Why Conversational English Is Key To Learning The Language
Enhance your English language skills with our Learn English Through Listening podcast! Our latest episode focuses on improving fluency and comprehension through real-world examples and expertly crafted questions. Practice your conversational skills, learn about two exciting UK events in May, and speak English with confidence. Tune in now and start mastering spoken English today!
✔Lesson transcript: https://adeptenglish.com/lessons/learn-english-language-slow-news-mar2023/
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The limits of my language means the limits of my world.
⭐ Ludwig Wittgenstein
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More About This Lesson
Today, let's practice conversational English. I'll discuss two events happening in the UK in May, and at the end, I'll ask you questions to test your understanding. This will provide great practice for your spoken English comprehension. Listen closely, try to understand what I'm saying, and answer the questions. You can even listen multiple times to improve your understanding. This practice is an excellent way to enhance your English language skills.
Language shapes the way we think, and determines what we can think about.
⭐ Benjamin Lee Whorf
Participating in this lesson will greatly improve your English fluency and confidence, particularly in real-life situations. By practicing your conversational skills, learning from real-world examples, and engaging in expertly crafted questions, you will gain the skills necessary to communicate effectively in English-speaking environments.
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You will also benefit from exposure to natural British English accents and culture, helping you to better understand and connect with native speakers. Ultimately, this lesson will help you to overcome your language learning fears and feel more comfortable and confident in your English language abilities.
- Our Learn English Through Listening podcast is designed to help you improve your spoken English skills with real-world examples and expertly crafted questions.
- We understand that it can be embarrassing to speak a new language, but with our podcast, you can practice your conversational skills in a safe and supportive environment.
- You'll be amazed at how much your English fluency and confidence will improve after listening to our podcast and practising with the tips and advice we provide.
Questions You Might Have...
- What topics does the lesson cover?
- The lesson covers various real-world examples of UK news, to help you improve your fluency and comprehension in spoken English. You will also get to practice your conversational skills.
- What level of English is required to participate in this lesson?
- The lesson is designed for intermediate to advanced level English language learners or beginners that want to stretch themselves, who want to improve their fluency and comprehension skills.
- How long is the lesson and how often is it updated?
- The lesson is approximately 15 minutes long and is updated regularly. You can listen to it on your own schedule.
- What kind of questions will be asked in the lesson?
- The questions asked in the lesson are expertly crafted to help you improve your spoken English skills. They focus on real-life scenarios and encourage you to practice your conversational skills.
- Will this lesson help me speak English confidently in real-life situations?
- Yes, absolutely! The lesson is designed to help you build your confidence and fluency in spoken English, especially in real-life situations. You will learn from real-world examples and get to practice your conversational skills, helping you speak English more confidently and effectively.
Most Unusual Words:
- Competition: A situation where people try to be better than others.
- Simultaneously: Doing two or more things at the same time.
- Hosted: When someone invites others and organizes an event.
- Coronation: A ceremony to crown a new king or queen.
- Therapy: Treatment to help fix a health problem.
- Neighbours: People who live near you.
- Concert: A live music performance.
- Unbalanced: Not even or steady.
- Consort: A husband or wife of a king or queen.
Most Frequently Used Words:
| Word | Count |
|---|---|
| Eurovision | 21 |
| Coronation | 13 |
| Liverpool | 10 |
| Other | 10 |
| English | 9 |
| Events | 9 |
| Which | 9 |
| People | 9 |
| Tickets | 7 |
| There | 7 |
Listen To The Audio Lesson Now
The mp3 audio and pdf transcript for this lesson is now part of the Adept English back catalogue . You can still download and listen to this lesson as part of one of our podcast bundles.Transcript: Every English Learner Needs To Listen For Fluency Success
Let’s do some English conversation practice today.
Hi there. Let’s do some ‘conversational English today’. I will talk about two events which are happening in the UK in May - and then just to check how well you’ve understood, I’ll ask you some questions about them at the end. Then you’ll be able to test your understanding of some spoken English - and this will be great practice! So listen to what I’m about to say, see how much of it you can understand - and then try to answer the questions. And if you need to, you can listen more than once - you’ll understand more each time you listen. This kind of practice is excellent for improving your English language comprehension.
