My Friend Peter

My friend's name is Peter. Peter is from Amsterdam, in Holland. He is Dutch. He is married and has two children. His wife, Jane, is American. She is from Boston in The United States. Her family is still in Boston, but she now works and lives with Peter in Milan. They speak English, Dutch, German and Italian! Their children are pupils at a local primary school. The children go to school with other children from all over the world. Flora, their daughter, has friends from France, Switzerland, Austria and Sweden. Hans, their son, goes to school with students from South Africa, Portugal, Spain and Canada. Of course, there are many children from Italy. Imagine, French, Swiss, Austrian, Swedish, South African, American, Italian, Spanish and Canadian children all learning together in Italy!



MULTIPLE-CHOICE COMPREHENSION CHECK QUESTIONS 1. Where is Peter from?
      a. Germany    b. Holland    c. Spain    d. Canada

2. Where is his wife from?
      a. New York    b. Switzerland    c. Boston    d. Italy

3. Where are they now?
      a. Madrid    b. Boston    c. Milan    d. Sweden

4. Where is her family?
     a. American    b. England    c. Holland    d. Italy

5. What are the children's names?
     a. Greta and Peter    b. Anna and Frank    c. Susan and John     d. Flora and Hans

6. The school is:
     a. international    b. big    c. small    d. difficult



TRUE OR FALSE
1. Jane is Canadian.                                                                        T    F

2. Peter is Dutch.                                                                            T    F

3. There are many children from different countries at the school.     T    F

4. There are children from Australia at the school.                            T    F


Answers: 1b, 2c, 3c, 4a, 5d, 6a
               1F, 2T, 3T, 4F

Personal Information

Personal Information
(Two friends filling in a form together)
Jim: Your painting is fantastic Roger!
Roger: I'm happy you like it. It's for a competition. Here's the form.
Jim: Right. OK, here are the questions.... Your hands are dirty.
Roger: ... from painting! What are the questions? Here's a pen (gives him a pen to fill the form in)
Jim: What's your name?
Roger: oh, that's difficult ... Roger!
Jim: Ha, ha. What's your surname?
Roger: I'm not sure ...
Jim: Very funny! OK, surname - Tailor
Roger: Yes, that's it!
Jim: Next question please. Are you married or single?
Roger: Single. I'm sure about that!
Jim: What's your address?
Roger: 72 London Road.
Jim:... and what are your hobbies?
Roger: hmmm.... painting, going windsurfing and watching TV.
Jim: ... OK, last question. What's your telephone number?
Roger: 0343 897 6514
Jim: 0343 897 6514 - Got it. Where's an envelope?
Roger: Over there ...
Check your understanding with this multiple choice comprehension quiz.

The Meeting

The Meeting
(Two workers in an office)
James: Hi Alice. How are you today?
Alice: Hi James. I'm fine, and you?
James: Great, thank you. Remember, the meeting is at 3 o'clock.
Alice: Excuse me, which meeting?
James: Which meeting?! The meeting with the boss!
Alice: Are you sure there is a meeting today?
James: Alice, Alice, every month there is a meeting with the boss. This month that meeting is this afternoon.
Alice: Calm down. OK, there's a meeting this afternoon. What time is it?
James: Alice, this is important. The meeting is at three o'clock sharp!
Alice: Thank you James... By the way, what time is it now?
James: It's quarter past eleven.
Alice: It's time for lunch!
James: Lunch, now? Lunch time is at twelve.
Alice: Well, I'm hungry now.
James: You're funny Alice. This is an office.
Alice: I'm hungry ... it's just a snack ...
Check your understanding with this multiple choice comprehension quiz.

Introductions

Introductions
(At a party)
Peter: Hello.
Jane: Hi!
Peter: My name is Peter. What's your name?
Jane: My name is Jane. Nice to meet you.
Peter: It's a pleasure. This is a great party!
Jane: Yes, it is. Where are you from?
Peter: I'm from Amsterdam.
Jane: Amsterdam? Really, are you German?
Peter: NO, I'm not German. I'm Dutch.
Jane: Oh, you're Dutch. Sorry about that.
Peter: That's OK. Where are you from?
Jane: I'm from London, but I'm not British.
Peter: No, what are you?
Jane: Well, my parents were Spanish, so I'm Spanish, too.
Peter: That's very interesting. Spain is a beautiful country.
Jane: Thank you. It IS a wonderful place.

Check your understanding with this multiple choice comprehension quiz.
This video with Ellen Quish, an ESL specialist from the Adult Learning Center at LaGuardia Community College in New York City, will help you practice ways of introducing yourself. The video highlights the most common English introduction vocabulary and phrases.

Travel Greetings - Social Language

Here are a number of phrases used when saying goodbye to friends or family as the depart on trips, both short and long.
Long Trips, Vacations, etc. American English
Have a good trip.
Enjoy your vacation.
Have a good time in (destination)

Long Trips, Vacations, etc. British English
Have a good journey.
Enjoy your holidays.
Have a good time in (destination)

Short Outings
Enjoy! (American English)
Have a good time at (destination place such as a restaurant)
Have a good time in (destination city)

When your friends or family return home it is common to use one of the following phrases:
How was your vacation? (holiday in British English)
Did you enjoy your time in (destination)
How was your journey / flight / trip?

