Unit 1 Real-World Listening
Jessie: My name’s Jessie, I’m a milliner, and that means that I make hats.
The name of my company is à la tête, and I make hats, just like this one. I work
right here. This is my studio. Making hats is very fun. I make mostly felt and
straw hats. Some of my hats are very traditional, and some are very crazy with
toy cars on the brim, or tassels that are dolls. Not a lot of people wear hats
these days, but I think they look really good, so, that’s why I make them. My
hat making career started a few years ago. My first job was working for a
fashion company, and then it downsized and I got laid off. So then, I started
making headbands and hair accessories, and decided to go back to school to
learn how to make hats. I started my hat company in 2009. The best thing
about being self-employed is being my own boss, and I can work whenever I
want. One of the biggest challenges is being self-motivated, I have to make all
my own hours, and make sure that I get up and go to work every day. There
are a lot of challenges. As a small business, I’m competing with a lot of large
hat companies. It is very difficult to make money as a small business because
most of the money that I do make I have to put back into the business because
I’m small and growing, and there’s a lot of things that I still need to buy for my
business. I don’t have any employees right now, but I had an intern once, but
one day he didn’t show up for work, so I had to let him go. I make two
collections of hats a year. A fall collection basically, and a spring collection. In
total in a year, I make about fifty hats. I sell the hats in a bunch of different
kinds of stores, some of them are small hat shops, and others are larger
department stores, and then I also sell them online. The hats are all very
expensive, they cost from a hundred and sixty dollars to about three hundred
dollars. I’m trying to grow my business, I’m trying to get my hats into many
more stores around the world. My hats are currently pretty popular in Korea,
but I’m hoping to sell them in a lot of other countries like Brazil, perhaps. It’s
really challenging having my own small business, but it’s extremely rewarding.
Unit 2 Real-World Listening
Josh: Hi, I’m Josh. I’m a motivational speaker. I’m also a clinical psychologist.
I work with children, young adults, families. I’ve been a motivational speaker
for about two years now. To do my motivational workshops, I go to universities
and colleges and I present to large groups of students. I teach them a number
of different skills that cover problem solving, how to keep a positive attitude,
how to have energy, how to build social relationships. I tell them that I’ve made
so many mistakes in my life and I’ve tried to learn from all those mistakes. So
keeping a positive attitude is the number one step that I teach kids to do. Your
attitude and how you perceive the world is gonna influence everything that
happens to you. Controlling how you react to something is crucial to keeping a
positive attitude. I tell kids don’t get too angry. Try to develop a plan. If you
focus on the problem, more problems are gonna come to you. If you focus on
the solution and create a plan, it’s gonna fall into place. Time management is
vital to staying motivated and getting things done. A lot of people spend too
much time on screens, texting, e-mailing, video games, all that is a lot of fun,
but it can really waste your time. I tell kids to find role models, find people in
their life that they want to be like. If you surround yourself with really smart,
engaging, motivated, positive people, that’s what gonna happen to you. So to
stay motivated, you need to make sure that you get the right amount of sleep,
that you get enough healthy food, and that you get the right amount of exercise.
I also tell kids to find someone that you can talk to. It’s really, really, bad if you
don’t have at least one person that you can talk to in your life, It doesn’t have to
be a psychologist. It can be a friend or a family, just at least you have one
person to talk to. I love working with kids and students for motivational
speaking, it’s because there’s so much raw energy there. When I look out into
the crowd I see smiles, I see laughing, I see them raising their hands, so I
know they’re participating, and then afterwards people come up to me and
they say, “You know, I really liked your presentation.” It makes me feel great.
That means everything to me, to know that I had an impact on someone’s life,
a positive impact.
