LISTENING PRACTICE EXERCISE (intermediate)


Listen to how Luis, Celine, and Diana have changed in the last five years. Why did they decide to change? Complete the chart. 
DON'T READ the transcript BEFORE doing the exercises. 



TRANSCRIPT

Luis: Well, I guess the biggest change in my life over the last five years is that I got married. I used to be single, and now I'm not! I used to enjoy going out with friends every weekend - you know, I was a lot more sociable. Now, I'm more of a homebody - I like to stay at home, watch TV - that kind of thing. It's not so bad. I guess you could say that I grew up - I was tired of going out all the time and ready to settle down and start a family.

Celine: For me, the change has been with my work. I used to work in a large company. I worked in their corporate headquarters downtown in the accounting department. It was a great job - good money, decent benefits. When I first started at that company, I was very young and very ambitious. But after a while, I got tired of it. I was so unhappy there, and the commute was killing me! But one evening two years ago, I attended a seminar on working for yourself - you know, being self-employed and starting your own company. So I quit my job and gave it a try. It was scary at first, but after a little while, I could see it was going to work out just fine for me. I couldn't be happier.
Diana: Gosh, five years ago I was a completely different person. You wouldn't have recognized me if you'd seen me then! I talk a lot now, but I was more reserved then. And I hardly exercised at all. I never played any sports and rarely spent time outside. I was in terrible shape and worried about my health. But all the changed when I met my friend Judy. See, she convinced me to start slowly, you know, by walking every morning before work and swimming twice a week. Well, now I spend most of my free time outside - hiking, swimming when the weather's good, playing tennis or racquetball - those kinds of things. I'm pretty good shape now and feeling wonderful.



Listen again. What does each person still want to change?




TRANSCRIPT

Luis: Well, my wife is always saying that I'm not very good with money, not practical at all. She's always teasing me about my spend habits, but she's right. When I see something I want, I just go and buy it, even if it is something I don't really need. I guess I waste a lot of our money. We're expecting our first child in December, and now that there's going to be three of us, well, I think I do need to be more careful. 

Celine: Working at home has been a real struggle. It's been a lot harder than I imagined. I needed to be more organized, that's for sure. So, I've decided to hire a part-time secretary - you know, someone who can come in a couple of times a week and help out with the phones, the filing, and just clean up in general. I'm so busy that sometimes I kind of let things get out of hand - the office gets really messy! I sure could use some help. 

Diana: Well, I started mountain climbing a year and a half ago, and I just love it. Well, the next step for me is to concentrate on that sport and see where I can go with it. I'd love to someday - say, five or ten years from now - go mountain climbing in the Himalayas. They have some of the highest and most beautiful mountains in the world. That would be a real adventure! But before I do anything like that, I have to practice, practice, practice! And I have to get stronger - mentally as well physically.

ANSWERS

Luis
USED TO BE: single, enjoyed going out, was a lot more sociable.
CHANGE: got married, became more of a homebody.
REASON: was tired of going out all the time, ready to settle down.
WANTS TO CHANGE: be more practical about wasting money and not buy things he doesn't need.

Celine
USED TO BE: in a large company, was very ambitious.
CHANGE: became self-employed.
REASON: got tired of the job, didn't like commuting.
WANTS TO CHANGE: be better organized at work and hire an assistant.

Diana
USED TO BE: more reserved, hardly exercised, rarely spent time outside, was in terrible shape.
CHANGE: more talkative, started exercising frequently.
REASON: worried about health.
WANTS TO CHANGE: be a better mountain climber, become mentally and physically stronger, and go climbing in the Himalayas. 

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