M: Well, I always do my homework and go to classes. What else do you think would help?
W: Well, you might try reading newspapers. And I always talk to Americans when I get a chance, though sometimes it’s hard.
M: But, how do you meet Americans? I only know other foreign students.
W: How about sitting next to an American at lunch, or have you ever thought of asking someone over to your house for dinner?
M: Those are good ideas, but I’m a little shy to speak English.
W: You won’t learn if you don’t try and speak. If I were you, I’d talk to your English teacher. He might have some good ideas. Text 8
M: Dr. Wilson, can I talk to you for a minute? W: Sure, Fred, what is it?
M: I’m worried about my grade in your English class. I really want an “A”, but …
W: I see. Well, it might be hard for you to get an “A”. So far you have a “B” average. You would need a 97 or 98 on your final exam to get an “A”. Do you think you can get that high a score?
M: Probably not. The problem is that I have to have a “B” average in all the subjects to get the prize from our government, otherwise I’ll have to find a part-time job. I’m afraid it is difficult for me to put all my heart in my study if I have to work in my spare time. I’ll probably get an “A” in history and a “B” in maths, but I’ll get a “C” in Chemistry.
W: It is a problem, isn’t it? You’ll have to get an “A” in English to get a “B” average.
M: Yes, but things don’t look very good for me right now.
W: I gave two less tests this term than I usually do. That might have changed your grade a little. Maybe I’ll give everybody a chance to write a composition in English. Then you’ll have a good chance to get an “A”. M: That would be great. I’ll try my best. Thank you very much. Text 9
M: How are your new neighbors, Nancy?
W: They seem nice enough, but they have a son who’s driving me crazy. M: What do you mean?
W: He comes home every night around 10 with his car window rolled down and radio on. It stops as soon as he turns the car off. But by then Brian and Lisa are wide awake. M: Oh, no.
W: Oh, yes. Sometimes it takes us till mid-night just to get them to settle down
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again.
M: Have you tried taking to them?
W: We haven’t even really met them yet except to say a quick hello. I hate to get off on the wrong foot.
M: You are not going to like them when you do meet them if you keep on simmering. W: I know, but I feel stupid complaining. M: You said yourself it is driving you crazy.
W: Well, you know how early I have to get up to be here at the office. I’m just not getting enough sleep and neither are the kids. They’re so irritable when I get home in the afternoon.
M: Maybe you could go over sometime with a little gift; a plant for the yard or something. Then you could ask about their son whether they have any other children and they’ll be sure to ask about yours. W: Yeah, and then what?
M: Then you could mention that the hardest thing at this stage is getting your kids to get to sleep at night. W: And keeping them asleep.
M: That’s the idea. And you should do it soon. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to do politely. Text 10
It was a bit of bad luck when the man’s car broke down — he was stuck in a no-parking area. So he went into a store to borrow a pen and paper to leave a note for the traffic police. The pen, however, was like his car. It didn’t work. When he decided to go back to the store to buy a pen, he found another little problem. He only had a ＄50 bill and the salesman couldn’t change it. So he went off to find a bank to change the bill. As he left the bank he saw a phone box. He decided to call a garage to send a truck to pull the car away, but the number was busy. When he got back to his car he found a parking ticket on the car. The story has, however, a happy ending. The driver wrote to the police station to explain what had happened. The police officer who read the letter decided not to punish him with the ＄20 parking fine. He said that even if the man’s story was not true, it was so clever he could be excused from being fined!
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