Lesson A

Listening& Speaking    Running errands

1.Vocabulary Link

A busy day

A

Pair work. Work with a partner. Match the verbs with the nouns and phrases, and write the expressions in the picture. Sometimes more than one combination is possible.

1. cut out coupons          

2. make a grocery list        

3. got to a dentist appointment 

4. get a haircut             

5. pick up/get the dry cleaning 

6. go grocery shopping       

7. pick up the kids from school 

8. leave the car at the garage   

9. take/get the bus home      

10. unload the groceries      

B

Pair work. Work with a partner. Ask each other questions about the pictures in A.

A: In Picture 2, what is Ann doing?

B: She is making a grocery list.

A: What is the lady doing in Picture 5?

B: She is picking up her dry cleaning.

2.Listening

Activity 1 Too much to do

How often do you listen to the radio? What kinds of programs do you listen to?

A

Listen to this radio call-in show. Write T (True) or F (False) for each statement.

1. F The caller has enough time for his errands.

2. T Donna suggests an errand service.

3. F The caller doesn't like the suggestion.

B

Listen again. Which errands does the caller have to do? According to the radio host, which errands can the service do? Check (√) the correct column (s).

Ask& Answer

Do you think an errand service is a good idea? Why or why not?

Activity 2 How is the neighborhood?

A

Pair work. A real estate agent is a person who rents and sells homes. What questions do you think people might ask an agent when they are buying a new home?

Is the neighborhood safe?

B

Listen to the conversation. Check (√) the things that John and Dana ask the agent about.

 √ 1.Safety

 √ 2.shopping

   3.litter

   4.schools

 √ 5.traffic

   6.neighbors

 √ 7.public transportation

 √ 8.parks

C

Listen again. Check (√) the statements that are true about the neighborhood and answer the question.

   1.It's noisy on Saturday nights. 

 √ 2.The supermarket is nearby. 

 √ 3.It's easy to cross the larger streets. 

   4.The subway station is one block away. 

   5.There are no parks nearby. 

Why did Dana ask questions about traffic and parks in the neighborhood?

 She wanted to be sure it is safe for her and her young child to cross the road. She also wanted to know if there were any parks she could take her son to.             

Activity 3 We work you play

A

Listen to the first part of a radio ad offering errand services. Then fill in the blanks with what you hear.

Errand Services in Double Happiness for (1) Immediate Release 

Think about what you did last Saturday, running around (2) picking up dry cleaning , grocery shopping, returning the jacket that did not fit, and (3) taking your children to practice . Imagine having that all (4) done for you !

B

Listen to the rest of the ad. Then write down the correct answers for each service category.

1.Grocery Shopping: keep your fridge stocked/deliver groceries to your door/put your groceries away  keep your fridge stocked ;  deliver groceries to your door ;  put your groceries away 

2.Pick-up and Drop-off: developing film/children/dry cleaning/movie CDs/library books  developing film ;  children ;  dry cleaning ;  movie CDs 

3.Pet Services: walk your pet/clean and brush your pet/take your pet to veterinary appointments/keep your pet company  walk your pet ;  take your pet to veterinary appointments ;  keep your pet company 

C

Listen to the whole ad and answer the questions.

1.How can you describe the services Double Happiness provides?

 The services are affordable and convenient.                               

2.How can listeners contact Double Happiness?

 They can call (010) 55556666.                                         

Activity 4 Better transportation for better neighborhoods

A

Listen to a passage about better transportation for neighborhoods in Curitiba, Brazil and Bogotá, Colombia. Then complete the chart. Check (√) the correct answers.

B

Listen to the first part of the passage again and answer the questions.

1.Why did the local government in Curitiba, Brazil try to reduce the number of cars in the city?

 Because Curitiba was one of Brazil's fastest growing cities and there were serious pollution problems.                                                     

2.How successful was the government's plan?

 This plan has been very successful. Curitiba's population has grown by more than one hundred percent since 1974, but traffic has decreased by thirty percent. Curitiba has reduced air pollution and provided cleaner neighborhoods for its citizens.       

C

Now listen to the second part of the passage again and fill in the information.

The city of Bogotá built many new roads for (1) bicycling and walking only . In 2002, the city celebrated (2) Car Free Day , and seven million citizens went to work (3) without a car . And every Sunday, (4) 125  kilometers of roads are (5) closed to cars . Every weekend, (6) up to two million  people in Bogotá come out to (7) enjoy the clean air and quiet  in their neighborhood.

Activity 5 Surprising neighborhoods

A

In which neighborhood would you expect to find these things? Write the things in the chart.

B

Kyle and Farid made web pages about their neighborhoods for a class project. You will hear the descriptions about their neighborhoods. Were your answers in the A correct? Make any necessary changes.

C

Listen again. Then check (√) the neighborhood each sentence describes.

D

Listen to the first part of the passage again and answer the questions.

