"Hey my son, allow me to remind you it is important to speak english.

10 Years from now, every taxi driver in Jakarta should speak English, so we
must learn from now, if not, ready go back to your village,

"They think I'm crazy by speaking English.

"We dont want to leave our culture, but we can't leave behind, so good we learn together,"

TO ALL PASSaNGERS PLEASE TALK IN ENGLISH BECAUSE I WANT TO IMPROVE MY ENGLISH. IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO SPEAK
ENGLISH IT DOESN'T MATTER. THANK YOU.

Hello, Im Jane Lawson, an English teacher in London with 20 years experience teaching English.I have
developed a fast, effective and fun method to help you speak and understand real English

Testimonials Page

You can try my online lessons for 14 days without any obligation - if you decide not to continue, I will refund your
payment without question. But I am confident that you'll love my lessons!
.
Here are some testimonials from my online students:
Basically, most Koreans have not got an opportunity for British English because all the English learning course is designed for
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This is the easiest and fastest way to learn "live English" outside of English speaking countries! Eun Young Jung, UK
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I have tried to improve my English because I have had contact with foreign companies and it is very common I have to attend
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Many thanks and warm regards from beautiful Alps.Taenny, Germany
.
Thank you for the wonderful audio lessons, I find them very helpful. Not only my vocabulary has improved significantly but
also my ability to understand spoken English is much better. I still have problems with fluent speaking, though. But I know that
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and furthermore they are practically used by me to use them when I have to show my students the proper examples of native
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hi Jane! Great job,thanks a lot for this incredible helpful learning material. I appreciate it Mahmood, Jordan
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convenience. So the perfectionists have an opportunity to get more out of the course by putting in more efforts Aneesh,
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I'm a teacher of English I've introduced with your site it is very helpful for us. Asel, Kazakhstan
..

Situation: David and Melanie meet at a party and make conversation.

Style: friendly and quite informal
.
Notes:
1. Im David Harper = My name is David Harper.
2. Nice to meet you. = It is nice to meet you / it is a pleasure to meet you (more formal)
3. Yes, I am. Are you? (using only the auxiliary) = yes, I am enjoying it. Are you enjoying it?
4. its great (stronger) = its very good
5. how do you know Peter and Kate? = How did you first meet Peter and Kate, the hosts of the party?
6. I was at school with Kate = Kate and I went to the same school / Kate and I were at school together
7. for years = for many years
8. I work with Peter. = Peter and I work at the same company
9. you two = you and Peter
10. it must be = I think it is / I believe that it is
11. about seven years now = approximately seven years now (more formal) / roughly seven years now
..
Situation: David and Melanie make conversation after meeting at a party.
Style: friendly and quite informal
.
Notes:
 1. Do you live locally = Do you live near here? / Do you live nearby?
2. I dont. (using only the auxiliary) = I dont live locally
3. about ten (10) miles away = approximately ten miles from here (more formal)
4. Whereabouts? = Where exactly?
5. in a place called Finchley = a place that is called Finchley
6. I know Finchley = I am familiar with Finchley
7. My sister used to live there = My sister lived there in the past
8. about five years ago = approximately five years ago
9. Its a lovely part of town = it is a very nice area of this town / It is a lovely part of London(note: we sometimes say a
nice part of town or in the centre of town, without the article the before town, when we know which town we are
talking about. But we do not say in the centre of city or in the centre of village for these phrases, we always need to
use the definite article (the) or demonstrative adjective (this/that) , so we say in the centre of thecity or a lovely part
of this village.)
10. not too close to the centre = it is not too near to the centre of town
11. not too far away either = not too far from the centre either
12. I love living there = I enjoy living in that place
13. Its an easy commute to work (note: here commute is a noun.) = it is easy for me to commute to work (note: here
commute is a verb.) / commuting to work is easy from there(note: here commuting is a gerund.)
14. to work = to the place where I work / to the office (if Melanie works in an office!)

