to have changed now.

SPECULATE on the type of holidays people might take in the future

It’s difficult to say really. I was reading a few months ago about space tourism and I suppose that will be a definite possibility for really well-off people. They might like the idea of blasting off into space and looking down on our planet from thousands of miles away. I have to say, it doesn’t appeal to me much. I would imagine that rich people will continue looking for even more exotic holiday destinations here on Earth and I can imagine some developing countries being really spoilt by tourism. The problem is that tourists always seem to want something new, unspoilt and different. For the average person, I don’t suppose holidaying will change too much. People love going to the sea-side, to mountains and lakes to places where the weather is warm. Visiting famous cities has become more popular recently and I suppose that trend might continue.

Describe a place you have enjoyed visiting

Where is it?
How did you go there?
Why did you like it so much?

One of my favourite places to go is a sea-side resort about sixty kilometres away from where I live. I’ve been going there ever since I was a little kid and I’ve always really loved it. Because it isn’t particularly far away, we usually go there by train. Actually, you have to change trains, so the journey is a bit tricky, but if you’re not in a great hurry it’s a nice and more relaxing way to get there. As I said, I first went there when I was little and in those days the main attraction for me was the beach. I used to play football or cricket there, or when I was a bit older I would fly a kite, because, being near the sea, it’s extremely windy most of the time. I used to love getting an ice-cream if it was hot, and we always stayed in our caravan which was perched high up on a cliff overlooking the shore. That’s one of the things I always remember: hearing the waves crashing on the beach below and the sound of sea-gulls and the howling wind. As I got older, I started to appreciate it for different reasons. I began to enjoy the tranquillity and calmness of the place. I would go for long walks along the sea-shore and just gaze at the jagged cliffs or the waves rolling in. I found it an excellent place to just go and contemplate life, take a break from the modern world and just chill out. I think this is one of the main reasons why most people try to spend some time close to nature. It might be the countryside, or mountains or the sea-side like me, but I think we all need a place which allows us to wind down from the stresses of everyday life. That’s certainly why I go to the sea-side. I come back feeling refreshed and ready for whatever life wants to throw at me. It really re-charges my batteries.

We have been talking about pollution and now I would like to ask you some more general questions relating to this topic.

DESCRIBE causes of pollution

Obviously, there are various types of pollution. Some of the major ones are air, water and noise. It’s probably simplest to say that these forms of contamination are caused by the early twenty-first century, modern life, the human species, whatever you want to call it. There are specific causes like the increased use of cars and other forms of transport, heavy industry and manufacturing. But it probably isn’t fair to blame the producers. Levels of consumption are at the heart of the problem. Our modern way of living requires automobiles and air travel, huge quantities of mass produced consumer durables, vast amounts of electricity and gas. It’s hardly surprising that we are causing more and more pollution. The problem is that nobody seems to have thought of a solution yet and the situation is becoming intolerable.

EXPLAIN why some people take the problem of pollution so seriously

Well, as I’ve already suggested, those who worry about it are probably right. Most scientists agree that our planet has never faced such a massive increase in carbon dioxide levels, for example, and this is having serious consequences for all of us. Even worse, the potential consequences, what scientists are predicting over the next half century or so, sound disastrous and although some people might say I’m being alarmist, it isn’t too unlikely that human civilisation will come to an end soon unless we really address the problems. So many things are already going wrong. Rivers are so polluted that fish die out; the oceans are becoming increasingly acidic and that threatens marine life; life for humans and animals, particularly in large metropolitan cities and conurbations, is increasingly difficult. If nothing is done immediately the situation is likely to get beyond our control. It’s something I’m genuinely scared about. I don’t feel at all optimistic about the future.

EXPLAIN what can or should be done to reduce pollution

That’s an extremely difficult question. Of course there are solutions but nobody wants to take the difficult decisions. Probably the easiest thing to do would be to ban all non-essential travel, make people use public transport, ration the amount of energy they can use and increase prices of things like consumer durables so much that most people just wouldn’t be able to afford them. Although that would work, it would leave millions without a job and have long-term implications for all of us. In any case, it is completely impractical and I doubt whether even one government would be willing to do it. Certainly the major governments wouldn’t. A watered-down version might be effective. You could try to cut the use of cars and try not to use so much energy, but it is probably already too late for a few minor alterations. The real problem is that most of us have got used to a high standard of living and we’re not willing to give up all those modern conveniences and gadgets.

SPECULATE on whether the planet will be a cleaner or dirtier place in fifty years’ time

I don’t know about in fifty years’ time, but in a hundred and fifty years’ time it might be considerably cleaner because humans might have been wiped out altogether. I’m not very confident in our ability as a species to deal with this issue and I’m afraid we will just keep acting irresponsibly until it is too late. I know some people believe that we are clever enough to find technological solutions which will enable us to keep burning fossil fuels and destroying non-renewable resources but I seriously doubt it. I think the most likely outcome is that we will destroy ourselves.

Describe an example of serious pollution

Where is it?
Why did you notice it?
What could be done about it?

