British Council Lession

LearnEnglish Professionals
EFFECTIVE WEBSITES AUDIOSCRIPT
Listen to a dialogue between Reeta, an expert on search engine optimisation, and her client.
Optional exercise Listen and match the words and definitions.
1 content a A program that searches the internet for web pages and sends them to a search
engine.
2 keyword b A way of ensuring search engines can find a website.
3 search engine optimisation (SEO) c A word someone types into a search engine.
4 spider d The code that creates the words in the top bar of the browser.
5 title tag e The written text in a website.
Reeta: I’ve looked at your website and the overall design and layout is very good. There are just a few aspects that
need to be improved so that it’s optimised for search engines.
Anthony: I don’t want to sound stupid, but what exactly is search engine optimisation?
Reeta: Don’t worry. Please feel free to ask as many questions as you want. I prefer my clients to understand what I’m
doing. Search engine optimisation is basically making sure that search engines can find your website, and then that your
potential customers can also find it.
Anthony: I see. So this doesn’t just happen automatically?
Reeta: No, if a site isn’t optimised it could just get lost out there, as it were.
Anthony: So, what do we need to do?
Reeta: We need to make sure that your website, and your homepage in particular, includes the relevant keywords.
Anthony: Just a minute. What are keywords?
Reeta: Those are the words a person types into a search engine. Your company sells wooden toys, so an obvious
keyword phrase is ‘wooden toys’.
Anthony: OK, how do we include them?
Reeta: We make sure that the content, the text your customer is going to read, includes these words several times.
The trick is to make it still sound natural, so that customers aren’t put off.
Anthony: And this will mean that when a customer searches for ‘wooden toys’ they’re more likely to find my site.
Reeta: That’s right. We also need to think about what other searches your potential customers could be making. For
example, ‘child’s birthday present’, and include these key words. I’ll rewrite all the content to optimise it for keywords.
Anthony: Great. What else are you going to do?
Reeta: I need to change your title tags.
Anthony: What’s a title tag?
Reeta: It’s the code that creates the words that appear in the top bar of the browser. At the moment yours say things
like ‘Page 2’ and ‘Page 3’. We need to change these so they include your company name and some of the keywords.
Anthony: Anything else?
Reeta: Yes, the search engines prefer sites that have new content added to them, so I suggest that we regularly
update the information on your site. For example, you could highlight a different toy every month, or run special campaigns
at different times of the year, such as Christmas. This will keep the search engine spiders visiting your site.
Anthony: Spiders?
Reeta: Yes. A spider is a program which searches the internet for web pages. Then it sends the page to a search
engine. So search engines use spiders to find new and changed pages. It’s important that spiders can find your site.
Anthony: Well, I didn’t know there were spiders on the internet. Now, another thing …
Answers: 1 e, 2 c, 3 b, 4 a, 5 d www.britishcouncil.org/professionals.htm
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THE AIRBUS AUDIOSCRIPT
Listen to part of a talk about the Airbus A380.
Optional exercise (The answers are at the bottom of the page).
Listen and put these points in the order they are mentioned.
Subject Order
a) the countries which collaborate in the manufacturing
b) the range without refuelling
c) the size
d) where the plane is put together
e) where the wings are made
Everything about this aeroplane is enormous the numbers are truly mindboggling. Its overall length is 73 metres. That’s
about as long as the Great Sphinx in Egypt. The giant twodeck fuselage will typically have 550 seats, but has the potential
to carry up to 800 passengers. The tail, at 21 meters from the ground, is as high as a sevenstorey building. The 845m 2 wing
area is big enough to park 70 cars.
The A380 can fly a staggering 15,000km without refuelling and in order to do that, it needs to carry 310,000 litres of fuel,
making the plane’s take off weight 560 tonnes. Incredibly, though, the A380 will actually be more fuelefficient than other,
similarsized jumbojets. Airbus claim that the plane will burn about 3 litres of fuel per passenger per 100km, making it as
economical to run as a family car.
The building of the A380 is a remarkable example of transnational cooperation. The final assembly line is in Toulouse in
France, but this is only the end of an impressively complicated process.
The construction of each aircraft is the result of collaboration between France, Germany, Britain and Spain. The wings, for
example, are built in England and Wales. The main sections of the fuselage are constructed in Hamburg, Germany. Parts for
the nose and the tail are in fact made in Spain, and only assembled in Germany. Everything is then shipped to France to be
put together.
The A380 jigsaw gets even more complicated, however. Although a European venture, few people realise how much of the
plane is actually made or designed outside the EU. The wings, for example, were created by designers in Wichita in the
United States. Some wing panels, the wheels, and most of the cockpit electronics are also made in America. In fact, in terms
of actual cost, almost half the aircraft is made in the USA.
Answers 1 c, 2 b, 3 d, 4 a, 5 e
www.britishcouncil.org/professionals.htm
ALCOHOL ABUSE AUDIOSCRIPT
Listen to this extract from a radio interview. The host (Ann) is talking to a local MP (Damian) about the
problem of binge drinking in the UK.
Optional activity:
While you listen, decide which of the following summaries best describes Damian’s viewpoint.
1. Binge drinking in the UK is a problem because it gives the rest of Europe a very negative impression of
the British.
2. Bing drinking in the UK is a social problem that has existed for a long time and hasn’t got any worse
despite an increase in media coverage.
3. Binge drinking in the UK is a problem because it costs the Health Service a lot of money
A: Thanks for coming along to the studio today Damian. We are going to talk about alcohol – and more to the
point –alcohol abuse – what we’ve come to know as binge drinking.
D: Yes. Thanks for inviting me Ann.
A: We keep hearing about cases of binge drinking – in the newspapers, on television, in magazines – and on
radio chat show like this one today. But – what exactly is binge drinking? What does the term mean? Is there a
difference between binge drinking and just plain old “getting drunk”?
D: Well, the British Medical Association states that "there is no consensus on the definition of binge drinking”. In
the past we used the term 'binge drinking' to an extended period of time – a couple of days for example – when
a person would continue to drink alcohol to such an extent that he – or she – would abandon their usual
activities – such as work – or, in the case of younger drinkers – classes. In medical terms we usually agree that
binge drinking refers to the thresholds that we have for “holding our drink”.
A: But isn’t binge drinking all about drinking lots of alcohol in a short space of time? And don’t we usually think
of young people when we hear the term used? People who shouldn’t really be drinking alcohol in the first place?
D: Well you are right about the first point. In common usage – probably because of all the recent media
coverage – binge drinking has come to mean a heavy bout of drinking in just one evening – or a similar time
span. Another factor is the intention.
A: The intention?
D: Yes – the fact that binge drinkers actually set out to get drunk. That’s their goal – what they are trying to do.
Binge drinkers aren’t usually solitary drinkers. They drink in groups – sometimes very large groups – especially
in the case of teenagers. And binge drinkers are getting younger and younger – if you believe what you read in
the press.
A: So – let’s get this clear. Large groups of kids get together with the sole intention of getting drunk?
D: In a nutshell yes.
A: And is binge drinking a particularly British problem? Surely young people drink in other countries too?
D: Yes. You are right. Lots of countries have problems with youngsters drinking. But it does seem as though the
UK is taking a particular interest in the problem – let’s say that here – in Britain – we see binge drinking as a
huge social problem. In other countries it’s perceived as less of a problem.
A: And should we be worried? Is it a problem?
D: Well, that depends. I certainly think so – yes! In 2003 the cost of binge drinking was estimated as twenty
billion pounds – the figure will have risen considerably since then I’m sure. In 2005 the government released
figures from the Health Service that suggested that a million accident and emergency admissions each year are
a direct result of alcohol consumption. And the emergency services report that Friday and Saturday nights they
can hardly cope with the demand for attention.
A: So why are the British so notorious when it comes to binge drinking? Are we worse than other European
countries?
D: The culture of drinking in the UK is very different from other countries like France, Spain or Italy. In most
mainland European countries children grow up seeing alcohol consumed slowly – a drop of wine with a meal –
the odd beer on a sunny afternoon. In the UK we go out to the pubs and up until recently the pubs all closed at
eleven on the dot. So – what happens? Well – you drink as fast as you can so that by the time eleven comes
around you aren’t left feeling like another drink!
A: Do you think we are used to seeing people drunk in Britain? Or do we still get shocked?
D: It depends really. But being drunk isn’t socially unacceptable in most European countries – whereas in the
UK – well, in some social circles quite the reverse is true.
A: I’m afraid that’s all we have time for ……..
Answer key: 3.
SUCCESSFUL AMATEURS AUDIOSCRIPT
Interview with an internet entrepreneur, Theo Barker, on being a successful “amateur”.
Optional activity:
While you listen, decide which of the following sentences are true or false.
Sentence True or false?
1. Theo began his businesses because he knew it would be a great success
2. Five years ago Theo was studying
3. When asked if he makes a lot of money, Theo implies that he is satisfied with
what he earns.
4. Theo thinks that the organiser of the music festival has the wrong attitude
5. According to Theo a good product is the most important thing.
6. Theo comes from an impoverished background.
Q= radio interviewer
A. = Theo Barker
Q. Theo, you have set up a number of successful internet-based businesses over the last five years. You
began working from your university dorm.
A: Yeah...I was just messing about really, at first.
Q. It was for fun?
A. Sure, yeah, exactly. I didn’t know five years ago that I’d be here today. The thought never crossed my
mind.
Q. Would you still describe yourself as an amateur?
A. Not in the negative sense, obviously, but in the sense that I love what I do, then, yeah.
Q. But you do make money?
A. I can’t complain!
Q. Why do you think it’s the net that has created so many successful amateurs?
A. Well, first of all, I’m not sure I agree with you that it has created all the successful amateurs...I mean, there
are lots of other examples of people who love what they do and make money out of it. I’m thinking of someone
like Michael Eavis, for example – the guy who runs the Glastonbury festival. I don’t know how much money he
makes from what he does, but that’s not the important thing - most of the year he’s a farmer, but each year he
runs this enormous music festival on the site of his farm. Actually, he doesn’t even do it every year, sometimes
he just thinks “No, can’t be bothered this year.” (Laughs) You know, I think that’s genius. Love that attitude.
He’s only one example, but there are lots of others – people who run record labels, or have restuarants, or
make cheese! (laughs).
Q. Do you think it’s important to love what you do?
A. Yeah, absolutely. There has to be passion for the product.
Q. So it’s the product that’s important?
A. Again yeah – get the product right and everything else is simple. The marketing will look after itself. This is
why the net has produced so many successful amateurs – the marketing is done by “word of mouth” so to
speak, people just tell each other about a site that’s cool, especially through networking sites like MySpace and
Facebook.
Q. Marketing isn’t important?
A. Well, of course it is, I’m sure there are marketing amateurs out there too – people who love what they do!
But I firmly believe that you can’t market a poor product. That’s essential.
Q. Your father was a successful businessman too, and you studied at Cambridge. Does having such a
background help?
A. I’m from a wealthy family, yeah, I’ve never denied it. That helps, obviously. It’s given me time, time above
all is the most important thing, time to experiment and make mistakes and not have to worry too much. But
that’s not a key thing in the rise of the amateur.
Q. Are you sure?
A. Yeah, I am. “Love not money”...that’s my motto! (Laughs)
Q. Thanks.
Answer key: 1. F; 2. T; 3. T; 4. F; 5. T; 6. F.
ANALYSING DOCUMENTS AUDIOSCRIPT
A Dutch doctor is being interviewed about his experience of learning and using English.
Interviewer : When did you begin learning English?
Doctor: I studied medicine in the Netherlands for eight and a half years and I started learning English in
middle school with German and French. In my work I travel all over the world - well, now I’m in China only for a
few weeks but I have travelled with the Red Cross to most countries in the world.
Interviewer : What is the Dutch approach to teaching English in medical school?
Doctor: When I was at university all of our teaching was in Dutch but all the textbooks were in English.
At that time, there was a movement going on in Holland to make all the teaching in English. I followed this
movement very strongly because in my profession it’s important to communicate in English. Most of the
research done in the world is in English too so I need to be able to understand it to evolve.
Interviewer : What was your initial reaction to dealing with medical journals in English?
Doctor: It was difficult to read all the time in English and I certainly had a lot to do. I still do today. I think
it was difficult also because I didn’t know the terms in Dutch either. I was learning the profession. Although,
because of the volume of reading I had to do, I soon improved my reading skills. I had to find information quickly
but be sure not to miss anything important. This helps me now when I have to do research on the Internet and
separate relevant from irrelevant documents.
Interviewer : What do you do when confronted with a document that you find difficult to understand?
Doctor: I've been a doctor for twenty-five years and a surgeon for ten years so I very rarely have
problems with medical documents. However, when I have to read political documents about the country I’m in,
which is often the case as I travel to many war zones, I try to understand the gist. So, to do this I look quickly
over the articles and take a few notes as I read.
Interviewer : Do you sometimes wish you could read English better for your work or is your level sufficient to
get by?
Doctor: I’m never really happy with my level but it’s enough for my work. I think I have to accept
it. I have application forms to read and fill out in English and these are a little more complicated as they don’t
use medical terms.
Interviewer : How do you actively improve your English? If you don’t is there a reason? Is your current level
sufficient for your professional needs?
Doctor: At the moment I’m working a lot with Chinese and French people so I am reading a lot in
French but soon I am going to Scotland and there I will read more in English. I find the more I read in a foreign
language the easier it becomes because you start recognising more words. Basically I can manage in English
but I never stop reading so I’m always learning.
BAGPIPES AUDIOSCRIPT
Listen to this interview with two pipers at a festival.
Optional exercise
You are going to hear some players talking about the bagpipes. Which of the subjects below do you think they
will mention? Then listen and see if you were right. (Answers below)
a. the history of the instrument e. playing in public