Situation: David and Melanie realise that this is not the first time that they have met each other.
Style: friendly and quite informal
.
Notes:
1. I think weve met before. I dont think this is the first time that we have met / I think we have met on a previous
occasion (much more formal)
2. Didnt we meet at Celias party? = We met at Celias party, didnt we?
3. you are right, = You are correct (much more formal)
4. we did (using only the auxiliary) = we met there
5. Nice to see you again. = It is a pleasure to see you again (more formal)
6. Im fine thanks = I am very well, thank you
7. I seem to remember... = As far as I remember,
8. am I right? = am I correct? (more formal)
9. you do have a very good memory! (more emphatic) = you have a very good memory!
Situation: David and Melanie realise that they have an acquaintance in common in other words, that they both know the
same person.
Style: friendly and quite informal
.
Notes:
1. Who did you come here with? = With whom did you come here? (much more formal we never say it like this!)
2. did you come here = did you come to this place
3. with my colleague, Sam. = with someone who I work with, who is called Sam / with someone from my workplace, and
his name is Sam
4. Im not sure if you know him = I dont know whether you know him
5. Hes over there = He is there, some distance from us
6. wearing the red shirt = in the red shirt
7. I used to work with him. = I worked with him in the past
8. What a coincidence! = That is such a coincidence!
9. a coincidence = an occasion when two or more similar things happen at the same time,especially in a way that is
unlikely and surprising
10. It is a small world (idiom), isnt it? (note: we say its a small world when we want to show your surprise that people or
events in different places are connected.)
11. I havent seen Sam for years = The last time I saw Sam was many years ago
12. I must go and say hello = I strongly intend to go and say hello to him (note: we never actually say it like this!)
13. in a moment = very soon / in a minute

Notes:
1. What do you do for a living? = What is your job?
2. I am an English teacher = I work as an English teacher
3. I work for a school = I am employed by a school (much more formal we never say it like this!)
4. in Covent Garden = in an area of London called Covent Garden
5. Have you worked there long? = Have you worked there for a long time? / Have you worked there for long?
6. Not really = No, I have not worked there for long
7. Ive worked there for about six (6) months = I started working there about 6 months ago
8. about six (6) months = approximately 6 months ago (more formal) / roughly 6 months ago
9. Most of my students = The majority of my students (more formal) / Most students of mine
10. are taking exams = are sitting exams (note: there is a difference between passing an exam and taking an exam. If
you pass an exam, you are successful in it, and you get a good enough grade not to fail it. If you take an exam, or sit
an exam, it just means that you do the exam, and then you have to wait for the results.)
11. at the moment = at present (more formal) / currently (more formal)
 12. so its a busy time for me. = and therefore it is a busy period for me
13. Im looking forward to (phrasal verb) = I am anticipating with pleasure (note: we never actually say it like this!)
14. the exams are over (phrasal verb) = the exams have finished
15. How about you? (note: there is extra stress on you because this is a return question. In other words, the speaker is
asking the same question in return.) = What about you?
16. What do you do? = What do you do for a living? / What is your job?

Situation: John tells Judy that he will be taking care of a business visitor from abroad.
Style: general
.
Functions:
1. Giving a reason: as hes my direct counterpart
2. Expressing your responsibility: its up to me to make sure hes well looked after during his stay. (note: please copy
the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
3. Empathising with a problem: Thats a bit of a pain, isnt it? (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully
here.)
4. Expressing a lack of concern: I dont mind.
5. Emphasising: After all, its all part of the job (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
6. Adding an extra point: and besides, Im sure Eduardo Arias and I will get on like a house on fire (note: please copy
the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
..
Notes:
1. My counterpart = A person with the same job as my job
2. one of the overseas branches of our company = one of our companys offices in another country
3. coming over (phrasal verb) = coming to visit, usually from another country
4. a week on Thursday = exactly one week after this coming Thursday
5. a little over three weeks = a bit more than three weeks
6. as hes my direct counterpart, = since he is my direct counterpart / because he is my direct counterpart
7. my direct counterpart = the person with exactly the same job as me in the other branch
8. its up to (phrasal verb) me = it is my responsibility
9. to make sure = to ensure (more formal)
10. hes well looked after (phrasal verb) = he is well cared for
11. during his stay = while he is here
 12. Thats a bit of a pain, isnt it? = You must find it rather annoying (more formal)
13. Youve already got a full workload = you are very busy at work even without having to look after Mr Arias
14. having to babysit someone = needing to look after (phrasal verb) somebody very carefully
15. someone from overseas = a foreigner
16. I dont mind = It does not worry me
17. After all = All things considered
18. its all part of the job = it is something I have to do as part of my job
19. besides = and additionally
20. Eduardo Arias and I will get on (phrasal verb) like a house on fire (idiom) = Eduardo Arias and I will like each other very
much and have a good time
21. paid for by my expenses account = paid for by my company

