2.27 Zapp English Listening Communication

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Listening 2.27 Zapp! English podcasts by Zappenglish.com

English Listening / Level 2 Unit 27 - Communication

About this eBook

This eBook goes together with the audio that you can download from Zappenglish.com Zappenglish.com.. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, please visit our website – we always value your opinion. Good luck! Katie, Tom & Mark

© Zapp! English ebook by http://zappenglish.com http://zappenglish.com

m o c . h s i l g n e p p a Z

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Introduction In this podcast you’re going to improve your listening skills by listening to people communicate about communication! Are you ready?

Listening Task 1 We asked Mike and Tom if they had ever experienced a time when communication didn’t work; when people didn’t understand them, or the communication was confused. Which situation do both Mike and Tom talk about?

MIKE: OK the c...communication that didn’t work. Er, all the time...er I’ve travelled to about sixty plus countries...with different languages...all the time trying to communicate...erm...sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, sometimes you think they’ve understood you and only find out that they haven’t at the end when you get the bill. (laughter) Erm...it’s really difficult, you need a lot of patience...erm...I guess we generally communicate easiest when you’re travelling in English, because that’s the...international language these days. Erm...and you just have to use a lot of body language...erm...gestures...facial gestures, hand gestures, and...and...a bit o f trust as well. So yeah. Communicating is the hardest and probably the hardest or...the times when it is hardest is when you’re ordering food. If you’ve ever been to a country where you don’t speak the language and you’re trying to order something to eat and you do eat certain things or you don’t eat certain things if you...er...if you’re a vegetarian, vegan through religion you...you can’t eat certain things, that’s the hardest, to point out what you want to eat...and hope that you get it. -----

TOM: When I first arrived in Thailand to live, I, was in a very small town on the border with Burma. And, I didn’t speak any Thai. And I thought, everyone would speak some English there, but, I...quickly found, that when I went to a...order food in restaurants...nobody understood me. And I had to try and... point at food and explain what I did or didn’t want and...a lot of the times...in Asia, you...you don’t know what the food is, you don’t recognise it and it was very difficult and I had to use sign language...pointing...and, many times I ate something I didn’t know what it was and perhaps...wouldn’t have eaten it, and...other times...I er...just walked out of the restaurant without ordering anything because, I couldn’t communicate, it was, terrible, so I had to learn some Thai, and that helped.

Listening Task 1 - Answers © Zapp! English ebook by http://zappenglish.com


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So, which situation where communication was difficult did both Mike and Tom talk about? They both said that when you’re ordering food in a country with a different language, communication can be difficult.

Listening Task 2 Communication isn’t only about what you say, but also about your body language. Listen to Hannah and I talking about some examples of body language. Which one s do we mention from this list? a) folding your arms (this means crossing your arms in front of your body and holding them together)

b) crossing your legs c) looking someone in the eyes

KATIE: Hello Hannah. HANNAH: Hi. Sorry – I’m yawning. (laughter) Not because I’m...bored. KATIE: (laughter) Well we’re going to talk about body language... HANNAH: Yes. KATIE: ...and Hannah’s just done a big yawn. Now, body language; does that mean she’s bored or tired?

HANNAH: Um, I think it’s tired. KATIE: (laughter) HANNAH: I’m not bored at all. (laughter) I’m not bored obviously. KATIE: So body language; do you think that body language...tells you a lot about what the person’s thinking?

HANNAH: Definitely. I think it...I think body language...tells you more than, any...any words can tell you, really. Erm...definitely, I think...I...I use a lot of body language, I gestic... gesticulate lots...

KATIE: Mmm hmm. HANNAH: ...I use my hands quite a lot when I’m talking... KATIE: Yeah. © Zapp! English ebook by http://zappenglish.com


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HANNAH: ...um, but also...I think you can tell if a person’s engaged, by whether they’re looking at you...

KATIE: Yeah. HANNAH: ...for example. I think... KATIE: So eye contact, like whether they... HANNAH: Eye contact’s really important. KATIE: What...what...so...someone looking you in the eyes you think shows that they’re interested. HANNAH: Yeah. I think so. I think...but then...equally I think if someone’s just...just looking at you, just looking at your eyes, staring at you the whole time...

