A A PRACTICAL ENGLISH

Getting to know someone

Lesson code: TSRV-E3FF-FQBG INTERMEDIATE +

1 People you know

Match the words on the left with their definitions on the right:

1. close friend a. a friend of two people who may or may not know each other
2. colleague b. a person who is connected to you by blood
3. acquaintance c. a person who is in the same class as you at school
4. classmate d. a person who shares an apartment with you
5. flatmate e. a person who works with you
6. stranger f. a person who you do not know
7. mutual friend g. a person who you have met but do not know well
8. relative h. a person who you know very well and who you like a lot

Now complete the sentences below with appropriate words from above.

1
I don't know him that well. He's just an .
2
My never does any cleaning. It's very annoying.
3
My grandfather came from Greece, and I have many living there at the moment.
4
I can talk to her about any problem. We are .
5
One of my was on sick leave, so the manager gave me some additional duties.
6
"How do you two know each other?" "We met through a ."
7
Charlie forgot to bring his coursebook, so he had to borrow one from a .
8
I've never seen him before. He is a complete .

2 Getting to know someone

Listen to an extract of a conversation between Simon and Alice. Tick the topics that they talk about.

origin/birth ✷ work ✷
hobbies/interests ✷ family ✷
travel ✷ studies ✷
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 Getting to know someone
A A A A PRACTICAL ENGLISH

Listen again and complete the questions. Put them into the table below.

1
Simon: So, where do ?
Alice: Well, I was born in Bristol, but my mother is from Spain originally.
2
Simon: Really? in Spain?
3
Alice: In Madrid. ?
Simon: No I haven't, but I did have a wonderful holiday in Barcelona last summer. What
4
?
Alice: I work as a tour guide for foreign visitors to London. And you?
Simon: I'm an English teacher.
5
Alice: An English teacher? Do you ?
Simon: Yes, I do. It allows me to travel a lot and I really enjoy visiting new places. I spent last year
teaching in Korea.
Alice: Korea? Wow, that sounds interesting.
6
Simon: Yes, it was. Right now, I'm back home, on my summer break. ?
Alice: Yes, when I can. I especially love hot countries.
7
Simon: Italy?
Alice: Yes, I have actually, several times. I went there last summer. The weather and the food were just
fantastic.
Simon: Yes, I enjoy good weather too. It's a pity we don't get much here.

Origin/birth Where do you come from?

Work

Travel

3 Getting to know someone

Now listen to a conversation between James, an American from Seattle, and Eriko, a tourist from
Japan. Tick the topics that they talk about.

hobbies/interests ✷ family ✷
the weather ✷ study/languages ✷
current visit ✷ politics ✷
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 Getting to know someone
A A A A PRACTICAL ENGLISH

Listen again to the dialogue and try to complete the questions:

1
James:So, Eriko, Seattle?
Eriko: Yes, it is.
2
James:When here?
Eriko: I got here on Monday.
3
James:On Monday? And how long ?
Eriko: Just a week.
James:Oh, that's a shame. You'll need much more time to get to know the city properly. Where
4
?
Eriko: At the Bridge Hotel. Do you know it?
5
James:Yes, I've heard it's very nice. And how long English?
Eriko: Oh, about ten years. In Japan, I have a teacher from New York. Have you been there?
James:No, not yet, but I have a few friends from there.
6
Eriko: So what ?
James:Well, I like listening to music and playing the guitar. In the summer, I also really enjoy water
7
sports like wind surfing and scuba diving. How about you? ?
Eriko: Yes, I do aikido.
James:Oh really? Are you any good?

Put the questions into the table below:

Hobbies/interests

Study/languages

Current visit

Study all the questions in this exercise and Exercise 2. Which question(s) ask about...

1. general facts about a person?

2. somebody's experiences?
3. an activity that started in the past and continues up to now?
4. a temporary situation in the present?
5. a past event?
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 Getting to know someone
A A A A PRACTICAL ENGLISH

4 Showing interest
Study the conversations in Exercise 2 and 3. How do the speakers show interest in what the other
person is saying? Tick the techniques that you notice.

They use expressions such as `Really?', 'That sounds interesting', etc. ✷

They use repetition, e.g. `An English teacher?', `Korea?', 'On Monday?' ✷
They ask questions such as `Whereabouts in the States?', `Do you enjoy your work?', etc. ✷

5 Role play
In pairs, practise getting to know each other, using language from this lesson. Remember to show
interest in what your partner is saying.

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 Getting to know someone - Transcripts
A A A A PRACTICAL ENGLISH

2- Getting to know someone

Simon: So, where do you come from?

