More interviews with native English speakers in London. Transcripts & definitions available below. This video was filmed in Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, Chinatown and Picadilly Circus in the centre of London.
Hello learners of English, here is the transcript for the second video with interviews in the centre of London.
Use these videos as an opportunity to practise listening to authentic English conversations in a natural context. It’s a good chance to get exposure to English by native speakers, especially if you don’t live in an English speaking country.
Graphic design student: Hello Luke: So, how long have you been in London? Graphic design student: Two weeks Luke: Really? What do you do? Graphic design student: Err, graphic design. Camberwell, School of the Arts. Luke: Ok. So, your first two weeks. Graphic design student: First two weeks. It’s quite a big impact. Very big, lots of people, and it’s quite expensive as well. Luke: Ok. What’s the best thing about it? Graphic design student: Err, night life. Very good night life. It’s got, you know, erm… If you go to the right places… A lot of action, erm, you know, a lot of friendly people as well. Luke: Excellent. What about the worst thing? Graphic design student: Depends on where you go. I mean, there’s quite a lot of, err, muggers about, dodgy people looking at your weirdly. You want to just, turn, turn away from them Luke: Ok yeah Graphic design student: Apart from that, generally a lot of people are quite nice. I mean, there’s some people that shove about, but, you know, you’ve just got to deal with it. Luke: Ok, thank you very much Graphic design student: That’s ok Luke: Cheers.
Luke: So, hello Girl in red scarf: Hello Luke: Where are you from? Girl in red scarf: I live in Redhill, which is about half an hour away from London Luke: Ok, erm, how long have you lived there? Girl in red scarf: Two weeks! Luke: Ok. Everyone’s been living in London for two weeks for some reason. So, what’s London really like then? Girl in red scarf: London, well, London’s a really really massive place which can be quite overwhelming, but it’s not that scary after you’ve, you know, got stuck in there. Erm, London has everything you’d ever want, if you’re into theatres, art, education, night clubs, anything. Erm, I would say, just get stuck in there and go for it! Luke: Ok, great, and what’s the worst thing about London? Girl in red scarf: The worst thing… oooh the worst thing… err, I think the worst thing would have to be the pollution. It’s probably not as bad as some countries, but you always feel like you’ve got black fingernails. Luke: Ok. Thank you very much. Girl in red scarf: Thank you
Real Londoner girl (who hates pigeons): Hi! Luke: So, are you from London too? Real Londoner girl (who hates pigeons): Yes, I am Luke: Ok, so how long have you lived here? Real Londoner girl (who hates pigeons): Err, my whole life. Luke: Ok, so you’re a real Londoner Real Londoner girl (who hates pigeons): Yes, a real Londoner Luke: Ok, what’s it like then, living here? Real Londoner girl (who hates pigeons): What’s it really like? Erm, well I think it’s fantastic. It’s nice to live in such a cosmopolitan place with lots of things to do. You can never say that you’re bored or have nothing to do because then that’s all down to you, so… Luke: What’s the best thing about it? Real Londoner girl (who hates pigeons): Erm… Luke: You might have just answered that Real Londoner girl (who hates pigeons): Yes I think I have. Just the variety and everything you want to do. Lots of things for different age groups, there’s always something for someone to do. I would say the best thing is, like, the cultural little occasions that we have, like Chinese New Year and things like that, where you have big street parties. I would say that’s the best thing. Luke: Ok, what about the worst thing? Real Londoner girl (who hates pigeons): Oh… I don’t like to answer that question The girl with the red scarf (off screen): Pigeons! Real Londoner girl (who hates pigeons): Oh yeah! I hate pigeons! I hate pigeons! They’re just… Luke: What’s wrong with them? Real Londoner girl (who hates pigeons): They’re diseased! Luke: They’re diseased. Flying rats. Real Londoner girl (who hates pigeons): Yes Luke: Right? Real Londoner girl (who hates pigeons): Yeah. That’s the worst thing, I don’t dislike anything else. Luke: Ok, thank you very much Real Londoner girl (who hates pigeons): You’re welcome Luke: Cheers
Smartly dressed couple: Hi Luke: So, are you from London Smartly dressed girl: Err, we’ve just moved here, yeah. Luke: Just moved here, right, so err… How long have you been here? Smartly dressed girl: Err… We’ve been here for a couple of weeks. Luke: Ok. Everyone I’ve interviewed today has been in London for, like, two weeks. I don’t know why… So, what’s London really like then? What do you think? Smartly dressed guy: Err, it’s a huge place. There must be about 10 million people living here. It’s got a lot of good things, bad things. It’s vibrant, it’s multicultural. It’s got fantastic places to eat, fantastic places to go out in the evening. Smartly dressed girl: Fantastic theatre, fantastic restaurants. Fantastic museums, art galleries. Absolutely loads of stuff. Luke: Ok Smartly dressed guy: It’s a fast paced place. People seem to be moving around a lot faster than in the rest of the country Smartly dressed girl: Sometimes that can get quite a bit much, you know. People sort of rushing everywhere all the time Smartly dressed guy: But it’s interesting, but there’s also negatives to living here Smartly dressed girl: It’s very congested, it’s very expensive. Err, extremely expensive, public transport is expensive. It’s hard… it can take a long time to get anywhere Smartly dressed guy: And there’s also a lot of pollution, and crime as well. So, if you come to live here I think it’s about finding the right enclave… Smartly dressed girl: Yeah, the right neighbourhood to live in, definitely… Smartly dressed guy: And having friends. Set up your own community of friends, rather than knowing your next door neighbour. Luke: Yeah. Ok, thank you very much Smartly dressed guy: No worries Luke: Cheers, bye bye Smartly dressed girl: Cheers, bye
Vocabulary definitions: Here are some definitions of some of the vocabulary in the video.
night life – social life at night, for example clubs and bars a lot of action – lots of exciting things happening, and lots of nice girls to meet muggers – criminals who might steal things from you in public (e.g. attack you and steal your bag) dodgy people – people who are strange and can’t be trusted looking at your weirdly – looking at you in a strange way turn away from them – look/turn in the other direction shove about – push people when in a large crowd (e.g. pushing people when getting on or off a crowded train) you’ve just got to deal with it – you have to just learn to live with it. You can’t let it make you unhappy. massive overwhelming – having such a great effect on you that you feel confused and do not know how to react if you’re into theatres, art, education, night clubs, anything – ‘to be into something’ means to be interested in it, or to enjoy it just get stuck in there – get involved without hesitation or fear and go for it – just do it! pollution – dirty air caused by cars, bad air conditioners etc a cosmopolitan place – a place with lots of people from all over the world (positive adjective) Pigeons – very common birds which you find in the city (see the video at about 3:33) vibrant – full of energy and activity in an exciting way multicultural – involving people from many different cultures fast paced – with a quick lifestyle (e.g. people rushing about everywhere, walking very quickly, in a hurry) get quite a bit (too) much – be stressful and annoying congested – full of traffic, lots of traffic jams the right enclave – a small area within the city in which you live and feel comfortable neighbourhood – part of town in which you live