BBC Learning English & CNN Student News–for Week 11 to 18
Week 11
What class are you?
Rob: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English, I'm Rob and with me is Neil.
Neil: Hello.
Rob: Today we’re talking about class. This is something of an obsession with British
people; it’s something they talk about and think about all the time! So Neil, what class
are you – lower, middle or upper?
Neil: I suppose if you look at my background, you could say I am middle class.
Rob: Yes, me too – middle class. So we belong to a social group that consists of
well-educated people, who have good jobs and are neither very rich nor very poor.
Neil: Well we are certainly not rich! But being middle class is not just a British thing.
Rob: No – the number of middle class people around the world is rising as people earn
more money. So, for your question today Neil, can you guess how many people are
predicted to be middle class in the world by 2030?
a) 2.9 billion
b) 3.9 billion
c) 4.9 billion
Neil: Such large numbers, I don’t know. I’ll go for b) 3.9 billion.
Rob: We’ll find out the answer later. So, being middle class involves a number of
factors – good education, a good job, sometimes owning your own home and having
a number of possessions like a car or a TV.
Neil: It’s quite a privileged or comfortable position to be in – but the most important
factor is having disposable income – that’s spare money to spend on more than just
things you need for everyday survival, like food. That’s what you’ve got Rob, right?
Rob: A little – spare money to spend on little luxuries like a holiday, a computer or a meal
at a restaurant. But we always complain we never have enough money, don't we!
Neil: Yes, we do: the UN says to be middle class you have to earn between $10 and
BBC Learning English & CNN Student News–for Week 11 to 18
$100 per day. In the UK I think that’s quite a small amount so we could say, very
generally, we are quite well-off – but in places such as Asia there has been a huge
shift recently from people in poorer working class jobs to middle class ones.
Rob: It’s interesting: that by 2030 there could be 3.2 billion middle class people in Asia –
overtaking Europe and America. The BBC’s John Sudworth can explain what is
happening now in China. What does he say people are becoming?
BBC reporter, John Sudworth:
Now there’s a new chapter, the farmers leaving these fields for cities like Zhengzhou, are
becoming not just workers but consumers too. In short – they’re off to join the middle
class.
Neil: So, people are now moving to the city not just to find work but to spend the money
they earn. They are becoming consumers because their income – the money they
earn – has gone up.
Rob: So, this is because of industrialisation – a change from an economy based on
farming to a growth in factories making things. Now, this happened in China in the 1970s
but it is now upgrading or improving its industries again making people wealthier.
Neil: This has led to a consumer society – that’s where people are spending money on
things like fridges and washing machines.
Rob: Let’s hear from John Sudworth again, talking about a consumer from China – what
does this woman do if she can’t afford to buy something?
BBC reporter, John Sudworth:
Jessica Zhao earns a little more than $12,000 US dollars a year and she spends every
last bit of it, often with the help of a credit card. My parents would never spend money
they don’t have, she tells me, but attitudes are changing fast.
Neil: So that woman uses a credit card – it means she can buy now and pay later. It’s a
change in attitude – it’s not what our parents or grandparents would do. I do it all the
time. You pay for the goods later but with a high interest rate. What have you bought
with your credit card recently Rob?
Rob: A new carpet… a pair of jeans and some train tickets. But I’m not looking forward to
my credit card bill!
Neil: Nor me. You might think we are spending a lot – in China 2,500 vehicles are sold
BBC Learning English & CNN Student News–for Week 11 to 18
every hour!
Rob: Goodness. Well, the rise of the middle class could be a good thing. As people’s
standard of living improves, global poverty could be reduced.
Neil: Ah, but if people borrow too much money there could be a credit crunch – that’s a
bad economic situation where banks do not want to lend as much money.
Rob: But what I really want to know is when will I become upper class?
Neil: Sorry Rob, you’ll never get there – it’s all about your upbringing and your family –
something you can’t change, even with money. But let’s prove how well educated I
am by seeing if I got today’s question right.
Rob: OK. Earlier I asked you how many people are predicted to be middle class in the
world by 2030?
Neil: I said 3.9 billion.
Rob: You were wrong. The figure is 4.9 billion. Now, Neil, could you remind us of some of
today's language?
Neil: obsession
possessions
privileged
disposable income
well-off
consumers
income
industrialisation
credit crunch
upgrading
consumer society
upbringing
Rob: OK that's it for this programme. Do join us again soon for more 6 Minute English
from BBC Learning English.
Both: Bye.
___________________________________________________________________
BBC Learning English & CNN Student News–for Week 11 to 18
Week 12
Christie Wins NJ Governor Race; Governor-Elect Terry McAuliffe Wins Close Race in Virginia;
Bill de Blasio Elected NYC Mayor
Aired November 7, 2013 - 04:00
ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CARL AZUZ, CNN ANCHOR: Missing masterpieces materialized in reflective relief from
a lack of light. Those stories are coming up today on CNN STUDENT NEWS. But we`re
starting with election results and some votes of note from Tuesday. This man, Bill de
Blasio, is set to be the next mayor of the nation`s largest city, New York. He is the first
Democrat elected to the mayor`s office since 1989. In Virginia, a close race for governor
ended in victory for Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe. Virginia doesn`t allow
governors to serve consecutive terms, so the current governor wasn`t running for
reelection.
Just the opposite in New Jersey, though, Republican Governor Chris Christie was
reelected Tuesday night. It was a big win, too, with the exit poll showing that Governor
Christie got more votes than his opponent from voters in almost every age group. Some
analysts think that display of electability, Governor Christie`s ability to get support from
voters, sends a message about the next office he might run for.
JOHN KING, CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: One unmistakable takeaway, Chris
Christie now has the premier brand in Republican politics. Look at this map. New Jersey
is known as a reliably blue state in presidential politics. Well, in sweeping to landslide
reelection, Chris Christie turned almost the entire map red. Electability will be his
argument now, as he makes the case. He is a strong Republican contender for 2016 in
the presidential race. Chris Christie can argue, I won the women`s vote, I won the men`s
vote. No gender gap for me. He will also argue powerfully that not only did he carry the
white vote big, but among African-Americans, even though his Democratic challenge who
won the African American vote, Chris Christie, 21 percent of the African-American vote,
more than double his take from four years ago. Compare that to Mitt Romney and
compare that to John McCain. Chris Christie will say he can broaden the Republican
base. Even more importantly, in making that argument, the electability argument, Chris
Christie actually carrying the Latino vote in the state of New Jersey with the slight majority
there. Again, think about Nevada, think about New Mexico, think about Florida, other
presidential battleground states Latinos are critical constituency. Chris Christie will make
the case I`m the more electable Republican.
