English Lessons that Speak. Self-access learning and development. Lesson B9. QT

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	Where do you live, in a village, a town, a city, or somewhere else?
	Do people's lifestyles differ in these different places?
	Are you happy with where you are living?

	Vocabulary Practice
	There are some common differences between living in the city and living in the country. We use the adjectives urban for city life, and rural for things related to country living.
	For example;
		'I don't like the idea of the urban sprawl'
		' Why do you think it would be good to move somewhere more rural?
		'There is more beauty in urban life than people think - the city isn't all buildings and pollution!'
		'I live in a very rural area, but I never get bored - there's always something going on in my village.'

Life in the city.

	Listen to this interview from a radio programme called 'Lifestyles'.
	Sue works for a computer company in Paris.
	Interviewer:	Do you think you'll ever move out of the city?
	Sue:	I don't know. Like many of my friends, I feel that it would be good to eventually move to a more rural area, but maybe that's just wishful thinking. I mean, where you live depends on work and money!
	Interviewer:	And why do you think it would be good to move to somewhere more rural?
	Sue:	Well, I'd like a more relaxed pace of life, more space to live and fresh air! A bigger house with a garden would be nice, but it's difficult for me to afford here. In the inner city you usually have to rent and perhaps share accommodation.
	Interviewer:	Are you sure you'd prefer the country? "The grass is always greener on the other side" as they say.
	Sue:	Good point! But most people want some green, don't they? I could move further out from the centre to the suburbs and commute in to work I suppose, but I don't like the idea of the urban sprawl.
	Interviewer:	Well, nowadays, with better transport, people are travelling into Paris from places that are sixty or seventy kilometres away! You could live in the country and work for a city firm.
	Sue:	Yes, you're absolutely right. Actually I think that in the future peoples' work patterns will change anyway. With things like the Internet and teleconferencing, some people can often work from home - it's happening in my company. Some larger companies are moving location to rural areas, where accommodation and labour is cheaper. Places where there has been low employment because old industries have died out, are now becoming regenerated with new business.
	Interviewer:	So is everything changing? Is the idea of the 'global village' where everyone is in touch with each other gradually happening?
	Sue:	Yes! I think it is. Predictions are always difficult, but international business and communication mean that we have to be prepared to be flexible now and in the future. Perhaps I don't have to stay in the city after all!

Vocabulary: useful informal phrases

	That's just wishful thinking.
	The grass is always greener on the other side.
	Are you sure you'd prefer the country?
	I don't have to stay. . . . after all!

Skyscrapers.

Listen to this formal lecture about Skyscrapers, given by a London architect.

The term 'Skyscraper' was first used in the 1880's to describe the buildings 10 to 20 stories high that were then being built in the USA. Architects needed to cater for the increase in urban commerce and population density and the need for concentrated living and business space.

Nowadays, 'skyscraper' is used more to describe only those buildings of unusual height, generally more than 40 or 50 stories high, and in all world capitals, impressive skyscrapers have become a symbol of prosperity and progress. Today, the Manhattan skyline is a famous image that many people would recognise, even if they have never been there. New York's Empire State Building (built in 1931) is still a famous landmark. It was built at the end of the 'Art Deco' period and its style is one that people still associate with the early boom-time of New York.

Since the 70's, it's become common for high rise districts to integrate street level activity into the buildings themselves. A shopping mall, for example, maximises the building's function and commercial value. This is a key issue for architects and city planners of course - lack of space! Business properties, commercial outlets, public facilities and housing all have to be accommodated. Building downwards as well as upwards is one solution and underground shopping and entertainment plazas are increasingly common.

Another key factor in modern construction is energy conservation. Today, builders can use advanced materials and engineering. Buildings themselves can be designed to resist earthquakes and to be "intelligent". For example, they can regulate their internal environment: heat, temperature, light and air, and they can also recycle energy.

The high-rise building is here to stay and architecture is incorporating new and more ingenious solutions to meet the demands of complex societies and concentrated populations and building for the future.

Vocabulary and pronunciation

	Listen to these words and phrases from the lecture.
	Use a dictionary for any words you don't understand and then practise them until they sound right.
		Commerce / commercial
		Population density
		Concentrated
		Space
		Prosperity
		Progress
		Landmark
		Boom
		Districts
		Housing
		Construction
		Design

First impressions

	Listen to this conversation between 2 flatmates living in London.
	Ellen:	Welcome back! So, how was your weekend in New York?
	Liana:	Great! I spent a bit too much money of course, but I did most of the things I wanted to.
	Ellen:	Any favourites?
	Liana:	Well, I visited a few of the main tourist attractions, but I also spent time just looking around and getting the feel of the place. You know, shopping, eating, exploring the different areas, sampling the nightlife…. Oh yeah, I found a great street carnival that was on too!
	Ellen:	Sounds good! Did you plan what you'd do before you went?
	Liana:	Not really, I mean I had a look at a travel guide and looked a few things up on the Internet, but it was pretty straightforward. When you arrive, you just go to the tourist information office and they give you a good map and you're off! Oh, they helped me find some cheap accommodation too. Anyway, it was a bit like getting around London so I was used to it.
	Ellen:	So what do you think then? What are your first impressions?
	Liana:	Well it's only a snapshot view - you can't get to know a place in that amount of time, but it felt exciting! There always seemed to be lots of noise and activity on the streets. Like any big city, there are different districts that each seem to have a unique character. Everywhere offers something different.
	Ellen:	And the food?
	Liana:	Wow, I ate a lot! It's true what they say- everything seems bigger! Everything came in such big portions!
	Ellen:	Maybe that's why they call it "The Big Apple!" (laughter)

	Useful phrases for speaking
	Look at these phrases from the conversation.
	Use them (or parts of them) to complete the sentences below.
		So, how was your weekend?
		Great!
		Sounds good!
		So what do you think?
		Well, . . .
		You know, . . .

