English Recordings

1. We should clearly keep apart what can be proven in any scientific way and what is "needed" by humans.

2. My family is there too but for specific reason we keep apart.

3. It is no longer possible to keep apart the inside and outside.

4. Two things nature couldn't keep apart.

5. He promised himself that he would keep apart from the world of men for the rest of his life.

Hello, my name is Sam and here are the rules against Covid-19 in my school:
I must wear a mask inside the school.
I must frequently wash my hands for 30 seconds with soap.
I must maintain social distancing with my friends.
I must not kiss or embrace my friends
I must sneeze and cough in my elbow
It’s important to respect the rules and keep the virus away!

“Welcome to our Life podcast series. My name is Myriam Valour and I am here today with my classmate Frances. Today we are going to talk about philanthropy which is a tradition in our country and to tell you more about generous American donors. Let’s start talking about this.

We all know Bill and Melinda Gates or Warren Buffett who gave away a large part of their wealth to help people in need, in the USA but also in other countries. In the early twentieth century Julius Rosenwald, a successful philanthropist and businessman, built schools for African-American children across the South of the USA. His effort was seen as the most important initiative to advance black education in the early 20th century. Henry Ford also developed numerous philanthropic activities to help develop education and improve his workers’ living condition. Andrew Carnegie is well-known from having his name on libraries and other institutions all over the country. He devoted his wealth to improve education. John D. Rockefeller created the Rockefeller Foundation whose purpose was to improve the well-being of humankind throughout the world. Our next program will focus on contemporary philanthropists. Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan have been among the youngest donors since they gave away a large part of their Facebook shares to their foundation. Philanthropy is still alive and growing in the USA. Our next podcast will deal with Victoria Roger”

Topic: Some people say that school children should be mainly taught about the literature (e.g fiction and poetry) of their own country because it is more important than that of other countries. To what extent do you agree?

Model answer:

Many think that it is more important to learn about the literature from one’s own country, rather than other countries. I am in complete agreement with this viewpoint because of how literature can contribute to both national understanding and individual identity.

The most fundamental reason that children should be exposed to literature from their own country is to deepen their understanding. For example, young students in America study a common curriculum including authors like Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein, and Harper Lee. The books from Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein convey principles of individualism, creativity and entrepreneurship that are key to understanding America’s history and present. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a good example of a book focused on a period of racial segregation, that can help students to better understand recent events around the Black Lives Matter movement. Learning about racism from a classic novel set in America is more likely to likely engage, inform and stimulate a relevant response.

Another reason why students need to learn their national literature well is that it will help to shape their personal identity at an impressionable age. Children will form their identity from a variety of sources, including the literature of other countries. This is a positive development. But the main influence should be from their own country so that they are a true representative of their nationality. A Japanese child growing up abroad could return to Japan and feel like an outsider. One method of countering this is to make sure they have a good grasp of poetry and fiction from Japan. From classical poetry they will be influenced by Japan’s singular minimalist tradition. From the novels, they will learn about the relationships between people and the differing levels of formality expected in Japanese society. This will all contribute to making their identity more Japanese.

In conclusion, children will better understand and have their identity firmly shaped by the literature of their home country. This is becoming increasingly important in a globalized world that threatens to blur the distinctions between nationalities into a single mono-culture.

Topic: When designing a building, the most important factor is the intended use of the building rather than its outward appearance. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Model answer:

When it comes to building design, architects often have to make compromises between form and function. Many feel that the purpose of the building should dictate these decisions. I agree that how the building will be used is a key factor, but I think that how it looks is just as important.

Those who argue that a building should be constructed according to its function are mainly thinking about the people who will later use the building. If a building is unable to perform its most basic functions, then it is undoubtedly a failed project. For example, if an architect is building a primary school then they must consider parking areas, how cars will pick up and drop off children, where to put the playground, access for people with disabilities, and that is just the area around the school. A beautiful parking lot that only has room for a handful of cars is useless. Inside the school, they also need classrooms that are large enough, hallways that do not get easily too crowded, a good number and location of restrooms and many other pragmatic concerns. If the architect is overly focused on how the school looks, then they may sacrifice ease of use and practicality.

