33BBC #1

Now Rob you are a man of taste so what would you usually wear to the office? Well I think it’s
important to look smart. But in my job I can be casual. So perhaps a nice short and some jeans
and casual trousers. Very nice, and what about the women more today wear? It’s quite range
of work. Some ladies quietly smartly dressed and might wore dressed skirt and blouse but
others are more casual. Of course, they are all lovely including yourself. I’m not sure how
sincere you are about that. But I’ll give you the benefit of a doubt. We are talking about the
importance of dress code on 6-minute-english today. But before we get our story I’ve got a
question for you. And it’s all about fashion something I’m sure you know lots about. Are you
ready for the all-important questions? Yes, I am. Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld is known for
his bold states about fashion and famously said: “One is never over-dressed or underdressed
with a what? Is it A) a pair of jeans B) a little black dress or C) a pair of high heels. Dare, I didn’t
even understand the code. What is the meaning exactly? If you are overdressed you look too
formal, if you are underdressed you are not formal enough. And he thinks there is one fashion
item which is perfect for all occasions. Is it pair of jeans little black dress or pair of high heels.
Well surprisingly I have no idea about woman’s fashion. So I’ll go for A. Well we will see if you
are right at the end of the program. Now back to our story which is about controversial micro
block post which has sparked a debate in China. So that means it’s got lots of people talking
about it and often arguing about it! Yes, the post was from a metro operator in Shanghai who
suggested the woman should dress in a conservative way in public. If you dress conservatively
you wear traditional clothes and avoid anything outlandish or revealing. A block post included
a photo of woman wearing a see-through, or transparent dress. That’s certainly the opposite
of conservative! I don’t think many people would go out in a public wearing an outfit you could
see through. Probably not but this blogger’s comment about the outfit has caused
controversy. Listen to this clip from BBC’s John Sudworth what comment was made about the
photo? The Shanghai metro authority used its official Weibo account, the Chinese version of
twitter to publish a photograph of a woman in what appears to be a see-through dress,
standing on a subway platform. It’s not surprising when woman get harassed if they like this
the caption reads, adding it’s hard to avoid perverts. Girls, please cherish yourselves. The
metro authority said that if women wear see-through clothes, then it’s not surprising they get
harassed. Thousands of female passengers have been voicing their anger at this, as they feel it
is an attempt to blame them for any sexual harassment they receive. Those passengers think
that they should have a right to dress how they like. Without being harassed. But on the other
hand, there other people who have said that women should not dress provocatively, as it
might encourage people to make unwarm comments. It seems that opinion is divided. This is
the BBC’s John Sudworth again with some of the responses to the statement. The issue is
currently the second most discussed topic on Weibo and has even prompted a small tube-train
protest. One woman angered by the statement, held up a banner reading: “I can be coquettish
but you can’t harass me.” Other internet users through have spoken out in defence of what
they say is simply common-sense advice. In an online poll with 4,000 responded so far almost
70% said women should dress more conservatively, when taking trains or buses. So it’s even
prompted a protest by some women who feel they dress how they like without people making
comments. And that includes dressing coquettishly or in a flirty manner. But other people have
said it’s only common sense – or good judgement to dress conservatively and nobody is likely
bother you. May be not but they argue this everyone should be treated with respect no matter
what they choose to wear. Social harassment is huge problem in society. And the question
how to avoid it is difficult one. Who is responsible for the harassment, the people who dress
provocatively or the people making unwanted comments? It’s difficult question and I’m sure
the debate will carry on for a long while. Speaking of difficult question, I asked you a tricky one
about the clothing at the start of the program.