If there is a dent in the electability argument, it is this: in his home state as he won a
sweeping reelection voters will ask: what if you had Hillary Clinton versus Chris Christie
in 2016? Well, Hillary Clinton carrying a narrow victory over Chris Christie. A bit of a dent
BBC Learning English & CNN Student News–for Week 11 to 18
in the electability argument. With that poll number ...
AZUZ: After the states we covered in our first story, the ones in today`s "Roll Call" might
look a little familiar. New Jersey, the Jackson Memorial High Jaguars put the Garden
State on today`s mat. Virginia - how about the Wolverines from Woodgrove High in
Purcellville, Virginia. And New York, specifically, the city of Hamburg and the Hamburg
High Bulldogs. Thanks for watching, everybody!
Every month, the city of Greece, New York, holds a public board meeting to talk about the
town`s government. Since 1999, those meetings have started with the prayer. But now,
the U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether that policy is unconstitutional. Yesterday,
the court`s nine justices heard arguments about whether or not the board meeting
prayers violate the establishment clause. That`s the part of the First Amendment that
says, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. In other words,
government won`t endorse a specific religion. City officials in Greece say they aren`t they say they have invited people from a wide variety of faiths to offer invocations. But the
plaintiffs in this case argue that the prayers at city board meetings have been
overwhelmingly Christian. During yesterday`s Supreme Court hearing, some justices
discuss whether lawmakers in courts should advise faith (ph) on what to say, what
language is considered religious. The Supreme Court`s ruling is expected by early next
summer.
ANNOUNCER: It`s time for "The Shoutout." What do Marc Chagall, Canaletto and
Gustave Courbet have in common? If you think you know it, then shout it out! Are they all
U.N. Secretaries General, artists, Nobel Peace Prize winners or novelists? You`ve got
three seconds, go! Chagall, Canaletto and Courbet are all famous painters. That`s your
answer and that`s your "Shoutout."
AZUZ: All of those painters have works in the unique art collection. It was in Germany, but
it wasn`t in the museum or in exhibit anywhere. In fact, no one saw the paintings. They
were hidden away for about 70 years, and we`re not talking about just a few works of art.
We are talking about more than 1300 of them. The secret stash was discovered when
police raided an apartment in the city of Munich. In addition to Chagall and Courbet,
officials discovered works from Picasso, Matisse, Renoir, Toulouse Lautrec and other
famous artists. Some of these paintings have been considered lost or destroyed, others
had never been recorded. Authorities believe, most of the art had been looted by Nazis.
In the `30s and the 1940s the group confiscated thousands of artworks from galleries or
private collectors. Other pieces were stolen from Jewish families during the Nazi era. The
apartment where this collection was found belongs to the son of an art collector who
historians say dealt with the Nazis. He claimed the works were destroyed during World
War II bombings. And our historian said the paintings were in relative good condition, a
BBC Learning English & CNN Student News–for Week 11 to 18
little dirty, but not damaged. Experts say, the collection has a value "so high" it can`t be
estimated. Fascinating stuff.
Next stop today, we are heading to Norway, for a bright idea whose time has come even if
it took a century. This is a story about a place where because of the local geography,
even with the son is shining, the town is in the shade. City officials came across a solution
when they took some time to reflect and shed a little light on the situation.
MARI RAMOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It`s like flipping a switch on the Sun. A small
town in Norway is getting some much needed sunshine. Thanks to 100 year old idea.
OYSTEIN HAUGAN, SUN MIRROR PROJECT MANAGER: And we take the mirror and
reflect the sun down to us. So, it`s a crazy idea, but it`s funny, and I think the people like
it.
RAMOS: Welcome to Rjukan, where they even start three giant mirrors on the
mountainside overlooking the town. You see, Rjukan sits in a narrow valley, surrounded
in all sites by mountains. From September to March, the town of about 3,000 people
leaves in perpetual shade, but not anymore.
HAUGAN: It`s important to have the sun in wintertime, and in this town we didn`t have the
sun six months a year in wintertime. And people up here, they are - they want to have the
sun.
The idea was first proposed in 1913 by a local factory owner. But it went nowhere. A local
artist reintroduced the idea recently, and now the mirrors have finally become a reality.
The hi-tech mirrors are solar and wind-powered. They adjust automatically, constantly
following the sun, catching its race and reflecting them down into the town square. Out of
cost of nearly $850,000, some call the mirrors an expensive gimmick, but most of the
town`s residents like the idea. And local officials are hoping the mirrors bring not only
sunshine to the town, but put it in the spotlight for tourists as well.
Mari Ramos, CNN.
AZUZ: Trouble for the NFL`s Miami Dolphins off the field. More details have emerged
since we told you about this earlier this week. Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin are
both offensive linemen for the Dolphins. Martin suddenly left the team last week, and
other players including Incognito, have been accused of harassing Martin, making him
pay for expensive meals, getting up from the lunch table when Martin sat down with them.
"The Sun Sentinel" , a newspaper in South Florida said that Miami Dolphins` coaches
reportedly asked Incognito to toughen up Martin, and that Incognito who is accused of
using racial slurs against Martin, threatening him and bullying him, might have gone too
BBC Learning English & CNN Student News–for Week 11 to 18
far.
We haven`t heard directly from Martin. We have heard something from Incognito who`s
suspended from the Dolphins` early this week.
RICHIE INCOGNITO: You know, I`m just - I`m just trying to whether the storm right now
and (INAUDIBLE).
AZUZ: The NFL has launched a formal investigation into all this. Meantime, former
Dolphins` running back Ricky Williams played alongside Incognito and got along with him.
William says the NFL is a different type of environment than what outsiders are used to.
That to play in it, you`ve got to be tougher.
RICKY WILLIAMS, FORMER MIAMI DOLPHINS RUNNING BACK: You can talk about
bullying, but for me this whole idea of bullying, it makes someone a victim. And what I
found with victims, victims are just usually victimizing other people. And so, like you can`t
really have a victim mentality and be successful in the NFL. It just doesn`t happen.