However, the look of the building is also important because of the role of art in everyday life. Architecture is often considered one of the original and purest forms of artistic expression. I am reminded of a quote from Pablo Picasso who said ‘Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.’ Imagine a city filled with ugly, utilitarian structures like many Soviet-era buildings. These buildings will not lift people’s spirits or encourage them to contemplate the intended message. Contrast this with a city where architects have been given free rein to be artists. As long as the buildings are also functional, you will find a city filled with beauty and provocation that enhances life for its inhabitants. The outward appearance does not have to be beautiful, but it has a responsibility to contribute something to enrich the lives of everyday people.

In conclusion, how a building works is equally as important as how that same building looks. Form should not follow function but be fused together in order to add to the aesthetic dimension of a city. It is undoubtedly more challenging, expensive and time-consuming to achieve this kind of balance, but it is also worth the effort.

Topic: Plastic shopping bags are used widely and cause many environmental problems. Some people say they should be banned. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Model answer:

No one would deny that the plastic bags used in supermarkets and shops have a negative effect on the environment because they do not degrade and end up as litter in our cities or oceans. However, the replacements for plastic bags also carry significant environmental risks. That is why I think plastic bags should not be banned.

The main environmental side effect related to plastic bags is that they pollute both the land and water. An insignificant percentage of people may reuse or recycle plastic bags, but most ultimately litter or throw them in the trash. If they are thrown in the trash, plastic bags will wind up in the ever-increasing number of landfills and contribute to soil pollution. The ones that are simply tossed in the street clog drains in cities and eventually find their way to the sea and entangle marine life. This is why many feel that plastic bags should be banned.

Despite the advantages of banning plastic bags, the solutions for plastic bags are worse than the original problem. Most people who advocate banning plastic bags suggest paper bags (which are biodegradable) or reusable bags that are typically made from cotton or plastic. Both of these replacements are flawed. Paper bags require us to continue clearing forests and also carry a large carbon footprint. Reusable bags are plagued by similar problems. Independent studies have shown that the production of cotton and reusable plastic causes more harm to the environment than disposable plastic bags. Coupled with the fact that reusable bags are more difficult to recycle, their overall effect on the environment is worse.

I do not think overly simplistic restrictions on plastic bags would have the desired positive effect. Rather than thoughtlessly banning them, policy makers should come up with a policy that balances the materials we use for bags in order to produce an overall positive impact on the environment.

-Hi, I'm Detective Johnson, I must interrogate all the witnesses of the murder. Can I ask you a few questions ?
-Hello Detective ! of course, if I can help ...
-What's your name ?
-My name is Emma Blake.
-How old are you ?
-I'm 32 years old.
-Where and where were you born ?
-I was born here in the East End in 1856
-What's your job ?
-I work in a pub, as a cook.
-Do you have any children ?
-No, I don't. I'm not even married.
-what time did everything start ?
-I guess it was around 10.30 pm
-What were you doing when it all happened ?
-i was in bed, reading.
-Did you hear anything strange yesterday night ?
-Unfortunately I did : I heard a woman scream.
-Did you see the suspect ?
-Yes but it was really dark, it was at night. and I was terrified ...
-do you remember any details about the suspect ?
-it was a man, he was very tall, he was wearing a hat and a cloack, he was really scary
-did you know the victim ?
-no, I didn't, all i know is that she lived in whitechapel.

1
- Oh, Oliver, what happened to you ?
- I broke my leg last week during football practice. Here's my absence note.
- Thank you.

2
- Oh, there you are, Tracy !
- Sorry, I'm late, Sir. I overslept. Here's my late slip.
- Oh, all right !

3
- What's the matter, Brenda ?
- I don't feel well. I've got a toothache. Can I go to the nurse ?
- All right. Off you go, then ! Peter, can you go with her, please ?

September is here

September, September, is the first month of fall.
It’s the first month of school and football.
School bells ringing in the morning,
We’re ready to face the colder weather
From the trees the red leaves are falling,
It’s the season for rain boots and a warm sweater.
The squirrel and the owl say « hello! »
The fox and the fawn say « hello! »
Welcome September, welcome!

Hi, I'l Caroline Hershley. I'm 14 years old... er ... my birthday is on April the 1st... on April Fool's day ! I was born in Bristol but now I live in Liverpool with my parents and my two brothers, Kenneth and Jude. Our address is 46 London Road, Liverpool. So, er, after school I love playing table tennis. Table tennis is just great ! It really is my favourite sport. But I like singing too, I song pop songs... in a group, you know. I love music. My favourite subject school is French because we have great fun. One thing I don't like ? er... well, I don't like going to the dentist's ! I'm always scared when I have to go to the dentist's.