Unit 3 Real-World Listening
This building is from Spain’s Islamic past. It’s a group of Moorish palaces, the
Alhambra. The Alhambra was built by the Muslim sultans who ruled southern
Spain from the year 711 to 1491. They were tolerant rulers, and people of
different religions lived together peacefully. Completed in the 1300s, the
Alhambra is a masterpiece that took hundreds of years to build. People coming
to meet with the sultan would visit the Comares Palace. The Alhambra is
famous for its superb tile work, as well as its creative use of water. The
atmosphere is peaceful and quiet. The Court of the Fountain of the Lions is
one of the greatest examples of Islamic architecture in Spain. The fountain is
based on another fountain in the city of Jerusalem. The Hall of the
Ambassadors is the most formal room of the palaces. It is spacious and full of
light. The sultan welcomed diplomats from other countries here. The sultans
ruled this part of Spain for almost 800 years, until the year 1491. In the 1800s,
many rooms here were restored and renovated. The Alhambra is now a
popular tourist attraction. The Muslim past lives on in this corner of Spain, in
the markets, the music and traditions, and of course, the architecture. Sunny,
quiet, and peaceful, the Alhambra reminds its visitors that the past is all around
us. It is an important landmark—not only for architecture, but also for history
and culture.
Unit 4 Real-World Listening
Erica: Hi, I’m Erica and I’m from Winnipeg, Canada.
Taylor: My name is Taylor Chance and I’m from Winnipeg, Canada.
Erica: I had a very happy childhood. I had lots of friends, I had a dog, a
younger sister, so winters in Canada were terrific. One of my best friends was
Taylor. We walked our dogs together, we hung out at the park together, we
would go to each other’s house and watch TV together, so we were fairly close.
The last thing I remember was Taylor moving away to Chicago, and I was
really sad to be losing one of my best friends.
Taylor: I was really sad when I lost touch with her. Many years later when I
was in my twenties, I logged into Facebook to see that I had a new friend
request. I was very curious to see who it was, and I was so surprised to finally
run into Erica again. I hadn’t heard any word from her in ten years. I started
chatting with Erica a lot, and I found out that she was living in the States too.
We still got along great, not much has changed over the last ten years and we
still had a lot in common.
Erica: So I found out Taylor was living in Chicago. I was coming to Chicago
for vacation with my friends, and we decided to meet up. Taylor had definitely
grown up a lot, his hair was a lot longer than what I remember.
Taylor: I was very excited to see how beautiful she was. We had coffee and
talked for hours, and I was really glad that she turned up in my life again.
Erica: It was like old times, Taylor was a lot more mature obviously, and so
that was a big difference. But we definitely still got along the same and it wasn’t
like talking to a stranger at all.
Taylor: I think social media is really cool. I’ve reconnected with a lot of old
friends and family over the Internet, but none as important as Erica.
Taylor: Today I am a professional break-dancer.
Erica: And I work for a marketing company, and we are boyfriend and
girlfriend.
Erica: After graduating college, I moved to Chicago and found a job here.
Taylor: I fell in love with Erica, and even though I travel all over the world with
my dance company, I always come back to her.
Erica: After spending all this time catching up, I realize ten years later we’re
still best friends.
Unit 5 Real-World Listening
Narrator: Auckland, New Zealand. At first glance, it looks like any other city.
But it soon becomes clear that this is a city for adventurers. They’re either on
the ground—looking up—or in the air—looking down. If you follow the eyes of
the people on the street, you’ll soon discover that they’re gazing up at
Auckland’s tallest building, the Sky Tower. Adrenaline junkies, harnessed of
course, jump from the top of the building. Despite the safety precautions, it can
make even the most die-hard adventurers feel a little queasy.
Man: That’s as far as you can go. I’ll give you two safeties, just to make sure
you’re nice and safe. Then I’ll push you off. OK?
Tanya: So I just stay here?
Man: OK, yeah, just hang tight and smile. You’ve got to keep smiling, OK.
That’s good. Don’t think about falling. OK, and here comes Tanya in three, two,
one.
Narrator: You either have to be a little crazy—or a New Zealander—to take
such a leap of faith in the first place. Everyone can join in, courage permitting.
We’re up next—we must be mad. I’m feeling pretty uneasy about this. Here at
the Kawara Bridge in Queenstown is where it all began. This is the world’s first
commercial bungee jumping site. A dip in the river below is part of the thrill, but
not everyone has the nerve to leap head-first from the bridge.
Woman: I don’t want to do it.
Man: Yes you do. You paid your money to do this.
