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This week we’re looking at Part 1 questions on the topic of ‘pets’.

Step 1: Tune in to this week’s lesson. (Audio and video version below.)

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Part 1 questions Where are you from? Do you work or study? Let’s talk about pets. Do you have any pets? What kind of pet would you like to have in the future? Did you grow up with pets in your home? How do you think having a pet can affect someone’s life? Why do you think some people prefer not to have pets?

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Step 2: Listen to the sample a few times to get more familiar with the language.

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Step 3: Engage this week’s full speech shadowing lesson. (If you do not yet have access, click here to sign up for full lessons.)

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Step 4: Below is Monday’s speech exercise. Post yourself saying this excerpt to your Whatsapp group. Exercises for Tuesday to Friday will be posted in the group by your instructor. (If you have not yet been added to a group, click here to sign up – select ‘Join a Whatsapp group’.)

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Post yourself saying this into your Whatsapp group! “At the moment, I don’t have any pets. My job keeps me fairly busy, and with the amount of time I spend travelling, I feel it would be difficult to properly care for a pet. That said, I do enjoy being around animals whenever I can.”

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Step 5: It’s very important that you note any new language items or pronunciation points from this week’s lesson in your journal to help you chronicle your improvement.

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Transcript

Where are you from?
I’m from a small town in Ireland.

Do you work or study?
I work as an assistant in a local shop. It’s a great job where I get to interact with different people every day.

Let’s talk about pets. Do you have any pets?
At the moment, I don’t have any pets. My job keeps me fairly busy, and with the amount of time I spend travelling, I feel it would be difficult to properly care for a pet. That said, I do enjoy being around animals whenever I can.

What kind of pet would you like to have in the future?
In the future, I’d love to have a dog. I would like one that enjoys outdoor activities like hiking. Since I’m quite active and love spending time in nature, having a dog to accompany me on walks would be really enjoyable.

Did you grow up with pets in your home?
Yes, we had a cat when I was growing up. She was a bit of a character —independent but affectionate when she wanted to be. Having her around taught me responsibility and compassion, and I have fond memories of spending time with her.

How do you think having a pet can affect someone’s life?
I think having a pet can significantly improve someone’s life. Pets provide companionship, which can help reduce feelings of loneliness. Dogs, in particular, encourage people to be more active, as they require regular exercise. Additionally, pets offer emotional support and unconditional love, and this can boost a person’s overall well-being.

Why do you think some people prefer not to have pets?
Some people may choose not to have pets because of the time, effort and expense involved. Pets require daily attention and it can get expensive for things like food and veterinary visits, so owning a pet might not be feasible for everyone. Others may have allergies or live in housing that doesn’t allow pets.