Speaking to Strangers - Social Language

Here are a number of polite phrases used when trying to get the attention or help from people. The use of more formal language is common when speaking to someone you do not know:
Interrupting
It is common to first apologize before interrupting another person, or asking for help if you do not know the person.
Excuse me, could I ...
Sorry, do you think I could ...
Excuse me, do you know ...
I beg your pardon, could you help me? (formal)
Asking Someone to Repeat
When asking for information you may have a hard time understanding in public places which can be very noisy (train stations, restaurants, stores, etc.). Here are phrases commonly used to ask someone to repeat what he has said:
Excuse me, I'm afraid I didn't understand. Could you repeat that? (formal)
I'm sorry, I didn't catch that. (informal)
What? (very informal!)
I beg your pardon.

Special Days - Social Language

It is common to use a special greeting used just for that occasion on special days, holidays and other special occasions. Here are some of the most common:
Birthdays
Happy birthday!
Best wishes / Good luck on your thirtieth (age - use an ordinal number) birthday!
Many happy returns!
Wedding / Anniversary
Congratulations!
Best wishes / good luck on your tenth (number - use an ordinal number) anniversary!
Here's to many more happy years together (used when making a toast)

Special Holidays
Merry Christmas!
Happy New Year / Easter / Hanukkah / Ramadan etc.
All the best for a happy New Year / Easter / Hanukkah / Ramadan etc.
When making special greetings to children on their birthday and at Christmas, it is also common to ask them what they received:
Merry Christmas! What did you get from Santa Claus?
Happy Birthday! What did your Daddy get for you?

Greetings - Social Language

Once you have been introduced to someone, the next time you see that person it is important to greet them. We also greet people as we leave people. In English (as in all languages), there are different ways to greet people in formal and informal situations.
Formal Greetings: Arriving
Good morning / afternoon / evening.
Hello (name), how are you?
Good day Sir / Madam (very formal)
Informal Greetings: Arriving
Hi / Hello
How are you?
What's up? (very informal)
How are you doing? (very informal)
It's important to note that the question "How are you?" or "What's up?" doesn't necessary need a response. If you do respond, these phrases are generally expected:
Very well, thank you. And you? (formal)
Fine / Great (informal)
Formal Greetings: Departing
Good morning / afternoon / evening.
It was a pleasure seeing you.
Goodbye.
Note: After 8 p.m. - Good night.
Informal Greetings: Departing
Goodbye / Bye.
See you (later).
Later (very informal

Introductions - Social Language

There are a number of phrases that are commonly used to introduce strangers.
(name), I don't think you've met (name).
I don't think you know (name)
May I introduce you to (name)
(name), do you know (name)?
(name), I'd like you to meet (name)
When you meet someone the first time, it is common to greet the person with "How do you do?" the correct response is "How do you do." Here is a short introductory conversation:
Ken: Peter, I'd like you to meet Mary.
Peter: How do you do?
Mary: How do you do.
Ken: Mary works for ...
A variation is also "It's a pleasure to meet you." or "Pleased to meet you."
Ken: Peter, I'd like you to meet Mary.
Peter: It's a pleasure to meet you.
Mary: How do you do.
Ken: Mary works for ...
Ken: Peter, I'd like you to meet Mary.
Peter: How do you do?
Mary: Pleased to meet you.
Ken: Mary works for ...
In informal situations, especially in North America, introductions are also made simply saying: "This is (name)." It is also common to just say "Hi" or "Hello" as a response in this informal setting.
Ken: Peter, this is Mary.
Peter: How do you do?
Mary: Pleased to meet you.
Ken: Mary works for ...
It is also quite common to shake hands when you are introduced. After the initial introduction, hand shaking generally takes place in more formal, business situations. Otherwise, people just say "Hi."

Please and Thank you

Here are the principal uses of please and thank you in English.
Please for Requests
'Please' is used in order to make requests more polite. It is is added to the end of polite question and is preceded by a comma.
Polite Question + , + please + ?
Could you give me a hand, please?
May I use your telephone, please?
Can I join your table, please?
Please for Confirming Help
'Please' is also used to confirm an offer of help using the phrase: 'Yes, please.'
Would you like to come with us? - Yes, please.
May I help you? - Yes, please. I'd like to know ...
Please and Orders
Orders are given in English using the imperative form. Generally, 'please' is not used when giving orders or instructions, especially if there are a number of instructions to follow.
For example, a teacher might give the following instructions to a class:
Open your book to page 40.
Read the introduction.
Do the introductory exercises.
Read the passage.
Take the multiple choice follow-up quiz.
'Please' can be used when giving instructions to make the order a little more polite. This is usually done when only one order (or instruction) is given and is used only in spoken English.
Please sit down.
Please pay attention.
Please fill in this form.
Notice that 'please' is placed at the beginning of this structure.
When to NOT use Please
'Please' is not used as a response to 'thank you'.
WRONG
Thank you.
Please
RIGHT
Thank you
You're welcome
Thank you
No problem
Thank you
Not at all
Use of Thank You
'Thank you' is used when a compliment is given.
You're a fantastic tennis player!
Thank you.
I really enjoyed dinner. It was very tasty.
Thank you, I'm glad you like it.
Thank You to Accept and Refuse Offers
'Thank you' is often used at the beginning of a reply to an offer. It can be used in both the positive and the negative form to either accept or refuse an offer.
Would you like something to drink?
Thank you. I'd like a cola, please.
Do you want to join us at the concert tonight?
No thank you. I need to study!
Thanks
'Thanks' is also used in the same manner as thank you in informal contexts.