Transcript: Skiing This story is about Faye, who is experiencing snow and skiing for the first time.

We'll look at how Faye describes how she feels, explain the uses and forms of the word fall, and the expression 'butterflies in my stomach'. First, listen to her use 'fall' as a verb I'd like to ski because I've never tried it before and it looks like a lot of fun and if I do fall, hopefully it will be in some very soft snow. 'If I do fall'. She's talking about what might happen, so she uses 'if' and the base form 'fall'. Listen for another form of the verb 'fall'. Learning to ski, I can honestly say is a bit nerve-racking but when you learn it properly, and when you have a good instructor, it's all worth it. It's so much fun. Yes. I'm just glad I haven't fallen over yet. Haven't fallen over. You use the form 'fallen' with have, haven't, has or hasn't. 'Fall over' is a phrasal verb. Listen out for another one that means the same thing. I'm six foot two so I've got a long way to fall down if I do fall down while skiing. However, I am interested in finding out what it is all about. Fall down means the same as fall over. Let's watch Faye fall down or fall over: I'm a bit unsure about this slope because I haven't been down this slope before and it's the highest one so far but I'm pumped, and I just want to get in there and do it. I've still got butterflies in my stomach but I know I can do it. She fell down the past tense of fall is fell. Now, what did she have in her stomach? I've still got butterflies in my stomach but I know I can do it. She had butterflies in her stomach. She was feeling very nervous. Now listen for another way of using the word 'fall': That was my first fall. Let's try this again. My first fall that's a noun. The act of falling is called a fall. Now listen for the words Faye uses to describe how she feels: Learning to ski, I can honestly say is a bit nerve-racking but when you learn it properly, and when you have a good instructor, it's all worth it. It's so much fun. Yes. I'm just glad I haven't fallen over yet. 'I'm just glad'. To talk about your feelings in the present you say I'm or I am. She's happy not to fall over. How does she feel about learning to ski? Learning to ski, I can honestly say is a bit nerve-racking but when you learn it properly, and when you have a good instructor, it's all worth it. 'It's a bit nerve-racking'. Nerve-racking means it makes you feel nervous, or afraid. How does she express her curiosity about what might happen? I am interested in finding out what it is all about. She says 'I am interested'. We can say that we are interested in doing something. 'I am interested in skiing'. But if the subject is not a person, we use the '-ing' form. 'Skiing is interesting'. But when you say I am you use the '-e-d' form interested. Listen for a similar construction here: I'm a bit unsure about this slope because I haven't been down this slope before and it's the highest one so far but I'm pumped, and I just want to get in there and do it. 'I'm pumped.' 'Pumped' here is an adjective, meaning 'excited'. Now listen for how she talks about her feelings in the past: I was a bit nervous but I held it in there and just remembered the emergency position and I think I was pretty sure of myself, and I hope it looked that way.

She was nervous but she was sure of herself, or was confident. So, to express feelings we use the verb 'to be' - I am, I was - and the adjective I am interested, I was nervous. Transcript: swiming This story is about Michelle, a student learning to swim. We'll look at the words breath and breathe and how to give instructions and praise. Why does Michelle need swimming lessons? My dad taught me to swim in Yuan River when I was about three or five years old. I was just hanging around in a life-saving ring and while my dad was chatting to his friend. I was being naughty and I accidentally slipped through. So within a few seconds - I wasn't really panicked - I knew I probably would die and I was lucky enough, and I got pulled, right on my hair, and I was saved. But since then I just never feel really comfortable to learn how to swim. She nearly drowned when she was little so she doesn't like the water. She told the story using the past continuous tense, which combines 'was' with the ing form of the verb. She said 'while my dad was chatting', 'I was just hanging around' and 'I was being naughty.' Listen: I was just hanging around in a life-saving ring and while my dad was chatting to his friend. I was being naughty and I accidentally slipped through. The past continuous is useful when telling stories because you can talk about more than one thing that happened at the same time. Now listen to the way the instructor talks to her. Okay, just turn around. Just turn around this way so we're walking backwards. Just breathe naturally, make sure you breathe out. You don't want to hold your breath. You wouldn't talk like this if you were asking someone you didn't know to do something. You would be more polite and say please turn around. But when giving instructions it's best to ask directly: Okay, just turn around. Just turn around this way so we're walking backwards. Just breathe naturally, make sure you breathe out. You don't want to hold your breath. She said 'you don't want to hold your breath'. To hold your breath is to not breathe. Notice that the verb is breathe spelled with an 'e' on the end and the noun is spelled without the final 'e' and pronounced with an 'eh' sound a breath. What does Michelle say about her lessons? I have to say that having a professional instructor, it helps me to relax, yeah, rather than just trying to figure out what's wrong and what I'm gonna do by myself. Having a professional instructor helps her relax and shows her the best way to do the right things. She doesn't have to 'figure out' or think about what to do. Now listen to her teacher: You can feel my fingers, but I'm not supporting you. Wonderful. Congratulations. You're doing that all by yourself. You're self-powered She doesn't just give instructions, she uses praise and encouragement. Listen again: Wonderful. Congratulations. You're doing that all by yourself. You're self-powered You use words like 'wonderful' and 'congratulations' to encourage and praise. And what's the result of this encouragement? I want to try to maybe doing the full lap. Ah, beautiful, fantastic. I did it!