BBC #2

Well, today we are talking about man. That sounds interesting. That is very interesting.
Especially if you are a man. Because it seems we’ve had existence extended. I’m sorry. Well
previous scientific research has suggested that the Y chromosome which is responsible for
men’s sex organs and hormones, is rotting away. Are you going to make it till the end of the
program? Even the most pessimistic finding suggested that men had 100 thousand years left.
So I think 6 minutes is okay. Before we get into this story though, I have a quiz question for
your Rosie. Are you ready. Yes, I am. It’s simple question what is the ratio of men to women in
the world. Is it a) equal so 100 males to every 100 females. Is it B) 101 males to 100 females.
Or C) 100 males to every 105 females. Well I have absolutely no idea. So, I’m going to guess
and I am going to say C) 100 males to every 105 females. Okay we will find out the answer at
the end of the program. Okay. So, tell me more about this research into the possible extinction
of men. It now seems that men can breathe a sigh of relief. Scientists compared the decline in
the male human’s Y chromosome remember that’s the thing that responsible for a deciding
the sex of a child. With that of the rhesus monkey. Okay that’s the monkey that we separated
from 20 million years ago. That’s right and there is a conclusion was that the Y chromosome is
depleted but it’s still got all of vital bits. Well, here’s Jennifer Hughes from the whitehead
institute in Cambridge Massachusetts. She was in charge of research: I think that the odds of
the Y losing any more genes are pretty slim. It appears that it’s been stable for 25 million years
and that is a good indication it’s going to be stable for many many millions of years to come.

BBC3

In this program with all the scientific logical progress around the world how come poor
sanitation still remains a mass child killer? And how we can save lives. By learning a few
lessons from the past for example from the 19th century’s Britain according to new report in
the studio with me Jackie Dalton thanks for joining me Jackie. Hello Dima pleasure to be here.
Let’s start with today’s key word. Sanitation what does sanitation actually mean? Well
sanitation is a very broad term. We use it to mean system for taking dirty water and other
products away from buildings in order to protect people’s health. And diarrhea? Well diarrhea
is not very nice thing to have. It’s when your body gets poisoned by unclean water or infected
food. Making stomach upset so you need to go to the toilet very often. And it can be very
serious health problem. And the next word. The verb to outweigh. This just means to be
greater or more important than something else. Okay sanitation, diarrhea and to outweigh.
Jackie, do interrupt me if you hear any other words you think might need explaining. Well as I
said in the beginning new report has just been republished by the charity water aid. The report
says the lives of millions of children are being put at risk every year, because the governments
and aid agencies are making the wrong choices about health care priorities. Health care
priorities that’s deciding which diseases or illnesses to fight first. Exactly, now, according to the
report diarrhea cause by poor sanitation is killing many more children than HIV/Aids TB and
malaria combined. And here my question comes for this week. If the world spent 10,8 billion
dollars into 2004-2006 on HIV/Aids, how much do you think spent in the same period on
improving sanitation? Was it A) 1,5 billion B) 15 billion, or 50 billion. I would guess 15 billion.
We will check the answer later. But first let’s hear from Oliver Cumming, the author of the
report. Oliver believes not enough is being done around the world to improve sanitation.
Possibly, because politicians find it neither fashionable nor exciting. As you listen see if you can
catch today’s other key words and expressions. Over to you Jackie. We are going to hear lack
of political will, that is to say that governments to show no desire to actor do something. Lack
of political will is driving this neglect in other words is the reason for not doing anything about
situation. And shocking means extremely bad, very unpleasant. Main reason we can see this
lack of political will which is driving this neglect. And it’s all the more shocking when you
consider the role of investment in sanitation played here in the developed world. If you are
taking examples the UK… Oliver says there is only one reason politician to do very little about
sanitation they just don’t want to get involved. And that’s bad he says, in fact so bad that the
world Oliver uses is shocking. And something he says, makes it even more shocking. What is it?
See if you can catch the answers you listen Oliver again. Here’s a clue for you. Look out for a
word that means putting money into something worthwhile. the key word in there is
investment. Oliver put it in the context investment and sanitation in the developed world.
Sound like time has come for a history lesson you promised at the beginning Dima? That’s
right Jackie. In the next part of interview Oliver Cumming says that sadly, the experience of the
history sometimes forgotten even in the place where sanitation should be a health care
priority. Which country does he refer to as historical example? Let’s listen. And it’s all the
more shocking when you consider the role of investment and sanitation played here in the
developed world. If you take an example of the UK it was government led investment in
sanitation which in fact brought about the most significant reductions in child mortality at the
end of the 19th century. For greater in fact that the advent of the national health system for
example. Did you hear the answer which country made investment in sanitation at the end of
the 19th century? It was the United Kingdom. There was also some good language there. First,
the phrasal verb to bring about meaning to result in something to be the impulse for
something to happen. And second significant reduction in child’s mortality. This simply means
the number of child deaths became a lot smaller. Oliver says that the improve of sanitation
brought about the most significant reduction in child mortality. Much greater than when the
national health service was introduced in the UK back in 1948.

