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1- Making polite invitations

William

Hello and welcome to How To, the programme from BBC Learning English where we
give you useful language for some everyday situations.

My name's William Kremer. Now you may remember that in a different programme
we found out how to invite people informally, by saying things like:

EXAMPLE

Diarmuid

Are you up for a pint after work, Catherine?

William

Today, we're looking at making invitations again, but this time they're going to be a
little bit more formal. Let's start by listening to a short clip. Diarmuid is inviting
Catherine to a barbeque, which is a kind of meal you can cook outside, usually in the
summer.

EXAMPLE

Diarmuid

Catherine, are you free on Friday?

Catherine

I think so. Why?

Diarmuid

Well, I'm going to have a barbeque on Friday night, in my back garden. I wondered if
you'd like to come along.

Catherine

Yeah, I'd love to. That sounds really nice.

Diarmuid

OK. You're not vegetarian are you?

Catherine

No, no I'm not.

Diarmuid
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Ah, you'll be fine with burgers.

William

Would you like to hear that clip again? Would you like to hear it now? Well, I'll play it
again a bit later, but first I want to look at this phrase, Would you like? Would you
like? means Do you want? but it's slightly more polite. So a slightly more polite
way of saying, Do you want a banana? is:

EXAMPLE

Elena

Would you like a banana?

William

And a slightly more polite way of saying Do you want to come for a drink? is:

EXAMPLE

Elena

Would you like to come for a drink?

William

So, Would you like to do something? is a very good way of asking questions
politely. But, usually when we're being polite, we try and make what we say longer
by using other phrases. Listen to Diarmuid:

EXAMPLE

Diarmuid

I wondered if you'd like to come along.

William

Diarmuid says, I wondered if you'd like to come along which is a shortened way
of saying I wondered if you would like to come along but it's sometimes hard to
hear the -d - I wondered if you'd like to come along. To wonder, means to
think or to ask yourself but the meaning of the word isn't that important here;
Diarmuid is just using the phrase to be polite.

Let's practise using this phrase, I wondered if you'd like. You're going to hear
Elena. After she says a direct question, see if you can change it into a sentence
beginning, I wondered if you'd like. You'll hear the correct answer after a short
pause.

EXAMPLE

Elena
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Would you like a chocolate bar?

I wondered if you'd like a chocolate bar.

Would you like to come for a drink?

I wondered if you'd like to come for a drink.

Would you like to see my photos?

I wondered if you'd like to see my photos.

William

How did you do? By the way, you can also say, I was wondering if you'd like. It
has exactly the same meaning.

EXAMPLE

Elena

I was wondering if you'd like to see my photos.

William

I was wondering if you would like to hear the whole conversation between Catherine
and Diarmuid again. You would? OK, here it is:

EXAMPLE

Diarmuid

Catherine, are you free on Friday?

Catherine

I think so. Why?

Diarmuid

Well, I'm going to have a barbeque on Friday night, in my back garden. I wondered if
you'd like to come along.

Catherine

Yeah, I'd love to. That sounds really nice.

Diarmuid

OK, you're not vegetarian are you?

Catherine
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No, no I'm not.

Diarmuid

Ah, you'll be fine with burgers.

William

Did you hear the question that Diarmuid asked Catherine at the beginning:

EXAMPLE

Diarmuid

Catherine, are you free on Friday?

William

Diarmuid asked Catherine if she was free on Friday. He's checking that she isn't
busy. Another way of checking is to ask the opposite question: Are you doing
anything on Friday? Hopefully, whoever you're speaking to won't be doing
anything! Or, you could just ask What are you doing on Friday?

Now, before we finish, let's hear a different conversation. This time, Diarmuid is
asking Catherine to a dinner party.

EXAMPLE

Diarmuid

What are you doing on Friday, Catherine?

Catherine

Er, I'm not sure yet. I might be going out but I haven't made any firm plans. Why?

Diarmuid

OK, well I'm going to have a dinner party at my house and I would very much like it if
you could come along.

