COURSE 1

Loud and Clear

Introduction1

1. Look at the statements. Face to face communication minimizes the risk of misunderstanding. Consequently, the video phone will be a huge asset to society. Mobile phones are a public nuisance and should be banned. Do you agree with their views expressed? 2. Do you think we have become better communicators with all the high-the aids we have today? Give reasons for your answer.

EXERCISE 1.

How good a listener are you? Which of these could apply to you during a typical

conversation? Tick and then compare your results with another student. Do you hear what Im saying? Day-dreaming about something completely unrelated. Losing interest in what another person is saying. Finishing off sentences for slow or boring speakers Misinterpreting, either deliberately or by accident Filtering the message hearing what you want Butting in before you have heard all the facts Trying to change the subject prematurely Fidgeting and causing other distractions to the speaker EXERCISE 2. Noun
1

___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________

The following words are all to do with qualities a good listener may have. Can _______ restraint _______

you provide the related adjectives or nouns? alertness

Tricia Aspinall & Annette Capel, Advanced Masterclass CAE, Students Book, Oxford University Press, 2006, p. 9-10

Adjective

_______

attentive

_______

respectful

Complete the sentences about good listeners, choosing suitable nouns or adjectives from those above. 1. Janet was very ___________ in the meeting today she picked up a lot of mistakes in the accountants report! 2. Even if you find what he says boring, show him the ___________ he deserves. 3. I thought you were very ___________ just now I would have told them to shut up and mind their own business! 4. If you pay ___________, this wont take long to explain. 5. John is a particularly v interviewer and gives the impression that he is very interested in what people are saying. 6. She showed a lot of ___________ in staying calm during such a confrontation.

Speaking

1. Ask another student questions about the following topics: something they really hate doing something unusual they would like to do

their current job or studies their favourite free-time activity

Make notes of the answers to your questions an then introduce that person to another pair, referring to your notes if necessary. Aim to speak for about 30 seconds. 2. How could you improve the fluency of your introduction and avoid repeating yourself? Look at these conversation linkers and use some of them in a revised introduction. Another very interesting side to X is his/ her In addition to , X is also Moving on to another of Xs On the other hand, X believes Changing the subject a little, x is a One more thong needs to be said about X Finally, Xs ambition is to Last but not least, X

Reading2

1. Read the whole of this text about mobile phones quickly, timing yourself as you

read. Find out who bought each phone and who pays the bill.

Tricia Aspinall, Anette Capel, Advanced Masterclasss CAE Workbook, Oxford University Press, 2006, p. 4-6

These days it seems that every other teenager is walking down the street with a mobile phone glued to their ear. Here, mothers and daughters say what a mobile means to them. Barbara (47) I sometimes worry that the mobile will get passed around and Ill run up a huge bill without even realizing it. That hasnt happened yet so many of Louisas friends have got their own anyway. Theyve all got used to them now, but they were very much toys to begin with. Teenagers seem to need constant communication and when the phone rings as theyre walking down the street, they think its very glamorous. Daughter Louisa (17) I was delighted when I got it but scared of taking it out in case it got pinched. I always call Mum if Im late, and I feel much more confident with it. Out of all my friends, only about five havent got one. Its handy once a friend of mine had a serious medical problem and it meant we could get help quickly. Jose Vanessas dad Terence and I were worried of keeping rack of her when she was out with friends. Her safety was a big concern, especially living in London. Although I never thought I would say, Ive come around to the idea of teenagers having them, as long as their use is strictly limited. Vanessa is not allowed to take it to school and she pays her bills out of her savings. Calls are free at weekend so shes able to have a good gossip to her mates then. Daughter Vanessa (15) My phone was an early 15th birthday present. Its a real security blanket, especially if Im out late. I never take it to school although loads of girls do the teachers get furious when they ring in class. My parents were dead against it at first, but when they realised it wasnt a status symbol, they agreed. 2. Now read the text again and match these statements to the four people. 1. She can chat to her friends without it costing a fortune. 2. I worry about not being in control of it. 3. I feel safer having it with me at night. 4. We didnt want her to have one to begin with. 5. Teenagers see having a mobile phone as a status symbol. 6. We wanted to know where she was at any time. 7. I worried about it being stolen at first. 8. A mobile phone is useful in an emergency. __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________

3. The text is in informal spoken English. Find these words and phrases in the text and then give more formal equivalents. An example is given. 3

0. run up 1. pinched 2. handy 3. gossip 4. mates 5. load of 6. dead against

__accumulate__ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ 4. Vanessa describes her mobile phone as a real security blanket, something that gives her a feeling of safety. The word blanket can be a noun, an adjective or a verb. Say which part of speech it is in each of these examples and explain the meaning.

1. A layer of mist blanketed the hills and it was impossible to find our way. 2. There was blanket coverage of the scandal in the press. 3. Freddys such a wet blanket he wouldnt even come for a drink with us last night. 4. Many airlines now enforce a blanket ban on smoking. 5. They encountered a blanket of silence and endless faces when they entered the room.

