B: I have a small advertising agency.
A: An advertising agency? That's interesting. So how did you get started? B: Well, I used to work for a big advertising agency. But I wasn't happy there. I wasn't getting very interesting work. Anyway, one of our clients came to me one day (I used to handle their account-it's a travel company), and they said they really liked my work. They told me that if I started my own agency, they would give me their account. That was a really lucky break for me. It was quite a big account, so I decided to take a chance and open my own business. I soon found I was getting plenty of work on my own, and that's how it all started. So now I have a small company, with a staff of just four, but we're really busy and I love what I'm doing.
A: What do you do, Rodney?
B: I have my own language school.
A: Is that right? And how did you get started?
B: Well, I was teaching in a language school here in the city a few years ago. It was just a small school, and I loved the work but the owner of the school didn't run it very well. Then she decided to sell the school. I didn't have the money to buy it, but I have an uncle who's kind of rich, so I asked him for a loan. My uncle lent me the money, and I bought the school. A: And it's going well for you.
B: Very well. My uncle really came through for me. He gave me my lucky break! In fact, I've already paid him back almost all the money he lent me.
A: What do you do, Victor? B: I'm a writer.
A: What do you write?
B: I write plays and fiction- short stories mainly-as well as magazine articles. A: Have you been writing full time for long? B: About five years.
A: Well, I used to work for a company. I was living in Los Angeles at the time. I was writing company reports, brochures, that kind of thing. And I wrote for my own pleasure-you know, as a hobby. One day I entered a short story of mine in a magazine contest, and my story won first prize. The editor of the magazine liked my story so much that she asked me to write another one- and paid me for it!
A: Hey, Joan! I haven't seen you in ages. What have you been doing lately? B: Nothing exciting. I've been working two jobs for the last six months A: How come?
B: I'm saving up money for a trip to Europe.
A: Well, I've only been spending money. I quit my job to go to graduate school. I'm studying journalism.
B: Really? How long have you been doing that?
A: For two years. Luckily, I finish next month. I'm almost out of money.
A: Hey, Bob, how's it going? B: Pretty good, thanks.
A: I haven't seen you for a while. What have you been up to?
B: Well, I've been looking for a house to buy. I finally found one last month. I move in next week. A: Gee, that's terrific.
B: Yeah. I'm really tired of dealing with landlords. So what have you been doing lately?
A: Well, I just got back from a vacation in Italy. B: Italy? Whereabouts in Italy?
A: Mostly in the north, around Milan. I have a cousin up there. B: I see. Did you have a good time?
A: Yeah. It was great. In fact, I just got engaged to a guy I met there. B: You're kidding! Well, that must have been some vacation!
Unit 13 A terrific book, but a terrible movie! A: Do you want to see a movie tonight? B: Hmm. Mayge. What's playing?
A: How about the new Steven Spielberg film? I hear it's really exciting. B: Who's Steven Spielberg?
A: You know. He directed Jaws, E. T., and JurassicPark.
B: Oh, JurassicPark was boring. The book by Michael Crichton was fascinating, but the movie was terrible!
A: Well, I'm interested in that new Johnny Depp movie. It's a romance. It's been playing for about a month.
B: Now that sounds good. I've never seen him in a romance, and I think he's a wonderful actor! A: You never saw Johnny Depp in Benny and Joon? That's got to be one of my favorite movies of all time!
B: Actually, I did see that. It was OK.
A: Well, I'll call the theater and find out what time this new movie starts. [Dials number] Hello. Could you tell me what time the new Johnny Depp movie is playing tonight? [Pause as Lynn listens] Oh, really? Oh, OK. Thanks. [Hang up] You guys won't believe this. The new Johnny Depp movie just finished playing last night! B: Oh, no!
A: Yeah. And guess what's playing now? B: What?
A: Benny and Joon!
B: Well, so much for our going to the movies tonight. What else could we do?
A: I have no idea. B: What?
A: The new skating rink opens tonight. Let's go ice-skating! B: Ice-skating? That sounds like fun! A: Let's do it!
A: What did you think of the new Stephen King book? B: Oh, I couldn't stop reading it once I got started. I stayed up till four o'clock in the morning to finish it! A: And wasn't the ending great?
B: Yeah, it really was! Such a surprise! And the whole story moved along so fast, too!
A: How did you like the movie?
B: Well, I walked out after half an hour. A: You did?
B: Yeah, it was so dull that I started falling asleep! And I've never seen such bad acting from Jim Carrey!
A: Oh, really? He's usually pretty good.
B: Well, not in that movie. I wish he'd choose better roles.
A: What did you think of that documentary about Australia? B: Oh, I learned so much! I didn't know they had so many different kinds of animals there. And the photography!
A: Yeah, it was something, wasn't it?
B: Uh-huh, it was pretty amazing. It made me want to go there and see it for myself sometime.
A: Have you read that book that just came out about UFOs?
B: Yeah, what a waste of time! Just the same silly stuff about visitors to Earth from other planets.
A: Uh-huh. It said absolutely nothing new.
B: You know, I'm sick of hearing those stories about little green creatures. If they're real, how come no one can ever take a picture of them?
A: This John Grisham novel looks interesting.
B: Oh, it is. It's about a guy who joins a corrupt law firm and then can't leave. Luckily he has a brave wife who helps him out of the mess. A: Hmm. Maybe I'll read it.
B: Well, the movie is even better.
A: Oh, is that the movie that stars Tom Cruise? B: Yeah. Why don't we rent the video? A: You don't mind seeing it again?
B: Not at all. You rent the video, and I'll bring the popcorn.
A: [Music] Welcome to A Night at the Movies! I'm Pauline Kahn… B: And I'm Colin Hale. Good evening!
A: Tonight we're going to review the new James Bond film. Well, I really liked this new James Bond actor very, very much! B: Mm-hmm.
A: He's the best actor they've ever had in the role-warm, human, even funny. A totally believable character.
B: I have to agree, a prefect double-oh-seven type. Pauline, what did you think of the story?
A: It was a standard story for a Bond movie…uh, the usual beautiful women, the usual evil villain-nothing new.
B: Well, I'm surprised. I have to say that I thought the story was unusually good. The race car scenes were exciting, and the surprise ending was great. A: Well, I can't agree with you there!
B: Well, what did you think about the photography?
A: I was not very impressed at all by the photography. Everything looked fake, not real. I can't believe it was actually filmed in Africa where the story took place.
B: I can't believe you! I haven't seen such good photography in a long time, especially in the action scenes.
A: Now that brings up another weakness in the film: the special effects. Again, it's just the same old stuff… the car that flies, the pen that's really a gun. You get tired of that kind of thing.
B: I'd hardly think you and I saw the same movie, Pauline. I have to say that the special effects were the best ever in a Bond film. For example, the scene where
A: Excuse me, Colin. We're going to have to break for a commercial. B: You're right, Pauline. We'll be right back with our ratings. [Music] A: [Music] So, Colin, how do you rate the new James Bond movie that we've reviewed this week?
B: Well, Pauline, I'd have to say that I'm proud to give this movie my highest rating…four stars…and I would like to encourage everyone to go and see this movie soon! How about you, Pauline? You did like the new actor who plays James Bond.
A: That part's true, Colin; however, I have to give the movie only two stars…a rating of “fair.”
B: Hmm. Well, that's all from us tonight. See you next week. [Music]
Unit 14 So that's what it means!
A: Have you met Raj, the student from India? B: No, I haven't.