Catherine

Oh right, yes I'd love to. Is it a formal occasion?

Diarmuid

No, it's just a few old friends really. You'll... you'll... you'll have a good time, you'll like
the people. About nine o'clock?

Catherine

That'd be lovely. Shall I bring a bottle?

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Diarmuid

Oh I think so...!

Catherine

OK then!

William

This time, Diarmuid says, I would very much like it if you could come along.

This is very polite and very friendly, because it shows Catherine that her coming to
his party is important to him.

EXAMPLE

Diarmuid

And I would very much like it if you could come along.

William

When Catherine says, Shall I bring a bottle? she's offering to take a bottle of wine
to Diarmuid's dinner party.

EXAMPLE

Catherine

That'd be lovely. Shall I bring a bottle?

William

You can listen to both the conversations in this programme again on the How To
webpage on bbclearningenglish.com, where you can also find out more about today's
phrases. The next episode of How To will be published next Wednesday and I would
very much like it if you could come along.

In this programme, we look at slightly more polite invitations. For example, how
would you ask a friend to your house for a dinner party?

When you've listened to the programme, don't forget to practise what you've learned
with the activity below.

Checking someone is not busy

 Are you free on Friday?

 Are you busy on Friday?
 What are you doing on Friday?
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Would you like...?

Would you like

 a chocolate bar?
 to come to my house for dinner?

I wondered / was wondering

 I wondered if you would like to come to my house for dinner.

 I was wondering if you'd like to come to my house for dinner.

Other expressions

 I would very much like it if you could come along.

 Shall I bring a bottle?

For more on this and other topics visit our website

2- Laboratory - grown meat

Is this the future of food? Here in Silicon Valley, scientists have taken cells plucked
from the feathers of a chicken and are using them to grow meat in this hi-tech
laboratory. Which means the chicken I'm about to eat, is weirdly still alive!

Thomas Elliott Bowman, Chef

So there we have it. Our 'Just' chicken nuggets, with a little bit of a chipotle ranch
dipping sauce there.

Reporter

I'm going to dip it in the sauce and take a bite… It's really tasty. It tastes like
chicken.

Although the taste is very similar, the physicality, the feel of it in your mouth is
slightly different.

This firm says its chicken will be on a restaurant menu by the end of this year.
Probably somewhere in Asia.

Josh Tetrick, CEO, Just

This is the transition away from raising and confining animals in the way we do. You
know the reality is 99 percent of all the meat we eat comes from places that if we
looked inside we wouldn't be that proud of. Meat production is just as responsible for
carbon emissions and climate change as all the cars we have on the street today.

But will anyone actually want to eat it? We travelled to cattle country to ask diners in
Ozark, Missouri…
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Woman

I would prefer not to no, if I knew about it.

Man

Meat ought to be grown on the farm, out in the fields and stuff.

Ranchers have concerns too. Missouri has already banned the use of the word 'meat'
to label lab-grown products.

Whatever it's called - with America's largest meat processor now investing in lab-
grown meat, we may be about to see a new agricultural revolution.

The story...

Laboratory-grown meat

Learn language related to...

Food

Answer this…

Which US state does not allow laboratory-grown meat to be labelled 'meat'?

Need-to-know language

tasty - (adjective) strong, pleasant flavour

tastes - (verb) have a particular flavour

taste - (noun) flavour (of something)

Did you get it?

Which US state does not allow laboratory-grown meat to be labelled 'meat'?

Missouri has banned the use of the word 'meat' to label lab-grown products.

Did you know?

A report by the Adam Smith Institute says meat made by scientists in a laboratory is
better for the environment, animal welfare and would be cheaper than meat
produced from farm animals.

For more on this and other topics visit our website

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To have a soft spot ( for something or somebody)

Feifei

Hello, this is The English We Speak and I'm Feifei.

Rob

And hello, I'm Rob.

Feifei

Rob, didn't you know it's very rude to eat while talking?