BBC4

Today we’re talking about a new report that examines how poverty can effect education. A
report from organization for Economic Cooperation and Development or OECD studies
whether there is an inevitable link between wealth and academic performance. You think
children poor background perform less well at school than children from richer background,
right Alice? Well that makes sense. If you are from a disadvantaged background then the odds
are stacked against you. You are less likely to succeed. Because the situation is unfavorable.
But the OECD report says that in certain countries children from poorer background are more
likely to achieve good grades and do well academically despite having the odds stacked against
them. So it’s easier for poorer school students or pupils to achieve high grades in some
countries rather than others then, Dan? Exactly, they achieve against the odds. For example,
poorer children in Canada and Japan are more likely to achieve good grades than poorer
children in the UK. There’s a more level playing field in those countries than in Britain. That’s a
good phrase a level playing field. It comes from sport. If you are playing in a level playing field
it’s a fair situation for everybody. So where are poorer pupils most likely to do well then, Dan?
Well, this is this week’s question Alice. Which country do you think came top in OECD list for
pupils done well even odds stacked against them. Was it A) Finland B) Canada or C) South
Korea. And I’ll guess Finland. Well we see if you are right at the end of the program. Now let’s
hear from professor Yvonne Kelly from the university of Essex. She specializes in how
economic factor can influence childhood development. Here she is talking about her research
in the UK. What factors does she could be effected by different level of family income. We
compared levels of family income with likelihood children having social and emotional
difficulties. And also their cognitive ability skills. So the research compared level of family
income that’s how much money a family earns with the likelihood of children having social and
emotional difficulties. Social here refers to how people live and work together. And emotional
refers to how children react their feelings. So the income of a family effect whether the
children have social and emotional difficulties. And research looks that the children’s cognitive
ability and skills that’s the way children learn cognitive is a scientific term it refers how we
process information. And what were the findings of this research then, Dan? Well professor
Kelly says that children from low-income families were more likely to show symptoms of social
and emotional difficulties. She says they can be more fidgety, restless and clingy. Could you
explain some these terms for us Alice? Sure, well, to fidget means to make small quick
movements in a nervous way, so fidgety mean moving nervously. Being restless means you are
unable to relax. And clingy here it means that the child doesn’t want to be separated from
their parents. Okay let’s listen professor Kelly again. How many times more likely children with
poor backgrounds to suffer from social and emotional difficulties. Children from the poorest
households were between 7-8 times more likely to have social and emotional difficulties.
Things like being excessively fidgety, restless, clingy compared to their better-off counterparts.
So children from poorer backgrounds were seven or eight times more likely to be fidgety,
restless, clingy than their better-off counterparts. Better-off here means richer; and a
counterpart is a person who’s at the same level or who does the same job. So the better-off
counterparts here children from the same age from richer backgrounds. But Dan, did you say
that some countries have less of divide between the grades of richer pupils and poorer pupils
than other countries. That’s right although there’s a strong link between family income and
how well pupils perform at school. And the research says the education system in some
countries are more likely to help from poorer backgrounds develop self-confidence a
motivation, to succeed. Okay, so don’t keep me waiting Dan. Which countries are they?

