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Everyday situations
- Apologising and making excuses (I'm sorry, but it wasn’t really my fault.)
- At the doctor's (I’ve come for a repeat prescription for these pills.)
- At the veterinarian's (Hi. What seems to be the matter?) Sample
- Bargaining (How much do you want for the lamp?)
- Complaining about a phone order (I ordered a dozen doughnuts half an hour ago and they haven't arrived yet.)
- Complaining about flatmates (The worst flatmate I can remember having was when I was renting a flat myself …)
- Complaining about a purchase (I bought this lamp here last week, and, well, the thing is, it doesn't work.)
- Complimenting a flat (What a lovely floor! This is a nice idea, having the kitchen next to the window.)
- Describing car problems (It won’t start. I’ve tried everything.)
- Describing technical problems (You couldn’t come up to my office, could you, and take a look at my computer?)
- Giving instructions (OK, so now take hold of the back of the chair and stretch back your leg.)
- Language in action (Take that end, and I’ll take this one. Ready?)
- Making confessions and avoiding arguments (Listen, I have a confession to make.)
- Making requests (What’s the likelihood of us getting the project finished by Friday?)
- Making small talk (This coffee doesn’t get any better, does it?)
- Making suggestions (It might be a good idea to rest him up for a couple of games.)
- Persuading (I have something that I think will interest you.)
- Shopping for clothes (What about the colour? Does it go with these trousers?)
Describing things
- Aboriginal paintings (Now, in the first painting here we have what represents the Site of the Green Snake Dreaming.)
- Paintings (What I like about it is the composition.)
- Photos (This photo looks as if it was taken in the countryside, on a walk maybe.)
- Sports and games (The rain has arrived and the umbrellas are coming out, but the players are staying on court for the moment.)
Monologues and discussions
- A police interview (Just a few questions, if I may. Name?)
- Babysitting (As long as she doesn't wake up, there really shouldn't be any need to.)
- Conversations about smoking (Excuse me, would you mind not smoking in here?)
- Conversations between colleagues (So, Svetlana’s definitely not coming back after she’s had her baby.)
- Fashion (I couldn't believe it – flared trousers and platform shoes. And this is what I used to wear in the seventies...)
- Fast-food eating habits (Well, I never eat fast food unless I can't avoid it…)
- Obsessions (Well, my friends say that I watch an unhealthy amount of telly…)
- Sleep and dreams (I find it really difficult waking up on Monday morning.)
- Talking about laughter therapy (Laughter therapy is a tool that we use to improve health and well-being…)
- The mystery of the Easter Island statues (How do you move a statue that weighs over 10 tonnes across 10 kilometres…)
- Top ten music albums (I've just found an old magazine with their readers' top ten albums of all time in it.)
- Shopping experiences (My worst shopping experience was at the summer sales with my daughter.)
- Language learning experiences (I studied French at school and was quite good at it, but…)
Stories
- A disastrous journey (The morning the bus left I overslept and arrived at the bus station 20 minutes late.)
- A humorous poem ("You are old, Father William," the young man said…)
- A travel story (Well, I heard this amazing story the other day, about this guy, he was flying from…)
- Dracula (I slept only a few hours when I went to bed, and feeling that I could not sleep any more…)
- Stories about animals (Well, when I was about 13 and my little sister was six we went to visit my grandparents on their farm...)
- Telling a joke (That reminds me of the one about the Chihauhua…)
- Young children (When my daughter was about two…)
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