So we've seen that giving instructions involves directly telling people what to do and using encouraging words such as beautiful, fantastic and wonderful. The verb is breathe, spelled with a final 'e' and the noun is breath, spelled without the 'e'. We'll finish with Michelle talking about her achievement: For the past five years I was always looking at my friends, families enjoying getting to the pool, or sea. Now I can join them. You know, I'll definitely feel more involved, yeah and you know, it's great to share the fun. Transcript: Motor racing This story is about driving a racing car. We'll look at the word drive and the expressions full throttle and hold it flat. All right ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to V8 Experience, all here to drive the V8s today. There's some important tips you can pick up on that can make your driving better out on the open road. Today's activity is potentially dangerous. There could be some kind of an incident that could result in an injury. The injury could even prove to be fatal, so you need to be aware of the dangers of today's activities. A V8 is a type of racing car. There were 2 ways that he used the word drive. First he used the verb 'drive': All right ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to V8 Experience, all here to drive the V8s today. Next he used 'driving' as a noun or activity: There's some important tips you can pick up on that can make your driving better out on the open road. Now let's see some driving: Nice and slow for this first lap. When you're ready, into fourth gear Okay two hands back up on the wheel, accelerate hard now. You can go full throttle. Hold it flat. Hold it flat, that's it. Righto, back to third gear now, third gear, over to the left, brake, brake, brake. Off the brakes, let it roll with the apex, that's it. Right out to the yellow cone, full throttle now. Hold it flat, hold it flat. That's it. He said 'nice and slow'. Nice and slow for this first lap. You'll often hear 'nice and' in expressions such as 'nice and hot' or 'nice and tasty'. It's just means that slow, hot or tasty are what you want. I speak nice and slow so that you can understand. So how do you go nice and fast? When you're ready, into fourth gear Okay two hands back up on the wheel, accelerate hard now. You can go full throttle. Hold it flat. Hold it flat, that's it. You 'accelerate hard', 'go full throttle' and 'hold it flat' all these expressions mean that you push the pedal hard to go faster. How fast does he go? Now you can go full throttle again. Hold it flat. Just trust me, go to flat. The speed of the car I drove in is amazing. I travelled about one hundred and sixty kilometres per hour? Yeah. He went 160 kilometres per hour. But what form of the verb drive did he use? The speed of the car I drove in is amazing. He used the past tense 'drove'. Listen: The speed of the car I drove in is amazing. There are other ways of expressing the past tense of drive. Listen:

When I was under stress in Korea I went driving around my home town. He went driving. Instead of saying 'I drove around', he expresses the past tense with 'went' went driving. When I was under stress in Korea I went driving around my home town. So we've seen that you drive a car and enjoy driving. 'Full throttle' means going as fast as you can. We'll finish with another expression which means to go faster, speed up: At first my speed is very slow but as time goes by I can speed up. It was so exciting, absolutely, because after overtaking I feel I feel very nice, yeah. Transcript: Dolphin swimming This story is about swimming with dolphins. Well listen to a tour operator and explain several common expressions. First listen for the expression that means too or in addition: Welcome aboard Temptation. My name is Mike. Over here we have Brad and we got Steve on board the boat as well today. As well. He could have said we got Steve on board the boat too, but he wouldnt be likely to use the expression in addition. Its too formal. Hes using informal English with people having a fun time. Now listen for the expression that means to leave a place: Were going to head out from the marina, get our binoculars out and well start searching for the dolphins straight away. Theyre going to head out from the marina, or leave the marina. He could also have said that they are going to head off from the marina. And when are they going to start searching for dolphins? Were going to head out from the marina, get our binoculars out and well start searching for the dolphins straight away. Theyre going to look for them straight away or immediately. Now listen for the expression up to: These are one hundred percent wild dolphins that were playing with today. We dont feed them. We never have and we never will. All the interaction we get today is due to the dolphins sense of curiosity and their fun loving playful nature. So whatever happens this morning guys, is totally up to the dolphins. What ever happens is totally up to the dolphins. This means the dolphins decide. They are responsible for what they do its up to them. Now listen for an expression that means to support or help: Every day out here is different. Guys we need everyone on board to get behind the crew. Use your eyes and try and find the dolphins for us as well. Get behind. Hes asking everyone guys to get behind or help the crew. Listen again: Every day out here is different. Guys we need everyone on board to get behind the crew. Use your eyes and try and find the dolphins for us as well. So how often do they see dolphins? Ive been out here now for nine years, never been out and not seen dolphins. Never been out and not seen means he always sees dolphins. And whats the term for a group of dolphins? Apparently we have dolphins straight ahead of us. Just out here guys, weve got our first pod for the day. There we go!. Weve even got one of our locals in there guys, named Jake. Our first pod a pod is a group of dolphins.

And what did people think about the experience of swimming with dolphins? There was a mother and a baby and they were about three metres below us and they swam kind of straight through, just straight past. It was excellent. It was excellent it was very good. He used the past tense of swim to describe the experience, swam. Listen: There was a mother and a baby and they were about three metres below us and they swam kind of straight through, just straight past. But not everyone was so lucky: Howd you go mate? I missed it. You missed it. Oh bugger. Howd you go is a common way of being asked about what you have just experienced. Raymund didnt see anything he missed it. Now what was the word used to express disappointment? You missed it. oh bugger. Bugger is a common Australian slang term that you should be careful about using in formal situations. But you can use it to express disappointment in a casual setting. Well finish with Raymund explaining why he missed seeing the dolphins underwater: Its very difficult to hang on to the rope. My mask wasnt fitting well, so I had to fix it once in a while and have to look for the dolphins. All these things happening all at the same time. It was quite.. it was difficult but I saw them jumping, you know, up and down in the water so thats good enough for me, I guess. Transcript: skydiving This is a story about skydiving. You'll find out how to do casual introductions, what it means to say 'same here' and what sort of weather 'comes in'. Today we are going for the skydiving thing. I'm not sure I will jump, you know. I can't jump couple of stairs and now I'll be jumping from 10,000 feet high. Oh My God. With no rope at all and a person tied to me. That is going to be a good experience and I don't know. I don't know. She says 'I will jump' and 'I'll be jumping'. They mean the same thing she will jump in the future. Notice that if you use 'be', you must use the 'ing' form will be jumping. Will jump/will be jumping. Listen again: I'm not sure I will jump, you know. I can't jump couple of stairs and now I'll be jumping from 10,000 feet high. When Preeti meets the man who will jump with her, they introduce themselves casually, like this: Preeti is it. Yes, it is. I'm Adam. How you going? Nice to meet you. I'm good. Same here. Preeti replies to 'nice to meet you' with 'same here'. I'm Adam. How you going? Nice to meet you. I'm good. Same here. You say 'same here' to agree. In this exchange, 'same here' means the same as 'nice to meet you'. Now listen to Adam explaining some things about the dive. Now, we'll freefall for about 35 seconds. Yes. And then I'll open the parachute. Okay. Now, I can't talk to you in freefall. We'll be doing about 200 kilometres an hour. Alright, so it's a bit noisy. Yes. So the only signals you're going to get in freefall is a tap on the shoulders, bring your arms out. He uses the word now to emphasise that what he is saying is important:

Now, we'll freefall for about 35 seconds. Now, I can't talk to you in freefall. We'll be doing about 200 kilometres an hour. Alright, so it's a bit noisy. So what can go wrong? Weather came in on us because there's a front coming through. It's got lightning in it and the cloud has come over and we're not allowed to jump through cloud. So it's not safe so we're bringing them back down. The weather can 'come in'. Weather that 'comes in' is usually a storm. What do you say when storm clouds go away? What happens now? Well, we can wait for the weather. We'll probably go on a weather hold now and wait until the weather clears. Wait until the weather clears. Clouds 'come over' or 'come in' and then they 'clear'. So what happens when they clear? It's too high, very, very high. Where's he? He's gone. Oh My God. He's gone. Notice that he uses the past participle of go, gone. Where's he? He's gone. Oh My God. You use past participles such as gone with 'he's, which is a contraction of 'he is' or 'he has. We'll finish by finding out if Preeti will jump or will be jumping: Ready to go? Yes. Alright, a big smile for the camera. Alright. No! It was just fraction of some seconds. He said, 'Put your left leg out,' and I thought, 'I'm not prepared. No way leg out.' And first thought I intend to stop myself and then I pushed myself out so that I can jump. How was that Preeti? That was fantastic! Woo hoo. Transcript:Toranga zoo This story take us to Taronga zoo in Sydney with Priya. We'll look at phrases with the word close and what it means to pick and choose. First, what's Priya doing at the zoo? I'm going to be a volunteer today. I'm very excited about that. I get to be up-close with the animals and it's a great opportunity. I'm doing this because I love animals and also it's a great opportunity actually be behind the scenes. She's being a volunteer she's working for no pay, just to help. She gets to be 'up close' with the animals. Being 'up close' means being closer than usual. Notice she says up close and not close up. You say close up to describe film or pictures like this. Now listen for another phrase that means the same as 'up close': One of the most important things again that we need to do every day is have a good look at our animals and a good way of doing that is to come up and give them a little something to eat. And that then gives us the opportunity to just get in close and have a good look and make sure they're all healthy. Get in close. She could have said get close in to mean the same thing. Now listen for the way the keeper asks Priya to do something: So we're just going to feed out Priya. If you want to grab some of these branches.. She says 'if you want to grab some of these branches' - this is an indirect and polite way of asking someone to do something. Remember, she's a volunteer. Listen again: So we're just going to feed out Priya. If you want to grab some of these branches.. Sure.

So we bring them in new food every single day. Is there any reason why the entire branch is being brought in or? They're really fussy so they like to pick and choose which of the leaves they want to eat. So they're much better at telling apart which ones are good for them and which ones aren't, so we tend to leave the choices to them The koalas are fussy and like to 'pick and choose'. To 'pick and choose' is to take the time to choose what you really want. Next, listen for a word that describes koalas who like to pick and choose: So they're much better at telling apart which ones are good for them and which ones aren't, so we tend to leave the choices to them. And they are quite picky. Picky means the same as fussy they only take particular leaves. Now let's look at an animal that's no so picky. This tree kangaroo is the Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroo. They're actually from Papua New Guinea. They're a kangaroo that has evolved to live up in the trees instead of on the ground. He used 'a' in an unusual way. He said 'they're a kangaroo that has evolved to live up in the trees.' This is a way of saying they're a type of kangaroo. A type of kangaroo is singular, so he uses has. Listen: They're a kangaroo that has evolved to live up in the trees instead of on the ground. When he refers to the tree kangaroos in general as 'they', the subject is plural, so he uses 'have', they have: Basically they have been hunted in their native habitat for their beautiful coat. So we've seen that to be up close is to be closer than usual, that close in or in close means very near and that to pick and choose means to choose carefully. We'll finish with Priya describing her experience of being a volunteer: Today's trip to the zoo was absolutely wonderful. I've had so much interaction with the animals and I didn't expect to work so close with the animals. I got to pet them, I got to feed them and it was just absolutely amazing. Coming to Taronga Zoo has just been such a wonderful experience and I'll never forget it.