BBC5

The topic for today’s program is cultural icon Barbie. Believe it or not, the blonde-haired doll is
50 years old this year. Did you ever have a Barbie doll Jackie? Yes, I had one Barbie doll when I
was younger. And I used to enjoy playing with her and pulling her hair legs off. Oh, dear. You
shortened it like that. I’m sure she didn’t like, that but as I said cultural icon could you explain
what a cultural icon is? Yes, a cultural icon is a person or it can be an object that rarely
recognized by a lot of people. And has a lot of importance to them. Shakespeare was seen as a
cultural icon. Madonna for me is a cultural icon. Okay, as usual I have a question for you we all
know that Barbie doll is a worldwide appeal in fact when they went on sale in 1959 around
350,000 were sold in the first year. But how many dolls do you think sale today? Is it A) 3 per
hour B) 3 per second or C) 3 minute. I would say A) 3 per hour. Because I can’t imagine they’re
still that popular. Okay, we will see if you are right at the end of the program. But first let’s
listen to the Senior Vice President of Barbie worldwide, Richard Dixon. And try to find out how
many countries, Barbie is currently sold in. it’s a global brand in a hundred different countries.
And our sites are developed everywhere to make sure we unite girls around the world through
Barbie. Did you catch that how many countries is Barbie sold in. He said 150 countries. That’s
correct, he said that Barbie is a global brand in 150 different countries. What’s a global Brand?
A global brand is a product made by company which sells successfully and is recognized all
over the world. Barbie is often described as role model. What’s that? A role model is a person
or a figure who’s admired and whose behavior others try to copy. So a female role model
would be a woman or girls who other girls are inspired to copy. There has been some
controversy over Barbie’s figure when it’s pointed out that’s Barbie was a real person her
measurements would be an impossible 36-18-38, which is extremely thin. We’re going to hear
what some women on the streets of London had to say on the subject, but first let’s look at
the some of the vocabulary often used when talking about women and role models. First of all,
average. What does average means Jackie? It means typical or usual. And stereotype or
stereotypical. A stereotype is the fixed idea that people might have about what someone or
something is like and it’s often wrong. And what about image. An image is an idea or mental
picture you have about how something or someone is. Okay, let’s see what people think. As
you listen see if you can hear whether this first lady is a fan of Barbie or not? She is a not the
average size of an average women, she purports far too much make-up for someone her ages,
her clothing is very stereotypical just an image that isn’t something to be followed I don’t
think. She said she’s not the average size of an average woman. What did she mean? I think
she means Barbie is too much thin and that proportions of her body aren’t very realistic. Is this
lady a fan of Barbie? No, I don’t think she is. I agree I don’t think she is though. Moving on in
the next clip you might hear the following words. Portraying what does portraying mean? It
means to represent or to show. And what about skinny. This refers to very thin body type. And
it’s often used in a negative way to mean someone’s is too thin. Right so let’s listen to the next
person we met. See if you can hear the words we’ve just talked about. It’s about an image,
isn’t it? It’s about image and portraying yourself and she’s portrayed as this blonde, skinny
woman and that’s not what women are about, and in this last clip we’re going to hear that
word role model again. Does this woman think Barbie is a good or bad role model? I don’t
think it’s role model for women I think she is a doll. You know. Everybody going politically
correct mad. It’s a doll and it’s a dressing up doll and that’s fine. No problem with it. Well she
doesn’t think Barbie is a role model at all. She thinks Barbie is a doll. Politically correct that’s
an expression we hear a lot these days. What does it mean? Yes, politically correct means to
choose you language very carefully so don’t offend people especially when it comes to things
like sex, race. But sometimes people think that the political correctness has gone to extreme.
We get too worried what we are saying.

