LANGUAGE LEADER Audioscripts
Progress Test 1–3
Track 1
Agent, Petra
A: Hello. How can I help you?
P: Hello. Can you tell me about the office assistant job, please?
A: Certainly. Let me find the information. Let me see … Right. The office assistant job … with DP Computer Export?
P: Yes, that’s right.
A: OK. What information do you want?
P: Well, first of all, where is it? Is it in the city centre?
A: Yes, it is. It’s a modern office and there’s good transport.
P: Fine. What are the working hours and salary?
A: Well, you work from Monday to Friday, from nine o’clock to half past five. And the salary is … let me see … yes …it’s 1,000 pounds a month.
P: OK, but what does an office assistant do? What are the work duties?
A: Well, in this job you answer the phone, you do the filing and you do the photocopying. You also write and send emails and letters. OK?
P: Yes, thank you. What qualifications do I need?
A: Well, you need a school certificate and basic English. I’m sure you have those.
P: Yes, I do. And what skills do I need?
A: Erm … you need good computer skills and good communication skills. OK?
P: Yes, that’s fine. Thank you.
A: So, are you interested in the job?
P: Erm, well, ... the salary isn’t very good ... Do you have any other jobs?
Progress Test 4–6
Track 2
Sasha, Travel agent
S: Hello, it’s Sasha Kaplinski here.
TA: Hello Sasha. I’ve got your email about New York.
S: Great! I’d like to book the trip now. Have you got some details for me?
TA: Well, I’ve got two flights for you, one is with Oz Air, the other one is with Top Air.
S: Can you tell me about the Oz Air flight first? When does it leave?
TA: OK. Well, the flight leaves at eight in the morning and it arrives at seven in the morning, their time.
S: OK. How long does that flight take?
TA: It takes 14 hours.
S: Fourteen, that’s not bad. And how much does it cost?
TA: Erm, it costs 300 Australian dollars.
S: That’s a good price. Is it a good airline?
TA: Oh yes. The in-flight service is very good.
S: Fine, and what about the second flight?
TA: The second one is with Top Air. This is a very good airline. Their in-flight service is excellent – it’s better than Oz Air’s. You can have a head massage and the food is great.
S: Sounds good. When does it leave? And when does it arrive?
TA: Well, it leaves at six in the evening and gets there at 5 p.m., their time.
S: How much does it cost?
TA: This one costs 600 Australian dollars.
S: I see. How long does it take?
TA: It also takes 14 hours.
S: Mmm, that’s good, but it’s expensive.
TA: Do you want to make a booking now?
S: Erm, I think so. Yes.
Track 3
TA: OK. One moment please. Right, so, can I have your full name, please?
S: Sasha Andrei Kaplinski. That’s K-A-P-L-I-N-S-K-I.
TA: Thank you. And which airline would you like to travel with?
S: I’d like to book the Oz Air flight please.
TA: OK. When do you want to travel?
S: Next Tuesday.
TA: Next Tuesday, that’s the 1st of October, and what about the return flight?
S: One week later, please.
TA: OK, on the 8th, that’s no problem. So, would you like business or standard class?
S: Oh, standard class. The company doesn’t want to spend a lot of money.
TA: Fine, and finally, would you like a window or an aisle seat?
S: Oh, can I book that now?
TA: Yes, you can.
S: Excellent. Can I have a window seat, please?
TA: Certainly. OK, that’s all. How would you like to pay?
S: Oh, by credit card please, the company credit card.
TA: OK, can I have the card number please? …
Progress Test 7–9
Track 4
Tutor, Nathan, Marjorie
T: OK everyone! Today’s presentation is by Nathan and Marjorie. Start when you’re ready, Nathan.
N: OK. Hello everyone. Our presentation is called A Smaller World and it’s about technology and cultural change. The talk focuses on technology that makes the world smaller, for example television.
M: First of all, can you imagine life without cars and planes? Before the invention of these means of transport, people could only travel by train or boat, and they couldn’t travel very fast. Now, with cars and planes, we can travel further and faster. Some people even live in one country and work in another because they can fly to work. Fifty years ago, people certainly couldn’t do that. And of course, many people fly thousands of miles to go on holiday, and while their grandparents could only read about distant places, they see them. Before we move onto the next type of technology, it is important to remember that planes and cars do have their negative points. They can be dangerous and they cause a lot of pollution, and this also changes the way we live.
N: OK. Second, communications technology, like television and the Internet, certainly makes the world smaller. We stay in our house or office, but we can see news and shows from all around the world. With the Internet, we can write and chat to people all over the world. This is an incredible invention. We can find anything we want in seconds. It makes the world smaller, and it makes it faster! But do these things have any negative points? Well, yes, they do. Nowadays, people spend more time using the technology than they do meeting other people. We’re spending more and more of our time in our houses, talking to strangers in other countries, than we are with our friends and neighbours. My grandmother could name all the people in her street, but I don’t even know the names of my neighbours!