KATIE: It’s a bit strange. HANNAH: That’s a bit strange. KATIE: Yeah. HANNAH: So...like, for example I just looked away for a second... KATIE: Mmm. HANNAH: ...while I was thinking. KATIE: Yeah. HANNAH: So I think that...that’s fine. KATIE: What about if somebody won’t look you in the eye? HANNAH: I find that really uncomfortable. KATIE: Mmm. HANNAH: I...it makes me...it makes me feel, that that person’s dishonest and not genuine. KATIE: Mmm. Mmm. HANNAH: And not...not interested in...in... KATIE: Mmm. HANNAH: ...me as a person. KATIE: Mmm. Mmm.

© Zapp! English ebook by http://zappenglish.com


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HANNAH: Yeah, it’s quite funny, you can...I think I can...um...tell a lot about a person...and...um...from how...their body language is...

KATIE: Mmm. HANNAH: From how they act. KATIE: Like what? Give us an example. HANNAH: Well...oh it’s difficult now to get...it’s difficult now to think of an example but... KATIE: For example, if you read about body language, they always say things like, Oh when people fold their arms in front of them, it’s because they’re trying to...s...you know, they’re being quite closed and they don’t want people to come close to them and they’re not an open person, but I fold

my arms all the time because I find it the most comfortable way to sit, or stand.

HANNAH: See I...yeah...so maybe that doesn’t...say a huge amount...about you...I don’t...I think it...I think it depends on the situation.

KATIE: Mmm. HANNAH: But I...I have noticed for example that...if I fold my hands, I think...I think I’m trying to distance myself from...

KATIE: Yeah. HANNAH: ...from...from something or...if I’m in the street or waiting for a train and I fold my...fold my arms, I think maybe it’s because I’m feeling a b it...self-conscious about something.

KATIE: Mmm. HANNAH: Erm...that’s...they’re the feelings I get but it...I think it’s different for every person and... KATIE: Yeah. HANNAH: ...erm...but there are some...some blatant1, some obvious things that make you...that make you think that somebody’s...not interested in you.

KATIE: Like not looking at you. What else? HANNAH: Not looking at you. I think not...I think looking at the floor and...and not...rather than looking at...you know...looking at you and...erm...when people have their legs crossed, but the y’re pointing...really far away from you.

KATIE: Mmm. HANNAH: I don’t know, I think the positions people...sit in suggest, or tell you a lot about their personality. © Zapp! English ebook by http://zappenglish.com


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KATIE: Yeah. Yeah. And I read somewhere, you...you mentioned before, sometimes, when people don’t look you in the eye sometimes you feel like, ooh maybe they’re not honest. I read that when people are touching their face a lot...when they’re telling you something, that they might be lying.

HANNAH: OK. I don’t...I don’t believe that necessarily because, I think I touch my face quite a lot...when I’m talking, and I think that’s more of a...a nervous thing.

KATIE: Mmm. HANNAH: I might not...obviously be feeling nervous, but I think... KATIE: Yeah. It’s like a habit. HANNAH: A habit, or, I’m...I’m feeling a bit insecure. And I maybe touch my face, it certainly doesn’t mean that I’m being...dishonest.

KATIE: Mmm. HANNAH: Erm...I think that’s...I think it depends on the person really. KATIE: Yeah. I think you can tell a lot from erm...er...er...body language but especially in the face, so when people smile...er, again I read, I don’t know if it’s true but, if you’re sort of smiling but not showing your teeth...it’s maybe a polite smile, or a...not true smile.

HANNAH: I can’t...I can’t smile without showing my teeth. KATIE: Well you must be a very... HANNAH: I must be a very honest person! KATIE: ...honest person. HANNAH: I actually can’t, at all. I can’t. (laughter) I’m trying to do it now and it, doesn’t work. KATIE: I mean they do say er...that for things like...erm...job interviews...and things like that...that your body language communicates, like you said, as much, maybe more...than the words you use.

HANNAH: Yeah I can imagine that's...I can imagine that's true... KATIE: Hmm... HANNAH: I think, um, yeah I think if you're very upright and very nervous and fiddly I think that's... gives the impression that you're not too comfortable...

KATIE: Not...yeah... HANNAH: ...in...um I don't know why... I know it's interesting body language. KATIE: Very... © Zapp! English ebook by http://zappenglish.com


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HANNAH: I find it really interesting, and especially between...when you see two people and the body language between couples as well...

KATIE: Yeah... HANNAH: That can be quite interesting. KATIE: Hmm. HANNAH: Especially when you see...I've seen...erm...couples recently where the girl's been like draped around, with her arms around the man's... guy's neck, or the...and like loo king at him dotingly, and he's just standing with his hands by his side, and you think... Hmm...