AZUZ: On Facebook, Jonathan wrote, the only problem I find with these, is one guy was
a bully to the other. And the other one was too much of a coward to stand up for himself.
We are also hearing from some of you. On our blog, Brian wrote "I think Incognito took it
too far. Why would you say racist remarks and threats to your teammate?"
AZUZ: Ricky Davis was a big Red Sox fun, but he doesn`t live in Boston. Davis is from
Tennessee. And since he can`t get to the real Fenway Park without making a road trip, he
built a fake Fenway on his property, where at least the outfield wall including Fenway`s
famous green monster. David says, he started the project at the end of the regular
season and kept working as his team made its way to the title. His wife, kids and
grandkids all helped out too. So, instead of this being a tedious project, you get the
whole family involved and do it the Fenway. But they had a ball. Plus, when you`re doing
all the work yourself, no one can go on strike. We`re out. I`m Carl Azuz. Have a great day.
END
____________________________________________________________________
Week 13
BBC Learning English & CNN Student News–for Week 11 to 18
Obamacare Enrollment; Survivors of Typhoon Haiyan Struggle With Need for Food,
Supplies
Aired November 14, 2013 - 04:00
ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND
MAY BE UPDATED.
CARL AZUZ, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to CNN STUDENT NEWS. The website for
people to sign up for health coverage under Obamacare launched on October 1st. In its
first month fewer than 27,000 Americans selected an insurance plan from the federal site.
Nearly 80,000 others signed up for coverage, but they used state sites, not the federal
one.
All together that`s around 106,000 people who signed up for Obamacare in October. The
White House expected 1.16 million people to sign up through the end of November. That
means more than 900,000 more would need to enroll this month. The site itself has faced
major technical problems. During a congressional hearing yesterday, the man in charge
of the site said some improvements had been made and more are coming.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TODD PARK, U.S. CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, THE WHITE HOUSE:
Unfortunately, the experience of healthcare.gov. has been highly frustrating for many
Americans. These problems are unacceptable. So, the goal that has been laid out is for
the site not to be perfect, but in November -- people can log on. So, the vast majority of
Americans would be able to use the site smoothly. That`s the goal we are -- we`re
working very hard to get there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: In the Philippines, the United Nations official describes getting aid to victims of
Typhoon Haiyan as a major operation. Yesterday she said, quote, "we are getting there",
but in my view it`s far too slow. The U.S. military is big part of those efforts. Marine set up
at an Air Base bringing in planes full of medical supplies, shelter, materials and other
gear.
The U.N.`s World Food Program is distributing necessary items, too. The agency said it
handed out rice to several thousand people of Wednesday.
Survivors are struggling with the need for food and supplies, and with reminders of the
devastation that the typhoon caused. Bodies of those who didn`t survive, some buried
under debris, other out in the open.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BBC Learning English & CNN Student News–for Week 11 to 18
UNIDENTIFIED GIRL: I have seen dead people on the streets and the sidewalk.
UNIDENTIFIED GIRL: Me too.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And how did that make you feel?
UNIDENTIFIED GIRL: It made me feel scared.
UNIDENTIFIED GIRL: Me too.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why did it make you feel scared?
UNIDENTIFIED GIRL: Because it was very creepy that there were dead people lying on
the streets.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: See if you can I.D. me. I was born in Argentina in 1936. I live in
the world`s smallest country, and I`m chief of state. My birth name is Jorge Bergoglio.
You probably know me better as Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church.
AZUZ: Most talked about person on the Internet. It`s a serious title. When you consider
what name is invoked the most on blogs, Internet news sites, social media ...
Kate Middleton and Prince George, maybe Beyonce or Justin Bieber come to mind. But
far surpassing all these folks, Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, the largest
denomination of the world`s largest religion.
The survey came from the Global Language Monitor: a Texas company that tracks what
people are talking about on the Internet. Other names and phrases that came up included
"Obamacare", "the National Security Agency" and "Edward Snowden."
But Pope Francis has gotten a lot of attention in all forms of media this year. He`s made
headlines in blogs and tweets for inspirational acts. He`s been criticized for
controversial comments on sensitive topics. In Pope Francis people see someone
who`s redefined or exemplified or defied what they think a pope should be. And that`s
prompted them to share their views on the pope more than anyone else.
Well, next up today, first ladies: many wives of U.S. presidents become advocates for
certain causes: Laura Bush focused on global literacy, Nancy Reagan helped launch an
antidrug campaign. When she became first lady, Michelle Obama promoted healthy
eating and exercise. But now, she seems to be shifting her focus and putting part of her
attention on education issues. This week, the first lady at a high school in Washington
D.C. Her message was about continuing education after high school. She talked to the
students about some of the challenges she faced growing up, and she said that the future
is shaped more by their attitudes than by their circumstances.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BBC Learning English & CNN Student News–for Week 11 to 18
MICHELLE OBAMA: Maybe you`ve had problems at home and you`ve had to step up,
take on extra responsibilities for your family. Maybe you come from a tough neighborhood,
and you`ve been surrounded by things like violence and drugs. Maybe one of your
parents has lost a job, and you`ve had to struggle just to make it here today. One of the
most important things you all must understand about yourselves is that those
experiences are not weaknesses. They are not something to be ashamed of.
Experiences like those can make you stronger and more determined. They can teach you
all kinds of skills that you could never learn in a classroom. The skills that will lead you to
success anywhere in life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: All right, high school students, this one is for you. There is something we want you
to do before a graduation. We want you to introduce our show. We know you`re older
than 13, so you can go to the "How Do I" box on our homepage and click the "Send us a
show" open link. Get all the details.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is this legit? 25 million Americans have some form of diabetes.
It`s true. Experts estimate that of the 25.8 million Americans with diabetes, 7 million
haven`t been diagnosed. AZUZ: Today is World Diabetes Day. This year`s theme is
education and prevention. We mentioned there different form of diabetes. All of them
involve how the body uses blood glucose or blood sugar. Glucose is a main source of
energy for your cells. When it enters your body, your pancreas releases a hormone called
insulin that helps break the glucose down. In diabetics, the body either doesn`t make
enough insulin or it doesn`t use it as well as it should. Diabetes can lead to high blood
pressure, heart and kidney disease, blindness. It`s the 7 leading cause of death in
America. There is no cure, but there are treatments. Doctors recommend eating well an
exercising to help control or prevent diabetes. And a diagnosis doesn`t mean the end of
an active life.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three, three ...
SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In (ph) Stolaz, 20-year old Ryan Reed is
living his dream.
RYAN REED, ROUSH FENWAY DEVELOPMENT DRIVER: And I`ve been (ph) NASCAR
driver since I was four years old.
GUPTA: He was just 17 when NASCAR top drivers recruited him for his development
team.
REED: It was just like everything was falling right into place with my life and nothing could
stop me.
GUPTA: But something did.
REED: I remember being thirsty a lot, I was using the bathroom extremely frequently and
BBC Learning English & CNN Student News–for Week 11 to 18
losing a lot of weight.
GUPTA: One of the first things his doctor`s checked his blood sugar. Reed was
diagnosed with type one diabetes.
REED: They were like, no, Ryan. You`ll never race again.
GUPTA: Reed found the doctor willing to help him get back on the track. There have
been adjustments: a new diet, a (inaudible) sensor has been implanted in his abdomen
that transmits his blood sugar readings. There is a continuous glucose monitor mounted
to the dash inside his race car. That allows him to check his blood sugar during the race
and his fire suit -- now sports a ball`s eye.
REED: We have a guy trained on the crew to reach into the (inaudible) pace up and gave
me an insulin injection, should I need it.
GUPTA: Reed made his debut in NASCAR second biggest series, April 26th, and just last
month, he finished in the top ten. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN,
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: Today`s "Roll Call" segment is going to the dawgs -- the bulldogs an the terriers an
the timber wolves. Terriers we are talking about are from Newark Tech in Newark New
Jersey. Idaho is home to those bull dogs -- the Kimberly Bull Dogs -- thanks for watching,
Mariel (ph). And Fort Bragg High in Fort Bragg, California -- you can brag that the timber
wolves made our "Roll Call".
What would you do if you found money inside of something you bought from someone
else? This goes back to our story yesterday, when a man returned $98,000 he found
inside a desk. Do you give it back? Do you keep it? What do you do? A lot of people on
Facebook agreed with Kelly who said, give it back. Is there another option? But a lot of
you said, there are other options. Annika says, first of all, go to the police. Matthew tell us,
"I might try to find the owner, but I wouldn`t try too hard, though." Jenny Lee says, she
would give one third of it to family, one third to charity, and one third for myself. Christian
says, "Keep some and give that part to homeless for their survival." Joshua says, "It all
depends on how much money was found. If it was only 50 or 100 dollars, I`d probably
keep it, but 98,0000 -- with an amount that big, you can`t just keep it. You need to return
it." TreQuan tells us, "I would keep it, because if I buy something, whatever is inside, is
mine." Ariana disagrees with that saying, "Just because you bought the desk doesn`t
mean you bought the money."
Last story today is about mass transit that`s designed to get people moving. But maybe
not in the way you think. This machine was unveiled recently at a subway stop in Moscow.
It`s a ticket machine, But the number of 30 that you are seeing on it, isn`t how much
money you need to put it, it`s how many squats you need to do. 30 squats in less than
BBC Learning English & CNN Student News–for Week 11 to 18
two minutes earned you a ticket to ride. The idea is to promote the upcoming Olympics
and the healthy lifestyle. There are other ideas like this in the works, too. So, I guess we`ll
have to wait to see if they work out or if they don`t end up amounting to squat -- All right,
back tomorrow wrap of the week -- we`ll see you then.
END
______________________________________________________________________
Week 14
Business English: Using technology at Work
Feifei: Hello and welcome to another episode of 6 Minute English with me Feifei.
Neil: And me Neil.
Feifei: How are you Neil and what have you been up to?
Neil: I’m annoyed – I was doing all this work on the script for this programme on my
smartphone and it crashed! Because it’s my phone, I can’t get IT support at work to
sort it out for me.
Feifei: Serves you right for using your own device.
Neil: Yeah, I’m not alone though! A survey by a business technology company called
Avenade has found that 88% of executives said employees were using their own
personal computing technologies for business purposes.
Feifei: So you’re saying lots of people are using their own smartphones and laptops
instead of the company computers?
Neil: Yes, more or less: either instead of company technology, or as well as the company
technology, and in the name of further research I went out and did my own very
unscientific survey.
Examples
Woman 1: When we have a problem with our laptops, we would normally call IT support
really. So we can call them at any time but they don’t always sort out the problems,
BBC Learning English & CNN Student News–for Week 11 to 18
so that in a way creates a problem, especially when we try to catch a deadline.
Man 1: Sometimes I find it hard to speak with the IT department because it seems to me
that they speak one language and the rest of us speak a different language. They
use too many technical terms, I so sometimes find it very frustrating dealing with
technology.
Woman 2: I constantly come across problems with software update, such as Flash
Player which is required to play video and audio, but you need to have the most
updated version of Flash Player which we don’t always have, so that’s the problem. It
can be very frustrating if you don’t have it, and then you ask for IT support, but
sometimes they don’t know what you are talking about.
Feifei: So it’s not always easy to get everything up and running, even if it’s the office
computer
Neil: No, as I’m sure you know Feifei, there are always glitches, or problems, and that’s
when you need to be able to talk to your company’s IT support – that’s information
technology, to get things up and running again. But what should you say? Oh look,
it’s Business Betty! Hi Betty, great to have you here as usual.
BB: Thank you Neil.
Neil: Love the hat!
BB: Thank you Neil! Always good to be here. Now, whatever device you’re using and
wherever you are, when you have a technological problem you need to be able to
explain what the problem is, and you need to be able to understand what the IT
expert is saying to you. Let’s start with the problems. Maybe you can’t connect to
the internet.
Feifei: I can’t connect to the internet.
BB: You can’t print anything.
Feifei: I can’t print anything.
BB: Maybe you saved some files to your hard drive and they've disappeared, Feifei.
Feifei: I saved some files to my hard drive and they have disappeared.
BBC Learning English & CNN Student News–for Week 11 to 18
BB: So the IT support person might ask you a few questions. Has this happened before?
Neil: Has this happened before?
BB: What operating system are you running?
Neil: What operating system are you running?
BB: What version of the software are you using?
Neil: What version of the software are you using?
BB: He or she might offer you some advice. For example: You need to install an update.