Hello, I’m Hilary, and you’re listening to Adept English. We will help you to speak English fluently. All you have to do is listen. So start listening now and find out how it works.
Here goes.
Tickets for Eurovision were on sale this week
Well, this week in the UK tickets for Eurovision went on sale - and they were sold out in just 36 minutes! That meant it took only 36 minutes for all of the tickets to sell! Ticket prices ranged from £90 to £380 - not that cheap! Of course, this year, the host city for Eurovision will be Liverpool and they’re hosting on behalf on Ukraine. Ukraine, that’s UKRAINE - they won the competition last year in 2022. Normally the country that wins Eurovision hosts the next year’s competition. For obvious reasons to do with the war, it would be difficult for Ukraine to host this year - so as the UK came second in Eurovision 2022, British cities competed for the honour of hosting Eurovision and Liverpool won. It’s probably the only way that a British city would ever get to host Eurovision!
The UK is not usually popular, when it comes to Eurovision - though we did come 2nd last year, of course. But the ‘null points’ is our usual fate - or quite often! Liverpool is ‘rolling out the red carpet’ you might say - there will be a two week long cultural festival to honour Eurovision and celebrate musical culture in Liverpool and in Kyiv, with some events happening simultaneously in both cities.
Listening Lessons
Tickets made available for Ukrainians living in the UK
A nice idea though - 3,000 tickets will be made available to Ukrainians living in the UK at the price of £20 per ticket. That’s good, given that there are only 6,000 seats per show. There are of course two semi-final events - and one final, which is the one that you usually see on television. Despite there being only 6,000 capacity in the arena, where Eurovision will be held, it’s estimated that 160 million people worldwide will watch Eurovision this year. The semi final dates are the 9th and the 11th May. Then the final of the competition is on Saturday 13th May.
I have a special interest this year - as my friend’s son has been very much involved in the music for the Serbian entry to Eurovision. In a show of support, we may be shouting for Serbia in this Eurovision competition.
Lots of bank holidays in May in the UK
What else is happening in the UK in May? Well, it’s the only month in the UK calendar which normally has two bank holidays. These are the holidays in the UK that are standard, where most people get to have a day off. We have the Early May Bank Holiday, which falls on the first Monday in May, so this year that will be 1st May. And then at the end of the May, the last Monday in May - this time 29th is our Spring Bank Holiday. And guess what? This year Prince Charles has decided to add another bank holiday on the 8th May - for his coronation! The ‘coronation’, that’s CORONATION is the ceremony where Prince Charles will officially be ‘crowned’ King Charles III, the King of England.
It may be difficult to get work done in May, it seems! My therapy practice in London on a Monday is not going to be running very much with 3/5 Mondays made into national holidays! We already have bank holidays on 7th April and 10th April for Good Friday and Easter Monday. Never mind - I shall have to sit back and enjoy these holidays! Five bank holidays this year will happen in April and May! It just seems a bit ‘unbalanced’. There’s one in August and two for Christmas in December. Plus one on 1st January for New Year’s Day.
📷
A cartoon image of a band in the 2023 Eurovision contest. Boost your English with Learn English Through Listening! Practice conversation skills & learn from UK events. Follow us now to master spoken English!
The Coronation of King Charles III is in May 2023
Plans for the Coronation? Well, the main event is happening on the 6th May, when Charles will be crowned in Westminster Abbey and the ceremony will be led by the Archbishop of Canterbury. That’s the most senior person in the Church of England, whose name is Justin Welby. Charles and Camilla will be greeted in Latin - you know I like a bit of Latin! ‘Vivat Regina Camilla. Vivat Rex Carolus’. Literally ‘Long Live Queen Camilla. Long Live Prince Charles’. Camilla will actually be known as ‘Queen Consort’ - as requested by Queen Elizabeth before she died. I guess this is some sort of acknowledgement perhaps of her not being Diana, not being the ‘first wife’ and not mother of the ‘heirs’ - that’s William mainly. And ‘heir’, HEIR means ‘next in line for the crown’.