b. how they learned to play f. how they keep the instrument clean
c. some playing tips g. their own compositions
d. famous performers h. unusual facts about the bagpipes
Interviewer – We’re here at the Interceltique Festival in Brittany, France and I’m talking to two as yet little known pipers Iria
Salgado (IS), from Galicia, and from Ireland, Ronan Doherty (RD). So how did you get started?
RD There’s been music in my family for as long as I can remember. I learnt the tin whistle when I was six and then after a
year my father bought me my first set of pipes. But it was an uncle who gave me lessons.
IS I was five when I started. I learnt by ear from my father, imitating him like it’s always been done. When I was ten he
started putting me in for competitions.
Interviewer Who have been your musical influences?
IS Well, Milladoiro, who started it all, and Carlos Nuñez who really put Galician music on the map. But my greatest
inspiration has got to be players like Susana Seivane and Cristina Pato for showing that women can be out there just as
much as the men.
Interviewer Ronan?
RD erm, all the obvious names really, Paddy Keenan from the Bothy Band, Liam O’Flynn, Davy Spillane, who I met recently,
though I didn’t get to play with him.
Interviewer What sort of places do you play?
RD Well in Dublin you’re spoilt for choice these days, and I have family out in Westport, County Mayo. I’m always there in
the holidays so I often go along and sit in on sessions at Molloy’s.
Interviewer Iria, I know you’ve started writing you own stuff how would you categorise your music?
IS It’s always based on the traditional repertoire, but I try to incorporate other Celtic influences as well, and the people I play
with are no longer just from my corner of Europe. We have Irish, Cuban and Brazilian guys that come into the group, and so
that gets reflected in the music I write.
Interviewer Ronan, what has been your best gig so far?
RD Performing at the International Bagpipe Festival in Strakonice last year, the crack was amazing 1 and the chance to get
together with guys from other traditions Czechs, Breton pipers, Bulgarians some incredible sounds really.
Interviewer – Iria, what advice would you give to other women wanting to take up the pipes?
IS Now is definitely the time there’s a whole new generation coming through. Even though women pipers are still a
minority, there’s much more acceptance than there was. Nearly half the bagpipe students in Galicia now are girls.
Interviewer – Where can we hear you playing next? Have you got many gigs lined up?
RD I’m doing a series of dates with the band in the west of Ireland, and then going over to Holland and Germany next
March.
IS I’ve got a few concerts in Galicia next month and then I’ll be in Zamora in Spain for a week.
Interviewer – Great. Thanks very much. And to play us out you’re going to do a traditional muineira followed by a reel.
1’the crack was amazing’ is an Irish/Scottish expression meaning ‘we had a very good time’
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Answers: b, d, e, g
CHANGE MANAGEMENT AUDIOSCRIPT
Listen to Sue talking to her line manager Bob about the way she and her team works.
Optional listening activity:

After listening, read these reports on Bob as a line manager. Which report best describes Bob?
Report A
Bob takes great interest in his team. He encourages them to attend training courses, in short he encourages his
team members to be lifelong learners. He shares company strategy with employees and asks for their
comments on this strategy. He has a wide vision across the organisation, again he shares this knowledge with
his team members. Bob regularly holds full team meetings.
Report B
Bob is liked and respected by his team. He encourages lifelong learning amongst team members. He needs to
do more to encourage team learning. Bob is great at one to one interviews, he is rather afraid of full team
meetings and avoids these at all costs. Bob shares some information but he should try to share all company
information with his team.
Bob: Hi Sue, how are things?