Situation: John asks Judy for advice on where to take his business visitor.
Style: general
.
Functions:
1. Asking for suggestions: Any ideas as to where I should take Mr Arias? (note: please copy the tone and emphasis
carefully here.)
2. Asking for a description: Whats he like? (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
3. Emphasising: Ive only ever spoken to him on the phone.
4. Talking about the future: I can see us getting along just fine.
5. Recommending: Well, a safe bet for the first night out would be somewhere traditional.(note: please copy the tone
and emphasis carefully here.)
6. Asking about experiences: Has he ever been to England before? (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully
here.)
..
Notes:
1. Any ideas as to? = Have you got any ideas about? (more formal)
2. Whats he like? = What kind of person is he? / What is he like?
3. Not much really. = I dont know very much about him really.
4. really = in fact (more formal)
5. Ive only ever spoken to him on the phone = I have only spoken to him on the telephone (and have not met him in
person)
6. he seems to have a good sense of humour = he seems to understand and say funny things
 7. I can see us getting along (phrasal verb) just fine = I imagine we will become friends very easily
8. a safe bet (idiom) = a choice which is very unlikely to be wrong
9. the first night out = the first night that is spent out of the house or hotel
10. a flying visit (idiom) = a very brief visit
11. I dont think he had any time to go out (phrasal verb) = I think it is unlikely that he had the opportunity to do anything
other than work (more formal)

Situation: John asks Judy for advice on where to take his business visitor, and she makes a recommendation.
Style: general
.
Functions:
1. Emphasising: But the thing is, I cant think of any traditionally British restaurants! (note:please copy the tone and
emphasis carefully here.)
2. Saying you have no ideas: My mind is a complete blank. (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
3. Asking for suggestions: Any suggestions? (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
4. Suggesting: You could try Rules in Covent Garden. (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
5. Venturing a strong opinion: In fact, Id go as far as to say its one of the best British restaurants (note: please copy
the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
6. Making an assumption: Im sure hell be impressed with the food (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully
here.)
.
Notes:
1. Ive decided to go for = I have made the decision to go for (more formal)
2. to go for (phrasal verb) = to choose (more formal)
3. somewhere traditional = a traditional place
4. But the thing is, = But the problem is that (more formal)
5. My mind is a complete blank (idiom) = I have no ideas at all on this subject
6. Any suggestions? = Do you have any suggestions? (more formal)
7. Covent Garden = an area in central London famous for its theatres and shops
8. it is famous for serving British food (note: famous for + ing) = it is well known as a place that serves British food
9. Id go as far as to say (stronger) = I would go as far as to say / I would even say
10. Im sure hell be impressed with = I expect he will admire
11. the quality of the service = the high standard of service / the way in which customers are treated by the restaurant staff
12. will my expense account stretch that far? = will my company be happy to pay that much money for the meal? (note: an
expense account is paid by a company for food and other necessary items for employees when they are on business.)
 13. Its pretty pricey (informal) = it is rather expensive