This is one of the most topical issues at the moment. I keep seeing newspaper articles and TV news reports about it saying how serious and potentially catastrophic this could be. In my country, awareness of the importance of this has been raised recently and just about everybody knows that unless something is done to tackle pollution and contamination, the future will be very bleak. For me, living in a huge metropolitan area, the pollution I most notice is the quality of the air. Actually, you can’t help noticing it if you live where I do because as soon as you open your mouth, you feel contaminated air hitting the back of your throat. You want to cough and you are half-choking all the time. If you run, say across a busy road, you are completely breathless when you reach the other side. Nobody bothers wearing white because, by the end of the day, your clean shirt or blouse has turned a mucky greyish colour. It’s absolutely disgusting. There are times when the government closes local schools and advises the elderly to stay indoors all day. They are so worried about the health implications of the contaminated air. The reasons why our air is so dirty are obvious for everyone to see. Just take a glance at the horizon in my city and you will see thousands of factories belching out poisonous smoke and fumes. Though the cause is not really in dispute, the solution is a good deal more complex. Various things could be tried. Factories could be re-located to less densely-populated regions. Some critics of the government have even suggested closing down the worst polluting factories altogether. Unfortunately, though, it isn’t quite that simple. Firstly, if you move the factories, you will also have to re-locate workers and that will be extremely unpopular. If factories are closed, workers will lose their jobs and that will have serious implications for the whole economy. So, as you can see, it is a complex issue and not likely to be resolved any time soon. That’s a tremendous shame because our country is spectacularly beautiful but, if you visit major cities, all you will see is smog, dust and grime.

We have been talking about something which you find annoying and now I would like to ask you some more general questions relating to this topic.

DESCRIBE the kind of things which make people angry

I feel that on the whole people are angrier about everything nowadays. For example, when driving people seem to get angry if the car in front doesn’t move off quickly when the traffic lights change from red to green. Road rage is a relatively new phenomenon and it is causing numerous accidents on the nation’s roads. Another thing that causes individuals to get cross is when the government makes decisions such as increasing taxes or when murderers are released from prison.

DESCRIBE ways in which people stop themselves from getting angry

Some people suggest counting from one to ten very slowly if you feel you are getting angry and this should give you time to calm down before you explode. If an individual has a major problem with anger they could go to anger management classes and learn techniques in how to control their temper.

DISCUSS whether it is a good idea to show your feelings in public

I personally feel it depends on the situation. There have been times when I have shown that I am angry and regretted it and there have been other occasions when I have not shown how I feel and regretted that too. I am quite an emotional person and cry a lot in public which a lot of people especially men do not tend to do. I think it is a good thing to do. The British have a reputation for not showing their feelings and I do not think this is healthy. If you are angry about something and you do not let it out, the anger can build up inside you and cause health problems in the long term.

Describe something which you find very annoying

What is it?
Why does it annoy you?
How do other people feel about it?

This is an extremely easy question for me to answer, as the thing I find incredibly annoying is smoking. I have never smoked in my life and am actually allergic to it. I regard people who smoke as selfish and self-centred. I am so strongly against it that I believe it should be totally outlawed. I doubt this would ever happen though because people would say ‘you can’t ban it, what about people’s human rights?’ What about the non-smokers’ human rights though? A few years ago smoking was banned in restaurants, pubs etc and I actually think this has exacerbated the situation. Nowadays when you walk past an office, shop, pub, any building in fact you are confronted by smokers breathing out stale cigarette smoke. Passive smoking has therefore increased substantially. Another thing about it that I find exceedingly annoying is that smokers always smell of stale smoke so if you are sitting next to one all you can smell is the smoke on their clothes. People are generally split on this issue – people who smoke feel that they have an absolute right to smoke and that removing this right from them is totally against their human rights; the non-smokers on the other hand feel that they have a right to breathe in fresh air rather than second hand smoke. It is very difficult to find a compromise in this situation. I think that smokers and the government feel that they have reached a compromise by banning smoking in work places, however I would still argue that this does not go far enough. Increasing the cost of cigarettes seems to have had little effect, as there is still a great deal of smokers and there seems to be a great number of young people who are taking up this disgusting habit. The ideal situation for me would be a worldwide ban, but sadly I am convinced this will never happen.

We have been talking about a traditional ceremony and now I would like to ask you some more general questions relating to this topic.

EXPLAIN why ceremonies are so important to a society

Traditional ceremonies are an integral part of the oral traditions, folklore and culture of the nation passed on from generation to generation. Such traditional cultural events provide the opportunity for children, youth and visitors to assimilate the country’s values and beliefs. Ceremonies enable inhabitants to fully participate in culture and heritage of the country.

CONSIDER how the importance of culture and tradition can be taught to young people who may not be interested in it

It is important to integrate cultural events into schools so that children get interested at a young age and make it fun for them. A lot of traditions have rituals or routines and young kids love this. For example, when I was young I loved the rituals in church and although it had very little meaning for me, I would enjoy going and participating. Children love to feel like they belong and therefore the earlier you do things the better.