Woman: Take the money.
Man: Take the money? Take the money and run! Well, we can do that. Out
you go hugger. Just little wee steps out to the edge. I’ll come on out with you.
Woman: Don’t push me.
Man: No, I won’t push you. We’re just going for a little walk out to the edge.
Keep on going, a couple more wee steps. Right out here. Little bit more,
hugger. Ok, you’re going to push yourself. When you’re ready? OK, five, four,
three, two, one.
Woman: Wait. How many minutes is it?
Man: How many minutes? It’s very quick. Oh hugger, you’re alright. Stand up
nice and tall. Right, here we go. Five, four, three, two, one.
Narrator: Once you’ve overcome your fear and experienced the incredible
sensation of falling freely, you’ll want to do it again and again. Of course, it
helps if you’re a little crazy to begin with. The adrenaline rush is addictive, and
the only way to satisfy it is by jumping all over again.
Unit 6 Real-World Listening
Georgia: Hi, my name is Georgia. I’m a painter and I’m also a vegan. I don’t
eat anything that comes from animals. No milk, no eggs, no meat. I’ve been a
vegan for about a year and a half. I chose to become a vegan because it’s
healthier, I feel better, and I think it’s wrong to eat food from animals. I wake up
at 7:00. I go for a run. I make oatmeal with fruit. I go to the studio. I paint for six
hours. I take a break at around 2:00. I usually have a salad. I make dinner at
around 8:00. I usually make some sort of lentil and vegetable dish. And then I
try to be in bed by 11:00. My favorite vegan foods would be fruit. I love
mangoes and berries, avocados, and then I also really like raisins, dried fruits,
and nuts. I eat a lot of peanut butter. Believe it or not, there are many fake
meat substitutes available for vegans. There are veggie burgers, soy
sausages, and Tofurkey, which is turkey made from tofu. One thing that I had
to give up is French bread because it has a lot of butter or eggs. I really love
French bread and I miss it. I’ve recently cut down on salt and sugar. Salt
makes you dehydrated, and sugar makes you tired. In a big city it’s easier to
find vegan foods, but when I’m traveling it’s more difficult. My brother thinks it’s
weird that I’m a vegan. He loves fast food and junk food, and for him it just
doesn’t make any sense. He likes his hamburgers. He’s not willing to give up
meat. I exercise every day because it makes me feel better throughout the day.
I have more energy. And it keeps me young. I do a lot of stretching. Sometimes,
I go swimming. I don’t see any reason to go to a gym. I do all my exercise
outside unless I’m going for a swim. Some people think that being a vegan you
would lose weight. I didn’t. I stayed the same weight, more or less. And, I have
friends that are vegan and they’ve gained weight. It was really hard when I first
gave up eggs and cheese, dairy products, but now I feel really great and I’m
used to it. I really think that everyone should try and be vegan, even if it’s just
for a day. Trust me, you’ll feel great.
Unit 7 Real-World Listening
Hassan: Hi, my name is Hassan. I’m a taxi driver. I’ve been driving a taxi for
about three years and so far it’s been a good experience. My schedule is from
five in the morning till four in the evening. I try to work as little as possible. If I’m
having a good day I’ll go home early. If I’m having a bad day I’ll work a little
extra or I’ll make up for it the next day. You get to pick your own hours. That’s
what I like most about it. On an average day I’m picking up about 25 people.
You know you do talk to a lot of them every day and learn new things.
Passengers are nice to you as long as you’re nice to them. Sometimes you get
a passenger, you can tell almost right away that they’re not in a good mood or
they’re having a bad day. They’re late. Sometimes they got fired from their job.