	So, __(1)__ __(2)__ your first day in your new job?
	__(3)__! It was very busy, __(4)__ __(5)__ , meeting people, sorting out my desk, finding out where everything is. Everyone seems very nice.
	Sounds __(6)___! So, what do _(7)__ _(8)__ you'll do tomorrow?
	I've got a meeting in the morning with the team and then I suppose we'll start on the new project!
	Let's go out and celebrate - I know a good restaurant very near here.
	___(9)___, what are we waiting for!
	Click 'Answers ' to see if you were right!

The village festival.

A retired baker and her husband, who live in a small village, are going to the Village Spring Festival, where they are going to sell their home-made cakes.
	Listen to their conversation.
Mrs Cob:	Come on, it's time to go. We won't have time to set up the stall if we don't get a move on.
Mr. Cob:	Okay, I'm coming. It took me ages to pack the boxes carefully so that the cakes don't get damaged.
Mrs Cob:	I just hope we get sunshine this year. Last year was a disaster!
Mr. Cob:	Oh yes, I'm sure things will be much better today. We've got sunshine, and lots of activities. The scout group is going to demonstrate its new website and the choir from the next village is going to sing some traditional folk songs. Then we've got the cheese and mushroom judging and the flower arranging competition.
Mrs Cob:	Yes, and the 12-year olds from the local school are doing a performance. The play last year was the funniest thing that I've seen in years! Things are a lot more organised since the new mayor took over. I told you a woman would do a better job!
Mr. Cob:	Huh! I still say she only got the job because her husband owns most of the land around here! Still, I have to admit, that conference she's organised next week on setting up your own business sounds good.
Mrs Cob:	Yes it does. Well, anyway, we certainly need a good celebration after the poor harvest we had in the autumn and we all need cheering up since the fall in beef and lamb prices.
Mr. Cob:	Yes you're right. Well, the cakes are all ready now, so what are we waiting for? Let's go!

Grammar revision; who / which / that / ( )

Look at these sentences again from the conversation.
	A retired baker and her husband, who live in a small village, are going to the Village Spring Festival, where they are going to sell their home-made cakes.
	The play last year was the funniest thing that I've seen in years!
Using who / which / that in the main part of a sentence.
We usually use 'who' about people, but we can also use 'that'.
For example:
	An urbanite is someone who / that lives in a city.
	I like people who / that are open-minded.
For places or things, we can use 'that' or 'which' or often nothing at all ( )!
For example:
	Lack of space is a problem that most cities have.
	Lack of space is a problem which most cities have.
	Lack of space is a problem most cities have.
	The play last year was the funniest thing that I've seen in years!
	The play last year was the funniest thing I've seen in years!
Using who / whose / which in the minor part of a sentence.
We can also use 'who' 'whose' or 'which' to give extra information in the minor part of a sentence.
We use 'who' and 'whose' for people, and 'which' for places or things.
This minor clause needs commas in writing, and can be taken out of the main sentence. When we use minor clauses like this we must use 'who' or 'whose' or 'which'. We do not use 'that'.
For example:
	A retired baker and her husband, who live in a small village, are going to the Village Spring Festival.
		(Note that the main sentence still makes sense if the minor clause is taken out:- "A retired baker and her husband are going to the Village Spring Festival.")
	My village, which is 15k from the nearest town, has a population of about two thousand.
	My village has a population of about two thousand.
	Mrs. Banks, whose husband owns a large farm, is the local mayor.
	Mrs. Banks is the local mayor.

Grammar Practice

	Complete the sentences below using who / that / which / ( ). In two of the sentences, more than one answer is possible.
	The number of people ____(1)____commute to work is increasing.
	Manhattan, ___(2)___ has a famous skyline, is in New York.
	It's impossible to get to know a city ___(3)___ you have only been staying in for one week.
	Click 'Answers ' to see if you were right!

Vocabulary and pronunciation.

	Listen to these words from the lesson, and practise them until they sound right.
		Ingenious
		Complex
		Increasingly
		Concentrated
		Relaxed
		Country
		Suburbs
		Traditional
		Celebration
		Industries
		Global Village
		Regenerated

Useful phrases for speaking

	To get a move on
	To take ages
	I told you!
	Let's go . . .

Answers

Answers to Useful Phrases for Speaking

1 & 2 = how was 3 = Great! 4 & 5 = you know 6 = good

7 & 8 = you think 9 = Well,

	So, how was your first day in your new job?
	Great! It was very busy, you know, meeting people, sorting out my desk, finding out where everything is. Everyone seems very nice.
	Sounds good! So, what do you think you'll do tomorrow?
	I've got a meeting in the morning with the team and then I suppose we'll start on the new project!
	Let's go out and celebrate - I know a good restaurant very near here.
	Well, what are we waiting for!
	Click BACK to get back to where you were in the lesson.

Answers to Completing the Sentences

	1. who / that The number of people who commute to work is increasing. The number of people that commute to work is increasing.
	2. which Manhattan, which has a famous skyline, is in New York.
	3. that / which / ( ) It's impossible to get to know a city that you have only been staying in for one week. It's impossible to get to know a city which you have only been staying in for one week. It's impossible to get to know a city you have only been staying in for one week.
	Click BACK to get back to where you were in the lesson.

Ta i l p i e c e
Don't cry over spilt milk.

Course B
End of Lesson B9

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Link to Introduction
Links to other Lessons in Course B : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 * 10

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1 & 2 = how was		3 = Great!		4 & 5 = you know		6 = good
7 & 8 = you think		9 = Well,

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