KATIE: She likes him... HANNAH: She likes him a lot more than... KATIE: ...he likes her... HANNAH: ...than he likes her...exactly. KATIE: ...and you can see it in the body language...yeah. HANNAH: It's interesting.

Listening Task 2 - Answers So which things did we talk about? Did we talk about folding your arms ? Yes. Did we talk about crossing your legs? Yes we did. Did we talk about looking someone in the eyes? Yes we did.

Listening Task 3 Do you think that people communicate in different ways in different countries and cultures? Do the speakers think we do?

KATIE: Hello. STUART: Hello. SYBIL: Hi. © Zapp! English ebook by http://zappenglish.com


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KATIE: Who have we got here? STUART: I’m Stuart. SYBIL: I’m Sybil. KATIE: And I’m Katie and we’re sitting in Stuart’s house. And...erm...we’ve been talking a lot. (laughter) We’ve been spending a lot of time communicating...and we’re going to communicate about...communication. So what...what do you think, are there differences in how, people from different countries communicate? I mean obviously they speak different languages but...in how they...say what they mean or...Do you think there are differences?

STUART: Well...I think so yes, I mean, right now we’re living in Thailand...and I’m an American and...er...Americans are pretty straightforward, in...their thinking and their communicating, if they want to know something they ask directly...

KATIE: Mmm. STUART: ...the question, to the person and...normally expect a...a direct answer back. But in 2

Thailand the...the culture doesn’t work the same way...and they um...will...allude to...things that aren’t necessarily er...er, the question...answering the question that you’ve asked. Um... 3

KATIE: So you have to figure out ...you have to guess... STUART: You have to...you have to figure out and maybe assume, what they say is...the answer to your question.

KATIE: Mmm hmm. STUART: Erm, because... KATIE: Not so direct. STUART: They’re not...they're not dri...direct. It has something to do with er...saving face. Which is erm...I don’t know exactly how that applies... (laughter) but...erm. It keeps them from being e r, in 4

an embarrassing situation.

KATIE: Mmm. So the high level of politeness isn’t there about...? STUART: Yes it’s a very high level. It’s in the language itself, with words like ka for women and kap for men. Er it’s sewn into the language. Which has no translation.

KATIE: So what does that mean? Explain that for people who have never been to Thailand. STUART: Well it’s a politeness word that has no translation...in English. But it’s added to sentences to show that you’re erm, respecting the person you’re talking to.



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KATIE: Mmm so...there are words that you add to sound polite and also...you have to speak in a polite way not...not be too direct. Have you...found the same thing? Sybil.

SYBIL: Same thing and I...I like that there is a gesture also, the wai. Which is er, putting your hands together...And it shows respect amongst the age groups, because younger people wai older people.

KATIE: Mmm. SYBIL: Older people don’t necessarily wai younger people, but there is a...there’s a pause...kind of, that allows people to smile and to address each other...er, I think it gives you...an opportunity...to erm...not just be polite but to...sort of amp your feelings up into pleasantness no matter what you have to say to the other person. And I find in Thailand it’s er...yeah, it...you really do wind up smiling an awful lot more.

KATIE: Yeah definitely. STUART: Yes. KATIE: Yeah. I mean you don’t...hear...erm, loud voices so much when people are talking do you? That’s another thing.

SYBIL: No. KATIE: The volume of conversation...(cough)...excuse me, is much...quieter, gentler than...if you were listening to a conversation in the UK or maybe the States. Would you say?

STUART: In general yes. KATIE: Mmm. STUART: Oh. And...and until someone gets angry. (laughter) SYBIL: Right. Then...then we think that sometimes maybe er...er...yes actions might speak louder than words. (laughter)...Certainly in Latin countries...er...explosiveness and...and expressiveness is a lot more...

KATIE: Yeah. SYBIL: ...er, you know. KATIE: That’s one thing I notice when I went to Spain. That er...this...directness thing...erm...people are much more direct...and...say things much more strongly...than they would say in...Britain...in the UK. And also use of strong words like, No! Just, No! You know...and less...less please and thank you. Erm, which to...to a...to an English person actually at first, you feel, Oh! It’s not very polite, but

it is, it’s just a different way of being polite.

SYBIL: Now Canadians...have...have certain ways of...of expressing politeness, we...tend to be a 5

self-effacing kind of people I find. © Zapp! English ebook by http://zappenglish.com


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KATIE: So you laugh at yourselves... SYBIL: We are always saying, Oh excuse me, Oh I’m sorry. KATIE: Ah OK. SYBIL: Ahh...you can hear us say I’m sorry an awful lot, I don’t know why we are feeling sorry about ourselves at all.