DESCRIBE how ceremonies in your country have changed

As I have previously mentioned the traditional wedding ceremony has changed from something which was about two people in love joining together into something which is about spending as much as possible to impress other people. It is like people are trying to outdo each other. Other ceremonies have changed too for example baptisms. In the past people went to church and their children were baptised. Nowadays it is just a photo opportunity and the vast majority of people who get their children baptised do not even go to church.

SPECULATE on how ceremonies may change in the future

I reckon that there will be even fewer ceremonies in the future. Couples will probably not even bother with the church ceremony and just jump straight into the photos to save a bit of money which can be spent on the bride’s hair and makeup. As societies are becoming more multicultural there will be even fewer events in schools for fear of offending another race or religion.

Describe a traditional ceremony which you know well

Where is the ceremony held?
What is the purpose of the ceremony?
What do you feel about it?

A wedding is a traditional ceremony which is held in my country, although it is happening less and less now and a lot of couples are choosing to live together or have a non-religious wedding ceremony. A traditional wedding is held in a church, usually on a Saturday, although they can be held on other days of the week. On one half of the church sits the bride’s family and friends and on the other half the groom’s family and friends. The groom is the name we give the man getting married. Usually the man arrives at the church before the bride and he has a best man who looks after the rings for him. The bride is then given away by her father. This means that her father walks her down the aisle and ‘gives her’ to her new husband. The couple exchange rings and repeat things that the vicar says. The ceremony usually lasts about 45 minutes and includes hymns (songs) that the couple have chosen and a few readings. I am a believer in marriage, however I personally feel that the wedding ceremony has become more about the photographs, the dress, the flowers rather than the ceremony itself. It is estimated that weddings nowadays cost upwards of £15000. A wedding in a church costs approximately £500 so a lot of money is being spent on all the extras, which I feel is that the day is not about. The day should be about the couple and their union of marriage rather than all the other stuff. I have been to a lot of weddings and the photographs have taken two hours and the guests are just left waiting. I cannot see any point in this at all. After the wedding ceremony it is traditional to have a ‘reception’ which is a party after the wedding. A lot of people have a sit down meal and there are usually speeches. This is where the groom or the bride’s father says something. Then often at night more people are invited and there is a disco.

We have been talking about a room and now I would like to ask you some more general questions relating to this topic.

CONSIDER whether it is important for a child to have a room of her/his own

As I have previously mentioned when I was younger I shared a bedroom with my sister and then when I reached the age of five we got separate rooms. I think it was vitally important to share when we were young, as we formed a very strong bond, however as you get older I think it is vital to have your own space. I think this is particularly critical in the teenage years. Teenagers start to have many issues such as body issues when they reach the age of 13, therefore a room of their own is necessary.

EXPLAIN how many rooms a typical family actually needs

In this country we seem to think that we need a bedroom for everyone, a kitchen, a dining room, two living rooms, a utility room, a bathroom and an ensuite for everyone. However, if you look at countries like Africa they all live in one room and are extremely happy. I think in this country we have become obsessed with ‘personal space’ and people think their status is related to how big our house is. In reality we only need a kitchen, a bedroom and a bathroom.

CONSIDER whether there are any advantages for young children of sharing a room

In this country it is recommended that babies share their parents’ room for at least the first six months. I personally feel that it should be longer. The baby is carried around for nine months by the mother and then to leave it in a room alone seems cruel to me. If there are siblings, I think they should share a room at least until they are five. The major advantages of this are learning skills such as sharing, being considerate to other people’s needs and cooperation.

EXPLAIN how children develop their independence

Independence develops from an early age. I would say that the first thing that starts is when a child learns how to use a spoon and feed him or herself. This is a significant development in children because they are progressing from being totally dependent on the mother to gaining some independence. The next stage is refusing food. This is a key development in childhood because they are learning that they can say no and they do not have to put everything in their mouth. If they do not go through this stage, then they will end up putting everything in their mouths. Further development includes things walking and talking, developing independence is a step-by-step process.

Describe a room, which was important to you when you were young

Where was it?
What was it like?
Why was it so important to you?

For the first five years of my life I lived with my family, mum, dad and sister, in a very small bungalow. There were only two bedrooms, therefore my sister and I had to share. She is six years older than me and I think for her it was a major issue sharing with her little sister, but for me it was wonderful and I loved every minute of it. We had a double bed and we would struggle to get to sleep every night because we used to spend ages just chatting about things that had happened. That is how it is in my memory, in reality it was probably me talking nonsense because I was under the age of five and her getting annoyed because she wanted to sleep. Outside the room there was a street light which was on all night long but because I was young this was great for me because I was scared of the dark, but with the street light the room was illuminated. I remember when we moved to a new house, which had five bedrooms and so we were able to have our own bedroom, I was extremely upset. For the first time in my life I had my own bed and bedroom and for a long time I hated it. I can still remember sneaking into her bedroom when my mum and dad were asleep. She would get annoyed because we had single beds so there was not enough room for the two of us. She would let me stay though. As I got older I appreciated having my own room and my own space, but I still have fond memories of sharing a room with my sister. We are still very close today and I think that closeness was formed when we shared our bedroom in the ‘little house’ as we used to call it.