Unit 1: Listening Task #2
Interviews with Unsuccessful Language Learners
| Dialog 1 | Dialog 2 | Dialog 3 | Dialog 4 |
Dialogue 1:A: I'd like to ask you a few questions about your language learning experience, if it's OK?B: Sure. A: First, what's your name? B: Chin Chu. I don't have an English nickname. And yours? A: Allen. What foreign languages do you speak? B: Hmm. Some Cantonese - I love Hong Kong movies. Also some English. A: How good do you think your English ability is? B: Ing-wen? Not very good! A: Can you tell me why it's not very good? B: Well, I don't like it. And very I can't understand most native speakers of English. They speak too fast and I get nervous when I see a foreigner. A: What do you do when this happens? B: Well, I just usually avoid foreigners, and if they talk to me I just tell them I can't speak English and run away. A: What about when you hear someone speaking English and you can't understand, then what do you do? B: Uhhh, I usually just don't listen and if it's a movie or TV show I just read the subtitles. A: Hmmm, I see. Well, thanks. B: Sure. Dialogue 2.A: Hi, my name's Charles. Would it be OK if I asked you some questions about your language learning? B: Yeah, sure. A: What's your name? B: Vincent. A: Uh, what languages do you speak, Vincent? B: Well, Chinese and a little English. A: Can I ask you why you said just "a little" English? B: Well, my English is really poor. I am a bad student. A: What do you mean? B: Well, I never studied much in high school of college. I had other people do my homework and I sometimes cheated on tests. A: Hmm... B: I only studied when I had a test - and then it was too late. A: Well, so, why did you do this? B: Mmmm... I think it was because I didn't want to learn English. I mean, I couldn't see the reason for learning it, so I wasn't interested. A: Hmmm, anything else? B: Well, also, I couldn't memorize all that vocabulary and grammar. So, I stopped trying. A: Well, thanks. B: You're welcome. Dialogue 3:A: Hi! Would you mind if I asked you some questions about your language learning experience? B: OK. A: What's your name? B: Jojo. A: Hi Jojo, I'm Charles. B: Hi. A: So, what languages do you speak? B: Chinese, Japanese, and English. A: How is your Japanese? B: Pretty good, I've been there a few times. A: How about your English? B: Oh, it's terrible. A: Really, why? B: Well, I studied English for almost ten years, but I can't seem to remember any vocabulary and I forget the grammar. A: Well, how do you study? B: Uh, when my teacher tells me to do homework, I do it. But I can never remember after that. A: Do you use the English you learn? B: No, never. I don't try to speak much. A: How about English vocabulary? B: Well, when I read and see a new word, I use an electronic dictionary. A: Do you do anything else with the new word? B: No. A: OK, well, thanks for your time. B: No problem. Dialogue 4:A: Hello. May I ask you a few questions about how you study foreign languages? B: Eeh? (in Japanese) 'Boku des'u ka?' But I am not a good ran-guage ran-ra. A: That's OK. First of all, what's your name? B: (in Japanese) 'Boku'? I am Minoru. I am a Tokyo boy. A: OK, Minoru. What languages do you speak? B: Japanese and C+++ and UNIX. A: How about English? B: Oh, Ingurishu! My Inguirishu berry guddu! Good reading. OK writing. Bad Speakingu. And berry bad ristenggu! A: So you can read English well, and write a little, but have problems with speaking and listening. B: Yes, because I use kon-pyu-taa! Much computer code in Inguiruishuu. And I, I konpyuta need for work. But usually, no speakku - just type! So my fingers speak English. My mouth (pronounced: "mouse" by Japanese) just speakku Japanese. B: OK. Have you tried to imrprove your English listening or speaking skills? A: No. I give up. Soon konpyutaa will speaku for me. I don't need to speak. Computer will do this soon! B: Thanks for your time. A: (in Japanese) 'Do itashimashite!' |
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