You just have to realize that they are not in a good mood, and you just have to
do what they’re telling you, agree with them. I don’t argue with my passengers
and I try to avoid arguments as much as I can. If it’s getting bad I ignore it, I try
to listen to my music. Well the traffic, you just have to get used to it. The streets
are backed up, the trucks are double parked. Bridges are always bad,
especially in the mornings and in early evenings. That’s the rush hour. The
other day I took somebody from the city to the airport. It usually takes about 30
to 45 minutes on a normal day. That day it took us about three and a half hours,
and the passenger ended up missing her flight but, you know, she was very
nice about it, you know. I tried everything that I could. It was just bad traffic,
exits were blocked. This is my taxi. We just switched so it’s a small SUV. It’s a
hybrid, its half electric, half gasoline and you save about half of your money on
gas. It’s very good. It gives you very good mileage. So far I’ve been lucky. It
hasn’t broken down on me. The most that happened is a flat tire. I’ve actually
seen lots of accidents. I’ve had a couple myself. But they were both very minor;
just scratches, and nothing big. I’ve done some movies and commercials. I
mean, they needed my yellow cab so that was a good experience to be a cab
driver in an actual movie. I don’t really want to be an actor. I just do it as a just
for fun. I think what makes me a good taxi driver is I’m very calm. I don’t get
mad. I don’t lose my temper. I don’t drive recklessly. I listen to my passengers.
This is not something that I want to do for the rest of my life, but for now I’m
happy with this.
Unit 8 Real-World Listening
We’re all different. But food affects us all—wherever we live and whatever we
do. And the way we eat—from chopsticks to forks to elaborate tea
ceremonies—says a lot about our cultures and societies. The family meal is
one example of the connection between food and culture. It’s an important
tradition in almost every country, and food is the key ingredient. Study after
study shows that family meals have huge benefits. To cite one example,
teenagers who eat with their families do better in school. Sadly, in many
western countries, families don’t have time to eat together every day. Food
doesn’t just keep families together. It is also part of our national identity.
Countries all over the world, from France to Mexico to Thailand, are famous for
their food. The way people eat is just as important as the food itself. People
use forks, chopsticks, or even their fingers. People eat with their hands in
many places. It’s fast and there’s no equipment to buy. In Asia, chopsticks are
used to eat pretty much everything. They were first developed in China about
5,000 years ago. In the West, the knife and fork are more common. At formal
banquets, each person has two or three forks—or more. In India, people paint
their house blue if they are part of the Brahmin caste. This is a group with high
social status in the country. For Brahmins, food must be made by someone
from the right caste. Some foods, like beef, are absolutely against the rules.
Finally, when you eat or drink can clearly show your social position. At a
Japanese business meeting, timing is everything. When they take a tea break,
who drinks first is very important. The president always drinks first. Only then
can the other employees take a sip. So food is not just the glue that keeps us
together. It can also show the differences between us.
Unit 9 Real-World Listening
The world’s most active volcano, Mt. Kilauea in Hawaii, has been erupting for
over one hundred years. The Hawaiian Islands were all created by volcanoes
like this one, thousands of years ago. Although the volcano is active, it is safe
to visit. It receives millions of tourists—more than any volcano on earth. Under
the volcano is magma—hot, liquid rock. When the magma reaches the surface,
it is called lava. Kilauea’s lava is thin and runny—it flows away very quickly. At
the top of Kilauea is a wide crater, about two and a half miles across. It is often
surrounded by clouds of gas and steam. The volcano frequently sends up
spectacular lava fountains. They look dangerous, but explosions are rare. At
the bottom of the crater, there is often a pond of molten lava. Scientists from
the U.S. Geological Service come up to the top to study the volcano. The
geologists use seismometers and thermometers to find out more about how
volcanoes behave. Because of these careful observations, the geologists can
predict serious eruptions quite accurately and warn local people. It can be
dangerous on top of the volcano. Temperatures are high. If the lava flows the
wrong way, the ground under the geologists’ feet will collapse. The sides of
Kilauea are made of layers and layers of old lava. In places, new lava escapes
from cracks on the sides of the volcano. These cracks are called “lava tubes.”
The lava moves fast, traveling at about 12.5 miles an hour. Sometimes it flows
all the way to the sea. If the lava reaches the sea, it will become a new, solid
rock called basalt. This rock adds a half square mile of new land to the island
every ten years. It really is the newest land on earth.
Unit 10 Real-World Listening
In the fifties, you could search the jukebox for your favorite songs. In the
eighties, the Sony Walkman let you carry some of them with you in your pocket.
