www.DailyStep.

com
Level 5: Advanced Daily Audio Lessons

DailyStep-5_conversation-reminiscing-002_GB-01

Frank: Hi Gill. Are you free this coming Wednesday night?

Gill: Let me check my agenda. Um, looks like I am free that day. Why

what’s happening?

Frank: It’s the opening night of my new restaurant and we’re putting on

a launch party. You know, the Full Monty - champagne, nibbles and a

celebrity to cut the ribbon. We’re really pushing the boat out. It’s going to

be a night to remember.

Gill: Sounds great! I could do with a good night out. I’ll look forward to

that, thanks. Who’s the celebrity? It’s not George Clooney is it?

Frank: No, I’m afraid not. It’s Peter Barns.

Gill: Peter Barns? You’ll have to enlighten me!

Frank: You know, he got through to the third round of Britain’s Got

Talent?

Gill: No, sorry, I can’t say that I’ve ever heard of him but I’m not really a

fan of reality TV shows.

Frank: No, neither am I. But apparently the public love him even though

he can’t sing and he has no discernible talent. There’s no end to his talent

but also no beginning.

Page 1
DailyStep English, London, UK. © DailyStep Ltd. www.dailystep.com
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step
www.DailyStep.com
Level 5: Advanced Daily Audio Lessons

Situation: Frank invites Gill to the opening party of his new restaurant.

Style: general conversation between friends

.

Functions:
1. Making arrangements: Are you free this coming Wednesday night? (note:
please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
2. Reacting positively to an invitation or suggestion: Sounds great! (note:
please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
3. Saying that an invitation is welcome: I could do with a good night out. (note:
please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
4. Accepting an invitation: I’ll look forward to that, thanks. (note: please copy
the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
5. Saying no politely or reluctantly: No, I’m afraid not.
6. Asking for further explanation: Peter Barns? You’ll have to enlighten me!
(note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
7. Softening a negative answer: I can’t say that I’ve ever heard of him (note:
please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
8. Tactfully saying you don’t like something: I’m not really a fan of reality TV
shows. (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
9. Saying what you have heard: But apparently the public love him (note: please
copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
.

Notes:
1. Are you free...? = Are you available...? (more formal) / Are you doing
anything...?
2. this coming Wednesday = on the next Wednesday that comes along
3. Let me check... = I’m going to look in... / Please allow me a moment to consult…
(much more formal and a bit pompous!)
4. my agenda = my diary / my schedule
5. we’re putting on (phrasal verb) a launch party = we’re having an opening party /
we are hosting a launch party
6. a launch party = a party to celebrate the opening of a business
7. the Full Monty (idiom) = everything (something which contains everything)
8. nibbles = small items of food that are served with drinks
9. a celebrity = a famous person
10. to cut the ribbon = to perform the opening ceremony (a piece of ribbon is often
cut at this type of opening ceremony)
11. We’re really pushing the boat out (idiom) = We are really doing everything to
make it special / We’re having a big celebration
12. It’s going to be a night to remember = It’s going to be a spectacular night
13. I could do with (idiom) a good night out = I really need an enjoyable night out
14. a night out = a night of socialising, not at home
15. I’ll look forward to (phrasal verb) that = I’m anticipating that with excitement
(note: we never actually say it like this!) / I’m excited about that
16. George Clooney = a famous American actor
17. I’m afraid not (more formal) = I’m sorry but no
18. You’ll have to enlighten me (more formal) = You’ll have to tell me because I
really don’t know

Page 2
DailyStep English, London, UK. © DailyStep Ltd. www.dailystep.com
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step
www.DailyStep.com
Level 5: Advanced Daily Audio Lessons

19. he got through (phrasal verb) to the third round of = he reached as far as the
third part of the competition in
20. Britain’s Got Talent = a TV contest in which ordinary members of the public
demonstrate their ability to entertain
21. I can’t say that I’ve ever heard of him (less direct and therefore more tactful) = I
have never heard of him (more direct)
22. a fan of reality TV shows = somebody who likes reality TV shows
23. reality TV shows = shows which involve ordinary members of the public (often
making fools of themselves!)
24. no discernible talent (more formal) = no abilities which are obvious
25. There’s no end to his talent but also no beginning (note: the speaker is using
humour or a play on words here. When we say there is no end to something we
normally mean there is an abundance of something, but by adding ‘and no
beginning’ the speaker means he has nothing.) = He is talentless
.
Audio file name: DailyStep-5_conversation-reminiscing-002_GB-01
.

Page 3
DailyStep English, London, UK. © DailyStep Ltd. www.dailystep.com
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step