Understanding Spoken English

Boyer Educational Resources have developed books and audio products for learning English grammar, pronunciation and everyday spoken English. Our resources can be used by students studying independently as answers to exercises are included in all of our student books.
There are three books in this series.

"Contents Lists" - Click on book number   USE Book 1   USE Book 2   USE Book 3

The 'Understanding Spoken English - a focus on everyday language in context' series is an excellent English teaching resource designed to help students of English understand spoken language as it is encountered in everyday business and social situations in English speaking environments around the world. In addition to helping students to discover the meaning of many widely used everyday expressions, this English teaching resource provides valuable information about the social and business conventions of spoken English such as, changing the topic of conversation, agreeing and disagreeing politely, checking meaning, giving feedback and making 'small talk'. Features of English pronunciation are also examined within the context of complete conversations.

The accompanying audio recordings present speakers with a variety of English accents from around the world, including North America, Australia and South Africa, as well a variety of British English accents. Information about the notable differences in pronunciation between different varieties of spoken English is provided.

This English teaching resource material is recommended for individual study (as answers to all exercises are included), or as a supplementary class text to provide valuable listening practice and analysis of English as it is spoken around the world. The material will also assist students with learning English grammar.

Using this English teaching resource students will:

• Discover the meaning of many everyday expressions that are widely used around the world in business and social situations, as well as the media.
• Gain valuable information about the conventions of spoken English in business and social situations.
• Learn strategies for improving listening skills and overcoming pronunciation problems.
• Feel increasing confidence as communication skills improve.
• Be assisted in learning English grammar through practical situations

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Understanding Spoken English
Book One Contents

GLOSSARY OF LANGUAGE TERMS		6 - 7
UNIT 1	STARTING SOMETHING NEW	8 - 18
	Conversation with 'everyday' expressions	10
	Focus on Spoken Language: A) Spoken words and syllables B) Contracted words in spoken English C) Developing awareness of the stress patterns of English D) Names and syllables E) Stress in sentences	15 - 18
Reference Page - Understanding the stress patterns of English		19
UNIT 2	TALKING ABOUT THE FAMILY	20 - 29
	Conversation with 'everyday' expressions	22
	Focus on Spoken Language: A) Question tags in conversational speech B) Hearing and pronouncing syllables correctly C) Hearing and using correct stress in words	27 - 29
UNIT 3	TALKING ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE	30 - 39
	Conversation with 'everyday' expressions	32
	Focus on Spoken Language: A) Using pronouns B) Pronouns - pronunciation and spelling C) Changing the topic during a conversation D) Giving an opinion	37 - 39
LANGUAGE REVIEW ONE - Units 1 - 3		40 - 41
UNIT 4	TALKING ABOUT SHOPPING	42 - 52
	Conversation with 'everyday' expressions	44
	Focus on Spoken Language: A) Question tags - revision B) Using intonation to communicate meaning C) Developing awareness of 'weak forms' in spoken English D) The linking of words in connected speech	49 - 52
Reference Page - Connected speech		53
UNIT 5	TALKING ABOUT HEALTH AND SICKNESS	54 - 63
	Conversation with 'everyday' expressions	56
	Focus on Spoken Language: A) Some intonation patterns of English B) Incomplete sentences in spoken English C) Phrasal verbs D) Stages in a medical consultation	61 - 63
UNIT 6	WORRYING ABOUT MONEY	64 - 73
	Conversation with 'everyday' expressions	66
	Focus on Spoken Language: A) Giving feedback B) Giving reasons - Justifying actions and opinions C) Making suggestions D) Agreeing and disagreeing politely	71 - 73
LANGUAGE REVIEW TWO - Units 4 - 6		74 - 75
UNIT 7	TALKING ABOUT PLACES AND PREFERENCES	76 - 85
	Conversation with 'everyday' expressions	78
	Focus on Spoken Language: A) Using intonation to check meaning B) Talking about preferences C) Ellipsis - leaving words out in short replies	83 - 85
UNIT 8	MAKING AN ARRANGEMENT BY TELEPHONE	86 - 95
	Conversation with 'everyday' expressions	88
	Focus on Spoken Language: A) Stages in a phone request for service B) Checking information given on the telephone C) Using polite language when requesting service D) Pronunciation of words ending with 'ed'	93 - 95
UNIT 9	AT A SOCIAL GATHERING	96 - 106
	Conversation with 'everyday' expressions	98
	Focus on Spoken Language: A) Making small talk - appropriate topics B) Starting a conversation and keeping it going C) Revision - Using 'question tags' to begin a conversation D) Phrasal verbs - a note on correct word order	103 -106
LANGUAGE REVIEW THREE - Unit 7 - 9		108 - 109
Reference Lists - everyday expressions with definitions		122 - 130
Reference Page - Some pronunciation differences between varieties of English		131
Phonemic Chart of English Sounds		132

