ENGLISH FILE 4TH EDITION UPPER INTERMEDIATE AUDIO SCRIPT PROGRESS

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1
Speaker 1 Ouch! These boots are really uncomfortable. You know, when I saw them in the
shop, I thought they were perfect. I mean, the colour’s so unusual, and they go
with quite a few of my outfits. I tried them on in the shop and they seemed fine,
but now I’ve walked in them I realise my mistake. The problem is, the shop won’t
take them back now that I’ve worn them outside, and they cost a fortune. I wish I
hadn’t bought them!
2
Speaker 2 I don’t really know why I went to medical school. I guess I just ended up doing it
because my parents were both doctors. I got good grades at school and when it
came to looking at university courses, I just picked what I thought would earn me
a good salary. No one expected me to drop out in my second year, but I just
realised I couldn’t continue. It wasn’t that the work was too difficult, it was just
that I wasn’t motivated. I wish I’d given it a lot more thought.
3
Speaker 3 Honestly, I have no regrets at all. I know we were young, and we hadn’t known
each other that long, but we just thought, why not? We bought the rings and had
a small ceremony – just close family and a few good friends. We’ve been
together for over forty years now and I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s the best
decision I’ve ever made. I do kind of wish she’d come from a rich family though!
4
Speaker 4 Seriously, I don’t know how it happened. I never intended to send it but my new
touch screen tablet is really sensitive. I guess I must’ve accidentally swept my
hand over the screen and sent it. I realised immediately but there was nothing I
could do. Once I’d pressed ‘send’, that was it – it was out there. It really offended
my boss and it cost me my job. I guess I should be grateful really, I probably
should’ve quit long ago …
5
Speaker 5 You know, we haven’t spoken for years. We didn’t have any kind of argument or
difference of opinion – we’re both really easy-going. We just grew up and started
 doing other things with our lives. I moved away to another town. Work and family
life took over and we were just busy, really busy. Then I realised we hadn’t been
in touch for years. But we were great friends and I still think of her often. I wish
I’d been better at staying in touch.

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Chloe I’m feeling quite positive that people will become more environmentally
responsible in their shopping choices. I mean, we’re so much more aware of
the impact that consumerism and fast fashion has on the environment now.
Don’t you agree, Vanessa?
Vanessa Umm, I agree with you that people have greater awareness these days, but
what about fast fashion, Chloe? People just can’t resist a cheap T-shirt. The
prices are just so low – you can buy a new outfit for next-to-nothing these
days!
Chloe Well, yes, you can, but I think it’s unlikely that the fast fashion trend will
survive for much longer. I think it was initially aimed at young people like me,
who got pocket money from their parents or had part-time jobs, which meant
we had money to spend on clothes and accessories.
Vanessa Yes, and then there’s social media. Trends can spread so quickly now –
clothing’s out of fashion almost as soon as you’ve bought it …
Chloe Yes, social media must’ve seemed like a big change for your older
generation, Vanessa, but my generation has grown up with it – we don’t know
anything else.
Vanessa Yes, I suppose so.
Chloe I guess a lot of clothing brands hoped that our use of social media would
encourage the trend for fast fashion. You know, young people wanting to look
good and not be seen in the same outfit twice in their online profiles. But I
think Generation Z is smarter than that. In fact, in a way, social media is also
working against big business fashion.
Vanessa Really? Why do you think that?
Chloe Because news spreads fast on social media – we hear of the damage fast
fashion causes, we see the environmental campaigns, and we decide not to
 buy it. Yes, us Generation Zs do use social media – we do have an online
profile, and we do want to look good – but we don’t want it to cost the earth.
Vanessa I see, so you’re saying that social media advertising only works if the
company or product has a good reputation?
Chloe Yes. But also, there’s the latest social media trend which is zero waste. My
friends and I try to avoid buying new – we buy second-hand, we borrow our
mums’ vintage clothing, we share, repair, and recycle, and we think our social
media profiles are more interesting as a result.
Vanessa You can come and borrow vintage items from my wardrobe any time!
Chloe Great, thanks! And I hope in the future my kids will be wearing the same
items!
Vanessa Me too! When I was growing up, if we wanted to buy something new, we had
to go into town and get it. There was very little choice, and if a shop didn’t
have what you needed, you either had to wait for them to order it in or you
had to go without. We didn’t buy as much either. We repaired things and used
them until they wore out. It seems from what you’re saying that the ‘make do
and mend’ attitude is becoming popular again – that’s good.
Chloe Yes, I agree.
Vanessa Of course, now I do a lot of my shopping online for convenience … I have a
wider choice of products and I can shop around for the best price, but I’m also
concerned about delivery of items bought online.
Chloe What do you mean?
Vanessa Well, it’s convenient to have something delivered to your door but it has
increased
courier deliveries – that means more vehicles on the road and more pollution.
As a consumer, I feel it’s difficult to know what the impact of my changing
shopping habits is, and whether they’re more or less environmentally friendly
than before.
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Listening 1