Other events to celebrate the Coronation
Other events to celebrate the Coronation- on Sunday 7th May 2023, a Coronation Concert will be staged and broadcast by the BBC from Windsor Castle and several thousand pairs of tickets to be made available by public ballot - meaning that you have to apply and win them. And it seems they’re having a little bit of trouble organising that one. Apparently Kylie Minogue, Elton John, Ed Sheeran, Robbie Williams, Adele and the Spice Girls have all said ‘No’! That’s difficult! Why are people refusing? Also on the same day, will be The Coronation Big Lunch, at which neighbours and communities are invited to share food and fun together and this will take place in streets across the country. This is one of the ways in which people are invited to celebrate, by holding ‘street parties’. People put a long table down the middle of their street or road and decorate it with lots of Union Jack flags. And all the neighbours come together to celebrate with food and drinks. This is the same as what happened last year for the Queen’s Jubilee!
And on Monday, 8th May 2023, members of the public will be invited to take part in The Big Help Out, which will encourage people to try volunteering and join the work already being undertaken to support their local areas and ‘good causes’. Charities in other words. So this will be also a nationwide event to encourage people to try volunteering. ‘Volunteering’ means giving their services for free to charities and other similar organisations that do ‘good works’. It’s hoped that many people will help out on the day of The Big Help Out, but also that many people will be inspired to continue volunteering beyond this day.
Let’s do a quiz to test your understanding
OK, let’s stop there and ask you some questions on all of this and then you can test how much you’ve understood! If you want to listen another time, then stop the podcast here and go back to the beginning. Otherwise, if you’re ready, here are the questions to test your understanding. Try to answer in English. Here goes.
- What was the range of prices for Eurovision tickets? What was the range of prices for the Eurovision tickets?
- Why is Eurovision being held in Liverpool? Why is Eurovision being held in Liverpool?
- With what city will Liverpool host simultaneous events? With what city will Liverpool host simultaneous events?
- Who will benefit from the special ticket scheme? Who will benefit from the special ticket scheme?
- What date is the Eurovision Grand Final? What date is the Eurovision Grand Final?
- Why will it be difficult to get a normal amount of work done in May? Why will it be difficult to get a normal amount of work done in May?
- In what church will the Coronation take place? In what church will the Coronation take place?
- In what language, other than English will the King and Queen Consort be greeted? In what language, other than English will the King and Queen Consort be greeted?
- What flag will you see at Coronation Street parties? What flag will you see at Coronation Street parties? And...
- Name one of the other events that’s taking place to celebrate the coronation. Name one of the other events that’s taking place to celebrate the coronation.
OK, those were the questions. If you want to listen again, then stop the podcast here and go back. Otherwise, time for the answers to the quiz.
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Answers to the quiz
Right - answers to the quiz!
- What was the range of prices for the Eurovision tickets? The price range was £90 to £380.
- Why is Eurovision being held in Liverpool this year? Because Eurovision is hosted by the previous year’s winner - which was Ukraine. And in view of the conflict, the chance to host was offered to the country in 2nd place, which was the UK. There were bids from a number of cities in the UK - and Liverpool won.
- With what city will Liverpool host simultaneous events? Liverpool are hosting on behalf of Kyiv, so some of the events will run at the same time, simultaneously in the two cities.
- Who will benefit from the special ticket scheme? 3,000 tickets will be made available to Ukrainians living in the UK at the price of £20 per ticket.
- What date is the Eurovision Grand Final? The final of the competition is on Saturday 13th May.
- Why will it be difficult to get a normal amount of work done in May? Because there are three bank holidays - three bank holiday Mondays in the UK - 1st May, 8th May and 29th May.
- In what church will the Coronation take place? Westminster Abbey in London.
- In what language, other than English will the King and Queen Consort be greeted? Latin.
- What flag will you see at Coronation Street parties? The Union Jack. And….
- Name one of the two other events that is taking place to celebrate the coronation? Well, there’s the Coronation Concert, The Big Help Out and the Coronation Big Lunch.
OK - how did you find that? Great practice not only to work out and understand what I’m saying, but also to be able to practise putting your own answers into English.
Goodbye
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Enough for now. Have a lovely day. Speak to you again soon. Goodbye.
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