But October 22nd, 2001, saw the launch of the iPod. Designed by Apple, this
small, white piece of plastic could carry thousands of tunes. A revolution in the
music industry had begun. It was the biggest change since 1988, the first year
that CDs became more popular than vinyl records. New technology made it all
possible. Personal computers became digital jukeboxes that could hold
thousands of songs. The iPod looked cool and modern, too, with its
well-known touch wheel controls and white headphones. Within five years,
Apple had sold nearly 70 million iPods and made over 10 billion dollars. Over a
billion tracks have been downloaded from the iTunes web site. But the iPod
was not just for fun. Schools and colleges saw uses for it. Students could
download lectures and listen to them on the way home. A digital tourist guide
could help you through a foreign city. And in the music business, bands could
sell their music directly on the Internet, without the big record companies. The
iPod also led to another trend: podcasting. When people realized they could
publish their own views and ideas to hear on the iPod, the podcast took off.
News reports, language lessons, comedy, recipes—there’s a podcast for
everything. Since the launch of the iPod, we’ve had the Mini, the Nano, and the
Shuffle. The iPhone launched in 2007, then the iPad in 2010. Even after the
death of founder Steve Jobs in 2011, Apple continued to innovate. But in junk
shops around the globe, the piles of outdated technology grow larger and
larger. Perhaps those 2001 iPods will end up there in the not-too-distant future.
Unit 11 Real-World Listening
Fabio: My name is Fabio. And I am from São Paulo, Brazil. I now live in New
York and work as a teacher. I had visited New York before I moved here. And
one time, while I was walking around the Hudson River waterfront, right here
where we are, on the late afternoon, something happened. I had set my bag
down so I could look through the binoculars to see the Statue of Liberty. And
when I looked up, my bag was gone. It was taken right out from under me. I
turned around and I saw a man running away with my bag. And without
hesitation, I chased after him. My passport! I didn’t care about my wallet or my
phone, which were in the bag. The only thing I cared about was my passport.
Please, just give me back my passport. I ran as quickly as I could, but just
barely kept up with the thief. It’s in the side pocket. Please. You can keep the
bag. I wasn’t sure if he had heard me, but then, suddenly, I saw him reach into
the side pocket and take out my passport. He looked at it for a moment, but
then suddenly, he threw it high into the air. I was distracted picking up my
passport, and then he got away. I called the police to report the incident, but
my description wasn’t detailed enough for them to investigate the robbery. All I
knew is that he was wearing a gray sweatshirt. I never saw his face. He had
stolen my wallet and my cell phone, which was terrible. But it would have been
much worse to lose my passport. This was the first time I was the victim of a
crime. But it didn’t stop me from moving to New York. And I haven’t had a
single problem since then. I love this city, and even though I had this problem
early on, I feel safe here. Any big city is dangerous, whether it’s São Paulo or
New York. You just have to pay attention.
Unit 12 Real-World Listening
It’s the city of superlatives: Shanghai. Skyscrapers and big business are
everywhere. More than 24 million people live and work here. But this is also a
city of small houses, neighborhoods, and families. In this district, life is a bit
different—slower, and less flashy. Many residents have lived their whole lives
here. Twelve year old Ping grew up here. She’s going to meet her parents at
the market, as today is the big family shopping day. They are purchasing
supplies for the most important holiday in China: New Year. A huge variety of
food is sold here—snake meat, for example, as well as the noodles and
dumplings we all know and love. A big family meal is the most important part of
Chinese New Year. It’s a time for families to be together. People will travel for
days to be with their families tonight. There are no price tags in the market.
Everyone has to bargain, and people here are very good at it. It’s the biggest
meal of the year, so it’s important to find the best produce at a good price. Ping
and her parents are almost finished buying food. But another key ingredient is
still missing: fireworks. Firecrackers and fireworks are essential to the
celebration. Some say they’re as essential as the food. Ping’s relatives come
to gather at the family’s house. A Chinese word posted on the door means
“good fortune.” Behind the door, there’s no bathroom, and no kitchen. Even on
Chinese New Year, in the late January weather, meals are cooked outdoors.