Situation: John calls a restaurant to enquire about their menu, and is pleased to hear that there is a special menu at the
moment.
Style: quite formal
.
Functions:
1. Asking for help (very polite): I wonder if you can help me. (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully
here.)
2. Requesting (very polite): I was wondering if you could email me a copy of your menu.(note: please copy the tone
and emphasis carefully here.)
3. Agreeing to help: Certainly, Sir. Ill do so right away.(note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
4. Giving useful information: Id also like to inform you of a special offer .(note: please copy the tone and emphasis
carefully here.)
5. Giving information that might already be familiar: As you may know, were Londons oldest
restaurant (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
6. Showing enthusiasm for something in the future: Sounds fantastic! (note: please copy the tone and emphasis
carefully here.)
.
Notes:
1. I wonder if you can help me. (more polite and less direct) = could you help me please? (less formal)
2. I was wondering if you could (more polite and less direct) = Please could you? (less formal)
3. email me a copy of your menu. = send me a copy of your menu by email
4. Certainly = Of course (less formal)
5. Ill do so = I will do it (less formal)
6. right away = immediately / straightaway
7. Id also like to inform you of (formal) = I would also like to tell you about
8. a special offer were running = a special deal we can offer you
9. at the moment = now
10. As you may know = As I expect you already know
11. were Londons oldest restaurant = Rules is the oldest restaurant in London (note: here the speaker on the phone uses
we to mean the restaurant where he works)
12. weve been in business since 1798 = the restaurant has been open since 1798 / the restaurant first opened in 1798
13. the kind of feast = the sort of extravagant meal
14. a well-off gentleman = a rich gentleman
15. would have been likely to eat = would probably have eaten
 16. all those years ago = many years ago, when we opened / at that time
17. Sounds fantastic! (informal) = I think that would be excellent!