Rob

Sorry! It's just… somebody left these doughnuts here and I had to eat them - I have
a soft spot for doughnuts.

Feifei

Couldn't you wait?

Rob

No, sorry I can't - ooo, is that chocolate I can see in your bag - you couldn't spare a
few chunks could you? I have a soft spot for chocolate as well.

Feifei

No Rob, you can't but can I assume a 'soft spot' refers to your large and soft belly
you have as a result of eating too many sweet things?

Rob

How dare you! Having a soft spot does not mean having a fat belly - not that I
have one anyway. If you have a soft spot for something, it means you have the
feeling of really liking something or someone.

Feifei

Right. And it's quite a strong feeling?

Rob

It is. When you have a soft spot for someone it means you have a lot of affection
for them. Is there anyone you have a soft spot for, Feifei?

Feifei

Hmmm. At the moment I just have soft spot for some examples!
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Examples

He always had a soft spot for the woman in accounts - and guess what? Now
they're getting married!

She has a soft spot for designer shoes - her cupboard is crammed with hundreds
of pairs, some she's never even worn!

She's got a soft spot for her English teacher and keeps buying him presents - and
she's always the first to turn up for his lessons.

Feifei

This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English and we're learning about the
phrase to have a soft spot - which is a feeling of really liking something or
someone. So Rob, you asked if I had a soft spot for someone and I do!

Rob

Ooo, go on.

Feifei

He's tall and handsome…

Rob

Oh yes.

Feifei

A little beard…

Rob

Of course…

Feifei

And a natural performer.

Rob

I knew it! You only had to say, Feifei…

Feifei

Yes, it's the great actor, Scott Foley.

Rob

Oh I see. You have a soft spot for him?

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Feifei

I do. And how about you, Rob?

Rob

There's nobody - just doughnuts - soft, round, sweet and squidgy in the middle -
what's not to like?

Feifei

Ah, just like you then!

Rob

Time to go Feifei. Bye!

Feifei

Bye bye!

Introduction

What is a soft spot and where can you find it? Feifei thinks she knows where Rob's is
but as you can discover, it's not an actual physical thing but a way of describing your
feelings about something and someone. Watch the programme to find out more…

Phrase

To have a soft spot (for something or someone)

Meaning

If you have a soft spot for something, it means you have the feeling of really liking
something or someone.

Example

He always had a soft spot for the woman in accounts - and guess what? Now
they're getting married!

She has a soft spot for designer shoes - her cupboard is crammed with hundreds
of pairs, some she's never even worn!

For more on this and other topics visit our website

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Writing an email

Narrator

Hello, Anna's just arrived at her desk to start the day at Tip Top Trading. Paul is
walking towards her, eating a biscuit, he looks a bit bothered.

Paul

Anna?

Anna

Yes, Paul.

Paul

Come and have a biscuit in my office.

Now Anna, about Mr Lime.

Anna

I didn't say yes!

Paul

Pardon? Yes to what?

Anna

Oh, nothing.

Paul

You sent him an email yesterday and copied me in.

Anna

Yes.

Paul

Your email reads: boxes ok. pls c-d-u cfirm wnt 300 ta.

Anna

Yes: please could you confirm you want 300.

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Paul

Right. Now that's not really the best way of writing an email to a client, is it?

Anna

Oh.

Paul

Please could you re-send your message to Mr Lime, using actual words that make
sense.

Anna

Okay.

Paul

Thank you. Have a chocolate crunchy!

Anna

Thanks.

Tom

Morning Anna.

Anna

Hello.

Tom

Let me guess, Paul just spoke to you about your email?

Anna

How do you know?

Tom

You copied me in remember, I just read it - or tried to.

Anna

But what's the problem? Other people write like that!