The visitors slowly arrive as the sun goes down, just as they planned it. Twenty
relatives have made the trip here, and they now celebrate in the 50 square-foot
home. It’s not too small for a family this close. Fish is always served on
Chinese New Year. The word for “fish” sounds like another word that means
“wealth.” Ping is given a New Year’s “lucky envelope.” Inside the red envelope
is money—about six or seven dollars. At midnight, they make a toast to the
future and hope for happiness and good fortune. Then, it’s time for the
firecrackers. Even as the city modernizes and skyscrapers grow, the traditional
Chinese customs and celebrations continue.
Unit 13 Real-World Listening
Tracy: Hi I’m Tracy Steinberg and I’m a dating advisor. I went to school to
become a life coach. And then I went on for continued education for coaching
singles. I think that the quickest way to become happy is to be in love. I work
with people who are really successful in all areas of life, especially in their
career. If they don’t have love, then they’re not as happy as they can be. I’ve
worked with people that have never been on a date. I’ve worked with people
that just got out of a really long term, serious relationship. You know, I’ve had
so many clients go on to get married. When I first start working with someone
the first thing I do is I give them a 12-page welcome packet which really asks
them what they’re looking for, what their ideal life is, what are the
characteristics of their ideal partner. Then I continue to meet with them. I’ll help
them create an online dating profile, which attracts the type of people that they
want. Confidence is by far the most attractive quality that anybody can have. I
encourage everyone to always look their best. I mean even if you’re taking a
walk in the park. That way if you see someone attractive, you can feel good
about yourself and you can smile and say hi. The best way to make a great
first impression is through eye contact and smiling. Those are huge. If you can,
if you can give someone direct eye contact about 80% of the conversation and
you’re smiling and listening to them, I think people love that. If someone comes
to me and they’re not feeling confident I’ll really help them to focus on the
positives that they have instead of the negatives. And also I’m a really big fan
of affirmations. Which is, my client and I will create a sentence of how they
want to feel. Not necessarily how they feel. But how they want to feel. So that
way they say it over and over. I actually have them saying it out loud in the
mirror. Five times a day. I have one example of a woman who hadn’t been on a
date in a long time, she literally said the words, “I’m ugly.” And she’s not ugly.
And so one of the first things I did with her was to help her to say the
affirmation of “I’m beautiful.” I also offer emergency dating advice in case
something happens because sometimes, you know, you’re thinking
everything’s going well and then all of a sudden something, you have an
argument and you don’t know how to handle it. I also offer romance consulting,
which is a lot of fun. And that’s where I help people plan dates and help them
to make the night special. I am happily married. My husband and I are very
happy. We’re both celebrating our five year anniversary coming up, and we do
have a lot in common. We both enjoy going to great restaurants. We both
enjoy going to great parties and spending time with friends. Our parents are
actually quite similar. So we grew up in a similar upbringing, and I think that
that counts for a lot. When I see a client succeed, it makes me happy to be me.
Unit 14 Real-World Listening
Paris, the world capital of love. It’s the perfect setting for a wedding. Every year,
thousands of brides and grooms from around the globe come here just to say,
“ I do.” Vivi and Ryan from Los Angeles are one such couple. Their ceremony
is in a lovely park here in Paris, with no friends or family. Ryan gives Vivi the
ring, and it’s official. Later, they’ll have a bigger wedding in the U.S. In the
movies, Paris is always the city of love. And Vivi and Ryan pose for photos like
true Hollywood stars. They rush from one place to the next to get the perfect
wedding picture. The poses go on for over three hours, but the wedding
ceremony itself lasted only 10 minutes. They can’t wait to show their friends
the pictures. Ikuko Tushiya and Tazuhiro Ikemura made a special trip from
Tokyo to get married in Paris today. After they give a donation of 300 euros to
the church, it’s time to walk down the aisle. Only the bride and groom are
here—no best man, no bridesmaids, no family. Ikuko has a beautiful bouquet,
but no one to throw it to. They got into Paris in the morning and are flying back
to Tokyo that same evening. What could be more romantic? They are happy
they came all the way to Paris for love. And now another couple arrives for
their wedding. And the legend of beautiful, romantic Paris only grows.