Vocabulary
While using this course, keep a separate notebook for vocabulary and try to look back at it regularly. Write down the vocabulary you learn in ways that is meaningful to you. Here are some ways for recording vocabulary. 1. Related parts of speech. Use a dictionary to complete these sets of related words. Remember that the related forms may not be constructive entries. NOUN evasion restraint ___________ distraction ___________ strategy ___________ ___________ jerk ___________ 4 ___________ ADJECTIVE evasive ___________ VERB evade ___________ misinterpret ___________ interrupt

___________

___________

evaluate

2. Meaning clouds. Think about the meaning of the words below and put there related words into each meaning cloud. Then chose a description that matches your choice. outstanding explain nuisance unpleasant distasteful convince pitfall justify harsh suspicion distrust efficient effective snag cynicism

a. disadvantage or problem b. describing qualities c. doubt d. describing something bad e. give reasons for outstanding effective efficient (b) e

3. Collocation Look at dictionary examples to find some frequent collocates for words you have learnt. For example, the adjective harsh is often used with the following nouns: harsh weather a harsh voice a harsh judgement harsh facts/ the harsh truth Now write down some noun collocation foe each of these adjectives. a. high-tech b. monotonous c. tailor made d. far-reaching e. direct f. tactless _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________

4. Extension This lesson looked at compound adjectives ending in ing, foe example, hardhitting. Many compound adjectives end with ed. Add any you know to this list. big-headed open-minded stony-faced short-tempered light-hearted _____________________ - headed _____________________ - headed _____________________ - minded _____________________ - minded _____________________- faced _____________________- faced _____________________- tempered _____________________- tempered _____________________- hearted _____________________- hearted 5. Register Remember to note down any usage restrictions when you list new vocabulary and record informal and more formal equivalents together. Suggest phrasal verbs which have a similar meaning to these verbs. An example is given. 0. wait 1. avoid 2. defer ____hang on ____ _____________________ _____________________ 6

3. reprimand 4. increase 5. specify

_____________________ _____________________ _____________________

Writing
Chose suitable words to complete this note to a friend. excuses unconvincing pretend let tactless sorry guilty upset harsh splendid Dear Kate I am so (1) _____________________ that I forgot to come to your wedding last week. I feel really (2) _____________________ about it, particularly as you sent me such a (3) _____________________ invitation. I cant give any (4) _____________________for this (5) _____________________ behaviour even if I (6) _____________________ to you that I am busy at work, I know you will find this (7) _____________________ as a reason. The (8) _____________________ reality is that Ive (9) _____________________ you down. I can only tell you again how (10) _____________________ I feel and hope that youll forgive me. Love Rachel

Reading
another student.

1. Look at these phrases. Discuss your interpretation of their meaning with 3. genuine imitation leather 4. economically non-affluent people

1. incomplete success 2. real counterfeit diamonds How would you describe this type of language?

2. Read the article once, timing yourself as you read. Which people might use doublespeak?

The World of Doublespeak3

Farmers o longer have cows, pigs, chickens, or other animals on their farms: according to U.S. Department of Agriculture, farmers have grain-consuming animal units. Attentive observers of the
3

Tricia Aspinall & Annette Capel, Advanced Masterclass CAE, Students Book, Oxford University Press, 2006, p. 13-14

English language also learned recently that multibillion dollar stock market crash of 1987 was simply a forth quarter equity retreat; that airplanes dont crash, they just have uncontrolled contact with the ground; and that President Reagan wasnt really unconscious while he underwent minor surgery, he was just in a non-decision-making form. In other words, doublespeak continues to spread as the official language of public communication. Doublespeak is a blanket term for language which pretends to communicate but doesnt, language that makes the bad look good, the negative appear positive, the unpleasant attractive, or at least tolerable. It is language which avoids, shifts, or denies responsibility, language which is at variance with its real meaning. We know that a toothbrush is still a toothbrush even if the advertisement on television call it a home plague remove instrument, and even that nutritional avoidance therapy means a diet. But who would guess that a volume-related production schedule adjustment means closing an entire factory in the doublespeak of General Motors, or that energetic disassembly means an explosion in a nuclear power plant in the doublespeak of the nuclear power industry? The euphemism, an inoffensive or positive word or phrase designed to avoid a harsh, unpleasant, or distasteful reality, can at times be doublespeak. But the euphemism can also be a tactful word or phrase; for example passed away functions not just to protect the feelings of another person but also to express our concern for anothers grief. A euphemism used mislead or deceive, however, becomes doublespeak. Jargon, the specialized language of a trade or profession, allows colleagues to communicate with each other clearly, efficiently, and quickly. Indeed, it is a mark of membership to be able to use and understand the groups jargon. But it can also be doublespeak pretentious, obscure, and esoteric terminology used to make the simple appear complex, and not to express but impress. Lawyers and tax accountants speak of an involuntary conversion of property when discussing the loss or destruction of property through theft, accident, or condemnation. So, if your house burns down, or your car is stolen or destroyed in an accident, you have, in legal jargon, suffered an involuntary conversion of your property.

A final kind of doublespeak is simply inflated language. Car mechanics may be called automotive internists, elevator operators members of the vertical transportation corps; grocery checkouts clerks career associate scanning professionals. When a company initiates a career alternative enhacement program, it is really laying off 5000 workers; a negative patient care outcome means that the patient died. These last examples should make it clear that doublespeak is not the product of careless language or sloppy thinking. Indeed, serious doublespeak is carefully designed and constructed to appear to communicate but in fact to mislead. Such language is highly strategic, and it breeds suspicion, cynicism, distrust and, ultimately, hostility. If we really believe that we understand doublespeak and think that it communicates, we are in deep trouble. (350 words) 3. The article mentions these different kinds of doublespeak: the euphemism correct. 4. Some of the italic phrases in the article contain compound adjectives ending in ing. For example, grain-consuming animal units, non-decision-making form. Compound adjectives such as these are formed with the present participle. For example, grain-consuming 1. hard-wearing 2. record-breaking 3. labour-saving 4. hard-hitting 5. good-looking 6. never-ending 7. mouth-watering 8. far-reaching smooth-talking a b c d e f g h off-putting convenient interminable outstanding extensive durable attractive direct appetizing Match each compound adjective in 1-8 to an adjective in a-h with a similar meaning. jargon inflated language Can you define each term in your own words? Look back at the article to see if your definitions were

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