BBC6
Now a little test for you to start the program with. Could you name the five senses for me?
Okay, so, there is sight, sound, touch, taste and smell. That’s right. Well today we’re talking
about synesthesia. This is the name we can condition some people have where senses are
mixed up or confused. Yes, I think I’ve heard of that. I think most of the examples are when
people strongly feel a sense of color. When they hear music. Or taste something. The taste of
lemon gives someone the strong sense of the color blue. Exactly, some other examples of
seeing and feeling color sexes and personalities of letters and numbers and smelling colors and
sounds. Sound bizarre but I’m looking for finding out a little bit more. First to my question for
this week, are you ready? Yes, far away. Is synesthesia more common in a man or woman? I’ll
guess as it is more common in men. Okay, we will find out the answer at the end of the
program. But first to our speaker for this week, James Wannerton, who has the condition,
synesthesia. He’s going to explain some more details about what it is and how it affects him.
We all have five senses, sight, sound, hearing, touch and smell. And they all operate
independently of one another, it’s just that in certain individuals those two senses are
combined. I mean for example someone with synesthesia may smell a shape or they might
hear or touch or in my particular case I actually taste sound. He says he can taste sound! I;ve
never heard of that combination before let’s find out more. I’ve had this since I can remember
since I was 4-5. And it’s been exactly the same. Every single sound has maintained and kept
exactly the same taste. So he had this condition since he was 4 or 5 years old. And every sound
has kept the same taste. That’s interesting. What happens if it’s a bad word with bad or
negative meaning. Something like coffin which in a box in which we bury the dead. What kind
of taste does he get from this? It’s totally arbitrary coffin for example taste like a sweet, a
hard-boiled sweet. Arbitrary means without reason or something that is based on chance. To
him the word coffin tastes like boiled sweets. So there must be a few problem having this
condition interesting there might be. I can imagine it must be quite lonely in a way – trying to
explain other people or articulate what he is experiencing. Articulate means to be able to
express something clearly in words. Okay so let’s listen to the next extract he also mentions
food stuffs. This is a general term. It should first any substance used as food or used to make
food. Texture is how something feels so the degree which something is rough or smooth soft
or hard. And tastes and texture are closely related in how we experience something when we
eat it. I get a lot of tastes that I can’t articulate as this food stuffs. I’m getting this fairly
complex mixture of tastes and textures on my tongue. And it feels very, very real to me. The
difficulty I’m having is articulating this into a food taste that somebody else can understand.
So, he has a problem of identifying how something tastes himself. Yes, that must be frustrating
I wonder what other problems he also has? Well in the next extract you will hear expressions
taste sensations and distracting. Can you explain what these mean? Sure, a taste sensation is
the feeling you get when you taste flavor of something. And distracting means something is
making it difficult for you for your full attention. Let’s listen what else does he find difficult
about having the condition. I have a problem with people who speak slowly. It’s just the more
words that go in, the more taste sensations I get it’s one after another. It’s very distracting. It’s
quite difficult to try and take in what someone’s saying when you’re getting the taste of jelly
and chocolate and stuff all the time. He said that when people are talking slowly, and clearly it
feels his head so many taste sensations but he can’t listen what they’re actually saying. All he
can do thing about are the tastes he’s experiencing – in this case, jelly and chocolate. So we
are nearly out of time, so let’s quick run some of the vocabulary we’ve met today.

BBC7

I’m joining today at the start over a brand new year by Neil. Hi Rob, I’m really looking forward
to 2015 but I have to say last year was great. So great. I’m thinking about creating my own
time capsule. Really. A time capsule you mean a kind of box or container. Where you can store
objects of information. So the people in the future yourself included will know how we lived at
this particular time. That’s it and I’m already collecting items. My old mobile phone which I
don’t use anymore. And woolly jumper with a snowman on it that my granny gave me that I
never wear. You never wear. It’s a pretty silly jumper Ron. She said it remind me how much
she loved me. Remind. Which means makes me remember. But all these makes me think of
she still treats me like a child. I’ll include the Christmas car which came with it! Well, you’ve
got to choose the item you wish to keep as a remember of our time very carefully. It’s a
historical record. As it usually means a piece of writing or a narrative of event at a particular
time. Well, let’s discuss time capsules and vocabulary related to memory. But fist a question to
test your knowledge of time capsules. The international time capsules society is a based at
Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, in the US, and it studies these artifacts. According to this
organization how many time capsules are estimated to exist in the world today? Is it A) up to
50,000 B) up to 150,000 or C) up to 1,500,000 I’m going to go for A) up to 50,000 okay. That’s
long. As usual you have the answer to that question at the end of the program. Right now, let’s
talk more about time capsules. One of them was in news in the last couple of weeks. A capsule
was found in a public building in Boston. I’ve heard about this. Historians believe it was put
there by Samuel Adams and Paul and other American revolutionaries of the 18 th century. Okay,
let’s listen to the BBC reporter Rajini Vaidyanathan. Can you tell me exactly where this time
capsule was hidden? It was during repair work at the Massachusetts in Boston that the time
capsule was discovered hidden in the cornerstone. It’s thought the time capsule was first
placed there in 1796, when the building was constructed. Officials believe it should contain old
coins and newspapers which could have deteriorated over time. The time capsule was hidden
in the cornerstone which is a stone representing starting place in the construction of the
monumental building. Usually it has the date craft on it. Yes, time capsules are items date over
200 years ago. So the historians are concerned about opening it. The newspaper particularly
might have deteriorated decade or decomposed over time. Paper doesn’t last long. But my old
mobile phone the one what I am going to put on my own time capsule will be eternal. It means
that will exist forever. And the historians of the future will be grateful. If you want to make the
historians happy, put things which are current in your life. Things you actually use in your time
capsule. There are famous time capsules open. The American company Westinghouse created
two of them. One for the 1939 New York world’s fair. And the other for the same event in
1964. When are they going to open it? In the 25th century. Well that’s it Rob. I’m going home
and I’m going to start working on my own time capsule. Good, I’m glad to see you so
enthusiastic Neil. But be careful not to make mistake these guys in the Writtle Jr School here
made. They put their items in a box 25 years ago and they buried the capsule in the garden.
And what happened to it? It’s in a century later it must be interesting for the people who we
are now adults to see what’s inside. It wouldn’t be interesting but it didn’t happen. Listen to
head teacher Nick Taylor and tell me why they didn’t open the time capsule. There were
letters in it coins various things so we call them Writtle Heritage and they had a good explore
around the garden with their metal detectors, and they couldn’t find any evidence of it. I think
we’ve dug about 3 holes around the school garden but we had to stop because we were
slightly destroying it. They forgot where they buried it and they used metal detectors
electronic devices and they can find metallic objects underground. And even though they
couldn’t find time capsule. And before I forget.

