Here is the first of a series of video podcasts featuring interviews with people I met in the centre of London recently. I went into London on a Tuesday morning and politely asked members of the public if they would like to do a short interview for people around the world who are learning English and who are interested in listening to native speakers, and finding out about life in London. Some people didn’t want to be interviewed, and ignored me! But most people I asked were very friendly and happy to talk to me for a few minutes. This is the first video, and includes interviews with people outside Buckingham Palace (home of The Queen), in St. James’s Park and on The Mall (the road towards Buckingham Palace). I hope you enjoy them, and find them useful. There are more videos coming soon, featuring interviews in different parts of central London.
Watch the video and try to understand their comments. Then use the transcript to help you understand what they said. Try to guess the meaning of any expressions you don’t know. You can find some definitions of vocabulary and expressions at the bottom of the transcript. The people in the interviews come from different places. Listen carefully and see if you can identify differences in the accents they have.
Enjoy the video. Part 2 is coming soon…
London! Capital of Great Britain. Home to over 7 million people, including: The Queen, The Prime Minister, Sherlock Holmes, James Bond and Mr Bean. Considered by some to be the home of the English language, it’s also one of the biggest and more important financial and cultural centres in the world. It has a rich cultural history, a diverse population and loads of cool stuff to do at the weekends.
But what is London really like for the people who live there?
Hi, well, I’ve got a video camera, I’ve got an Oyster card and I’ve got the day off, so I’m going to go into the centre of London, meet some real Londoners and ask them, “what’s London really like?” Why don’t you join me? Come on, let’s go shall we?
Buckingham Palace:
This man is from somewhere in the south of England, possibly in London or near London. He has a southern English accent. Luke: So, um, what do you think of London? What’s it really like? Man: London’s a very nice place to be, yeah. Luke: Yeah? Man: Yeah. Luke: What’s the best thing about it? Man: The best thing is the architecture, the old stuff… Luke: Yeah, yeah. Like Buckingham Palace Man: Like Buckingham Palace, yeah Luke: What about… Man: Anything else, yeah? Luke: What about the worst thing? Man: The worst thing is… all the rest, I’m afraid. Luke: Everything else? Man: Everything else, gone to the dogs. Luke: Really, it’s all gone to the dogs? Man: With the country. Luke: Ok. Alright, thank you very much. Cheers. Man: Thank you.
These girls are from Hull, which is in Yorkshire in the north of England. They’re in London on holiday. They have Yorkshire accents. Luke: Hello Girls: Hi! Luke: So, where are you from? Girls: Erm, Hull. Luke: Hull? Ok, so how long have you been in London? Blonde girl: We came yesterday Luke: Ok, what do you think? What’s London like? Redhead girl: Really good! Blonde girl: It’s a bit busy Brunette girl: busy Luke: Right, okay. What’s, err, what’s the best thing about it? Redhead girl: The weather, the last couple of days Blonde girl: Yeah, it’s been hotter than it is back home Redhead girl: It’s been really nice, yeah. Luke: So it’s better here than it is in Hull, is it? Redhead girl: It is Blonde girl: Yeah, but we couldn’t live here all the time Redhead girl: The worst thing about it is the tube, the underground Luke: Why? What’s wrong with the tube? Redhead girl: It’s too stressful Brunette girl: It’s too hot and busy Redhead girl: and grimy Luke: Busy, grimy, stressful… ok. Anything else to say to the people of the world? Blonde girl: Come to London! Redhead girl: Hiiii! Come to Hull to go out with us Blonde girl: Come to Hull Redhead girl: We’ll have lots of fun Luke: Great, thank you very much
This couple is from New York City in USA. They have New York accents. Luke: Hello. So, where are you from? American man: We’re from the good old USA, the biggest city in the world, New York… Luke: Oh, amazing American man: …which cannot compare to London. Luke: Really? USA man: I wanna just express our love for England, the people, and especially the British Airway[s] that brought us here. They were so polite and extended themselves to the best airline that I travelled [on] all over the world. Luke: Great USA Man: Now coming to England, we stayed at the Holiday Inn, and the people and the experience at the Holiday Inn was super. Luke: Excellent USA Man: We just came from the Holiday Inn to see the Buckingham Palace and now we’re going to from here to Picadilly Square [Circus]. Yeah, great. Luke: Great! USA man: Thank you USA woman: A wonderful experience USA man: A wonderful experience Luke: I’m very glad, that’s great. USA man: And where is this going? Luke: This is going on a website for people who are learning English as a foreign language, so it’s just going to be on, err… I work for this school, The London School of English and also I’m going to put it on a kind of podcast website for people all over the world, so, that’s great. USA man: Now, what is that over there? (pointing at the Queen Victoria Memorial) Luke: That? Err, I’m not sure to be honest. Err, it’s… USA woman: It’s a nice statue. Luke: It’s a lovely statue, covered in gold. USA man: Uh huh, okay Luke: Err, it… I don’t really know who all these people are, to be honest with you. USA man: Well, I’m gonna take a picture Luke: Exactly. It’s big and it’s shiny, so just take a picture of it.