Sue: Fine, yeah ..
B: OK, now, about the change in your work routine, you’re going to work Saturdays from next month ...
S: Yes, but why should I have to work on Saturdays .. no-one’s told me why this is necessary ..
B: I’m sorry, this should have been explained to you. We get a lot of people calling now on Saturdays for
information about our products – it’s important that we answer these questions. Is that OK? Any more
questions?
S: No, OK ...
B: Great, well how’s your course coming along? You’re learning how to make websites ...
S: The course is great, it’s not that difficult, I’m helping my son make a website at home, it’s fun ...
B: Great, you’ll be able to work on our site soon then ...
S: Sure, what’s happening in the other departments, is someone there working on Saturdays too?
B: I’m afraid I can’t tell you that at the moment, because they’re different departments I can’t say really ...
S: Hmmm... Are there any other courses I can take after the website designer course finishes?
B: There are one or two that could be useful – let’s talk again about this once you’ve finished the web course ...
S: OK .. You know Bob, I’d like to ask you something, it’s good that you take the time to talk to me about my
work and things but don’t you think it’s be a good idea to talk things through together, you know have a meeting
with everyone in our department, see what everybody thinks – all together ... if we talk things through together I
think we could come up with some great ideas on how to improve things here ...
B: I agree Sue, it would be good for everyone to meet together, especially now that we’ve got so many changes
coming along. You know the problem is that we haven’t got a room big enough for us all to meet together ..
Answer key:
The most suitable report for Bob is: Report B
CHAOS THEORY AUDIOSCRIPT
The economist Asha Badlani describes how chaos theory influences her work
Interviewer = I
Asha Badlani = A
I: Asha, chaos theory seems to be a branch of physics or mathematics. You’re an economist, so how
does it influence your line of work?
A: Well, in a number of ways. I’m responsible for financial development programmes in many parts of the
world, so forecasting long range trends and making predictions on the basis of present evidence is what I do.
Chaos theory was developed by scientists trying to explain the movement of the planets and changes in
environmental conditions. Both of these things are also about making long term predictions on the basis of
present evidence.
I: Are many economists involved in this field?
A: An increasing number. In the 1990s a lot of economists began to look at chaos theory as a way of
providing models for forecasting.
I: What kind of “models” are we talking about here?
A: Well, that’s a good question, because of course the basic idea of chaos theory is that there aren’t any
“models” as such – there aren’t guaranteed forms, but rather patterns of change and development.
I: Doesn’t that mean that forecasting is impossible?
A: No, but it certainly makes it more of a challenge. Mandelbrot, who did the experiment with stock
exchange prices, for example, noted that although the outcomes were variable, there were in fact certain
constants. What we have to do is make sure we know what these are and take into account all the possible
variables.
I: But do economics and finance work in the same way as weather conditions or the movement of plants?
A: Well, no, of course not – but there are certain underlying similarities. In the past, people thought of
these things as “linear systems”, now we know they’re not.
I: What do you mean by “linear system”?
A: Well, for example, in a classic linear system, if I do a, then I know that b will happen and c will occur as
a result of this, and so on. But according to chaos theory, a number of variables can change what will happen
between a and b, and then between b and c.
I: Sounds complicated!
A: Yes, well, it is complicated, there’s no escaping that! However, a lot of what chaos theory teaches us is
simply about accepting uncertainty. We have to accept uncertainty. We can’t guarantee that things will turn
out as we planned them when working with complex, non-linear systems - nor sometimes with simple systems!
CINEMA AND POLITICS AUDIOSCRIPT
Listen to part of a lecture about cinema and politics.
Optional exercise
Listen and decide if these statements are True or False.
1. The lecturer defines political films as films made about politicians.
2. Hotel Rwanda made people aware of what was happening in Rwanda.
3. Very few political films were made in the 1970s.
4. In the 1940s and 1950s American film studios completely avoided showing social problems.
5. The lecturer mentions two films by Richard Attenborough.
6. The film Malcolm X came out in the 2000s.
(Answers below)
You may have heard recently about what is being called the return of political cinema, following recent releases
such as Munich and The Constant Gardener. So today I’m going to look at what political cinema is, and a little
overview of the history of political filmmaking in Hollywood.
First of all, what do I mean by political cinema, or political films? To me, the terms refer to films that make
people aware of political or social situations. To give a recent example, the film Hotel Rwanda caused many
people take notice of the political situation in Rwanda for perhaps the first time. The dramatic imagery of film
can often be far more powerful than news reports.
For many, the heyday of political filmmaking was the 1970s. Watergate, the Vietnam War, and mainstream
actors with social consciences such as Jane Fonda, Robert Redford and Warren Beatty, made for a number of
political films. Think of All the President’s Men, which detailed the scale of corruption in Watergate, or
Apocalypse Now, which graphically portrayed the horror of the Vietnam War.
Political filmmaking didn’t start in the seventies, though. Back in the 1940s and 50s Hollywood produced films
detailing social problems such as unemployment and alcoholism. In 1967 Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, a
comedy about a white couple whose daughter brings home a black fiancé, covered what was then pretty much
a taboo subject, that of interracial relationships.
As I said, the seventies saw a sudden increase in political films, which carried on to some extent into the
eighties, with the release of films such as Gandhi, which won eight Oscars, and Cry Freedom, another
Attenborough film, this time about Steve Biko, a South African activist who died in police custody.
The nineties is not generally seen as a good decade for political cinema. Schindler’s List, Spielberg’s powerful
film about the holocaust, stands out, as does Malcolm X, a biography of the black American activist. Which
brings us to the present decade, and the socalled revival… (fade out)
Answers: 1 F, 2 T, 3 F, 4 F, 5 T, 6 F
CLIMATE CHANGE AUDIOSCRIPT
A radio talk about climate change.
Optional exercise
Read these notes that a student has taken while listening to the radio programme. Identify and correct three errors.
(Answers below)
1. Greenhouse Effect: The sun heats the Earth which sends energy into Space. Radiation stays in the
atmosphere. It warms the atmosphere and the Earth.
2. Methane and commercial oil and gas from landfills cause damage to the Earth’s surface.
3. Burning fossil fuels has made the problem bigger.
4. The formation of new oceans could slow down global warming.
5. Global warming will cause worldwide problems simultaneously.
Interviewer Doctor Grant, could you explain in a few words what The Greenhouse Effect actually
means?
Doctor Grant Well, in simple terms ... the sun heats the Earth’s surface and the Earth radiates energy back out into
Space. Some of the radiation gets trapped in the atmosphere by greenhouse gases. This trapped radiation warms the
atmosphere and some of it goes back down to the Earth, making it hotter than normal. This is the greenhouse effect.
Interviewer So, is carbon dioxide the problem?
Doctor Grant Yes ... and other gases too. Methane ... being released from paddy fileds.... commercial oil and gas from
landfills ... vegetation left to rot without oxygen ... These days there are more greenhouse gases than ever because of
human activities and especially the burning of fossil fuels.
Interviewer What kind of problems do scientists foresee?
Doctor Grant Well, ice caps melting and sea levels rising mean that eventually cities like London, New York, Sydney
and Tokyo will be submerged. This is difficult to imagine of course.
Interviewer It seems incredible ... no wonder scientists are worried.
Doctor Grant Well, some scientists are optimistic.They believe that positive feedbacks from ice clouds and their water
vapour could have an impact on global warming. Other scientists are more sceptical. They suspect that we have been wrong
in our initial analyses of the situation and might need to go back to the drawing board!
Interviewer So are you saying that some scientists don’t believe in the Greenhouse Effect?
Doctor Grant No, I wouldn’t go that far. In fact, without the Greenhouse Effect the planet would be frozen and no life
forms would exist.
Interviewer Is there anything that could protect us from global warming?
Doctor Grant I’m glad you asked me that. Yes! Volcanoes! When a volcano erupts it throws debris up into the
stratosphere. This protects the Earth from solar energy by scattering the sunlight.
Interviewer Of course the best thing that we can do is to address the problem seriously on a world level. That’s where
the Kyoto Treaty enters the picture. If all of the governments in the world would commit themselves to making a real effort to
work together on this issue, we might be able to slow down the process and work out a solution.
Doctor Grant So ...how worried do we need to be?
Interviewer That depends. First of all global warming isn’t going to affect all areas of the planet to the same degree.
Things like the collapse of glaciers take hundreds of years so we are talking about a slow process here.
Doctor Grant Slow enough for us to do something to prevent a catastrophe?
Interviewer Well ... let’s hope so!
Answers
1. Correct; 2. Incorrect: Methane and commercial oil and gas from landfills cause damage to the atmosphere. 3.Correct
4. Incorrect: The formation of ice clouds could slow down global warming. 5. Incorrect: Global warming isn’t going to affect all areas of the
planet to the same degree.
CREATIVITY AT WORK AUDIOSCRIPT
A radio interview about creativity in business.
Optional exercise Listen and decide whether these sentences are true or false. (Answers at end)
1. Reading a good book can animate your creativity.
2. Art and Business are working alone on the project.
3. When business men were asked to name a book which had influenced them, less than half chose a non
fiction book.
4. Creative processes occur in the right side of the brain.
5. When we analyse the relationship between characters in a book, we are training ourselves to
understand emotional matters.
6. Marks & Spencer organises separate reading groups for managers and employees.
Presenter: Art & Business is an organisation that develops creative partnerships between business and the arts. Peter
Jones is going to talk about the company’s ideas and tell us about some of their success stories. Peter, maybe you could
begin by telling our listeners why Art & Business was created?
Peter Jones: Well, in the twenty first century productivity is no longer a matter of machines. The success of a company
depends on its people and on the creativity of its people. It makes sense that the way to increase productivity is to stimulate
creativity.
Presenter: And what better way to stimulate creativity than through reading books.
Peter Jones: Exactly. Every reader knows that a good book can stimulate the imagination and the intellect, get you thinking
along lines you might not have thought of before, open up new worlds.
Presenter: So, have you had any help in setting up the project?
Peter Jones: Yes. The London Libraries Agency and an organisation called The Reading Partnership work with us on this
project. We are trying to use the power of the written word to motivate staff in the workplace.
In a recent survey seven hundred business leaders were asked which book had inspired them and had a positive influence
on their career. They were able to choose any kind of book, any kind at all. Only about 40% chose a business book. Most
people chose a work of fiction; a novel, a play or even poetry.
Presenter: How can reading help somebody to become a more creative worker?
Peter Jones: Successful managers need to be wellrounded people. They need active imaginations. When they interpret
fictional scenarios, they are using their creativity. Readers combine imaginative skills with critical and analytical skills.
Presenter: Are we talking about the right and left sides of the brain?
Peter Jones: Yes. Our logical left side of the brain interprets the language of a book. The creative right side looks at the
forms of expression. The left side analyses the plot while the right side is more interested in the relationships between
characters – the emotional aspects.
Presenter: How does this transfer to the world of Business?
Peter Jones . Creative ideas make businesses more competitive. Shared reading experiences improve communication and
morale at work.
Presenter . Can you give listeners some examples of how this scheme has been brought successfully into the
workplace?
Peter Jones . Employees at WH Smith have stuck poems and quotations above their desks for inspiration.
Presenter: Well, WH Smith deals in books. What about other examples?
Peter Jones: The telecommunications company Orange set up a project called “Talk Books at Work”. They discovered that
encouraging employees to read helped them to develop their linguistic and interpersonal skills.
Marks and Spencer has set up reading groups at work. The groups cut across the usual hierarchies and working
relationships have improved greatly.
Answers: 1T 2F 3F 4T 5T 6F
CRIME AUDIOSCRIPT
Listen to this interview with a couple who have been the victims of repeated crime and a police officer.
Are the following statements True or False according to the interview?
1. The Saunders have been burgled eight times.
2. They bought the house for its views.
3. They thought they might have problems when they bought the house.
4. They think they know who the burglars are.
5. The burglars haven't stolen anything valuable from the Saunders.
6. They do not lock the door.
7. The Crime Prevention Officer doesn't think there is anything they can do to stop the burglars.
8. The Saunders do not have a burglar alarm.
9. The Crime Prevention Officer thinks it's always the same burglars who break into the Saunders' house.
10. Burglars like to steal things which have been bought recently.
Interviewer: Good afternoon. Today on Crime Check we are going to talk about "repeat victims", people who
are victims of crime more than once. First of all we bring you the sad story of Ruth and Harold Saunders from
Hull, who have had their house burgled no fewer than eight times in the last 3 years. Worth an entry in the
Guinness Book of Records you might think, but for Ruth and Harold, it's no joke. Ruth, why do you think you've
been burgled so many times?
Ruth: I wish I knew. It's a nightmare. We bought this house because it looks out onto the playing fields and we
thought it was the perfect house for our retirement.
Interviewer: When were you first burgled?
Ruth: Oh, three years ago, just a week after we had moved in. It was as if the burglars were waiting for us.
Interviewer: Do you feel sorry that you moved there now?
Ruth: Oh definitely. If we had known we were going to have this sort of trouble, we wouldn't be living here we
would chosen somewhere safer. But now we can't even sell the house because everyone knows the burglars
like it! No one will buy it. We can't escape from this neighbourhood. We're just waiting for the next breakin.
Interviewer: Do you know who the burglars are?
Ruth: We think so, but we can never prove anything. You see, people can watch the house from the playing
fields, and there are a number of youths who we see watching the house. They hang around there smoking in
the afternoons. I'm frightened to go to the shops in case they break in while I'm away.
Interviewer: Have you tried calling the police?
Ruth: Yeah, several times, but these youths always get away by running into the woods on the other side of the
playing fields, and the police don't bother to go after them.
Interviewer: And what have you had stolen?
Ruth: Oh all sorts of things on different occasions. They never take much, but they always seem to come back.
They've taken the television twice. If we'd known they were going to come back, we wouldn't have bought a new
television after the first burglary, but a week after we bought it, the burglars broke in again.
Interviewer: What else have they taken?
CRIME AUDIOSCRIPT
Ruth: Oh, apart from the television and the video, nothing very valuable, but then we don't have anything else
which is very valuable. It's annoying really, and they do a lot of damage when they break in. I sometimes think
we should leave a door open. If we left the door open, at least they could come in without doing any damage!
Interviewer: So what are you going to do about this situation?
Ruth: What can we do about it? We'd be happier if we'd stayed in our old house. If we still lived there, I'm sure
we wouldn't have been burgled once. We were there for forty years without a single problem.
Interviewer: Marylyn Brookes, you are Chief Crime Prevention Officer for South Yorkshire police. Is there really
nothing they can do?
CPO: No, there are things they can do though I must say first that I do feel sorry for them.
Interviewer: Well, what can they do?
CPO: If I were them, I'd have had a burglar alarm put in straightaway. In fact, I'm surprised the insurance
company hasn't insisted on that already.
Ruth: Well, they have said that but we can't afford one of those! We only have our pension, and burglar alarms
cost thousands of pounds.
CPO: Well, have you thought of putting a burglar alarm box on the wall? That puts some thieves off. Also, you
should talk to the neighbours and ask them to keep an eye on your home when you're out.
Interviewer: But why do the burglars keep coming back to the Saunders' house? I mean eight times is a lot, isn't
it?
CPO: Well, there are several things here. Obviously it is easy to watch the house from the playing fields, and
also burglars tend to talk amongst themselves. They tell each other which houses are easy to break into, and
what things the houses still have in them. Also they wait a few months until they think the owners have replaced
the things that were stolen. After all, burglars prefer to steal something that's brand new. And another thing you
have to consider is...
Answers: 1T, 2T, 3F, 4T, 5 F, 6F, 7F, 8T, 9F, 10T
CULTURAL HERITAGE AUDIOSCRIPT
A conversation about a cultural heritage site.
Optional exercise Listen to the conversation and decide if these statements are T (true) or F (false).
1. The archaeological excavation was in Western Europe.
2. Lynn was working there for more than a month.
3. A university paid for her to go there.
4. She felt positive about the work experience.
5. She found a small statue.
6. The excavation will fundamentally change the area. (Answers below)
David: Hi Lynn how’s it going?
Lynn: Not so bad.
David: How was your summer? Didn’t you go on some field trip in Eastern Europe or something?
Lynn: That’s right. Six weeks on my hands and knees digging for treasure
David: Did you find any?
Lynn: Not much. Lots of pottery fragments, some bones, a few tools.
David: I hope you got paid for it.
Lynn: You must be joking! It was run by the local university research group. They don’t have any money. You make your
way there and pay for your own accommodation and meals.
David: So, you were cheap labour for the professors, then?
Lynn: Don’t be so cynical! No, they were really helpful. I learnt a lot
David: Oh yeah…like what?
Lynn: Well, first there was the mapping of the site. They used digital photography and GIS, which I hadn’t done before.
Then there’s the excavation itself, scraping away for hours, which can get a bit tedious. And it all has to be recorded the
location and description of every artefact is put into a database.
David: Don’t you have to be careful when you’re excavating? I’d be afraid of breaking something priceless.
Lynn: Oh, sure. You have to move the earth away very slowly with a trowel, sometimes even a toothbrush! But everything
you find has a story to tell. Pollen samples tell you about forest clearance and crop cultivation, animal teeth and bones
showed they kept livestock. Looking at stone axes can tell you what sort of animals they hunted. The best part of the dig was
the midden.
David: What’s that?
Lynn: It’s where they dumped domestic waste. It contains all sorts of treasures. The highlight for me was finding a small clay
figure. Imagine holding something in your hand that was made by a human being six thousand years ago!
David: So have you expanded the sum of human knowledge?
Lynn: I think so. The site is giving them a lot of new information about that part of the Black Sea coast in Neolithic times.
And it’ll be a big tourist attraction when they open it up to the public in a couple of years. They’ve got plans to get some
international funding and make it into an archaeological park, but they’ll still preserve the landscape and the character of the
place.
David: Will you get your name in the brochure?
Lynn: You never know!
Answers
1F, 2T, 3F, 4T, 5T, 6F www.britishcouncil.org/professionals.htm
CURRENCY EXCHANGE AUDIOSCRIPT
Listen to a dialogue between Rachel, the owner of a small business, and her business account manager
· Optional exercise
Listen to the dialogue and complete Rachel’s notes.
Foreign exchange services
1. Wire transfer is fastest and __________ way to transfer money.
2. Should use international wires in foreign currency – lower __________ and less risk.
3. Know full cost of __________ before wire is sent.
4. Sterling wire transfers use __________ rate applicable when wire is received.
5. Another advantage of using foreign currency – could negotiate better price for __________ .
6. Many foreign currency cheques can be cleared next __________ .
7. Need to send cheque with __________ slip and foreign cash __________ agreement.
8. Send to foreign cheque __________ centre.
Account manager: Ah, Rachel, good to see you again. What can I do to help you?
Rachel: Well, as you know, I run a small company manufacturing children’s clothes.
Account manager: Yes, and it’s doing rather well, if I remember correctly.
Rachel: Yes, I’ve recently increased production, and I’m very happy with my sales figures. In fact, I’ve had
some interest from overseas retailers wanting to sell my clothes. I’d also like to be able to buy materials from abroad. What
I’d like to know is if I can make and accept payments in foreign currencies.
Account manager: We offer full foreign exchange services, so there shouldn’t be a problem. We have an extensive
foreign correspondent bank network so funds can easily be transferred worldwide.
Rachel: So this bank is part of a network of foreign banks?
Account manager: That’s right. The advantage is that payments can be made and received quickly and efficiently
and at the lowest cost to you and your suppliers and purchasers. You can do this by wire transfer – it’s the fastest and
safest way to transmit money around the world. Using our services, you can send international wires in foreign currency.
You pay lower fees than for international sterling wires, and you reduce risk because you lock in the exchange rate and
know the full cost of the transaction before the wire is sent.
Rachel: How exactly does this reduce risk?
Account manager: Currency exchange rates fluctuate, so if you send a wire in sterling, you won’t know the exact
exchange rate applicable when the wire is received and the funds converted into the foreign currency. You could find
yourself under or overpaying your supplier. Using the supplier’s currency may also mean you can negotiate more favourable
pricing of materials.
Rachel: I see, and the same applies for my customers. If I use their currency, I won’t be in danger of over
or undercharging them.
Account manager: Exactly.
Rachel: What happens if a foreign customer wants to pay by cheque?
Account manager: We offer foreign currency cheque conversions for a wide range of countries. We can even offer
nextday credit for many countries, so you don’t have to wait weeks for the cheque to clear. All you have to do is complete a
foreign cash letter agreement and send it, along with the cheque and a deposit slip, to our foreign cheque processing centre.
Rachel: So I shouldn’t have any problems dealing with foreign currencies. Now, I’ve got another question
…
Answers: 1 safest, 2 fees, 3 transaction, 4 exchange, 5 materials, 6 day, 7 deposit, letter, 8 processing
DISCRIMINATION AUDIOSCRIPT
Listen to Mr Griffin, a Human Resources expert, talking about discrimination in the workplace.
Comprehension activity
While you are listening, decide whether the following statements are true or false according to what Mr Griffin
says. The answers are below the audio script.
Statement True or False?