BBC8

Now Harry, have you ever taken selfie? That’s a photo of yourself usually with your mobile
phone. Yes, I have taken more over London with my children. Of course, selfies are very easy
to take with your smart phone and recently we’ve seen famous selfies featuring well-known
people such as the one taken by actor Ellen DeGeneres at last year’s Oscars ceremony. Yes, it
seems there are no limits to the places where you can capture yourself in a photo. But there is
a limit on how far you can reach your arm out to take snap. A quick photo of you and your
friends. That’s true. So thank goodness for selfie stick an expanding pole to put your
smartphone on which gives you a wider view. This mean you can take more background.
Sound like a good idea. It does, but it also causes problems in some places around the world.
More on that in a moment let’s not forget I have a question to ask you Harry. Ok Neil. Well we
know some people love to take of themselves that perhaps not as much as Patrick Peterson.
According to Guinness World Records he has taken the most selfies in one hour. But do you
know how many? Is it A) 449 B) 1449 or C) 2449. Well I guess he is got a move and be in a
different position so I’m not going to go for the highest one. I am going to say 1449. Okay we
will find out the answer at the end of the program. But now, let’s talk more about the dangers
of the selfie stick. They can be useful for taking photos from a different view point. But it
doesn’t mean you can get more people in your photo. Sells of the selfie stick has soared or
risen quickly since last year and they are in a common sights of tourist destination. They are
great if you want to take better photo. But they are annoying if you are not involved in the
photo. Yes, this is particularly frustrating if you look at painting and sculptures, at an art
gallery. They just get in a way and can be very distracting. You mean they stop someone giving
full attention to looking. Well, this is the reason that some famous art galleries around the
world are putting a ban on selfie sticks, a ban means they are no longer allowed. Places such as
the Smithsonian museums in Washington and the palace of Versailles in Paris was the first to
do this and now the national gallery in London have stopped them being used as well let’s
hear the exact reasons why from the gallery’s Doctor Susan Foister. What phrase does she use
to mean trying to do the best thing for the visitors and the paintings themselves. We have over
6 million visitors a year here, some of our rooms could get quite crowded. So we have to find
right balance between the experience of our visitors close to the paintings and the safety of
the paintings themselves. So the national gallery popular and busy place and it gets quite
crowded or it doesn’t help the problem if people are holding selfie sticks! Yes, they have
imposed or brought in this ban to do the best thing for the visitors and the paintings
themselves. It’s what dr. Foister called the right balance. She wants to give visitors trying to
get close the paintings a good experience. And she makes the point there is risk that the
painting, which can be worth millions of pounds, could be damaged by one of these sticks. Of
course, you are still allowed to take a selfie and some museums are sticking their neck out and
still allowing people to use them. A goof idiom there Harry. You mean they’re doing something
that other people may not like yes, places such as the ICA that the institute for contemporary
art in London say selfie sticks are part of modern-day life. Here’s Catherine Stout, head of
programs at the ICA. How does she describe the type of visitors who go to her gallery? We are
very happy for our visitors to take their own photographs for personal use, of course, we
always secure the artist’s permission. But actually, because we have a young audience they’re
completely engaged with social media, they want to use that forum to connect with each
other, to share their experience, if they wish to use a stick they’re very welcome to do as long
as, obviously, the artwork is not damaged in any way. So the people who visit that gallery, are
young and use social media a lot. They are engaged with it, and like to share their experiences.
This means taking photo on their smartphones and if they wanted to use selfie stick they are
welcome to do so. Just watch out where you stick it! I suppose as long as you respect other
visitors and don’t get in the way, and then it’s okay to use them. Well, I’m not so sure.
Anyway, it’s time to reveal the answer to the question I asked earlier.