Situation: John tells Judy that he has booked the restaurant called Rules, and she wishes that she could go there too.
Style: informal
.
Functions:
1. Giving opinions: Id say it sounds ideal for entertaining a visitor to London. (note: please copy the tone and emphasis
carefully here.)
2. Emphasising: Mr Arias doesnt arrive in London until late afternoon,
3. Emphasising: hell have just enough time to go to his hotel (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
4. Expressing a wish: I wish that I could come with you (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
5. Showing regret for something that cannot happen: Id love to be able to invite you, but(note: please copy the
tone and emphasis carefully here.)
6. Explaining something: As you can imagine, my expenses budget just wouldnt cover it (note:please copy the tone
and emphasis carefully here.)
7. Complaining about a repeated event: Oh, not again (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
.
Notes:
1. Having received = After receiving
2. Id say = I would say / I think
3. it sounds ideal = it sounds perfect
4. late afternoon = late in the afternoon
5. hell have just enough time = he will have enough time but no time to spare
6. freshen up (phrasal verb) = refresh himself
7. Ive heard great things about it = People have told me that it is very good
8. Id love to be able to invite you = I would really like it if you could come to the restaurant with us
9. my expenses budget just wouldnt cover it = my company cannot pay for your dinner as well
10. unethical = wrong / immoral
11. to let someone unconnected to the company dine out = to allow someone unconnected to the company to dine out
12. unconnected to the company = not employed by the company
13. dine out (phrasal verb) on its expense account = have restaurant bills paid by my company
14. its a frozen pizza for you! (the speaker is joking a little here)= you will have to eat a frozen pizza for dinner!
Situation: Eva and her husband have been saving up for years to buy a boat. John is not to keen on sailing because of a
previous experience out at sea!
Style: informal conversation
.
Functions:
1. Talking about plans: Im off to the boat show at Earls court tomorrow.
2. Expressing excitement: Ive really been looking forward to it. I cant wait. (note: please copy the tone and emphasis
carefully here.)
3. Talking about long term plans: My husband and I have dreamt about buying a small yacht...
4. Expressing deep dislike of a location: Well, if I never set foot on a boat again it will be too soon. (note: please copy
the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
5. Insisting that the truth is revealed: Come on, you cant leave me in the dark now. (note: please copy the tone and
emphasis carefully here.)
6. Giving a warning: OK, but I warn you its not pleasant. (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
.
Notes:
1. Im off to (phrasal verb) = Im going to / Im going to go to
2. to the boat show at Earls Court = to a show of new boats and sailing equipment that is held at Londons Earls Court
exhibition centre once a year
3. Ive really been looking forward to it (phrasal verb) = Ive been anticipating it with great excitement (note: much more
formal - we rarely actually say it like this!)
4. I cant wait (more emphatic) = Im very excited about it and Im really looking forward to(phrasal verb) it
5. My husband and I have dreamt about buying = My husband and I have always wanted to buy
6. a yacht = a recreational boat or ship, usually with sails but often powered by a motor
7. to scrape the money together (phrasal verb) to buy one = to save with great difficulty the money to purchase one
8. we just want to look into it (phrasal verb) a bit = we simply want to investigate it a bit / we want to do a bit of research
about it
9. before we take the plunge (idiom) = before we actually do it / before we commit ourselves to this big step
10. My husbands already got his mind set on (idiom: to have your mind set on something = to be determined to get or to
achieve something) = My husband has already firmly decided on / my husband is determined to get
11. single-masted = ship with one mast (the mast is the tall pole that carries the sails)
12. sloop = small sailing boat with one mast and two sails
13. hes like a dog with a bone when he gets an idea in his head (idiom) = he is very determined when he has an idea and it
is very difficult to get him to change his mind
14. if I never set foot on a boat again it will be too soon (more emphatic) = I dont ever want to go on board a boat again
15. maybe I shouldnt recount it to you = maybe it is better if I dont tell you the story
 16. to put you off (phrasal verb) = to discourage you / to deter you
17. Come on (phrasal verb) = Do it! / Go ahead! (phrasal verb)
18. you cant leave me in the dark now (idiom) = you have to tell me now / you cant leave me in a situation where I dont
know
19. Im just about to (more emphatic) = Very soon Im going to
20. to sample = to try
21. a life on the ocean = a life of sailing on the ocean in boats
22. Ive got a right to know = I am entitled to know (more formal)
23. what Im letting myself in for (phrasal verb: to be letting yourself in for something = to expose yourself to something
unpleasant or unusual) = what kind of problems I might be exposing myself to
Situation: John explains to Eva how his rich friend Tarquin invited him out for a days sailing on his brand new boat and John
accepted on the condition that Tarquin knew how to sail.
Style: informal conversation
.
Functions:
1. Describing someone in indirect terms: I suppose if I were to label him a playboy, it wouldnt be too far from the
truth. (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
2. Expressing envy: Um, its alright for some, isnt it? (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
3. Reacting ironically to deduction of something very obvious: Yes, how did you guess?(note: please copy the tone
and emphasis carefully here.)
4. Returning to the subject: Anyway, we were out on the town for the night when... (note: please copy the tone and
emphasis carefully here.)
5. Stating a condition: I said that Id come along as long as he knew how to handle the yacht.(note: please copy the tone
and emphasis carefully here.)
.
Notes:
1. to give you such an aversion to sailing = to make you dislike sailing so intensely
2. mate (informal) = friend / buddy
3. a playboy = a rich young man who lives a very flamboyant lifestyle and doesnt do much work(note: often a playboy will
be the son of very wealthy parents.)
4. if I were to label him ... it wouldnt be too far from the truth = if I said he was ... it would be more or less correct
5. sports cars = expensive, fast cars (normally with just two seats)
6. cars that he always ends up (phrasal verb) wrapping around (phrasal verb) some tree = cars that in the end he always
crashes into a tree
7. Daddy (note: by using the expression Daddy, which is the way young children address their fathers, Eva is implying
that Tarquin has never grown up and still relies on his father for everything.) = Dad / Father
8. hes had every expensive hobby under the sun (idiom) = he has had every expensive pastime that you can possibly
imagine
 9. a yacht = a recreational sailing boat
10. he invited me down to Poole (note: we say down to if we are heading south and up to if we are heading north.) = he
invited me south to the coastal town of Poole (note: Poole is a beautiful and incredibly expensive part of the south coast
of England. Only very rich people have houses there!)
11. penthouse apartment = luxury flat on the top floor with access to the roof
12. overlooking Poole Harbour = with a view of Poole Harbour
13. crash pad (idiom) = property used for the purpose of passing the night when you happen to be in the area (note: the
fact that Tarquin calls it a crash pad indicates his casual approach to the fact that he has a luxury property that he just
stays at occasionally!)
14. its alright for some, isnt it? (sounds more envious) = Some people have a really easy life, dont they?
15. he was certainly born with a silver spoon in his mouth (idiom) = he was certainly born into a very privileged position
16. we were out on the town (idiom) for the night = we were having a night out in the towns pubs and clubs
17. he suggested we go sailing (subjunctive) = he suggested that we should go sailing / he suggested that we went
sailing (we can use the past tense here as it is indirect speech)
18. I said that Id come along (phrasal verb) = I said that I would come along / I agreed to accompany him (much more
formal)
19. as long as = provided that / on condition that (stronger)
20. he knew how to handle the yacht = he knew how to manage and sail the sailboat

