Do the preparation exercise first. Then watch the video and do the exercises to check your understanding and practise the language.
Preparation
Transcript
Ana: Hi! I'm Ana. Welcome to What to Say!
Do you know what to say when you respond to news? Listen out for useful language for responding to news. Then, we'll practise saying the new phrases – after this.
Noelia: Yes, yes, yes. Ah, I did it!
Yuna: Good news, then?
Noelia: Yes! I won the award!
Yuna: Oh wow! Congratulations!
Noelia: Thank you! It's so exciting. I can't believe it!
Yuna: I know! That's wonderful! Well done, Noelia. I'm really pleased for you.
Noelia: WHAT? You cannot be serious!
Yuna: Oh dear. What's happened?
Noelia: They sent me the wrong email. I didn't win. Someone else won.
Yuna: Oh no, that's awful!
Noelia: Yes. It. Is.
Yuna: I'm so sorry, Noelia. What a shame. Can I do anything to help?
Noelia: Please pass me that magazine. Thanks.
Ana: Hello again! Oh, poor Noelia! That's really disappointing. So, did you notice the useful phrases used for responding to news? Listen to me and then repeat.
Oh wow! Congratulations!
I can't believe it.
That's wonderful!
Well done. I'm really pleased for you.
Oh dear. What's happened?
Oh no, that's awful.
I'm so sorry.
What a shame.
Can I do anything to help?
Ana: Try and use some of these phrases the next time you respond to news in English. Bye for now!
Hello NOURHAN93,
If you want to say 'that's very sad' or 'I'm very sorry to hear that', then 'what a shame!' is a perfectly polite way to respond.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team