BBC9

How are you today? fine thanks. The weather has been nice actually? Hasn’t it? Yes, it has. The
winter has been mild this year but according to the forecast there might be some snow in
parts of the country next week. You know that’s good because I love snow. We haven’t seen
much of it for quite a while. It’s only rain. Now or they’re going to think it’s true that British
people only talk about the weather. In this program we are talking about conversation. And
how to start talking whit people you don’t know. In short: how to make small talk. Right well,
small talk is what we call polite informal conversation about things which aren’t really
important or meaningful when meeting people socially. Like at a party, for example. And in
this program you’ll learn some vocabulary about communication. But first a question: Rob,
when do babies usually start talking? Is it when they are A) 9 months B) 16 months or C 18
months.? Well, I know they start making noises at quite an earlier age. And I guess if that’s
talking, let me say A. well, we have the answer to that question at the end of the program, so
small talk is a social skill. Some people feel awkward it means they feel uncomfortable,
embarrassed- when they go to a party and don’t know many people there. Liz Brewer, the
author of the ultimate guide to party planning etiquette, know a lot about what to do on this
occasions. Etiquette is a set of rules which indicate what behavior in the society is acceptable
and what’s not. Yes, the author knows a lot about etiquette. Let’s listen about hear advice.
What expression she used to describe the act of attempting to start a conversation with
someone. You walk in a room, there’s a sea of faces. Well, the first you do is it’s the weather.
We do it because we are in fact breaking the ice. That’s a code. That means I want to talk to
you. It’s an easy subject, it’s not penetrating. We’re very private people. We don’t give too
much information. So we are on safe ground. We start off with the weather. If that goes well,
we then take it one step further. Liz Brewer talks about breaking the ice. It means approaching
someone you don’t know and starting friendly conversation with them and when you break
the ice talking about things which are not specific is the best way. You don’t start a chat asking
straight away where people live or what they do for a living. And as the author said we are
very private people. Private describes someone who doesn’t like to give away their personal
information, opinions or share their feeling. So we need more time to open up to people we
have just met. So now you know what to do at a party when you don’t know the guests. But
Neil there’s one particular situation I’m not sure how to deal with. This is when I forget the
name of person I’ve been making small talk with. Yes, I know what that’s like. You might not
feel comfortable about allowing the person to realize you didn’t really catch their name. it
might sound rude. Yes, that’s right. I don’t want to sound rude which means ill-mannered or
unpleasant. The person I’ve just managed to approach might think I don’t care. Let’s see what
tip on etiquette Liz Brewer has for us. Which words does she use instead of I have forgotten.
You can say ah just your name, it has slipped my mind for the moment. And they say Paul, oh,
no, no, no, I know you are Paul, it was the surname. Or they give you the surname and then
you add the other. As I say, small talk is a code towards getting information and going further.
Once you feel comfortable, then you can have these wonderful in-depth conversations. Those
are the kinds of things you do later. Liz Brewer says you name has just slipped my mind. It’s a
gentler way of saying that they have just forgotten the person’s name. and pretending that
you need the person’s name but you want other name is a clever trick. Yes, it might sound like
you forgot the name but not completely. And this author shows you have to interact with
people in a charming way. Yes, well, my co-presenter your name has just slipped my mind for
the moment. Come on Rob you know you know it’s Neil. Yes, it’s Neil. I’m just practicing my
social skills there. Well, I’m afraid you have to practice some other time, because well I don’t
want to sound rude but we are running out of time. Let me give you the correct answer to the
quiz question now.
BBC10