M: So, you can see that technology changes our way of life and culture, in both positive and negative ways. A lot of technology makes the world a smaller place, but does it make it a better place?
T: OK. Thank you Nathan and Marjorie, that was great. Are there any questions?
Progress Test 10–12
Track 5
Sue Cutler
Good afternoon, everyone. How are you today?
My talk this afternoon is about how to stay safe in the city.
First of all, let me tell you that the city of Sheffield is actually one of the safest cities in the UK. Most other big cities are much more dangerous than here. So don’t be scared! But we should always be careful and look after ourselves and our possessions.
We can talk about our personal safety later, but let’s start by saying something about looking after our money. Here are a few things you should and shouldn’t do. A lot of this is common sense, of course, and I’m sure you already do most of these things in your own countries.
Track 6
Sue Cutler, 3 students
SC: Anyway, here goes, starting with the things you should do. Number one – you should be careful in crowded places. By this, I mean on trams, on buses, in busy markets and shopping streets. Pickpockets – that’s people who steal your wallets, purses, cameras and so on – pickpockets love crowded places. So take care.
The next thing is about cards, credit cards and debit cards. You should keep your PIN number safe and secret – only you should know it. Cashpoints are usually outside banks. When you use them, have a look at who is behind you. Are they too close? Are they interested in what you’re doing? Don’t let anyone see you put in your PIN number.
Another important point. If you carry a bag, carry your bag carefully. Make it difficult for someone to take it off you. And if you carry just a wallet, you should keep it in your jacket, in an inside pocket, not in the back pocket of your trousers.
Now, that brings us to some things you shouldn’t do. You shouldn’t carry a lot of cash about with you. By that, I mean lots of big notes, and coins. You can replace traveller’s cheques and credit cards. But you can’t replace lost cash.
Next, you should never take your money out of your wallet or purse in busy public places. This one is obvious, isn’t it? Don’t attract the attention of thieves by counting your money on a busy street! OK. Any questions so far?
S1: Should I wear a money belt when I go out?
SC: Well, most people here don’t wear money belts. Also, money belts are often uncomfortable so I don’t think that it’s necessary, but it’s up to you, I suppose.
S2: Last night, some of us went out to a café. One of the girls had her mobile phone on the table all the time. Is that OK?
SC: Well, no, she shouldn’t do that. That’s really not a good idea. She should keep it in her bag.
S3: Should I leave money in my university room?
SC: The rooms are generally very safe, but, no, you shouldn’t really have a lot of cash in your room, just in case. Any other questions? OK, now let’s move on to talk about personal safety ...
Final Test
Track 7
Hello and welcome to The nation’s favourite everyday invention, the show that tells you the story behind the everyday objects that we use in our daily lives. Each week, we tell you some key facts about the inventions and I tell you why I think they are wonderful or important. At the end of each programme, you can vote for your favourite invention. Simply send a text message to 0810 40 50 60, giving the name of your personal choice. So, vote for an invention and let’s find our national favourite.
Track 8
The first of today’s everyday inventions is that classic symbol of the English businessman – the umbrella. Nowadays, everyone has got one, but before 1750, men never carried umbrellas. So, what’s the story of the umbrella, or brolly? Here are today’s four facts.
First, many hundreds of years ago, rich and important people in hot countries such as China, India and Egypt used umbrellas. These rich people did not use their umbrellas in the rain, they used them in the sun. Of course, poor people worked in the sun, but they didn’t have umbrellas.
Secondly, the Chinese invented the first umbrellas for use in the rain. They put oil and wax on their paper umbrellas.
Thirdly, umbrellas reached Britain about 400 years ago, but, at first, only women had umbrellas: men didn’t like them. In 1750, Jonas Hanway, a British traveller, was the first man to use an umbrella on the streets of England. Other men followed his example and the umbrella at last became very popular in Britain.
And finally, the first umbrella shop, James Smith and Sons, opened in London in 1830, and it’s still open today.
And did you know that over 7,000 people lose an umbrella on London Transport every year, and all these umbrellas go to the Lost Property office. That’s a lot of umbrellas!
Track 9
So, why vote for the umbrella?
Well, the most important reason is that it’s one of the oldest inventions in the world. People found it very useful thousands of years ago, and we still find it useful today.
Secondly, the umbrella is a great invention because it’s got several different uses. We can use it in the rain, we can use it in the sun and we can use it as a walking stick.
Thirdly, vote for the umbrella because umbrellas bring colour to our grey, rainy streets.
My final reason is that umbrellas are very cheap to make and cheap to buy.
So, that’s the wonderful umbrella. When it rains, the rich and the poor can all stay dry. It’s an invention for everyone. If you think this is the greatest everyday invention, vote now by sending a text message to …
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