Situation: John explains how he was quite impressed with Tarquins sailing skills as he manoeuvred his yacht out of the
harbour.
Style: informal conversation, quite dramatic
.
Functions:
1. Referring to a promise: Well, he assured me that he knew what he was doing and I didnt press him on it too
much... (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
2. Expressing regret: ... although I should have done because I know from experience that you have to take anything that
Tarquin says with a pinch of salt. (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
3. Emphasising a negative opinion: and I must admit to a certain trepidation
4. Hypothetical sentence: If he had had a big bushy beard he would have even looked the part.
5. Agreeing partially or doubtfully: You could say that! (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
6. Correcting someone in their choice of words: Though outright conned would be more accurate! (note: please copy
the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
.
Notes:
1. a qualified sailor = an experienced sailor who has passed sailing examinations
2. he assured me that = he promised me that
3. I didnt press him on it too much = I didnt ask him too much about it / I didnt push for too much information about it
4. to take anything that Tarquin says with a pinch of salt (idiom: to take something someone says with a pinch of salt = to
be doubtful about the veracity of someones statement) = to not always accept as the truth everything that Tarquin says
5. we set off (phrasal verb) = we left / we sailed away / we started our journey
6. the quay = the harbour side
7. I must admit to a certain trepidation = I must admit, I had a certain trepidation
8. trepidation = fear or worry that something might happen
9. a slight nagging doubt in the back of my mind about (idiom) = a persistent worry that it was difficult for me to stop
thinking about
10. seamanship = ability and knowledge of sailing
11. he deftly negotiated his way past the harbour enclosure = he expertly and efficiently sailed past the harbour wall
12. the maze of buoys = the confusing pattern of buoys
13. a maze = labyrinth / paths or walkways laid out (phrasal verb) in a confusing pattern
14. buoys = plastic ball-shape floats that are tied to the seabed and used to guide boats and ships along the deep channels
and prevent them from running aground
15. He seemed quite at home (idiom) = He seemed relaxed and capable, as if he knew what he was doing
16. the wheel = the ships wheel, which controls the rudder
17. with his captains hat set on his head at a rakish angle = wearing his captains hat in a way that made him look
interesting or enigmatic
18. rakish = displaying a dashing, cheeky or slightly disreputable quality or appearance (You might describe Casanova or
Don Juan as being rakish.)
19. a big, bushy beard = a very full, hairy beard
20. he would have even looked the part (idiom) = he would have even looked like a ships captain
21. you were lulled into a false sense of security (idiom: to lull somebody into a false sense of security = to falsely make
someone feel relaxed. For example, a boxer might pretend that he is not a good fighter in order to lull his opponent into
a false sense of security, therefore making his opponent vulnerable) = you were deceived into feeling confident about
his abilities
22. You could say that! = = Yes, that is one way of describing the situation (note: the phrase you could say that is usually
followed by a more accurate choice of words.)
23. Though outright conned would be more accurate = But completely deceived might be a better way to describe it
24. the sun was out (phrasal verb) = the sun was shining
25. the sea was (as) calm as a mill pond (simile sometimes we omit the first as) = the sea was very flat and calm, just
like the water in a mill pond
26. I stretched out on (phrasal verb) the deck = I lay on the deck
27. the deck = the floor of a ship or boat
 28. This is the life! = Life is very good! / This is how I want to live my life! (note: we often use this phrase when we are in a
lovely situation, feeling happy and relaxed. )
29. then dozed off (phrasal verb: to doze off = to fall asleep unexpectedly or suddenly. We often use the phrasal verb doze
off if you are sitting in a chair and you fall asleep, or if you fall asleep after a meal.) = then fell asleep because I was
feeling relaxed
30. And so did Tarquin (using only the auxiliary) = And Tarquin also dozed off
31. The sound that you can hear at the end is a gasp. When she hears that Tarquin also dozed off, Eva gasps in horror or
shock at the thought of what might have happened next!