St. James’s Park:
The man is from Middlesex, which is to the west of London. He has quite a posh accent. The woman is from the German/Danish border and has a German sounding accent. Luke: So, where are you from? First of all. Man: Well, I’m from Pinner, in Middlesex, which is near enough London, and we just come up once a week. It’s a long time ago now, I’m talking about before the war, and during the war, yes. A long time. And madam… Woman: I’m from Schleswig-Holstein [on the German/Danish border] but I love London. Love it. My son lives here and I need to go from time to time, because… it’s such a life city isn’t it? Luke: it is Man: Recharge your batteries Woman: Yes, yes. And, so green too! All these lovely parks, you know? And I think it’s the most beautiful city in the world. Man: Sounds as though she’s selling it Luke: Is she… it does! Yes. What do you think, I mean, we, err, you think it’s the most beautiful city in the world, but, is there a, what about bad things? What’s the worst thing about London? Man: Well, I used to work just down there in Victoria… Victoria Station House. Erm, no, I… it tends to be a little dirty, a lot of rubbish around. I have the impression that’s got a bit better lately. I don’t know whether that’s true. Luke: Right. Woman: I was in Rome, and I told them all that London was much more beautiful and they all shouted me down, so… Luke: Oh really… Woman: But when the sun shines, you know… and all these green places, and nothing drives me mad because you expect a bit of dirt and… don’t you? Luke: Yes, in the city Woman: Yes , yes. And it has good communication, I mean you can go everywhere, and I love it Man: You’ll never stop her, but I must Woman: So, shall we go now? Luke: Great, thank you very much Man: Not at all Luke: Have a lovely day Woman: You have a lovely day Luke: Thank you Man: Don’t you sell that Luke: I’m not selling it, don’t worry. Alright, cheers.
The Mall:
Girl 1 is from Blackpool, which is in Lancashire in the North West of England. She has a Lancashire accent. Girl 2 is from Reading which is about 30 mins or 1 hour west of London. She has a fairly typical southern English accent. Girl 1: Hello Luke: Where are you from? Girl 1: I’m from Blackpool, which is up north Girl 2: I’m from just near Reading, just near London Luke: Ok. So, how long have you been here? Girl 1: I’ve lived in London for about 2 weeks so far Girl 2: And I’ve lived in London for probably the last 4 years Luke: OK, right so what’s London like then? Girl 1: So far London’s quite exciting. I’ve been surprised by how many things are going on all the time, sort of, day and night. There’s always something to do, always something free to do, and so far it’s not rained! Luke: Eyy! Great. Err, yourself? Girl 2: Err, yeah the same, like, it’s been a good place to live. I don’t know, because I’ve been here for so long, I probably don’t really take as much advantage of it as I should do. Luke: Yep, what’s the worst thing about London? Girl 2: Erm… Traffic, commuting, going around, I think… Price. Luke: Yeah, i