1. Although diversity is being dealt with, it is still an important concern for employers.
2. A growing number of people are suing employers because they feel discriminated
against because of their age.
3. Insurance to cover discrimination claims is an enormous cost for companies.
4. Security firms sometimes discriminate against people because of their age.
5. Employers cannot discriminate against job applicants who have been convicted of any
crime.
Radio interviewer Tell me, Mr. Griffin are diversity risks really still an issue? Aren’t companies these days
dealing with diversity?
Alan Griffin Oh yes they are very much an issue. ... We have come a long way since those days when
employers were allowed to discriminate against job candidates just because of their race or their sex. The
trouble is ... the boundaries of diversity and discrimination ...... are widening. Companies have a lot more to
consider than a person’s skin colour or a person’s gender.
Radio interviewer So ... can you give listeners an example of what kind of things you are referring to
here?
Alan Griffin Okay ... let’s see .... well, one growing area of discrimination is ageism. In 1998, companies in
the United States had to pay out more than fifty-five million dollars to employers who had filed age related
discrimination complaints against their companies. That’s a lot of money.
Radio interviewer Phew ... … so how should companies protect themselves from this kind of thing?
Alan Griffin Well, first of all they should think carefully about their recruitment policies and then they should
take out insurance to cover themselves.
Radio interviewer Isn’t that expensive? ... for the companies, I mean.
Alan Griffin No, not as expensive as you might think. These days most small and medium sized
organisations take out EPLI ... that’s Employment Practices Liability Insurance. The cost of the insurance has
fallen over the years and if a company isn’t covered and loses a discrimination case ... well,let’s just say this is
the cheaper option!
Radio interviewer You’ve mentioned ageism as a growing concern ... but what other kinds of diversity
should managers be aware of?
Alan Griffin Well ... you’d probably be surprised to hear about some ... discrimination against single people,
against married parents, against people who are too tall, too short, too heavy ...
Radio interviewer Really...
Alan Griffin Oh yes. Security firms are a good example here. They typically state that their employees need
to be over or under a certain height or weight, They claim it’s necessary for the job .... but there have been
cases where people have claimed discrimination.
Radio interviewer And won?
DISCRIMINATION AUDIOSCRIPT
Alan Griffin Sometimes yes. ........ Then there are people with a criminal background. Employers used to
feel justified in turning away job applicants just because they’d been in trouble with the law.
Radio interviewer Isn’t that still the case?
Alan Griffin No .... not exactly. The law states that employers can only reject a job applicant with a criminal
record ... if the crime bears a direct relation to the job in question. So .... somebody who has served a sentence
for ... let’s say stealing cars ... would be alright in a job as a kitchen porter.
Radio interviewer And Mr. Griffin, tell me .... how many people actually go through with their threats to sue
a company for discrimination?
Alan Griffin Well I haven’t got the latest figures for the UK but in the United States the Equal Opportunities
Commission receive around eighty five thousand complaints every year ... and that figure is rising. Race and
sex account for most of the complaints that are filed but age discrimination is on the increase too.
Radio interviewer So ... any words of advice for risk managers?
Alan Griffin Well ... first of all make sure that you have adequate insurance. Then address the issues of
diversity from within the organisation. Get the employees involved. Celebrate the differences and try to build up
a reputation as a fair employer. And remember .... it is worth investing time and effort in addressing these issues
because statistics have shown that ..... you’re much more likely to be sued by an employee than a third party.
Answers:

1. Although diversity is being dealt with, it is still an True
important concern for employers.
2. A growing number of people are suing employers True
because they feel discriminated against because of their
age.
3. Insurance to cover discrimination claims is an enormous False
cost for companies.
4. Security firms sometimes discriminate against people False. He mentions discrimination over their
because of their age. physical size.
5. Employers cannot discriminate against job applicants True. The crime must bear a direct relation with
solely because they have a criminal record. the job.
eBay AUDIOSCRIPT
Listen to David giving his presentation about eBay in a business school seminar.
Optional exercise. (The answers are at the end of the script).
Listen and correct the mistakes in this student’s notes on David’s presentation.
1. eBay was founded five years ago
2. eBay employs 12,600 people around the world
3. In 2005 the turnover was $ 5.55 million
4. From the beginning top eBay management had successful computer backgrounds
5. eBay has got shops all over the world
6. eBay is successful in Japan and Hong Kong
Lecturer: Welcome everybody to today’s seminar. If I remember correctly, David, you’ll be leading the seminar
David: Yes, that’s right ...
Presenter: Fine and how about questions – shall we keep these to the end or would you like people to interrupt during your
presentation?
David: Thanks, ehm , if anyone has a question just ask straight away ..
Lecturer: Fine, let’s go then ..
David: Right, ehm ..... eBay is an enormously successful company, it’s a household word in several countries, in 2005 it had
a turnover of $4.55 billion and it employed 11,600 people – it’s achieved all of this in just 11 years. What’s the secret of
eBay’s success? I think the key issue here is that eBay couldn’t exist without the Internet – you know there aren’t many
examples of companies like this – take Amazon, for example if you don’t feel like switching your computer on you can
always go round to the nearest book shop. But if you want to sell your old magazines to somebody in Germany eBay’s the
only way to do it. Without the Net’s ability to bring buyers and sellers together from different locations there would be no
eBay. So this is big point number one. Now, let’s move on to point two, the founders of eBay – Meg Whitman, the CEO , like
all of the senior staff already had a successful business background – she brought in an experienced management team.
They had a great idea but it had to be a great profitable idea – around this – the importance of profitability they built their
business model. Let’s move on to point three, sound business management – did you hear of eBay during the dotcom boom
years – not a lot – they were busy building their customer base and making money, they didn’t feature in stories headlining
the excesses of the dotcom boom years ... Actually I’ll add another point, point four, eBay doesn’t produce, sell or ship
anything itself, it provides the online marketplace for other people to do this – this gives it enormous financial power ....
Student: David, can I ask a question?
David: Sure ...
Student: What difference does that make – the point about eBay not making anything itself ..
David: Well, this means that they can use their capital very effectively – you know their capital isn’t tied up in buildings,
factories, warehouses that sort of thing, again their capital isn’t tied up in things that are waiting to be sold, they haven’t got
shops all over the world with sales assistants in them – all this costs – see what I mean ...
Student: Sure, I get it now ..
David: Great, now .... The only problem they’ve run into, actually that’s not true they’ve had a couple of major problems –
anyway the first problem – they arrived in a couple of key markets too late – this happened in Japan and Hong Kong where
Yahoo’s online marketplace had a head start. The other problem – well it’s the sort of thing we’ve all heard about – buyers
receiving stolen goods or a product different from the one they thought they’d bought or no product at all, sellers putting in
false bids to increase the price just before an auction finishes. eBay admits this happens but says that this sort of thing
accounts for a very small percentage of all sales. OK , now I’d like to have a look at just how the company has expanded
over the last 11 years ...
Answers
1 11 years ago; 2 11,600 people; 3 $4.55 billion; 4 Business backgrounds; 5 It does not have shops; 6 It is not successful
there.
EECONOMY AUDIOSCRIPT
Listen to an extract from a lecture about the characteristics of successful ecommerce businesses.
Optional exercise
According to the lecturer which products are suitable (S) or unsuitable (U) for online selling.
books laptops
CDs perfume
clothes pornography
DVDs software
fresh food supermarket groceries
jewellery
(Answers below)
I’d like to look at a vital aspect of ecommerce, and that is the nature of the product or service. There are
certain products and services that are very suitable for selling online, and others that simply don’t work.
Suitable products generally have a high valuetoweight ratio. Items such as CDs and DVDs are obvious
examples. Books, although heavier and so more expensive to post, still have a high enough valuetoweight
ratio, as the success of Amazon, which started off selling only books, shows. Laptop computers are another
good product for selling online.
Digital products, such as software, films and music, can be sold in a purely virtual environment. The goods are
paid for by online transactions, and then downloaded onto the buyer’s computer. There are no postage or
delivery costs, so prices can be kept low.
Many successful virtual companies provide digital services, such as financial transactions, in the case of Paypal,
or means of communication, as Skype does. The key to success here is providing an easytouse, reliable
service. Do this and you can easily become the market leader, as Skype has proved.
Products which are potentially embarrassing to buy also do well in the virtual environment. Some of the most
profitable ecommerce companies are those selling pornography, and other sexrelated products or services.
For a similar reason, online gambling is highly popular.
Products which are usually considered unsuitable for selling online include those that have a taste or smell
component. Food, especially fresh food, falls into this category, along with perfume. Clothes and other items
that need to be tried on such as jewellery are generally not suited to virtual retailing, and, of course, items with a
low valuetoweight ratio.
There are exceptions, though. Online grocery shopping has really taken off, with most major supermarkets
offering the service. The inconvenience of not being able to see the food you are buying is outweighed by the
time saved and convenience of having the goods delivered. Typical users of online supermarkets include the
elderly, people who work long hours and those without their own transport.
Answers
books S DVDs S laptops S software S