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Understanding Spoken English
Book Two Contents

GLOSSARY OF LANGUAGE TERMS		6 - 7
UNIT 1	A TELEPHONE ENQUIRY	8 - 17
	Conversation with 'everyday' expressions	10
	Focus on Spoken Language: Telephoning strategies: A) Checking information such as correct place/number B) Giving a reason for the call Revision – Aspects of pronunciation: C) Noticing ‘weak forms’ in spoken English D) Word linking in spoken English
UNIT 2	TALKING ABOUT STUDY PROBLEMS	18 - 26
	Conversation with 'everyday' expressions	20
	Focus on Spoken Language: A) Giving suggestions B) Giving reasons C) Exclamations & the use of intonation to convey attitude	25 - 26
Reference Page - Understanding the use of intonation in spoken English		27
UNIT 3	TALKING ABOUT EMPLOYMENT	28 - 38
	Conversation with 'everyday' expressions	30
	Focus on Spoken Language: A) Use of articles - a, an, the B) Pronunciation: listening practice C) Talking about the past using ‘present perfect’ & ‘past simple’ tenses D) Interview strategies: Giving informative answers at an interview	35 - 38
Reference Page - A list of some irregular verbs		39
LANGUAGE REVIEW ONE - Units 1 - 3		40 - 41
UNIT 4	TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS	42 - 52
	Conversation with 'everyday' expressions	44
	Focus on Spoken Language: A) Pronunciation: Hearing & Pronouncing Syllables correctly - Revision B) Adjectives ending with ‘ed’ and ‘ing’ C) Discourse markers in spoken language	49 - 52
Reference Page - ‘Discourse markers’ in spoken English		53
UNIT 5	A NEW VENTURE - MAKING DECISIONS	54 - 63
	Conversation with 'everyday' expressions	56
	Focus on Spoken Language: A) Using pronouns in place of nouns B) Giving advice: 'If I were you, I'd…; C) Talking about future possibilities D) ‘a lot of’ and ‘a bit of’ used with uncountable nouns	61 - 63
UNIT 6	TALKING ABOUT THE PAST	64 - 73
	Conversation with 'everyday' expressions	66
	Focus on Spoken Language: A) Talking about the past using ‘used to’ and ‘would’ B) Pronunciation: words ending in ‘ed’ C) Pronouns in spoken English	71 - 73
LANGUAGE REVIEW TWO - Units 4 - 6		74 - 75
UNIT 7	ASKING FOR DIRECTIONS	76 - 85
	Conversation with 'everyday' expressions	78
	Focus on Spoken Language: A) Giving instructions or directions B) Incomplete sentences in spoken English C) Giving feedback - Showing you understand and checking information	83 - 85
UNIT 8	FUTURE PLANS AND POSSIBILITIES	86 - 95
	Conversation with 'everyday' expressions	88
	Focus on Spoken Language: A) Talking about future plans and intentions (will + verb) B) Talking about pre-planned decisions (going to + verb) C) Making predictions D) Talking about definite future arrangements	93 - 95
UNIT 9	HAVING DINNER WITH FRIENDS	96 - 104
	Conversation with 'everyday' expressions	98
	Focus on Spoken Language: A) Using ‘too’ & ‘neither’ to agree with another person’s choice/opinion B) Uses of the verb 'have'.	103 -104
Reference Page - Uncountable nouns		105
LANGUAGE REVIEW THREE - Unit 7 - 9		106 - 107
Answers to exercises and crosswords		108 - 118
Reference Lists - everyday expressions with definitions		119 - 127
Reference Page - Some pronunciation differences between varieties of English		128
Phonemic Chart of English Sounds		129

