Part I. Listening activities

Task 1.1. Listen to a conversation between a woman and a man (from Mortimer C. Elements of Pronunciation. Intensive Practice Course for Intermediate and More Advanced Students. – Cambridge: CUP, 1994. – P.8).

What do you think about the subject of the conversation? What are the woman and the man speaking about?

Task 1.2. Listen to the conversation again. Notice the intonation of the speakers. How do they sound? Do they sound calm, uninterested and bored? Or do they seem to be quite involved in the conversation? Do you feel vigorous disagreement or contradiction in the woman’s remarks? If ‘yes’, in which ones?

A: But I can’t. I’m sorry, but I can’t.

B: But you must.

A: I’d like to. But I can’t.

B: But I’m depending on you. We’re all depending on you.

A: I’ll do anything but that.

B: But no one else could do it as well as you!

A: Why not ask Dalia? She could do it even better.

B: But she’s too busy.

Task 1.3. Listen to the beeped version of the conversation again. Mark the stresses and tunes in all remarks. Comment on the intonation patterns of the speakers’ utterances. Then practise these utterances aloud trying to convey the right attitudes.

Task 2.1. Listen to a woman talking to a man (from Mortimer C. Elements of Pronunciation. Intensive Practice Course for Intermediate and More Advanced Students. – Cambridge: CUP, 1994. – P.17).

What does the woman try to persuade the man into? Why do you think she does it? What propositions does she make? Does the man accept any of them?

A: All those friends overseas – why not write to them? Or go somewhere. Go to the cinema. Or to the beach. Or to the tennis club. You can’t sit brooding about the girl all the time.

B: Yes, I think I will write to them.

A: Good.

B: She usually goes to the Post Office about five.

Task 2.2. Listen to the woman’s first remark again. This time notice the intonation of the speaker. How does she sound? Which intonation patterns does she use?

Task 2.3. Listen to the beeped version of the same remark. Mark the stresses and tunes in it. Then practise the remark aloud conveying the right attitudes.

Task 3.1. Listen to a few short conversations and decide if speaker B sounds interested or bored.

1. A: I’m starting a new job on Monday.

B: Are you? How exciting.

2. A: There’s a new film on at the cinema. Do you want to go?

B: Yes, I’d like that. Do we need to book?

3. A: The class is cancelled tonight. The teacher had an accident on the way here.

B: Oh dear. Is she all right?

4. A: There’s a party at Tom’s tonight.

B: Great. Am I invited?

5. A: I’m getting married in the summer.

B: That’s wonderful.

6. A: My results should be out tomorrow.

B: Really? You must be worried.

7. A: There’s a new student arriving today.

B: Is there? I hope it’s a girl.

8. A: I think there’s a car coming up the drive.

B: Right. I’ll get my camera.

Task 3.2. Listen to the conversations again. Mark the stresses and tunes. Say what intonation contours convey lively and interested attitude. Thenpractise the conversations aloud imitating the speaker’s intonation.

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