CDs S fresh food U perfume U supermarket groceries S
clothes U jewellery U pornography S
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AUDIOSCRIPT
Listen to an extract from a lecture by a Professor at a Business School.
Optional exercise Listen and decide whether these statements are True or False: (Answers below)
1. It’s better to say “I’m unhappy” than “this situation is getting on my nerves”.
2. Thoughts and feelings are not the same thing and we express them differently.
3. If we feel angry because of somebody’s behaviour we should say “you are making me angry”.
4. We should always think about how other people might feel.
5. Our own feelings should be more important than the feelings of others.
6. It is important to think in a positive way.
7. We should not concern ourselves with making other people feel better.
8. If people don’t take you seriously, try talking to them and try to make them understand your feelings.
Now let’s take a look at some ways in which we can increase the levels of our own emotional intelligence so that
employers will be fighting over us! [laughter]
The first step is to label our own feelings rather than labelling situations or other people. We should say things
like “I feel angry” instead of “this is a ridiculous situation”.
Secondly, it is very important to know the difference between a thought and a feeling. In terms of language we
express thoughts by saying “I feel like” or “I feel as if” but for feelings we say “I feel” and then a feeling word , an
adjective happy, angry, frustrated .
Next and this is a crucial point we should take more responsibility for our feelings. Instead of saying “you are
making me jealous” we ought to say “I feel jealous”.
After this we need to learn how to use our feelings to help us make decisions. Ask yourselves “How will I feel if I
do this?” or “How will I feel if I don’t?”
Another important issue here is respect. We have to respect the feelings of others. We should ask ourselves
questions like “How will this person feel if I do this?”
And of course it isn’t enough to just respect the feelings of others. We have to show others that we care. We do
this through empathy and understanding. And we should accept people’s feelings. They are as just as valid as
our own.
Then we come to energy. We need to turn anger into energy and use it to take action productive action that it.
Finally, after getting used to understanding and analysing our emotions, we should practise getting a positive
value from them. Ask yourselves “How do I feel and what could help me feel better?” and don’t forget those
around you “how do you feel?” and “what would help you feel better?”
To sum up I am going to leave you with two pieces of advice.
Don’t criticize, advise, control or lecture others. Just listen with empathy and in a nonjudgemental way.
And what about people who invalidate you? Easy avoid them. And when it isn’t possible to avoid them
altogether, try to spend less time with them and don’t let them get to you.
Follow this advice and I am sure that you will soon increase your EQ level. You will feel happier and more
positive and hopefully this will rub off on those around you.
Answers
1T, 2T, 3F, 4T, 5F, 6T, 7F, 8F www.britishcouncil.org/professionals.htm
ENGINEERING PROJECTS AUDIOSCRIPT
Listen to this excerpt of a talk given by an electrical engineer visiting a sixth form college.
Optional activity:
While you listen, decide whether the following sentences are true or false.
1. Recently great advances have been made in motor technology.
2. Engineers are constantly looking for new ways to use existing models.
3. Engineers have more freedom for experimentation than in Faraday’s times.
4. The newest motors lose more heat than the traditional motors.
5. The newest motors are more compact than they used to be.
6. A new motor developed by Omron may replace motors currently used in
hydraulic systems.
These days engineers – rather than setting out to create new inventions – work on refining designs that already
exist. These refinements can be related to size, shape, increased power or more efficiency. And usually we are
talking about a combination of these refinements.
Let’s take the motor as an example. You are probably all familiar with the name Michael Faraday who invented
the electric motor in the 1820’s. Well, the first motor was a fairly simple device – and we have been improving
on its design and looking for new applications for it ever since its birth.
These days there are endless projects going on around the globe where engineers are trying to modify existing
motors in order to be able to use them in new contexts and in traditional contexts – but with better – more
efficient results.
In Faraday’s time engineers and scientists had a more or less free rein when it came to experimenting and
research. If they had enough money to carry out their plans then there was nothing to stop them. These days
engineers have to take into consideration all kinds of environmental issues. We are driven by different quests –
to conserve energy is one of the most important. Industry demands quality and efficiency but we must never
forget the environmental issues that lie behind every single engineering advance.
So – back to motors. What’s happening at the moment is very exciting. A new kind of motor has been
developed which uses internal permanent magnets embedded within the rotor. These magnets improve the
motors’ flux density and torque density. What does this mean? Well, for a start the motors use less energy –
considerable less than traditional motors. This is because there is less heat loss. A side effect of this is that the
machines using the new motors have increased precision. Size and speed are two further aspects. . The new
motors are a lot smaller and speed control is more efficient. This is especially important when we use the
motors in gearboxes or cranes for example.
Omron has just developed a motor with an internal magnet that is being applied to high power applications.
Things like huge industrial plants and building projects. There is already talk of using the new motors to replace
the ones currently used in hydraulic systems.
Yaskawa Electric is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of motors. They have developed a motor with a
power rating of 55KW and a rated speed of 1500rpm. This is much greater power than we have seen up till now.
So, motors are increasing in power and decreasing in size. In the world of engineering this is a notable
achievement.
Answer key:
1. Recently great advances have been made in motor technology. True
2. Engineers are constantly looking for new ways to use existing models. True
3. Engineers have more freedom for experimentation than in Faraday’s times. False
ENGINEERING PROJECTS AUDIOSCRIPT
4. The newest motors lose more heat than the traditional motors. False