1.According to Kyle, the male speaker, how is Inwood different?

 Inwood is different in that it has lots of greenery. It has an old-growth forest, a farmhouse and you can go hiking.                                          

2.What is special about the old farmhouse in Inwood?

 It's more than 200 years old and it is no longer a farmhouse. It is now a museum.                                                             

E

Now listen to the second part of the passage again and fill in the information.

Farid lives in Fes-al-Bali, a very old neighborhood in Morocco. Visitors can find everything there but with so many streets it is easy to (1) get lost . The whole place is surrounded by (2) a wall with gates . You can drive inside the wall, but you can't (3) drive across  the neighborhood, because the streets are (4) too narrow for cars . Most residents (5) walk , but some ride bicycles or motor scooters. There is a lot of congestion from (6) pedestrians and donkeys .

3 Pronunciation

Reduced forms of could you and would you

A

Listen to these sentences. Notice the reduced pronunciation of could you and would you in each sentence.

1.Could you open the window?

2.Would you hold the door for me? Thanks.

3.Could you answer that telephone, please?

4.Would you help me lift this box?

B

Listen to these sentences. Write down the words you hear.

1.That radio is awfully loud. Could you/Would you turn it down, please?  Could you 

2.I think the computer is broken. Could you/Would you please look at it?  Would you 

3.Oh, they're here already. Could you/Would you you get the door?  Would you 

4.Let me see if he's in his office. Could you/Would you hold for a moment?  Could you 

C

Pair work. With a partner, practice reading the sentences in B. Use reduced forms of could you and would you.

4.Speaking & Communication

Activity 1 Can I help you?

Useful expressions for getting attention and offering help

Expressions for shopping

Where can I buy ……?···

Do you sell ……?

Can I have a look?

Can I exchange it?

When will it be ready?

Do you have any others?

A

Jim and Frida are shopping. Listen to the conversation. What does Frida say to get the clerk's attention?

Jim: There's no price tag on it.

Frida: Let's ask someone for help. Excuse me, how much is this?

Woman: I don't know. I don't work here.

Frida: Oh, I'm sorry!

Jim: How about that man behind the counter? Ask him.

Frida: Excuse me, do you work here?

Man: Yes, I do. Can I help you?

Frida: How much does this cost?

Man: It's $29.99.

Frida: Great! I'll take it. Could you wrap it for me, please?

Man: Certainly.

B

Pair work. Listen again. Pay attention to the intonation. Then practice the conversation with a partner.

C

Pair work. Work with a partner. Match each conversation to a picture below.

1. c 

Man: Excuse me. Do you work here?

Clerk: Yes, I do. Can I help you?

Man: Yes. Where can I find the dairy section?

2. a 

Woman: Are you busy? I need some help.

Clerk: No problem.

Woman: How much does this cost?

3. b 

Man: Sorry to bother you, but I have a question.

Clerk: OK. Go right ahead.

Man: Which form do I use for this package?

D

Pair work. Role play. Imagine you are in a store. Your partner is a shop assistant. Role-play with the information for practice. You may use the model conversation for help. Then switch roles.

A: Excuse me. Do you work here?

B: Yes, I do. Can I help you?

A: Oh ... how much does this cost?

B: It's $5 per kilo.

A: OK, I'll take one. Could you weigh this for me?

B: Certainly.

Information for practice

Asking for help in a shop

How much are the oranges?

Where can I find sweaters?

Do you have this shoe in size 38?

Do you have this skirt in red?

...

Replying to a customer

It's $29.99.

It's $5 per kilo.

On the second floor.

Yes, certainly.

Sorry, I don't work here.

It's not available at the moment.

Please come back next week.

...

Activity 2 An errand service

A

Pair work. Work with a partner. Read the ad for an errand service and fill in the missing details.

B

Pair work. Role play. Imagine you are calling an errand service. Your partner works for the errand service. Ask for help with your errands. Then switch roles. You may use the information for practice and follow the model conversation for help.

A: Hello. Handy Helpers Errand Service. Can I help you?

B: Yes, I think so. I'm very busy. I need help with my errands.

A: We can help you. Which errands?

B: Well, I need help with my groceries. Can you go grocery shopping for me?

A: No problem.

B: How much do you charge?

A: $35 per hour.

B: Fine. I have the grocery list. Can I e-mail it to you?

A: Certainly.

A: Hello. Home Cleaning Service. Can I help you?

B: Yes, I need to have a document delivered urgently.

A: Sorry, we don't have delivery service. You may probably try Express Delivery Service, please.

B: Oh, thank you!

Information for practice

Errand service companies

Handy Helpers Errand Service

Express Delivery Service

Home Cleaning Service

...

Errand services

delivering a parcel of documents

returning library books

delivering a bunch of flowers

cleaning the windows

cleaning the kitchen

getting photos developed

...

Reasons

I'm too busy.

I can't get away from the office.

We are going to have a party at my house.

...