Unit 15 Real-World Listening
Susan: My name is Susan and I’m the box office manager at Indy Screen,
which is an independent movie theater in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. We are the
first independent theater in the neighborhood, which is very exciting because
this neighborhood hasn’t had a theater for at least ten years. We play a lot of
action movies, documentaries, romance movies, dramas and some westerns.
The main difference between Hollywood films and independent films is the
budget. Hollywood films are able to afford large salaries for actors and
actresses, including big sets, big studios, location budgets. Independent films
may not have the big Hollywood stars or big special effects but they can be just
as good. We have one screen, which has 93 seats. We have a large screen
here. It’s eight foot by twenty. We play seven evenings a week. We have a
7:00 show and also a 9:00 show. We have approximately 30 to 40 people that
purchase tickets every evening. We get a mixed crowd here, between 21 and
55. We do sell out films. Recently we played Woody Allen’s movie, “Midnight in
Paris,” and we had sold-out shows all week. The movie we’re playing right now
is called “Take Shelter.” I haven’t myself seen the movie but I’ve heard a lot of
great things about it. Here at Indy Screen, we do host the Brooklyn Film
Festival. It’s a ten-day event where we show the best films that come from
around the world. We receive around 2500 films from around the world, say 80
countries. And we will be showing 101 films during that ten-day film festival. In
the projection booth, we have a state-of-the-art projector and we have many
computers and we have a lot of DVDs that we can play also. What’s great
about Indy Screen is that we also have a cafe where you can order coffee,
sodas, popcorn. And we also have a restaurant if people want to have maybe
dinner and a movie. I would say I’ve probably watched over 3,000 movies.
More than that. I always enjoyed watching movies when I was very young. The
first film I remember seeing was “Bambi.” It made me cry. I like a lot of period
pieces, historical films. I don’t really like science fiction films because I was
never really good at science at school. I always dreamt of being an actress but
that didn’t happen. But I’m very happy now that I run a movie theater especially
independent films. And I also am one of the founders of the Brooklyn Film
Festival. So I am surrounded by film.
Unit 16 Real-World Listening
Roxanna: Hi my name is Roxanna, I just graduated from college. I’ve been
looking for work, it’s a long difficult process. I started this summer and I’m still
looking. I studied business and art history. My favorite courses were my art
history classes. I love art because it just, it’s inspiring. Its always inspired me, I
can’t explain it, it’s just a feeling that I have. Right now I’m looking for a position
in a gallery or museum. Something that would give me more experience and
just to learn the process of you know, what it takes to run a gallery for example,
what it takes to run a museum. I have an internship at an art gallery right now.
I’m learning a lot, it’s a lot of work. I’m not being paid but I’m getting a ton of
experience and I really love it. I don’t think that the assignments and lectures
that I’ve received in class really helped me prepare for the job search. I’ve sent
out my resume dozens of times actually I think about a hundred times. I’ve
been applying for four to five jobs per day. I’ve been looking for jobs
everywhere. I’ve been asking friends, I’ve been looking at the newspaper, I’ve
also looked on the Internet of course it’s the easiest way to look. To improve
my resume I’ve just added just different skills that I have including the
languages that I speak, the job experience that I’ve had. I also include my
grades. I do include a cover letter when I send my resume. Most companies
require it today, so I always send a cover letter. What I include on the cover
letter it, it depends on what the company’s looking for. I always have to change
it for every single position that I apply for in order to match what they’re looking
for. I think it’s very important to dress well for a job interview. Have a couple
different suits that I use to look my best for the interviews and just give me the
upper hand. I have been on a few job interviews already and it’s been a little
nerveracking but it’s every time I go I feel more confidence and it’s helped me
practice for future interviews. What I do to prepare for a job interview is that I
research the company thoroughly and of course the position, so that when I do
have a conversation with whoever is interviewing me I, you know, I have all the
answers ready I guess or I’m prepared with any information that they might ask.
I am hopeful that I’ll find a position because I’m qualified and I have enough
experience to get something good. If I get a job that I love it won’t be like
working at all.