Now we are talking about growing trend in online shopping today. Oh, yes shopping via the
internet. That is something I like to do. Okay, you are not the only person we like shop in this
way. Millions of people choose shop online. And last week saw the biggest day of the year for
doing this. It was called mega Monday. More about that soon, but first, I’m looking online to
find you a question, Cath. Come on then, what is it? Okay this week’s question is according to
international survey what is the most popular item that’s bought online. Is it A) music you
know downloading all music or CD. B) travel ticket or C) books I’m going to go for books. Okay,
we’ll see if you are right at the end of the program. Okay, let’s talk more about shopping and
particularly online shopping. Yes, and, you mentioned last week’s mega Monday or cyber
Monday. The biggest day of the year for online shopping. But people still going out for
shopping in high street shopping center. Yes, that’s right. When we say the high street we
mean the main shopping street of the town. These places are really quite busy at the moment
with people Christmas shopping. In the USA, the recent thanksgiving holiday marked the start
of the Christmas shopping season there. The day is also known as black Friday. Where
discounts are offered in shops or stores as the Americans call them. It’s called Black Friday
because it’s the day when shops go from being in the red so owing money to be in the black.
Making a profit. Because so many people are going out spending money. But we are still
talking about online shopping. And online sales are certainly, rising despite the current
economic situation. Here’s the BBC’s Graham Satchell reporting on the affects of Mega
Monday the high street in the UK. How does he describe what’s happening to the high street?
Okay, the high street is really struggling, for the third Christmas in a row, sales are expected to
be down, this year by 2.1%. instead, more and more of us shopping online. 25%of all Christmas
shopping this year will be down over the internet, up 16% on last year. And mega Monday is
the busiest day. One estimate suggesting there’ll be 3,300 purchases a minute. So, Graham
Satchell says the high street is struggling in other words the shops are finding it difficult to stay
in business. That’s because sales are down. For the third year in a row. And as we heard a
quarter of all Christmas shopping will be done online. And last week’s mega Monday saw an
estimated 3,300 purchases every minute. So those transactions must add up a lot of money
spent using credit cards. Yes and it’s tempting and easy for many people to mac out their
credit cards in other words spend up to their credit limit! And it’s true that people are
becoming more accustomed to buying things online. Retailer are making much easier to buy
things over the internet. And we can shop now using gadgets smartphones and tablet devices
so we can buy things easily and instantly. Is that something you’ve don Rob? I do quite
regularly actually, on my smart phone. Ok, let’s hear from some shopper in the English market
town Of Newark about whether they prefer shopping on the internet or in the shops. Have
done a lot online. I’ve got a new-born baby, so it’s a lot easier, just sitting at home, doing it. It’s
nice and warm, and a lot easier. What do you like about it? The variety of choice, the ease, you
can stay at home, you can stay at home and flick on your iPad. I’ve attempted to do it online
today for the first time. But I liked to try things on, I like the atmosphere of going into town
and shopping, so I don’t think it my cup of tea. So there some mixed views about online
shopping. The first woman thought it’s easier and warmer too because they at home. Yes, and
the second person also thought it was convenient but he also he mentioned variety and choice
of things to buy. It’s true, you can buy almost anything from your computer. Yes, but the final
woman mentioned that you can’t try on clothes. She like the atmosphere of going to into town
and shopping. She used a great phrase it’s not my cup of tea. Yes, she means it’s just not for
her. Well, it suits me Rob so please could you hurry up and give me the answer to today’s
question and I can get back to a bit more online Christmas shopping. Ok, Cath. But will you be
making the most popular online purchase? That’s question I asked you.