KATIE: British are exactly the same. SYBIL: Really? KATIE: Yeah. SYBIL: We do that a lot...Oh excuse me. Oh I’m sorry. KATIE: Sorry, sorry. Sorry. SYBIL: Yeah. KATIE: Sorry . Yeah in fact, I don’t know if this is true, maybe our Spanish listeners will know this, but my brother told me that er...in some parts of Spain, they call the English the por favors. Because por favour in Spanish means please. And English people always say please all the time, so when

English people speak Spanish, they start every sentence with, por favour, por favour, please, please, please. And so they call us the por favors.

STUART: That’s funny.

Listening Task 3 - Answers So did our speakers think that there were any differences in communication between cultures and nationalities? Yes they did. They talked about differences between Asia and the west and between Spanish and English people.

Summary That’s great! You’ve practised listening to real discussions on the topic of communication.



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Extra Materials Listening If you want to practise your listening skills even more, here are some extra questions for you. The answers are at the end of this document. If you get any wrong, you can look at the transcript to check why. True or false?

Listening 1 Mike has not travelled a lot. Tom didn’t always know what food he was e ating.

Listening 2 Hannah thinks people who look you in the eyes are dishonest. Hannah thinks people who touch their face are dishonest.

Listening 3 Stuart thinks Thais are more direct than Americans when they speak. Some Spanish people call English people por favors because the English people say please all the time.

Vocabulary - Getting the meaning from context When you listen to natural speech, there are lots of spoken expressions you can learn. Complete the following exercises, which will help you learn and remember these words and expressions, as well as helping you learn the skill of guessing words you don’t know. First, look at the words in bold. Try and decide if they are nouns, verbs, adjectives or phrases, and think about what they could mean.



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1) TOM: And I had to try and...point at food and explain what I did or didn’t want and 2) KATIE: ...and Hannah’s just done a big yawn. Now, body language; does that mean she’s bored or tired? 3) HANNAH: Definitely. I think it...I think body language...tells you more than, any words can tell you, really. Erm...definitely, I think...I...I use a lot of body language, I gestic... gesticulate lots... 4) HANNAH: Yeah. I think so. I think...but then...equally I think if someone’s just...just looking at you, just looking at your eyes, staring at you the whole time...

Now try and match a word from above with a definition below.

a) (noun) – the thing you do when you open your mouth and make a noise to show tiredness or boredom b) (verb) – move your hands around to help show what you mean or because you are excited c) (verb) – looking at for a long time without moving your eyes away from the thing or person d) (verb) – use your finger to show what you are looking at or talking about



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Extra Materials - Answers Listening Listening 1 Mike has not travelled a lot. False. He has been to more than sixty countries. Tom didn’t always know what food he was e ating. True.

Listening 2 Hannah thinks people who look you in the eyes are dishonest. False. She thinks people who don’t look you in the eyes are dishonest.

Hannah thinks people who touch their face are dishonest. False. She thinks maybe they are just nervous.

Listening 3 Stuart thinks Thais are more direct than Americans when they speak. False. He thinks Americans are more direct.

Some Spanish people call English people por favors because the English people say please all the time. True.

Vocabulary 1) TOM: And I had to try and...point at food and explain what I did or didn’t want and... d) (verb) – use your finger to show what you are looking at or talking about 2) KATIE: ...and Hannah’s just done a big yawn. Now, body language; does that mean she’s bored or tired? a) (noun) – the thing you do when you open your mouth and make a noise to show tiredness or boredom 3) HANNAH: Definitely. I think it...I think body language...tells you more than, any words can tell you, really. Erm...definitely, I think...I...I use a lot of body language, I gestic... gesticulate lots... b) (verb) – move your hands around to help show what you mean or because you are excited



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4) HANNAH: Yeah. I think so. I think...but then...equally I think if someone’s just...just looking at you, just looking at your eyes, staring at you the whole time... c) (verb) – looking at for a long time without moving your eyes away from the thing or person



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Vocabulary Glossary 1

blatant (adjective) – done in a way that shows the person doesn’t care if other people see them

doing something bad 2

allude (verb) – to say something but not in a direct way, the listener understands what you mean

but you don’t say it 3

figure out ( phrasal verb) – guess, get the meaning by thinking about it

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embarrassing (adjective) – something that makes you feel bad because you didn’t want other

people to know 5

self-eff acing (adjective) – not wanting to talk about yourself or how good you are, not wanting

people to notice you



2.27 Zapp English Listening Communication

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