The material here will be used in class time this week.
Public Transport
The United Kingdom's government is thinking about banning all food and drink on public transport. The UK's plan to ban people eating and drinking on trains and buses is not popular with people. They say the government should not control whether or not people can eat and drink on public transport. Many people said the plan was another example of the UK becoming a "nanny state". This is a country that wants to control everything people can and cannot do. The UK's Chief Medical Officer, professor Sally Davies, said the plan was necessary to help reduce obesity. She said it was part of a plan to halve obesity in children by 2030 and to help people make healthier lifestyle choices.
Professor Davies reported that there are twice as many overweight schoolchildren today as there were 30 years ago. She said: "Today's children are drowning in a flood of unhealthy food and drink options." She said this is made worse because of "insufficient opportunities for being active". She said children do not get enough exercise. She added: "We must go further and faster." Ms Davies also wants to stop fast food being sold at soccer games. Many travellers are angry about the plans. A nurse, Nicky Paxton, said the transport ban would make her life worse. She said: "I often work 12 hours without a break and I need a sandwich on the train on my way home from work.”
FOOD AND DRINK: Is it OK to eat or drink in these places? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.
Is It OK?
Why / Why Not?
Trains
Airplanes
The Street
Parks
Shopping malls
Gyms
ON THE TRAIN: Rank these with your partner. Put the things that are OK to eat on a train at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.
Sandwiches
French fries
Garlic curry
Ramen
Pizza
KFC
Onigiri
Nuts
Telephoning Quiz!
She's Not There
Find the missing words using the German words in brackets as a guide.
I'm afraid she's not _________ (am Platz) at the moment.
You can _________ (erreichen) her on her mobile phone.
I'm afraid she's _________ (im Urlaub) this week.
Maybe her colleague can help you if it is _______ (dringend).
Shall I give you her _________ (Durchwahl)?
Choose Your Words
Choose the best phrase for each of the following situations:
You want the caller to wait.
Hang on, please.
Hold the line, please.
You want to ask the caller why he or she is calling.
May I ask what it's about?
What are you calling for?
You don't understand the caller.
I'm afraid I don't understand you.
I'm afraid I didn't get that.
The person the caller wants to speak to has left the office and gone home.
I'm afraid she's gone for the day.
I'm sorry, she's gone home
You want to let the caller speak to someone else.
Just a moment, I put you through.
Just a moment, I'll put you through.
What Was That?
Fill the gaps in the following sentences using one of the words below.
take repeat speak give have catch spell
a) Could I _____ your name again, please?
b) Could you_____ your name for me, please?
c) Could you _____ the name of the company, please?
d) Sorry, I didn't _____ the last number.
e) Sorry, it's a bad line. Could you_____ up, please?
Get It Right
Find the mistake in each of the following sentences. Put the corrected word(s) in the space on the right.
a) Can I control your number again, please?
b) I'd like to arrange a date with Mr Thomas.
c) The line is occupied.
d) I'm sorry, he's on another phone at the moment.
e) I'll lay the phone down and call back.
An Offer Of Help
Fill in the gaps in the following text with one of the words in the box.
maybe inform expected transfer notice enquiry message
Mr Green is not here today, I'm afraid, so there's no one here at the moment to answer your (a) . He's (b) back later this afternoon at about three. I could take a (c) if you like, or I can (d) you to Ms Knight, his secretary, and she will then (e) him of your situation.
Polite And Professional
How should you change these phrases to sound more polite and professional on the phone?
a) What?
b) Call back later.
c) What's your mobile number?
d) He's out, and l don't know where he is. at the moment
Meeting Time
Fill in the gaps in the following text with one of the words in the box.
pen suit inconvenient bad pencil prefer schedule
a) Hello Susan. Could we _________ a meeting for next week?
b) How about Tuesday morning? Would that _________ you?
c) If you don't mind, I'd _________ the afternoon.
d) Tuesday afternoon? That's a bit _________ for me. How about Wednesday morning?
e) Sounds good. Let's _________ that in and I'll confirm tomorrow.
Matching Pairs
Match each word in the left column with the one that has a similar meaning on the right.
Enter the number of the corresponding word on right.
a) diary
1. digit
b) page
2. call
c) figure
3. bleep
d) reach
4. schedule
e) ring
5. get
Question Time
Ask about the word or phrase you didn't hear properly.
Example:
You can find it on page number XXX
-> Sorry, what page number can I find it on?
a) My name is XXX.
Sorry, please?
b) He works in the XXX department.
Sorry, ?
c) I'll be arriving at about XXX o'clock.
Sorry, ?
d) I'm calling you from XXX.
Sorry, ?
e) The meeting is on XXXday.
Sorry, ?
Closing The Call
Which of the following words or phrases could you use to end a call?
a) Could you hang up, please? Bye.
Yes
No
b) Nice talking to you again. Bye.
Yes
No
c) I'm going now. Bye
Yes
No
d) Right! Fine! Bye.
Yes
No
e) That was everything from my side, I think. OK. Bye.
Yes
No