5. The newest motors are more compact than they used to be. True
6. A new motor developed by Omron may replace motors currently used in True
hydraulic systems.
ENGLISH: THE GLOBAL LANGUAGE AUDIOSCRIPT
Listen to the controversial Linguistics expert Professor McKenzie giving a lecture on the future of the
English language.
Comprehension activity
Decide whether these statements are true or false according to Professor McKenzie. The answers are below
the audio script.
1. If you do not know English you can be at a disadvantage.

2. English will soon be spoken by everybody in the world.
3. By 2010 half the population of the world will speak English.
4. Competitors of the Eurovision Song Contest will never be unanimous in choosing to
sing in English.
5. Native English and Majority English will become the two predominant types of
English.
Professor McKenzie:
For many years now we have been referring to English as a global language .... as the language of
communication and technology. Everybody seems to be learning English and it isn’t uncommon to see English
being used as a means of communication between .... let’s see ... a German scientist .... and an Italian
politician. These days ... if you don’t know English, you are in danger of being excluded from what’s going on ...
in education, at work ... and especially in the world of technological advances.
Very soon English will be the second language of all the people in the world. This is happening while I am
speaking to you. We can’t be certain of how long the process will take but there is no doubt that it will happen ...
and my bet is that it will happen sooner rather than later.
First of all English will be an obligatory subject on every school curriculum throughout the world. By the year
2010 around two billion people ... that’s about a third of the World’s population ..... will speak English as their
second language. This isn’t my prediction by the way. This is what the experts say.
We can see evidence of these changes all the time. Let’s take the Eurovision Song Contest as an example.
Whatever we might think of the contest itself .... one thing that has changed recently is that now countries can
opt to sing in English. In the last festival fourteen of the twenty five competing countries asked for the rules to be
changed to allow them to sing in English. They argued that singing in their own language would put them at a
disadvantage. I suspect that in a few years time all twenty-five countries will be singing in English.
And what exactly does all of this mean for native speakers of English? Well, we are already in a minority. If the
calculations are correct, then in ten years time, majority speakers ... that is non native English speakers ... will
outnumber native English speakers by four to one. The two most important Englishes won’t be British English
and American English. They’ll be Native English and Majority English. So native English speakers will be
handicapped. We will be the only people in the world who speak just one language. Because ... let’s face it ...
there won’t be much of a reason for native English speakers to learn a second language. We ... and not the
Majority English speakers ... will be the disadvantaged.
As more and more people speak English it makes sense that they will become more competent. They will start
to control more of the English resources being produced and to have a say in what should or shouldn’t be
included in dictionaries and language books. This might seem far fetched but it is already starting to happen.
Let’s use Sweden as an example. Their music exports .... predominantly English ... account for more than thirty
per cent of its export income. This exported English is bound to have an effect on English in general. And this is
just one small example.
ENGLISH: THE GLOBAL LANGUAGE AUDIOSCRIPT
So ... all of you native English speakers out there ... get ready to throw away your phrase books ... whether
you’re planning to visit Eastern Europe or the Himalayas ... one thing you won’t have to worry about is the
language!
Answers:
1. If you do not know English you can be at a disadvantage. True

2. English will soon be spoken by everybody in the world. True
3. By 2010 half the population of the world will speak English. False
4. Competitors of the Eurovision Song Contest will never be unanimous in choosing to False
sing in English.
5. Native English and Majority English will become the two predominant types of True
English.
FACILITATION SKILLS AUDIOSCRIPT
Listen to a radio show discussion on the role of online moderators in distance learning.
Radio show presenter = P