Neil: You need to install an update.
BB: Try re-installing the programme.
Neil: Try re-installing the programme.
BB: Or the problem might be more difficult to fix. For example, they might say your
system needs a rebuild.
Neil: Your system needs a rebuild.
BB: Or maybe it can’t be fixed at all!
Neil: I’m afraid this can’t be fixed.
BB: Hopefully it won’t ever be that bad! And, of course, they might give the advice most
of us have heard at one time and which seems to work very well: give your computer
a re-boot – turn it off and on again.
Neil: Give your computer a re-boot – turn it off and on again.
Betty: So, there you have everything you need to keep the technology in your life
working well.
Neil: Brilliant Betty, thanks.
BBC Learning English & CNN Student News–for Week 11 to 18
Betty: My pleasure. So if there’s nothing else, I'll be off. Bye for now.
Both: Bye Betty.
Neil: That’s our Betty. She knows all about IT issues you know!
Feifei: She is a legend… do you feel a technology role-play coming on?
Neil: Yeah, I’m the boss right?
Feifei: There isn’t a boss in this one, but you can be the IT support worker if you like.
Neil: OK, alright. So you have an IT problem and you’re asking me for help, right?
Feifei: Yes, are you ready?
Neil: I'm ready!
Role-play
Neil: Hello, IT support, can I help you?
Feifei: Hello, yes, I’ve got a problem. I saved some files to my hard drive and they have
just disappeared.
Neil: Has this happened before?
Feifei: Yes, a couple of times.
Neil: Hmm. If it’s happened a couple of times, you might need to install an update.
Feifei: And if that doesn’t work?
Neil: Well, if that doesn’t work, your system needs a rebuild. Try installing the update,
and let me know how it goes.
Feifei: OK, thanks for your help.
Neil: You’re welcome.
Feifei: And that’s the end of today’s role-play!
Neil: How was it for you?
Feifei: It was great, Neil. You sounded like you actually knew what you were talking
about!
Neil: Well, that’s because I’m brilliant. You can call me anytime you have a problem
Feifei.
Feifei: But you’re not really an IT expert, are you? You can’t even fix your own
smartphone!
Neil: Ah, don’t joke Feifei, I’ve lost the whole of the series!
Feifei: You are just going to have to write them again. Good luck to you for the next time
BBC Learning English & CNN Student News–for Week 11 to 18
you’re dealing with any IT issues.
Neil: Yes, it’s good luck from me too and goodbye from both of us. Join us again soon for
another episode of 6 Minute English!
Both: Bye!
____________________________________________________________________
Week 15
Investigation Into Train Derailment Continues; Two U.S. Citizens Detained in
North Korea
Aired December 3, 2013 - 04:00
ET
CARL AZUZ, CNN ANCHOR: From the Earth to the Moon, we`ve got you covered. In
today`s edition of CNN STUDENT NEWS we`re going to get started in the Bronx.
Yesterday, we reported on a train accident in that borough of New York City. Four people
were killed and more than 60 others were injured when seven cars jumped the tracks.
The big question now is what happened, was the train going too fast, was there a
problem with the breaks, was human error involved? Investigators are getting information
off of the vent recorders that were on the train. And some of the passengers are giving
their stories of what happened.
RYAN KELLY, INJURED PASSENGER: I`ve got thrown across back and forth. And it
came to like a halt, and there were just people screaming.
ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Early Sunday, a throng of rescue
workers scoured the grisly scene one rail card nearly plunging into the river where divers
checked for bodies under water.
ARBEE GUIVESUS, INJURED PASSENGER: I can see some people like flying from my
left like the rear sidings, people from the back - that`s just crazy.
FIELD: At 7:20 A.M. the commuter train carrying 150 passengers on its way to Grand
Central Station from Poughkeepsie approached an extremely sharp curve that required a
speed limit of 30 miles per hour along the Harlem River, compared to the straightway
prior, requiring a speed limit of 70 miles per hour.
GOV. ANDREW CUOMO, (D ) NEW YORK: The curve has been here for many, many
years, right? And trains take the curve, but it can`t just be the curve.
BBC Learning English & CNN Student News–for Week 11 to 18
FIELD: The train conductor said he tried to apply the brakes, but says they didn`t work
as all seven cars derailed barreling off the tracks.
AMANDA SWANSON, PASSENGER: By the time I looked up, it was completely going off
its track, and there was just like the rubble from under the tracks like flying like at my face.
FIELD: Only 1700 feet away from a previous July derailment, that`s where ten garbage
freight cars flipped on their sides.
EARL WEENER, NTSB: We don`t` know what the train speed was, we will learn that from
the vehicle event recorders.
FIELD: This is the second passenger train derailment in six months from Metro-North. In
May, an east-bound train derailed in Bridgeport, Connecticut and was hit by a westbound
train. 76 people were injured.
Sunday`s crash eerily similar to the train that derailed in northwestern Spain killing 79
passengers. In that crash the train was approaching a sharp turn. Security video showed
the shocking moment the train going more than twice the speed limit hurdled of the tracks.
Officials are looking into what role, if any, speed played in the Bronx accident.
AZUZ: The next story today, Merrill Newman is 85 years old. He`s an American, lives in
California. In October, he took at ten-day tour of North Korea. He never left North Korea.
The country shut itself off from most of the world. It`s run by a dictator, Kim Jong-un, who
can be unpredictable. So, it`s hard for other countries to know what the North Korean
government is doing or why. Merrill Newman was detained by North Korean officials right
before his plane left. Another American, Kenneth Bae, was arrested in North Korea last
year. They could be released soon, but as one experts says, when it comes to North
Korea, nobody knows very much.
MERRILL NEWMAN, AMERICAN HELD IN NORTH KOREA: I understand that in U.S.
and Western countries there is misleading information and propaganda about DPRK.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: North Korean state media released this video over the
weekend of detained American tourist, 85-year old Merrill Newman reading a handwritten
apology. Pyongyang saying Newman admits he`s guilty of big crimes when he fought for
the U.S. in the Korean War killing civilians, working with anticommunist guerrillas and
planning now, 60 years later, to try to meet up with them. The video shows Newman
signing the four page statement he read on camera, dated November 9th and sealing it
with him thumb print in red ink. What happened to him next isn`t clear. After being held
BBC Learning English & CNN Student News–for Week 11 to 18
since late October, taken off a plane just as his tour group was leaving.