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Understanding Spoken English
Book Three Contents

GLOSSARY OF LANGUAGE TERMS		6 - 7
UNIT 1	OTHER CULTURES	8 - 17
	Conversation with 'everyday' expressions	10
	Focus on Spoken Language: A) Noticing ‘weak’ forms in spoken English B) we’re, were and where (and other words that are pronounced similarly) C) A ‘cultural thing’	15 - 17
UNIT 2	SPORT AND HOBBIES	18 - 27
	Conversation with 'everyday' expressions	20
	Focus on Spoken Language: A) Using the correct verb when talking about sport and hobbies - play, go or do? B) Describing feelings and situations - adjectives ending in with ‘ed’ and ‘ing’ C) Expressing attitudes and preferences	25 - 27
UNIT 3	DIET AND FITNESS	28 - 39
	Conversation with 'everyday' expressions	30
	Focus on Spoken Language: A) Uses of ‘on’ and ‘off’ B) Sequencing in storytelling C) As the saying goes… (popular sayings) D) Giving an opinion using : When it comes to…it’s a matter of… E) Nouns used as adjectives	35 - 39
LANGUAGE REVIEW ONE - Units 1 - 3		40 - 41
UNIT 4	THE ENVIRONMENT	42 - 53
	Conversation with 'everyday' expressions	44
	Focus on Spoken Language: A) Definite article ‘the’ B) Uses of the word ‘take’ C) Phrasal verbs D) Describing what is happening	49 - 53
Reference Page - Phrasal verbs and Examples of phrasal verbs with ‘take’		54 - 55
UNIT 5	FEARS AND PHOBIAS	56 - 64
	Conversation with 'everyday' expressions	58
	Focus on Spoken Language: A) Word Linking in Spoken English B) Word combinations – using the correct preposition C) Plural nouns D) Uses of ‘only’ E) Synonyms	63 - 64
Reference Page - Understanding Connected Speech		65
UNIT 6	PEOPLE AND RELATIONSHIPS	66 - 74
	Conversation with 'everyday' expressions	68
	Focus on Spoken Language: A) Regular and irregular past tense verbs B) Discourse markers in story telling C) ‘So’ and ‘such’ to add emphasis	73 - 74
Reference Page - Irregular past tense verbs		75
LANGUAGE REVIEW TWO - Units 4 - 6		76 - 77
UNIT 7	TALKING ABOUT SOCIAL ISSUES	78 - 87
	Conversation with 'everyday' expressions	80
	Focus on Spoken Language: A) Giving conversational feedback & disagreeing politely B) As the saying goes… (more popular sayings) C) Grammar - reflexive pronouns D) Asking for an opinion with a negative question E) Incomplete sentences in spoken language	85 - 87
Reference Page - Conversation strategies: Agreeing, disagreeing, staying neutral, asking for clarification Discourse Markers		88 - 89
UNIT 8	THE MEDIA	90 - 98
	Conversation with 'everyday' expressions	92
	Focus on Spoken Language: A) The definite article - review B) ‘That’ to refer back to a previous statement C) Open ended questions D) ‘You get used to it’. E) Uses of the verb ‘get’	97 - 98
Reference Page - Phrasal verbs with ‘get’		99
UNIT 9	BUSINESS NEGOTIATIONS	100 - 109
	Conversation with 'everyday' expressions	102
	Focus on Spoken Language: A) Forming questions - review of the ‘rules’ Questions in Spoken English B) Telephone introductions C) Incomplete sentences in spoken English D) Greetings and replies E) The Negotiating Process	107 - 109
LANGUAGE REVIEW THREE - Unit 7 - 9		110 - 111
Answers to exercises and crosswords		112 - 123
Reference Lists - everyday expressions with definitions		124 - 132
Reference Page - British spelling differences between North American spelling.		133
Phonemic Chart of English Sounds		134

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