English Lesson 56

Fashion and faraway places

Fashion and clothes, a place in another part of the world you would love to visit, and learning about other countries.

How to practise
  1. Listen to an answer two times. Read the text while you listen.
  2. Shadow it. Set the speed to 0.75×. Play it again and speak at the same time as the voice.
  3. Turn on practice mode. The answers are hidden. Read each question and answer it out loud.
  4. Make it yours. Use the same phrases, but say true things about your city, your job and your life.
  5. Practise with a partner. One person reads the questions. The other answers without looking.
Speed

Part 1 · Interview

Fashion

Short answers. About 20 to 30 seconds each. Answer, give a reason, add one detail.

Do you care about fashion? Why?

A little. I like to look neat and clean, but I don't follow every new trend. Fashion changes too quickly, and it's expensive. I prefer simple, classic clothes that I can wear for many years.

  • look neat and cleanlook tidy and nice
  • follow every new trendcopy every new fashion
  • classic clothesclothes that are always in style

Are there any traditional clothes in your country?

Yes, there are many, because different regions have their own styles. For example, Kurdish clothes are very colourful, and women in the north wear bright skirts with many layers. Today, people mostly wear them at festivals and weddings.

  • different regions have their own styleseach area is different
  • many layersmany pieces on top of each other
  • mostly wear them at festivalswear them for special events

Have you ever bought clothes online? Why?

Yes, a few times. It's easy and sometimes cheaper. But I had some bad experiences. Once, I ordered a shirt, and when it arrived, it was much smaller than I expected. So now, I only buy clothes online from shops I know.

  • a few timessome times
  • I had some bad experiencessome things went wrong
  • much smaller than I expectedsmaller than I thought

What is your favourite item of clothing?

My favourite is an old denim jacket. I bought it when I was a student, and I've worn it for years. It's a bit faded now, but it's comfortable, and it goes with everything. It has a lot of memories for me.

  • item of clothingone piece of clothing
  • denim jacketa jacket made of jeans material
  • fadedlighter in colour because it's old
  • it goes with everythingit looks good with all my clothes

Part 2 · Cue card

A place in another part of the world you would love to visit

You get 1 minute to prepare and then speak for 1 to 2 minutes. Follow the four points on the card in order.

Candidate task card

Describe a place in another part of the world that you would love to visit in the future.

You should say:

  • what you know about the place
  • how you know about it
  • how you would go there
  • and explain why you would love to visit that place
Ready 1:00

Start

I'd like to talk about Machu Picchu in Peru. It's an ancient city high in the mountains of South America.

What you know about it

It was built by the Inca people more than five hundred years ago. It sits on top of a mountain, about two and a half thousand metres high. For hundreds of years, the outside world didn't know about it. Today, it's one of the most famous historic sites in the world.

How you know about it

I first saw it in a documentary when I was a teenager. Since then, I've seen many photos, and a friend of mine went there two years ago. She showed me her pictures, and I decided that I must go one day.

How you would get there

It's a very long trip. I'd fly to Lima, the capital of Peru, then to a city called Cusco. From there, you take a train through the mountains, and then a bus up to the ruins. Some people walk the old Inca Trail for four days, and I'd love to try that.

Why you want to go

I want to go because I find ancient civilisations fascinating. It's amazing that people built a city in such a difficult place, without modern machines. Also, the mountains and clouds around it look magical. I think it would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

  • It's an ancient citya very old city
  • the outside world didn't know about itother people didn't know it existed
  • I decided that I must go one dayI decided it's necessary for me
  • the ruinswhat is left of old buildings
  • fascinatingextremely interesting
  • a once-in-a-lifetime experiencesomething you do only once in your life

Part 3 · Discussion

Learning about other countries

Longer answers. About 30 to 45 seconds. Give your opinion, explain why, and give an example.

What kinds of TV programmes about different places are popular in your country?

Travel shows are quite popular, where a presenter visits a country and tries the local food. Nature documentaries are also very popular, especially about animals in Africa. People enjoy them because they can see the world without leaving home.

  • Travel showsTV programmes about travelling
  • a presenterthe person who leads a TV show
  • without leaving homewhile staying at home

Can people learn more about geography from TV than from books?

In some ways, yes. TV shows you real images and sounds, so it's easier to remember. But books give more details and explanations. I think TV is good for getting interested in a place, and books are better for deep knowledge.

  • In some ways, yes.a partly positive answer
  • real images and soundsreal pictures and sounds
  • deep knowledgedetailed understanding

Do TV programmes about other places encourage people to travel?

Yes, I think they do. When people see beautiful places on TV, they want to see them with their own eyes. Many people choose their holiday after watching a travel show. But some people just enjoy watching and never actually go.

  • encourage people to…make people want to
  • with their own eyesin real life
  • never actually godon't really go

Why has international travel increased in recent years?

There are several reasons. Flights have become cheaper, and booking is easy online. More people have enough money to travel. Social media also shows us beautiful places every day, so people want to visit them.

  • There are several reasons.start a list
  • booking is easy onlinereserving is simple on the internet
  • have enough money to…can afford to

Is it important to learn about another country before you visit it?

Yes, I agree it's important. If you know a little about the culture, you can avoid doing something rude by mistake. You also enjoy the trip more, because you understand what you're seeing. For example, knowing the history of a building makes a visit much more interesting.

  • avoid doing something rude by mistakenot be impolite accidentally
  • you understand what you're seeingyou know what it means
  • much more interestingfar more interesting

How useful is it to understand the language of the country you visit?

It's very useful. Even a few words, like hello and thank you, make local people friendlier. If you understand more, you can ask for directions, read menus and talk to people. It makes travel easier and much more personal.

  • Even a few words, …even a little language
  • ask for directionsask how to get somewhere
  • read menusread lists of food in restaurants

Audio: Microsoft neural voices. A British voice reads the examiner's questions, and an American voice reads the model answers.