The White House is now weighing in. A spokeswoman saying the U.S. is deeply
concerned, calling on North Korea to release Newman and fellow American Kenneth
Bae now held for more than a year. But one expert says, that could complicate an already
sensitive situation.
DR. HAN PARK, PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA: North Korea doesn`t want
to give the impression to the world that North Korea is - giving in to the demand or
pressures coming from Washington.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Former U.N. ambassador Bill Richardson who says his North
Korean contacts aren`t responding, told CNN on Sunday, that Kim Jong- un isn`t
following North Korea`s usual pattern of releasing Americans after getting the purported
confession.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, this is baffling, but this is a newly regime of the new leader,
and I suspect he`s sending different signals, but nobody knows what those signals are.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It`s time for "The Shoutout". What`s the third country to send
the person into space? If you think you know it then shout it out! Was it Russia, China,
France or the United Kingdom? You`ve got three seconds, go!
In 2003, China joined the U.S and Russia as the only countries that put a person in space.
That`s your answer and that`s your shoutout.
AZUZ: A decade later, China is hoping that breaking of that same (inaudible) group with
another space milestone. So far, only the U.S. and former Soviet Union have launched
spacecraft that have landed on the Moon. This week, a Chinese rocket took off in the
same direction, and by later this month, the lunar landing list could lengthen the three.
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It`s the latest milestone, and China is
accelerating space program, aiming to be only the third country to execute a soft landing
on the Moon surface.
Predawn on Monday in southwest China. The Long March rocket launched without a
hitch. In the nose of the rocket the Chang`e 3 lunar probe carrying the (inaudible), or
"Jade Rabbit" moon. Millions voted on the name, taken from Chinese folklore. If
successful, the solar part buggy will touch down in mid-December using its six wheels
and mechanical arm to conduct three months of scientific study in the Bay of Rainbows, a
lunar lava plain. The last soft lunar landing was conducted by the Soviets way back in
1976. China`s space program was late in getting results, but with the government pouring
BBC Learning English & CNN Student News–for Week 11 to 18
billions into its manned and unmanned missions, China has taken its place as one of the
major space players.
State media says the Chang`e probe has separated from its rocket and is now in the
Earth orbit. They say, this is just the next step in the space program that aims for deep
space. David McKenzie, CNN Beijing.
AZUZ: We`re (inaudible) into the "Roll Call" and all of today schools are high flyers. We
just talked about China space program. John Glenn was one of the first American
astronauts and the rockets from John Glenn High in Westland, Michigan make today`s
roll. From there we rocket over to Ardmore, Oklahoma to tell the tale of the Dickson
comets, and we come in for a landing in Crossville, Tennessee with the Cumberland
County High School jets.
Unless you are a pilot or maybe a bird, you`ll probably love this idea: an order comes
through at Amazon.com. It`s boxed up in the nearby warehouse and sent rolling down a
conveyer belt. Then it gets awesome: a drone or unmanned aerial vehicle picks it up and
guided by GPS only, nobody is driving, flies it to your doorstep and drops it off within 30
minutes. Then your car folds up into a suitcase you can pick up and take to work. OK, so
maybe it`s not quite the Jetsons, but it certainly sounds space age. Amazon hopes to be
flying your order to your doorstep within five years, though an Australian book company
hopes to airmail with drones next year. But as cool as it sounds to say, Prime Air
delivered by octocopters, that`s what Air Amazon is called, it`s got some challenges in
just getting off the ground in the U.S. One, it`s illegal. At least right now, the Federal
Aviation Administration doesn`t currently allow unmanned vehicles to make deliveries.
Two, it won`t work for everything. Just stuff under five pounds. So, kayaks won`t fly.
Three, it would only work within ten miles of Amazon warehouses, that`s the range of the
octocopters. And four, Amazon CEO says it can`t be landing on people`s heads. So,
that`s a (inaudible) to work out.
We can drone on about the practicality, legality cost effectiveness and technology, but
aside from all that, this would be great for ordering pizza.
If you`re already on Facebook, you can air your thoughts about this at
Facebook.com/cnnstudentnews.
Sweet. How else would you describe the world`s largest cupcake mosaic? El Salvador
just set the new record. A mosaic is a piece of art made out of smaller pieces arranged in
a pattern. In this case, the pattern incorporates the El Salvador flag and the smaller
pieces are more than 21,000 cupcakes. That adds up to a world record you could really
sink your teeth into. The mosaic was impressive enough. The record, the icing on the
BBC Learning English & CNN Student News–for Week 11 to 18
cupcake.
It`s time to go, but we`re not deserting you for long. We are back tomorrow with more
CNN STUDENT NEWS.
______________________________________________________________________
Week 16
President Obama Speaks at Nelson Mandela`s Memorial Service; Coldest
Temperature Ever Recorded on Earth?
Aired December 11, 2013 - 04:00
ET
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: It took a man
like Madiba to free not just the prisoner, but the jailer as well.
OBAMA: To show that you must trust others so they may trust you to teach that
reconciliation is not a matter of ignoring a cruel past, but a means of confronting it with
inclusion and generosity and truth.
CARL AZUZ, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, welcome to CNN STUDENT NEWS. You just heard
President Obama speaking in Johannesburg yesterday. The event honoring former
South African President Nelson Mandela. Three things to know about Mandela`s
memorial service: one, it was huge. It was held in the soccer stadium and attended by
tens of thousands of people, street sweepers, actors, religious leaders, Mandela family
members who spoke in between the cheers.
Two, it was symbolic. This is the same stadium where Mandela himself spoke 23 years
ago after he was released from prison. He`d been serving a life sentence for fighting
South Africa`s apartheid government. Mandela later became a symbol and advocate of
human rights, and Tuesday`s events coincided with U.N. Human Rights Day.
Three, it was historic: 91 heads of states were there. A crowd of world leaders echoing
attendance of Winston Churchill`s funeral in 1965 or Pope John Paul II in 2005. President
Obama, former president George W. Bush, and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton
all traveled to South Africa on the same plane.
DAVID GERGEN, SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Air Force One is a very intimate setting.
So, that`s place where you can have quitter conversation. Once you get to one these
massive events, it`s very hard to have real conversations.