1
Speaker 1 Er … I’m a bit embarrassed about this photo. Andy took it of me when I was
about seventeen. We were heading back home after a music festival. We’d
been camping and we hadn’t got much sleep. I was totally exhausted so I fell
asleep on the bus. I had my head on my bass guitar – it can’t have been
comfortable. And wow, look at that hairstyle! My hair was really long. I refused
to get it cut until I’d graduated from university!
2
Speaker 2 This photo was taken before Jean arrived. It was just before the ceremony
was due to start. I look quite relaxed but I was actually scared stiff. I felt really
uncomfortable in my suit, waiting with everyone looking at me. Anyway, a
moment later, Jean was walking up the aisle towards me smiling, and I felt
fine. And we lived happily ever after!
3
Speaker 3 I love this photo of me introducing my little brother to snow for the first time. I
was two years old and he was around 10 months. I took his hand and put it
on the snow. As you can see, he looks pretty shocked. I guess it must’ve felt
really weird and cold to him. My mum took the photo just at the right moment
to capture his facial expression!
4
Speaker 4 This is the image I was talking about – you know, the one that went viral.
When I first saw it, I was astonished. I mean, it really looks as if they’re
standing on that rock, doesn’t it? But if you look at it more closely, you can
see there’s just something not quite right about it. It isn’t real – it’s obviously
been digitally altered.
5
Speaker 5 Look at this photo Peter and I found when we were clearing out the loft. I
wonder if this man is our great grandfather when he was young. He looks
quite like dad, doesn’t he? It’s difficult to be sure because it’s black and white
but he seems to have the same dark hair … the same forehead … and the
 shape of his chin is almost identical. I guess he must be a relative. Let’s ask
dad if he knows who he is.

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Presenter So, in the studio we have Kyle Rushton. Now, Kyle is a professional speaker
in the US and has given thousands of successful talks worldwide. He’s going
to talk to us today about how to give a great public speech. I’m sure he’ll have
some useful tips to share with us. Kyle, welcome to the show.
Kyle Hi Angela, thanks for inviting me.
Presenter Now, I know most people are scared stiff of public speaking. Do you ever get
nervous?
Kyle Well, I did at first, but not anymore. Did you know that the brain can’t actually
tell the difference between anxiety and excitement?
Presenter Really? No, I didn’t.
Kyle Scientific studies have shown that the body reacts in the same way to both
feelings – you get a lot of adrenaline and you feel sick and a bit shaky. So …
if I do feel anxious, my strategy is to just keep telling myself it’s excitement. It
takes a bit of practice, but it actually works – you start to feel calmer!
Presenter Oh, I’ll have to try that one. And what about the speech itself?
Kyle Well, it’s all about preparation ... So many people when they’re writing a
speech try to get too many facts and too much data in there. The audience
isn’t going to remember half of it, but what they will remember is a strong
message. If they come away with that, you’ve done a good job.
Presenter I guess your audience is the most important consideration really.
Kyle Oh, absolutely. Before I write a speech, I try to imagine the audience. Who
are they? Why did they come to listen to my speech? What do they want to
get out of it? I try to anticipate what questions they might ask me. I think about
how I can get them interested and keep them interested.
Presenter Yes, after all, you could write great speech but if the audience isn’t engaged,
what’s the point?
Kyle Exactly. All the great speakers have that charisma that holds the audience –
really makes them listen and remember your message. Words can be
 incredibly powerful, but they have to be delivered in a way that has impact. In
fact, in communication, words themselves only make up about 7% of the
message. Tone of voice – the enthusiasm and passion in your voice – is just
over 30% I think. And body language is over 50%.
Presenter OK. So, it’s not just what you say, but the way you say it?
Kyle Yes, you have to connect with your audience, you know. Make eye contact …
look at them, notice their facial expressions and respond, rather than just
staring over their heads.
Presenter Finally, if you could offer one piece of advice to anyone out there who is
preparing a speech, what would it be?
Kyle Just one thing? Well, you can find lots of videos of speeches online. Watch a
few and notice how well the speaker engages the audience. Take note of
anything about the presentation style you didn’t like and try to avoid making
the same mistakes in your own speech. And most of all, be confident. If a
speech is worth giving, it’s worth giving well!
Presenter Kyle, thanks very much for coming in today. We’ve certainly got some useful
tips to take away from this.
Kyle Thanks. It was my pleasure.