Mark = M
P: … from the number of emails we get {fade-in} we know that a lot of our listeners are studying on-line.
So they’ll be interested to hear what our next guest has to say. Mark McRae, is a lecturer at Manchester
University whose specialist area is online moderation. Mark, what makes moderators different from teachers in
a classroom?
M: Hi June. Erm .. I think the first point is that, online or not, the most important thing is well-designed
learning goals and objectives – the use of technology is secondary to getting the learning goals right.
But, having said that, there obviously are differences between online and face to face learning. Just as an
example, people often like classroom teachers who make them laugh, but trying to be funny in computer
conferencing is a dangerous business and often not very successful.
P: Why is that?
M: Mainly because, when you’re just reading text – you can’t hear the person’s tone of voice or see their
face – it’s much easier to misunderstand.
P: This whole thing about communicating only through text on a computer screen. Don’t you find that
impossible?
M: It’s not impossible – it’s just different. Online communication can either be synchronous, when all the
people in the ‘class’ are online at the same time, or asynchronous, where they aren’t and people can post in
their own time, and the moderator’s role is different for each of those situations. Like teachers, moderators will
praise people or point out to people where they may be going wrong, although they may do it privately, away
from the main forum. What they won’t do, and will discourage others from doing is lecturing. Very long posts,
even if they’re interesting and well-argued, don’t usually get a good response. It’s very difficult to do that online.
P: What if people argue? Does that happen?
M: It does. As I said, it’s much easier to have misunderstandings when communication is all text-based
and people will, occasionally, flame each other ..
P: Flame?
M: Sorry. Flaming is what happens when one person ‘attacks’ another person online. It doesn’t happen
very often and …
P: … and how do you deal with it?
M: Well, it’s up to the moderator to set the rules for how people interact, the netiquette we call it, and if
someone breaks those rules the moderator will talk to him or her privately and remind them of how we should
deal with each other. It’s the same with lurkers who aren't participating actively - the moderator may decide to
talk to them privately and check they’re OK.
P: As you would in a classroom.
M: Exactly. In fact, the aim of moderators is to make the technology transparent – so people don’t notice
it’s there. It’s very different from the traditional classroom but there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be just as
effective – even more so for some people.
FAIRTRADE AUDIOSCRIPT
Listen to these interviews with people outside a supermarket, being asked about what they have bought.
Optional exercise: Decide if these sentences are true or false.
In interview 1...
1. The person thinks fair trade is a brand.
2. The person would not consider buying fair trade.
3. The person takes price into consideration.
In interview 2...
4. The person has bought junk food.
5. The person thinks “organic” and “fair trade” are the same thing.
In interview 3
6. The person thinks fair trade is only for food products.
7. The person tried to buy fair trade clothes, but found none available.
8. The person worries about the quality of the clothing bought.
In interview 4
9. The person has got bad teeth.
10.The person doesn’t care how the chocolate is produced.
Interview 1
Q: Hi! Good morning!
A: Morning!
Q: I’m doing some market research about fair trade. I’d like to ask you a few questions about your shopping, if
that’s ok...
A: Sure...
Q: OK...so, first, can I ask what you’ve got in your bag?
A: Just doing the week’s shopping – some fruit and veg, a few tins of beans, loaf of bread and a pint of milk. Tea
bags and some coffee.
Q: Is the coffee fair trade?
A: What?
Q: Fair trade?
A: No, it’s Nescafe. What’s fair trade?
Q: It’s a range of goods that are produced making sure that people in Africa or South America are paid fairly for
their work and produce.
A: Sounds alright. Never seen it though.
Q: It’s more expensive than ordinary coffee.
A: Oh well, then. This stuff’s already expensive. Not sure I could afford that...
Interview 2
Q: Can I ask what you’ve got in your bag?
A: Fruit and nuts, snacks.
Q: All good healthy stuff then?
A: Yep, dried apricots, raisins, cashew nuts, and some pistachios. All organic, all fair trade.
Q: Do you always buy fair trade?
A: Whenever possible, yeah.
Interview 3
A: A new top and a pair of jeans. I’ve been clothes shopping.
Q: Are they fair trade?
FAIRTRADE AUDIOSCRIPT
A: What?
Q: Fair trade?
A: I thought that was just for coffee and stuff...
Q: No, there are also fair trade clothes.
A: I don’t know about that. Let’s have a look. Ok...well, the jeans were made in Bulgaria, and the top in China.
Q: Do you know if the people who made them were paid fairly for their work?
A: No, I guess I don’t. They were very cheap...I’m not so sure now. Where can you buy fair trade clothes?
Q: A lot of shops carry fair trade lines. You have to check the labels carefully!
A: Next time, I will do...
Interview 4
A: The week’s shopping....
Q: You’ve got lots of chocolate in there!
A: Yeah...well, got a sweet tooth, haven’t I?
Q: Is it fair trade chocolate?
A: Yes, of course it is. I always buy fair trade stuff, whenever I can.
ANSWERS: 1T, 2F, 3T, 4F, 5F, 6T, 7F, 8F, 9F, 10F
PUBLIC RELATIONS AUDIOSCRIPT
Listen to a public relations executive talking about her studies and job.
Put the following events into the order that they actually happened according to the speaker.
a. I built up a list of contacts in the media and PR industries.
b. I got promoted to Account Executive.
c. I met lots of experienced professionals
d. I did a business course.
e. I got a job as Account Coordinator.
f. I joined two associations.
g. I started an internship.
When I was at university I did a business course that covered advertising, marketing, sales and public relations.
I’m really glad I did this particular course as, although it was vast, it gave me an overview of business in general
and the different careers in communications.
While I was studying I realised that I was most interested in Public Relations and so I joined a couple of
associations so I could start networking before leaving university. Through one of the organisations I joined I
was able to meet lots of experienced professionals who gave me advice on getting into the industry. I was also
offered an internship in my final year. This meant I could build up my portfolio even before I’d finished studying.
I think that it’s extremely important, especially today when there are so many people wanting to work in PR, to
do an internship to a. get a foot in the door and b. have more on your c.v. than simply your studies. You have to
show willing and prove that you’re an enthusiastic, ambitious person who wants to succeed. It was hard
studying and working at the same time but at least it prepared me for the deadlines and long hours you’re
expected to put in with a PR job.
My internship also meant that I built up a list of contacts in the media and PR industry itself. Both areas were
very important in helping me get my first job as an Account Coordinator with a corporate public relations agency.
I had to write and proofread flyers, keep track of media databases and other admin type stuff. It wasn’t the most
exciting of jobs but at least it gave me a better insight into PR and helped me decide what I wanted to do after. I
didn’t have much journalism experience either before working for this company so I learnt that as I went along.
After about nine months, when I felt ready to tackle something a bit meatier, I applied for a job, still within the
same company, with more responsibility. I became an Account Executive and very quickly felt at home in my
new job. That was about two years ago. I’ve much more contact with our clients and I play a large role in
developing public relations strategies. I still do a lot of writing with press releases but I’m also more involved in
organising special events like press conferences.
I love what I do because I get to meet loads of different, interesting people every day. You have to be quite
outgoing and able to communicate easily which I guess is more of a talent than a skill. If I had to start again I’d
choose to do a journalism option at university as employers like you to have a journalism background.
Otherwise, getting an internship was the best thing I’ve ever done and I’d do it again, no problem.
Answers: 1 d, 2 f, 3 c, 4 g, 5 a, 6 e, 7 b
HOW TO TREAT YOUR STAFF AUDIOSCRIPT
An extract from a talk given by a management training leader.
Optional exercise
Match these idiomatic expressions from the talk with their definitions.
1. To bury one’s head in the sand a. An important point

2. A golden rule b. To ignore a problem
3. To get someone’s back up c. To closely observe what someone is doing
4. To breathe down someone’s neck d. To irritate or annoy someone
So really what we are talking about most of the time is simply a case of common sense. There is nothing
revolutionary or even new here. The trouble is that most managers tend to forget about developing their own
managerial skills as soon as they become a manager. There is a certain sense of irony in this, don’t you think?
Let’s move on and talk about a few more of these issues. One thing that I have come across again and again is
the situation in which managers pretend that change is not happening. But when change is happening, this is
the worst thing they can do. It’s like burying one’s head in the sand. Your staff will know that something is up
and wonder why you are being secretive – or worse – dishonest. So – communicate. Tell your staff exactly what
is happening and give them opportunities to ask questions. Everybody will come out winning because honesty is
always the best policy.
Sharing information is a golden rule of management. Sometimes there’s a tendency to keep things to one’s self
but this isn’t usually the best. Imagine a situation where you are thinking about approaching a new client, for
example. If we only communicate this information to our immediate management team, then we might well be
neglecting to tell somebody who is potentially the ideal person to come up with an idea to make contact with this
new client – for whatever reason. There are other scenarios too – work can get duplicated and – even worse –
people can get offended. We don’t want to get anybody’s back up!
Staff need to feel that they are trusted to work independently and manage their own workloads. It’s a proven fact
that workers in this environment are happier and are more productive. As managers we should learn to micro
manage – to make sure that staff know exactly what they’re supposed to be doing and then just let them get on
with it. We should never breathe down their necks. That isn’t going to help anybody.
Another very important thing to remember is that your employees may not understand your jargon – or
“management speak”. And why should they? You might have spent weeks discussing issues and making
decisions – weeks when you are using acronyms with other members of the management team. When you
finally come around to communicating these ideas with the rest of the department the terms are familiar to you –
but remember that the terms are new for everybody else – so explain what the terminology means – or – better
still – avoid using it. Because people who use jargon all the time come over as being patronising.
As we get to the end of this talk, I’d like to mention something that – for me – is probably the most important
piece of advice of all. Don’t forget your sense of humour. Being able to share a joke at work is priceless. We
have to be able to laugh at ourselves too and not take ourselves too seriously. Of course, there is a time and
place for humour – but a good manager will instinctively know when the time is right.
Answers 1 b, 2 a, 3 d, 4 c

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LearnEnglish Professionals

Interview with an internet entrepreneur, Theo Barker, on being a successful “amateur”.

© The British Council, 2008

Interviewer : When did you begin learning English?

Interviewer : What is the Dutch approach to teaching English in medical school?

© The British Council, 2006

a. the history of the instrument e. playing in public

Optional listening activity:

Bob: Hi Sue, how are things?

© The British Council, 2006

CHAOS THEORY AUDIOSCRIPT

I: Are many economists involved in this field?

I: What kind of “models” are we talking about here?

I: Doesn’t that mean that forecasting is impossible?

I: What do you mean by “linear system”?

Statement True or False?

Radio interviewer Really...

Radio interviewer And won?

© The British Council, 2006

Radio interviewer Isn’t that still the case?

Radio interviewer So ... any words of advice for risk managers?

Statement True or False?

© The British Council, 2006

books S DVDs S laptops S software S

4. The newest motors lose more heat than the traditional motors. False

Statement True or False?

1. If you do not know English you can be at a disadvantage.

© The British Council, 2006

Statement True or False?

1. If you do not know English you can be at a disadvantage. True

© The British Council, 2006

Radio show presenter = P

P: What if people argue? Does that happen?

P: … and how do you deal with it?

P: As you would in a classroom.

© The British Council, 2006

1. To bury one’s head in the sand a. An important point

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