Tom

No, maybe some people write text messages like that in an SMS message on their
phones, but that is completely the wrong style for an email to a client.
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Narrator

Okay Anna, let's stop listening to Tom, he's a waste of space. These are the kinds of
phrases you need in a business-related email:

 Dear Mr Lime...
 I hope you are well.
 I am writing regarding...
 Please could you confirm...
 Yours sincerely, or
 Best wishes

Anna

Thank you! I'll rewrite my message. There! I'd better get it checked before I send.
Denise?

Denise

(On the phone) yes... the other problem with Stephanie is that her legs are just too
long...

Anna

Oh, she's on the phone.

Denise

... yes, like trees...

Anna

I'll have to ask Tom. Tom?

Tom

Mm?

Anna

Could you read this through before I send it?

Tom

Hang on, Anna, let me just finish this sentence. It's really important. I'm ready, let's
have a look. Okay. (reading) Dear Mr Lime, I hope you are well. I am writing
regarding your request for luxury boxes for the Imperial Lemon Delivery. We will
indeed be able to supply them. Please could you confirm that you want 300. Best
wishes, Anna.

Anna
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Well?

Tom

It's good, it's much better. Send it. Hopefully Mr Lime will think your last message
was just someone sitting on your keyboard by mistake.

Anna

Thanks.

Tom

You're not...

Anna

What?

Tom

Nothing. It's none of my business.

Anna

What?

Tom

You're not ever going to go to lunch with Mr Lime are you? I mean, in a non-business
way...

Anna

No of course not!

Tom

I mean I don't care… it's just... important to... stay professional.

Anna

Yes.

Narrator

Hmmm.... well, I had a feeling Anna's email was going to cause problems. But at
least she won't make a mistake like that again. Here's a reminder of the phrases she
used in her new, improved email.

 Dear Mr Lime...
 I hope you are well.
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 I am writing regarding...
 Please could you confirm...
 Best wishes

Until next time, bye!

Introduction

Anna's having trouble with her emails.

She's been trying to sort out the order of Imperial Lemons for Mr Lime.

She sends an email but her choice of text-speak isn't appropriate and Paul, the boss,
isn't impressed.

Anna needs some help from Tom who always has plenty of advice.

Her email is rewritten and sent off, but will that be the end of the matter?

Phrases from the programme:

 Dear Mr Lime...
 I hope you are well.
 I am writing regarding...
 Please could you confirm...
 Best wishes

Listening Challenge

What is Anna trying to confirm in her email?

Listening Challenge - Answer

What is Anna trying to confirm in her email?

That her company can provide 300 luxury boxes to Mr Lime.

For more on this and other topics visit our website

Out of order
Feifei

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Feifei.

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Neil

And I'm Neil. Hi everyone.

Feifei

Is everything OK, Neil? You sound a bit annoyed this morning!

Neil

Yeh, I'm OK, I'm just a bit frustrated. I spent a few hours organising all of the books
on my bookshelves last weekend, but then my wife decided to clean the shelves and
put the books back in a mess.

They're all out of order again now!

Feifei

Oh, that is totally out of order!

Neil

Yeah, they are now totally out of order.

Feifei

I'm talking about your wife, not the books.

Neil

Eh?

Feifei

What I meant is that it wasn't fair that all your hard work went to waste - she should
have been more considerate.

Neil

Ohhh, I see. You mean 'out of order' in a different sense! My books are out of order
because they're disorganised, but my wife was out of order because she was
inconsiderate.

Feifei

That's exactly right! Let's listen to some other examples of how you could use this
alternate meaning.

Examples

The referee in Saturday's football match was totally out of order! I couldn't believe
he sent off our best player - he was obviously biased!
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A passenger on the train this morning started shouting at me. She said I pushed her!
I thought she was really out of order! I couldn't help it.

The train stopped abruptly.

Who took my pen from my desk? It's the fourth time this week - this is out of order!

Feifei

This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English and we're talking about the
phrase out of order.

This phrase often means that something is disorganised or in the wrong order, but it
is also used in spoken English to say that someone has been unfair or inconsiderate.

Could you give us another example of this, Neil?

