1.11. Unit Eleven. Conversation “ That was a good film…”

Phase A.

This time you’re going to hear a conversation in two parts.

Part One of the Conversation

Julia Frost and her boyfriend, Jim, have just seen a film. They’re standing in front of the cinema now.

(Noise of cinema crowd)

Jim: That was a good film. They ought to make more films like that.

Julia: Yes, I think so, too. Oh!

Jim: What is it?

Julia: My umbrella. I’ve left it inside.

Jim: Your umbrella? Are you sure you had it when we went in?

Julia: Yes, I am... at least, I think so.

Jim: You don’t sound very sure. Perhaps it’s at home.

Julia: Well, it might be there, but I don’t think so. Go back into the cinema and look for me, will you?

Phase B. Intonation Practice.

Did you notice that Julia said “I think so” twice. The first time, she was just agreeing with Jim. Listen again and repeat what Julia says. Notice the intonation.

Jim: They ought to make more films like that.

Julia: Yes, I think so, too.//

Listen and repeat.

Julia: Yes, I think so, too.//

Now Jim is going to say more things like that. Just agree with him. Use the same intonation.

Jim: I think films like that are very good.

Julia: Yes, I think so, too.

Jim: It’s very interesting to see films like that.

Julia: Yes, I think so, too.

Jim: But the price you have to pay these days when you go to the cinema! It’s too expensive.

Julia: Yes, I think so, too.

But the second time Julia said “I think so” the intonation was different. She wasn’t really sure. Listen again and repeat what Julia says... and again, use the intonation you hear.

Jim: Your umbrella? Are you sure you had it when we went in?

Julia: Yes, I am. // At least I think so. //

Notice that her voice goes up and then comes down again. Repeat again.

Julia: I think so.//

Now Jim is going to ask you some more things. Show in your intonation that you aren’t sure. Always use the words “I think so”.

Jim: Are you sure you’ve left your umbrella inside?

Julia: I think so.

Jim: Are you sure you have all your money with you, too?

Julia: I think so.

Jim: And what about that book you had when we went in. Have you still got that?

Julia: I think so.

And now let’s mix those two intonation patterns. Jim’s going to ask you four questions. With two of them you can only agree... and you have to show this in your intonation when you say:

Julia: Yes, I think so, too.//

But with the other two you must say this:

Julia: I think so.//

So, are you ready for Jim’s four questions?

One.

Jim: I think French food is better than English food.

Julia: Yes, I think so, too.

Two.

Jim: Now you have to go home by bus this evening... and there is a bus at eleven o’clock, isn’t there?

Julia: I think so.

Three.

Jim: But if you miss the bus you can always get home by train in the evening, can’t you?

Julia: I think so.

Four.

Jim: The bus services could be a lot better than they are. I think the Government ought to spend more money on them!

Julia: Yes, I think so, too.

And now for something else. Do you remember this? Repeat Julia’s part. Jim’s still talking about her umbrella.

Jim: Perhaps it’s at home.

Julia: Well, it might be there // but I don’t think so. //

Now make some more sentences like that with “might”. For instance, Jim says this:

Jim: Hmm... perhaps that’s your umbrella over there... it’s the same colour.

So you say:

Julia: Well, that might be it, but I don’t think so.

Now you do it. Are you ready?

One.

Jim: Perhaps that’s your umbrella over there. It’s the same colour.

Julia: Well, that might be it, but I don’t think so.

Two.

Jim: Perhaps the manager has it.

Julia: Well, he might have it, but I don’t think so.

Three.

Jim: And if he hasn’t got it, perhaps he’ll find it.

Julia: Well, he might find it, but I don’t think so.

Four.

Jim: You know... your bus is going to leave soon. Perhaps you’ll miss it!

Julia: Well, I might miss it, but I don’t think so.

Phase C. Repetition

And now listen to the first part of the conversation again. This time, repeat everything Julia says.

Jim: That was a good film. They ought to make more films like that.

Julia: Yes, I think so, too.// Oh!//

Jim: What is it?

Julia: My umbrella.// I’ve left it inside.//

Jim: Your umbrella? Are you sure you had it when we went in?

Julia: Yes, I am // at least, I think so.//

Jim: You don’t sound very sure. Perhaps it’s at home.

Julia: Well, it might be there // but I don’t think so.// Go back to the cinema // and look for me will you?//

Phase D. Part Two of the Conversation.