BBC Learning English & CNN Student News–for Week 11 to 18
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These long flights, believe it or not, can forge friendships. In 1981,
President Ronald Reagan couldn`t attend the funeral of Egypt`s Anwar Sadat. So, he
enlisted Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter to attend instead. The flight was
said to be initially awkward and very long. But one notable friendships emerged. Evident
at Ford`s funeral more than 25 years later, when Jimmy Carter eulogized his longtime
friend.
JIMMY CARTER: For myself and for our nation I want to thank my predecessor.
GERGEN: Fast forward to 1992, Bill Clinton and President George H.W. Bush were
fighting a bitter presidential contest, but seven years later when they traveled together to
attend the funeral of Jordan`s King Hussein in 1999, that ice began to thaw, and now
there are partners in philanthropy all over the world. Such a gathering of most or all living
presidents is typically reserved only for monumental, usually sad events. But journey
itself holds the potential for conflict and resolution on the first class scale.
GERGEN: It`s going to make a big, big difference and the atmospherics on Air Force One,
with George W. Bush there with his successor. That President Bush has been so
reserved in making any negative comments, he is not second guessing his successor.
And I think that the Obama people really appreciate that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This gang has seen more of each other than usual. In April the
group suited up to attend the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Library in
Texas. Then, in August, Clinton, Obama and Carter joined forces to honor the 50th
anniversary of the March on Washington.
GERGEN: No former president likes to be marginalized. They`ve always been the center
of attention, and here we are going to have three formers and a current president. Four
centers of attention, that`s a lot to juggle.
AZUZ: You are now looking at pictures Mary Barra. She`ll make history next year. On
January 15th she`ll take over as the CEO of General Motors. Barra will be the first
woman ever to lead an American carmaker. It`s an industry dominated by men, women
make up 21 percent of its total workforce. Barra has been part of it since she was 18
years old, working her way up over the past three decades. She was paid almost $5
million last year, as an executive focused on design, engineering and quality. A car
research official says choosing a female CEO is a smart idea because most car buying
decision in the U.S. are made by women. GM`s been profitable for several years, but has
aggressive competition in the U.S. and challenges selling cars in Europe.
At a place near the South Pole, satellites recorded a measurement of 135.8 degrees
below zero. This happened in 2010, but was recently made public. It could be the coldest
BBC Learning English & CNN Student News–for Week 11 to 18
temperature ever recorded. But some scientists say, it doesn`t count because it was
measured remotely by satellite, and not by instruments on the ground. But what makes it
so cold?
CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Here`s the Antarctica story. There`s the dome
we are talking about. The middle of the South Pole right here, not that far from it. 135.8
negative Fahrenheit. How does it all happen? Well, if you have clouds, it acts like a
blanket. And that cloud cover keeps that temperatures warmer. Antarctica didn`t have a
cloud cover that day. It cleared, and all of the heat went away. Just like taking the blanket
off you at night when you are sleeping, you get cold. So, heat is released to space. All of
the colder that was on top of the mountain has to go somewhere. It drains because of
gravity, and it drained down onto the hill, and as a satellite flew over it, took that
measurement, it measured 135.
AZUZ: Well, you see it just about everywhere in public. What`s often called the handicap
symbol in parking lots, businesses, restaurants and movie theaters. Is it time to change
what`s known around the world as the international symbol of accessibility?
HOLLY FIRFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It`s the symbol that`s been around since the
late `60s. And many people recognize it right away. But Brian Glenney, a professor of
philosophy feels that times have changed, and so should the international symbol of
accessibility, or ISA. That ubiquitous blue and white handicap icon.
BRIAN GLENNEY, CO-FOUNDER, ACCESSIBLE ICON PROJECT: We started to ask
ourselves. If we could bring about real change into how people perceive others with
disabilities? Sarah heard about the project, and she saw a more active symbol of what
people (inaudible) handicap symbol. And I`m like, why isn`t that everywhere? And we
looked at each other and we`re like let`s just do it. Let`s just make our own.
FIRFER: And with that, Glenney, a former graffiti artist and Sarah Hendren, a Harvard art
student, came up with the new symbol, one they feel is more progressive.
GLENNEY: This has been a real large complaint in the disability community that if you
are in a chair you get looked at as if you are not a person. She used a symbol that was
leaning forward to represent kind of how active people are that use these accessible
spots. There needed to be a change in the way that we symbolize people with disabilities,
but also the way that we perceive them as people who are active and - in body and
upwardly mobile in society.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good afternoon!
BBC Learning English & CNN Student News–for Week 11 to 18
FIRFER: The redesign implements ideas that separate the person from the chair.
GLENNEY: That figure is leaning forward. One arm is back, and that`s supposed to
symbolically represent that that is the future, that people with disabilities are just going to
be moving forward into the job arena, into the school arena. There is going to be inclusion
and secondary education and elementary school.
FIRFER: For many who active in wheelchairs, like members of Quad Rugby team the
New York Warriors, the change is long overdue.
JARRETT DREYER, NY WARRIORS QUAD RUGBY: Past symbol wasn`t really
anything good to look at, it`s just kind of showed somebody who is in the chair, who, you
know, they are not doing anything. And, you know, that`s one of the stereotypes that
needs to be broken.
GEORGE TABORSKY, CO-CAPTAIN, NY WARRIORS QUAD RUGBY: To show that we
are more just people sitting around doing nothing in wheelchair. The new emblem just
shows someone active, active, pushing forward, if not pushing forward in the chair itself,
it`s pushing forward in society.
GLENNEY: It`s just amazing how we`ve evolved from a public art project to what might
be an international advocacy project in support of people with disabilities. Our symbols
need to evolve in the same way that our words need to evolve.
FIRFER: Holly Firfer, CNN.
AZUZ: Well, the new design is gaining acceptance. Some critics say it`s still showing a
stick figure instead of a person, and still showing a wheelchair when many people with
disabilities don`t use.
Celebrating our viewers from around the globe, it`s World Wide Wednesday on the CNN
STUDENT NEWS "Roll Call." We are staring in Wiesbaden Middle School where the
wildcats are watching from Wiesbaden, Germany. Then we are heading East to Songlim
High School in Seongnam City South Korea. Their mascot it the pine. And we wrap up
our "Roll Call" in Japan with our viewers from Tokyo Metropolitan Kokusai High School.
Thank you all for watching.