Situation: John and Tarquin both lay asleep on the deck enjoying the sunshine and the rocking motion of the boat until they
were suddenly awoken by a terrible sound. John describes to Eva what happened next!
Style: informal conversation, quite dramatic
.
Functions:
1. Claiming sufficient knowledge to understand a situation: I dont claim to have an extensive knowledge of the rules
of the sea but I know thats not good practice. (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
2. Expressing regret: If I had suspected he would do such an unspeakably dumb thing, I would never have boarded his
toy boat. (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
3. Talking about certain death: I thought, This is curtains for both of us. (note: please copy the tone and emphasis
carefully here.)
.
Notes:
1. sleeping on the job (idiom) = sleeping when you should be doing something important (note: this can also mean not
paying sufficient attention to what you are doing.)
2. lookout = observer / person on watch duty (to warn of danger)
3. on duty = working / currently responsible for a task or job
4. I dont claim to have (more formal) = Im not saying that I have
5. an extensive knowledge of = a broad knowledge of
6. I know thats not good practice = I know that it is not the way it should be done
7. who was meant to be at the wheel = who should have been steering the boat / who was supposed to be at the wheel
8. had also taken a nap = had also gone to sleep
9. an unspeakably dumb thing (more emphatic) = an incredibly stupid thing
10. I would never have boarded his toy boat = I would never have got on his silly childs boat(note: the boat is not a toy, of
course, but John calls it a toy boat because Tarquin was like a child playing with a toy, rather than a serious,
responsible sailor.)
 11. the boom of = the loud and deep noise of
12. a fog horn = a ships horn which produces a long, loud, low musical note produced by compressed air, which acts as a
warning to other ships in foggy weather (note: sometimes if someone has a really loud, low, booming voice, we might
say that he has a voice like a foghorn though it is not a particularly nice thing to say!)
13. which nearly turned my insides to jelly (idiom) = which shook my insides a lot due to the vibration / which made feel
terrified
14. made me jump out of my skin (idiom) = gave me a terrible fright
15. I raised myself off the deck = I got up (phrasal verb) off the deck
16. rusty = oxidised (rotting metal)
17. hull = body of a ship
18. oil tanker = ship that carries oil
19. towering above (phrasal verb) us = appearing above us like a tower
20. stern = back of a ship
21. heading straight towards us = coming in our direction
22. Those were my exact words = that is exactly what I said
23. Both Tarquin and I made a mad dash for (idiom) the wheel = Tarquin and I ran to the ships wheel in a frantic hurry
24. in the shade of = in the shadow of
25. the terrifying low rumble of = the very frightening, deep noise of
26. steel = alloy of iron and carbon used in ship building and heavy construction
27. propellers = circular blades that spin under the water to drive a ship forward
28. churning up (phrasal verb) the water = mixing up (phrasal verb) the water a great deal
29. This is curtains for both of us (idiom: this is an expression that comes from the theatre, where the curtain comes down
to signify the end of a scene or the end of the show. Now it is used to signify the end or life or the end of a
relationship) = We are both going to die / Its the end for both of us (note: there is a joke pun in English that uses this
phrase in both its idiomatic meaning and its literal meaning, which a common type of humour in English. The joke is: If
it wasnt for blinds, it would be curtains for all of us! There are 2 possible meanings to this sentence. Meaning 1: If
there were no blinds, we would all need to cover our windows with curtains instead. Meaning 2: If there were no
blinds, we would all die. This joke is not related to the tale of Tarquin but I just wanted to mention it along with this
idiom, as an example of the kind of pun that is often used in the English sense of humour!)

