Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.
Preparation
Transcript
Mei: Hello, Mum and Dad. How are you both? I'm sorry for not writing before, but I'm trying to organise my new flat and the furniture before I start work. My new flat is nice. I'm not sure about the neighbours though. I met one called Milton. The first day he didn't have his key and I thought he was a ... a burglar, which was embarrassing. Then yesterday ...
Milton: Mei? Hello? Are you in there? It's Milton.
Mei: Hello.
Milton: Um, everything OK?
Mei: Yes, everything's OK. Thank you.
Milton: Um, I'm just going out. I'm going to work and I was wondering, well, if you could do me a favour. You know, after what happened before with the keys and climbing through the window and everything ...
Mei: You want to climb through my window again?
Milton: No! I don't want to do that again – ever. Which is why I want to ask you a favour. Do you think you could keep a spare key for me?
Mei: Keep a spare key for you?
Milton: Yeah, in case I forget mine again. Like I said, I used to leave one with Carolina downstairs, but she's gone away – and I've got such a terrible memory. I work evenings, so you'll probably be in when I get home. Would that be OK?
Mei: Uh, no, I don't think so. I don't want to have your key.
Milton: Oh. Oh, OK. Why not?
Mei: I don't think it's a good idea. You need to remember your keys. Every day.
Milton: Well, yes ...
Mei: Put a – what do you call it? – a thing like this, where you hang your coat ...
Milton: A hook?
Mei: Put a hook on the door, just by the lock, with your keys. Then you won't forget.
Milton: Well, yes, OK, that's a good idea. I just have to remember to put the keys on the hook ...
Mei: That's what he said. Really! I can be a good neighbour, but I'm not his mother. But then afterwards I started to feel a bit sorry. Maybe I was too hard. And then this morning ...
Milton: Mei? Hello? Are you in there? It's Milton.
Mei: Hello.
Milton: Hello. Are you OK?
Mei: Yes, thank you. I'm fine.
Milton: I haven't got any milk. I forgot to get any on Saturday. So I was wondering if, do you think you could ...?
Mei: You want me to give you some milk?
Milton: Lend, lend, not give. Just a bit. Enough to put in my coffee.
Mei: I can't. I don't have any milk.
Milton: Oh.
Mei: Really. I'm sorry. I don't want to be a bad neighbour, but I don't have any milk.
Milton: Oh, that's OK. You're not a bad neighbour. How's the new flat?
Mei: It's very nice. It's very big for one person. It's nothing like where I used to live in Beijing.
Milton: There are three of us in our flat. My room's the smallest one – like a cupboard. It's tiny, but it's cheap. I like sharing actually – I like being with other people. You never get lonely.
Mei: Mmm.
Milton: Have you got any friends in London?
Mei: No.
Milton: Family?
Mei: No. But that's OK. I've got a good job and that's why I'm here ...
Mei: And it's true – I'm here to work. I miss you all, but I'm OK. You know I can look after myself so don't worry about me. Give my love to Jiang and tell her I've still got the jade frog she gave me. I carry it with me all the time. I'll write again soon. All my love, Mei.
I help my neighbours when they ask me something. I really love help other people.
As a newer at this neighborhood I´d received a lot of help from them. Some of them helped me to take some furniture from my last house, other offered me water, take care about my pets or the places I can bought groceries...a lot of my neighbords go jogging or walk, when I visit them they give me coffee and bread, it´s so cute be along with people around you, and specially to hear their history in this place.
If someone asks me a favour, I think I could do him or her a favor, but for the a bit embarrassing case at the first time I would also suspect he was a burglar. XD
yes, when was a teanager , my neighbour lost the time so beginner fire in the kitchen. She stay with injury, and I help her have been calm
Yes, sure. It's a good action.
Yes, when I was young I used to help my neighbour a lot of times. With sugar, eggs, even with lunch sometimes. Today we don't have so much intimacy. We look like two strangers.
Have you ever helped your neighbor?
yes, many times I help my neighbor when you want something ill give it to him.
That depends on the neighbour whom might need help, if it is a good neighbour, I would help without any doubt but if it isn't, I prefer not to get involved.
Thanks for the episode!
Great site!
Sure, to help a neighbours is a good action and maybe you win a friend !!!
Good serie, thank you BC team...
I try to help my neighbours when they ask for my help. For example: doing shopping for an old and weak neighbour, carrying for him/her a very heavy bag etc. This kind of help...
A very useful episode ! Thank you very much !!