thunderstorm

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Thunderstorm	Mary Weir

introduction > Notes: General comprehension according to level: e.g: Who got wet in the storm? How did Mary, Naeema and the students feel about the storm? What kind of work do Mary and Naeema do? (this can be inferred but is not stated directly) Lexis Explore language used to describe this storm: intense / sudden / fierce Informal time expressions: 2 ish / half one. Speaking and listening skills Explore vague language, false starts, question tags for agreement Listen for intonation used by listeners. mmm/ yes / yeah Back channelling varies rising and falling intonation to show different responses e.g. surprise, interest. Ask students to practise using the same technique when listening. Discuss weather in UK and in other countries.
transcript > Click the audio player on the left to listen. Mary: So where were you when the thunderstorm happened this afternoon? Naeema: I was sitting in my car in Batley outside someone's house waiting to interview them. I was early. What about you? Mary: I was at the office but I've got a big picture window in front of me Naeema: Ah Mary: so I could watch this fantastic storm Naeema: Oh Mary: and the lightning and er yeah Naeema: So what did you think of it? Mary: It was fantastic.um.I was just glad I wasn't in it.erm and I could hear the students outside, they were larking about some of them were running in and out and deliberately getting as wet as possible Naeema: Yes Oh yes, that's a very summer thing to do, isn't it Mary: Yeah yeah (laughter) Naeema: Because I also felt that you know it was sort of when it stopped it fel.reminded me of my childhood sorry you know where um you know the smell of the earth Mary: Yeah yeah Naeema: And the quality of the air um but yes it was quite sudden and quite fierce wasn't it Mary: Mmm It was lovely and yet when I came out of college half an hour ago so that was 5 o'clock so what time was the storm? About 2 ish? Half 2? Naeema: Yes It was actually about.where I was in Batley it was about half one Mary: OK but the ground was dry! (N:Yes) You know (N:Yes) 2 and a half hours (N:Yes) later the ground was dry (N:Yes) um it was as if nothing had happened Naeema: Oh gosh amazing. ..summer st.very typical summer storm which I didn't expect in England Mary: mmm Naeema: You know because the quality of the air when I came out of the car when it stopped thundering and raining and the smell.I just didn't expect to experience that in England because I never thought it got hot enough Mary: Right, right Naeema: And then the heat that followed immediately? Because it was immediately followed by really hot.er. you know dry hot Mary: So haven't you seen a storm like that here before? Naeema: I have but not very often. In 21 years I think this would be probably my second one? Mary: Oh right! Naeema: You know short and sudden like this Mary: Yeah yeah Naeema: which for me would be a typical summer thunderstorm which really clears the air rather than drowning people Mary: It hasn't actually been that hot recently. I was surprised at how intense it was. Naeema: Yes yes..I think our 2 minutes are up! (laughter)
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