Situation: John describes to Eva the terrifying moment when he and Tarquin were only inches away from being run down and
crushed by the huge oil tanker.
Style: informal conversation, quite dramatic
.
Functions:
1. Seeking clarification: Did the tankers bow actually ram the yacht? (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully
here.)
 2. Expressing surprise or confusion: ... but somehow or other we stayed upright and plunged down into the trough
between the waves. (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
3. Making an assumption: But I assumed that you were aboard a sailing boat with sails?
4. Emphasising a poor choice of words: Humiliating is not the word! (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully
here.)
5. Making an assumption: I suppose that that put an end to your and Tarquins nautical adventures.
.
Notes:
1. the tankers bow = the front of the oil tanker
2. oil tanker = enormous ship for carrying oil
3. ram = crash into (phrasal verb)
4. the yacht = the sailing boat
5. The bow just missed us = The bow came very close to us but it did not hit us
6. The bow = the front of the ship
7. for what seemed like an eternity (more emphatic) = for what felt like an extremely long time
8. we scraped and bashed along = we rubbed against and banged into
9. rusty = oxidised (decaying metal)
10. barnacle = small sea animal with a shell that attaches itself to ships hulls and rocks
11. ships hull = ships body (the watertight part that keeps the ship afloat)
12. cursing = swearing
13. clinging onto (phrasal verb: to cling on to something = to hold on to something very tightly)each other for dear
life (idiom) = holding on to each other in desperation and in fear that we might die
14. the stern of the great ship = the back of the huge ship
15. sucked into the propellers = dragged by the motion of the water into the propellers
16. the ships wake = the area of disturbed white water that a ship leaves after it has passed
17. hit us side on = struck us from the side
18. to capsize = to turn upside down / to turn over (phrasal verb) (a boat or a ship)
19. we stayed upright = we stayed the right way up / we did not capsize
20. plunged down into the trough between the waves = moved rapidly in a downward direction into the deep valley between
the waves
21. The next wave swamped the boat = The next wave filled the boat with water
22. our engine spluttered to a stop = our engine made a coughing noise and gradually stopped working
23. out of the frying pan and into the fire (idiom) = from one terrible situation and into another terrible and possibly even
worse situation
24. a sailing boat with sails = a yacht with cloth or plastic sheets that are used to capture the energy of the wind and
provide motion
25. His knowledge didnt stretch to (idiom very disparaging of Tarquin. If we use this idiom, we imply that someone
should have known something but they did not.) = He didnt even know how to
26. hoisting sails = raising sails by pulling a rope or turning a winch
27. tying knots = joining rope or string using special interweaving patterns
28. emergency flares = emergency signals (like fireworks that are fired into the air)
29. on board = on the ship
30. we couldnt figure out (phrasal verb: to figure out = to deduce / to understand) how = we couldnt understand how / we
couldnt work out (phrasal verb) how
31. to put out (phrasal verb: to put out = to emit) a mayday on the radio = to issue a call for help on the radio
32. mayday = Come to our rescue (note: the word mayday originates from the French venez maider, which means
come and help me.)
33. We drifted aimlessly = We moved across the sea without purpose of direction, totally at the mercy of the winds and
currents
34. the sea got rougher and rougher = the waves became bigger and bigger
35. towed to port = pulled to harbour (by another boat)
36. poking fun at (idiom: to poke fun at someone = to make jokes about someone ) = making fun of
37. posh boys = boys from rich, high class families
38. who had bitten off far more than they could chew (idiom: to bite off more than you can chew = to start a task which is
too difficult for you to finish) = who had embarked on a task that was too much for them to manage
39. Humiliating is not the word = It was very humiliating, but the correct word would be something much stronger than
humiliating! (note: I suppose the much stronger word could be mortifying, or shaming.)
40. that put an end to (phrasal verb) = that stopped
41. nautical = related to the sea