It`s one of the sounds of the season. Bells ringing in the air, outside churches, houses,
stores and malls. Three members of the Salvation Army, on in Texas, one in California
and one in Minnesota decided they`d try to reign in a record, standing and chiming for
105 hours. For each of them, it meant going without sleep for four days. But on the plus
side, it meant bringing in thousands of dollars for charity. An accomplishment they might
BBC Learning English & CNN Student News–for Week 11 to 18
not call unbelievable, but to say it took a lot of effort certainly rings true, and though
people might not have showed up everywhere to clapper, there is just no disputing, this
was a good chime. We`ll be bell tomorrow to ring in another edition of CNN STUDENT
NEWS.
_____________________________________________________________________
Week 18
English: Socialising
Feifei: Welcome to another episode of 6 Minute English with me, Feifei.
Neil: And me, Neil.
Feifei: And what are we talking about today Neil?
Neil: Well, today’s programme is all about business socialising. And, as we all
know, socialising is a very important aspect of working life. Although it doesn’t
always go the way we want it to, does it Feifei?
Feifei: If you’re referring to the office New Year party, we said we wouldn’t
mention that again…
Neil: OK, I definitely won’t mention the word photocopier… Anyway, Feifei,
I’ve been out and about talking to people about embarrassing things that
happened to them while they were socialising at work. Have a listen to this!
Man: I was on a business trip abroad and people had quite difficult foreign
names. I kept getting the names wrong with the people – so I’d be calling a
man by a woman’s name and a woman by a man’s name. It was very
embarrassing, but they were very nice about it.
Woman: I always enjoying going to business socialising occasions, such as
cocktail parties or conferences. But one of the most embarrassing things is you
see somebody you find them familiar, you know you’ve met them before but
you can’t remember their names, especially sometimes you get mixed up with
where they work and job title, so that’s one thing I find embarrassing.
Feifei: Oh dear. That sounds so embarrassing, poor lady! I’m sure something
BBC Learning English & CNN Student News–for Week 11 to 18
like that has never happened to you Neil?
Neil: No Feifei, as you well know I never mix business with pleasure any more.
Here’s Business Betty to help us find out what that poor lady should have done!
BB: Hello you two! I trust you never find yourself in that situation but if you do,
here’s what to do. If you’ve forgotten someone’s name or job title or where you
have met them before, don’t panic! The best thing to do is: find out, apologise
and move on. I’ll say that again: find out, apologise and move on. A good way
to find out someone’s name is to say "I think we’ve met before, haven’t we?"
Neil: I think we’ve met before, haven’t we?
BB: Or "You must be Feifei".6 Minute English © BBC Learning English 2013
Neil: Oh hello, you must be Feifei.
BB: Or, "I can’t quite remember your name."
Neil: I can’t quite remember your name.
BB: Step two is the apology. Neil, can you apologise please:
Neil: Feifei, of course, how silly of me to forget.
BB: Or say this:
Neil: Oh yes, of course, I’m so sorry!
BB: And once you’ve found out and apologised, move on! We all make mistakes
and the best thing to do is get on with business. A really easy way to move
things on is to say "How are things with you?"
Neil: How are things with you?
BB: And even easier is, "How are you?"
Neil: How are you?
BB: And then you can get on with things. Remember, we all make mistakes,
and knowing how to get out of tricky situations is what makes the difference.
Just try to keep the conversation flowing.
BBC Learning English & CNN Student News–for Week 11 to 18
Neil: We will Business Betty. You’re the best!
Feifei: So there you go! Find out.
Neil: Apologise.
Feifei: And move on! She really does know what she’s talking about that
Betty…
Neil: You’ll never go wrong with Business Betty!
Feifei: Neil…?
Neil: Do you feel a role-play coming on?
Feifei: Yes! It’s role-play time!
Neil: Surely it’s my turn to be the boss?
Feifei: There’s no boss today, I’m afraid. For today’s role-play, let’s say we’re
at a business event, and you see me, and you remember you’ve met me before,
and you really want to talk to me, but you can’t remember my name. OK?
Neil: I want to talk to you, but I can’t remember your name. Hmmm, could be
tricky.
Feifei: You’ll be fine. Are you ready?6 Minute English © BBC Learning English
Neil: I’m ready!
Role-play
Neil: Hi there.
Feifei: Oh hello.
Neil: I think we’ve met before haven’t we?
Feifei: Errr, have we? Oh yes, we met a couple of months ago, didn’t we? You
knocked the cup of coffee over? It’s Neil… how are you Neil?
Neil: I’m good, very good. Please forgive me. I can’t quite remember your
name.
BBC Learning English & CNN Student News–for Week 11 to 18
Feifei: It’s Feifei.
Neil: Of course, Feifei, how silly of me to forget. How are things with you?
Feifei: How was that for you?
Neil: Not too bad actually, I felt embarrassed though because I didn’t know
your name but I was pleased because I dealt with it quickly and moved the
conversation on.
Feifei: That’s the way to do it! Do you want to try another one?
Neil: Yes go on, I’m feeling quite confident now!
Feifei: OK, this time, we’re at a business event. You think you know who I am
and you want to come to say hello, OK?
Neil: I think I know who you are and I want to talk to you. Got it!
Feifei: Ready?
Neil: Bring it on!
Neil: Oh hello, you must be Feifei.
Feifei Yeah, hi there. Nice to meet you. You are...?
Neil: I’m Neil.
Feifei: I don’t think we’ve met before, have we?
Neil: Actually, I think we might have. You work in the media, right?
Feifei: I do, yes.
Neil: Yes I thought so: we were at the same dinner last month.
Feifei: Oh yes, of course. I’m so sorry! How are you?
Feifei: Well done Neil. Another tricky situation, another success!
Neil: Find out, apologise and move on. Except this time I found out and you
apologised!
BBC Learning English & CNN Student News–for Week 11 to 18
Feifei: Ha, yes, it works both ways.
Neil: It’s a miracle!
Feifei: Join us again for another episode of 6 Minute English.
BBC Learning English & CNN Student News–for Week 11 to 18
Feifei: Yes?
Neil: What’s your name again?
Feifei: Goodbye Neil, goodbye everyone.
Neil: Goodbye
Business Socialising: Key
I think we’ve met before,
phrases Finding out
haven’t we?
someone’s name
You must be…
I can’t quite remember your name.