Alice: Well, I born and brought up in Bristol, but my mother is from Spain originally.
Simon: Really? Whereabouts in Spain?
Alice: In Madrid. Have you been there?
Simon: No I haven't, but I did have a wonderful holiday in Barcelona last summer. What do you do for a
living?
Alice: I work as a tour guide for foreign visitors to London. And you?
Simon: I'm an English language teacher.
Alice: An English teacher? Do you enjoy your work?
Simon: Yes, I do. It allows me to travel a lot and I really enjoy visiting new places. I spent last year
teaching in Korea.
Alice: Korea? Wow, that sounds interesting.
Simon: Yes, it was. Right now, I'm back home, on my summer break. Do you travel much?
Alice: Yes, when I can. I especially love hot countries.
Simon: Have you ever been to Italy?
Alice: Yes, I have actually, several times. I went there last summer. The weather and the food were just
fantastic.
Simon: Yes, I enjoy good weather too. It's a pity we don't get much here.

3- Getting to know someone

James: So, Eriko, is this your first time in Seattle?

Eriko: Yes, it is.
James: When did you arrive here?
Eriko: I got here on Monday.
James: On Monday? And how long are you here for?
Eriko: Just a week.
James: Oh, that's a shame. You'll need much more time to get to know the city properly. Where are you
staying?
Eriko: At the Bridge Hotel. Do you know it?
James: Yes, I've heard it's very nice. And how long have you been learning English?
Eriko: Oh, about ten years. In Japan, I have a teacher from New York. Have you been there?
James: No, not yet, but I have a few friends from there.
Eriko: So what do you do in your spare time?
James: Well, I like listening to music and playing the guitar. In the summer, I also really enjoy water sports
like wind surfing and scuba diving. How about you? Do you do any sports?
Eriko: Yes, I do aikido.
James: Really? Are you any good?
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 Getting to know someone - Key
A A A A PRACTICAL ENGLISH

1- People you know

1. h 2. e 3. g 4. c 5. d 6. f 7. a 8. b

NOTE: Many learners confuse `stranger' with `foreigner' (a person from another country).

1. acquaintance 2. flatmate 3. relatives 4. close friends

5. colleagues 6. mutual friend 7. classmate 8. stranger

2- Getting to know someone

Students can work alone and check in pairs. Play the audio file or use your mobile device to scan the QR code
(make sure you have installed a QR code reader app and can access the Internet on your device).

✦ origin/birth
✦ work
✦ travel

1. Where do you come from? 2. Whereabouts (in Spain)? 3. Have you been there?
4. What do you do for a living? 5. Do you enjoy your work? 6. Do you travel much?
7. Have you ever been to (Italy)?

ORIGIN/BIRTH: Whereabouts in the States?

WORK: What do you do for a living? Do you enjoy your work?
TRAVEL: Have you been there? Do you travel much? Have you ever been to..?

3- Getting to know someone

Students can work alone and check in pairs. Play the audio file or use your mobile device to scan the QR code.

✦ hobbies/interests
✦ study/languages
✦ current visit

1. Is this your first time in (Seattle)?

2. When did you arrive here?
3. How long are you here for?
4. Where are you staying?
5. How long have you been learning English?
6. What do you do in your spare time?
7. Do you do any sports?

HOBBIES/INTERESTS: What do you do in your spare time? Do you do any sports?

STUDY/LANGUAGES: How long have you been learning English?
CURRENT VISIT: Is this your first time in Seattle? When did you arrive here? How long are you
here for? Where are you staying?

1. Where do you come from? Whereabouts in the States? What do you do for a living? Do you enjoy
your work? Do you travel much? What do you do in your spare time? Do you do any sports?
2. Have you been there? Have you ever been to ...? Is this your first time in Seattle?
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 Getting to know someone - Key
A A A A PRACTICAL ENGLISH

3. How long have you been learning English?

4. How long are you here for? Where are you staying?
5. When did you arrive here?

4- Showing interest

✷
✟ They use expressions such as `Really?', 'That sounds interesting', etc.
✷
✟ They use repetition, e.g. `An English teacher?', `Korea?', 'On Monday?'
✷
✟ They ask questions such as `Whereabouts in the States?', `Do you enjoy your work?', etc.

5- Role play

Go around the class monitoring the activity. Encourage the use of language from this lesson.

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You can review this worksheet online at www.linguahouse.com/ex

Review your flashcards at least 3-5 times a week for 20 minutes to keep the material fresh in your memory.
PI

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P H OT