Now, Jim’s just gone back into the cinema, so Julia’s standing there alone, and Peter, who has an eye for pretty girls, starts a conversation with her. Listen.

Peter: Excuse me. Er... haven’t we met somewhere before?

Julia: No, I don’t think so.

Peter: I’m sure we have, you know. I never forget a pretty face.

Julia: That’s funny. My boyfriend always says things like that, too.

Peter: Boyfriend?

Julia: Yes, he’s just gone inside. He’ll be out in a moment. Perhaps you’ve met him before, too.

Peter: No, I don’t think so, somehow. Good-bye.

Phase E. Fluency Practice

DRILL 1

Peter began the conversation like this. Repeat, and notice the intonation.

Peter: Excuse me // Haven’t // Haven’t we // Havent’ we met // Haven’t we met before?// Excuse me, haven’t we met before?//

Now suppose you’re a student in a language class. The teacher wants you and the class to do a particular exercise, but you think you’ve done it before. You might ask the teacher this. Repeat, and notice the intonation again!

Peter: Excuse me. Haven’t we done this exercise before?//

We’re going to give you more situations in which you can ask that kind of question. Each time you must ask that kind of question; like this. Listen.

You’re in a language class and the teacher wants you to do a test.

Peter: Excuse me. Haven’t we done this test before?

Now you do it. Are you ready?

One. You’re in a language class and the teacher wants you to do a test.

Peter: Excuse me. Haven’t we done this test before?

Two. Now the teacher wants you to hear a conversation.

Peter: Excuse me. Haven’t we heard this conversation before?

Three. Now the teacher wants all of you to read a story.

Peter: Excuse me. Haven’t we read this story before?

Four. And now the teacher wants you and the class to write a dictation.

Peter: Excuse me. Haven’t we written this dictation before?

Five. And now the teacher wants you and the class to study a grammar point.

Peter: Excuse me. Haven’t we studied this grammar point before?

DRILL 2

This is also a fast revision drill. Listen to what we do.

We’ve done this test before.

We’ve done this test before.

you

You’ve done this test before.

given

You’ve given this test before.

Now you do it. Are you ready? Repeat the first sentence.

We’ve done this test before.

you

You’ve done this test before.

gone over

You’ve gone over this test before.

he

He’s gone over this test before.

seen

He’s seen this test before.

this film

He’s seen this film before.

I

I’ve seen this film before.

these answers

I’ve seen these answers before.

written

I’ve written these answers before.

DRILL 3

Listen carefully to what Peter says after Julia speaks.

Peter: Haven’t we met somewhere before?

Julia: Met somewhere before? No, I don’t think so.

Peter: I’m sure we have, you know.

Repeat the last sentence.

Peter: I’m sure // I’m sure we have // I’m sure we have, you know.//

Did you notice that Peter didn’t say the words “met before”? We can often leave that part of the sentence out in a sentence like this. For instance, Julia might say this to Jim.

Julia: I don’t think you’ve seen me in this dress before.

And Jim might answer.

Jim: I’m sure I have, you know.

Now you do that. Julia will say things and you must tell her she’s wrong by using that type of answer.

One.

Julia: I don’t think you’ve seen me in this dress before.

Jim: I’m sure I have, you know.

Two.

Julia: You know, you really must meet my father sometime. I don’t think he’s ever seen you.

Jim: I’m sure he has, you know.

Three.

Julia: Look at those three students over there. I don’t think they’ve done this kind of drill before.

Jim: I’m sure they have, you know.

Four.

Julia: We really must see the new film at the Odeon. I don’t think we’ve it before.

Jim: I’m sure we have, you know.

Five.

Julia: Oh, let’s catch the 11 o’clock bus. I don’t think it’s left yet.

Jim: I’m sure it has, you know.

Phase F. Repetition of Part Two of the Conversation

Now repeat what Peter says... what Peter says. Remember! He’s just seen Julia and doesn’t know that her boyfriend has just gone back into the cinema to look for her umbrella.

Peter: Er... Excuse me, haven’t we met somewhere before?//

Julia: Met somewhere before? No, I don’t think so.

Peter: I’m sure we have you know.// I never forget a pretty face.//

Julia: That’s funny. My boyfriend always says things like that, too.

Peter: Boyfriend?//

Julia: Yes, he’s just gone inside. He’ll be out in a moment. Perhaps you’ve met him before, too.

Peter: No, I don’t think so, somehow.// Good-bye.//

And that’s the end of this unit. Thank you.