On exchange programmes, children from different countries often talk about school.
What are the children talking about? What countries are they from? What do you think? (listening for the main idea)
Phil and Mary are talking about school life.
1) Replace the highlighted expressions in the dialogues with these that fit from ex. 2.2). Act out the dialogues:
— What are your marks at school?
— I get fours and fives.
— Fours and fives? What do they mean? Are you a good pupil?
— Yes, I am. 4 means good and 5 means excellent.
— Oh, well done! But in my culture they mean B and A.
• • •
— What form are you in?
— I’m in the third form.
— Really? How old are you?
— Thirteen.
— I’m thirteen, too. But I’m in the seventh form. Sorry, I don’t quite understand.
— Well, at most English schools forms start only at the secondary school, at the age of eleven.
2) What are some other ways of saying you don’t understand and asking about meaning?
SAYING YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND
I’m sorry, but I have a question. Извини(те), у меня вопрос.
Sorry, I don’t quite understand. Извини(те), мне не совсем понятно.
I didn’t (quite) get you. Я не (совсем) понял вас.
ASKING ABOUT MEANING
What do you mean? Что вы имеете в виду?
What do you mean by A’s? Что вы имеете в виду, говоря “A’s”?
Can you explain what you mean by assembly, please? Объясните, пожалуйста, что вы имеете в виду, говоря “assembly”.
3) Replace the highlighted expressions in the dialogues with those that fit from the word box. Act out the dialogues.