Neil

Well, I wrote a script last week which you said was rubbish! I thought that was a
bit out of order!

Feifei

Oh dear! I'm sorry if I offended you, Neil, but I think you might have misunderstood
what I meant! When you printed it out and gave it to me, I couldn't read anything -
there was ink all over it.

Perhaps the printer was out of order?

Neil

And that's a third meaning of out of order.

Feifei

Yes. Out of order also means broken! Well, that's all we have…

Neil

Oh dear, it seems Feifei's mic is out of order! What she was trying to say was that's
all we have time for this week, so join us again next week for more The English We
Speak. Goodbye!

Rhinos taken back to Rwanda

The story…

Rhinos taken back to Rwanda

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Learn language related to…

conservation

Answer this…

Why are keepers training the rhinos to stand calmly in a confined space?

Need-to-know language

feeding time - period in which an animal or person is given food

keepers - professionals who take care of animals

released into the wild - set free into the natural environment

critically endangered - at high risk of extinction

Did you get it?

Why are keepers training the rhinos to stand calmly in a confined space?

It's something they'll need to do for hours on their upcoming flight to Rwanda.

For more on this and other topics visit our website

Transcript

Not your usual feeding time. This is 'rhino flight training'.

With comforting words and lots of apples, the keepers here at this Czech zoo are
training rhinos to stand calmly in a confined space. It's something they'll need to do
for hours on their upcoming flight to Rwanda.

Five young rhinos, all born in European zoos, have been selected to be transported
and released into the wild.

They're all the descendants of animals that were taken decades ago from Africa.

Jan Stejskal, Dvur Králové Safari Park

We have to do everything we can now to, let's say, pay back what we did in the past.
And one of the ways how we can do it is to get involved in the conservation projects
like translocating of rhinos from European zoos back to Rwanda and helping
establishing a new population in this African country.

These are critically endangered eastern black rhinos, brought together here from
three different zoos in preparation for their 6,000-kilometre journey.

The flight they've been preparing for finally arrived at Kigali International Airport.
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While this is the end of a very long journey, it's just the beginning of what will
hopefully be a long life in the wild.

vanish into thin air

Feifei

This is The English We Speak. I'm Feifei.

Rob

And hello, I'm Rob.

Feifei

Rob, would you mind wiping those crumbs from your mouth?

Rob

Ooops, sorry!

Feifei

Do you know, it's very strange - I made a cake a last night and brought it to work
today to share with you.

Rob

That's very kind!

Feifei

Yes, but it seems to have vanished into thin air.

Rob

Wow! You're a magician! You've made a cake disappear!

Feifei

No, Rob. The phrase to vanish into thin air means to suddenly, mysteriously
and completely disappear. You haven't seen the cake, have you, Rob?

Rob

No, Feifei - no sign of your 'disappearing' cake.

Feifei

OK, well let's hear some examples of this phrase. Let's hope they haven't suddenly
disappeared!
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Examples

I can't remember where I've parked the car! I think it's vanished into thin air.

Have you seen the boss? Someone important needs to talk to him but I can't find him
anywhere. It's like he's vanished into thin air.

Has anyone seen my glasses? They've vanished into thin air.

Feifei

This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English and we're learning about the
expression 'to vanish into thin air', which can be used to describe a situation
where something mysteriously and suddenly disappears.

So any sign of my cake?

Rob

No.

Feifei

Very odd. I put it on my desk this morning and went to make a cup of coffee and
when I returned, it had gone.

Dan

Great cake, Rob! Thanks for sharing it! I hope you'll be baking again soon! See you!

Feifei

Rob!

Rob

Sorry, Feifei! It was so tempting, so delicious, so I thought…

Feifei

So you thought you'd eat it!

Rob

It helped us demonstrate today's phrase.

Feifei

There's just one thing I want to vanish into thin air.

Rob

Oh yeah? And what's that?

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Feifei

You, Rob! Now I'm off to bake a cake - for me.

Rob

See you! Oh, she's gone!