October 16, 2009Topic: “An international project”

Language focus: Present Simple & Continuous

Language skills: Giving an interview

Read the text quickly and answer the following question:

WHAT IS NMP?

NMP - NETWORK MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTIONSNMP has won several media awards. It is owned and run byPiet van Els and Rosa Lanson.

NMP specializes in the travel and cultural sector providing: * Video – from training and marketing videos to programmes for international television audiences. * Web design, consultancy, and management – to help your company get the most out of Internet. * Media presentations – everything you need for a successful conference, seminar or product launch. * Management training – videos and e-learning products on a variety of subjects.

Answer:

NMP is a multimedia production company

Reading practice:

Read the following email and answer the following questions:

What project are Piet and Rosa working on? What will the project consist of? What kind of information will each programme give? Who is Eric Carlin? Who’s going to meet Eric and when? What for?

From: Rosa LansonTo: Piet van Els cc: Jan Phillips, Video ProducerSubject: International Food and Drink video projectInternational Food and Drink video projectDear Piet,Here are a few more details on the International Food and Drink project. The project will consist of ten programmes, each focusing on the food and drink of a different country. At the moment, we want to look at Spain, Italy, France, India, China, Japan, Lebanon, Thailand, Mexico, and the USA. The programmes will include interviews with well-known chefs in each country. There will be information on the food and drink in each country, and some typical recipes. As you know, the chef Eric Carlin has agreed to be our new presenter and interviewer. He’s very interested in the food of different countries and fortunately he loves travelling, because the project will involve a lot of travel.I’ve arranged for Eric to meet us for lunch on Monday to discuss some preliminary ideas. I hope that’s OK with you.Rosa

Answers:

They’re working on the Food and Drink project The project will consist of 10 programmes Each programme will include interviews with famous

chefs from various countries. They will give information on food, drinks and typical recipes.

A well-known chef Eric’s going to meet Piet and Rosa To discuss the preliminary ideas

Language FocusRead the following sentences from a conversation between Rosa and Piet. Underline all the verb forms and answer the questions below:

a) Rosa and I set up the company fifteen years ago. b) We met a long time ago when we were at university. c) We both travel a lot. d) Paul, our Financial Manager, deals with the financial aspects. e) The company name changed from NVP to NMP two years ago. f) At the moment, Rosa’s travelling more than usual.

In which sentence/s is the speaker talking about: The past? The present? The time of speaking or around the time of speaking?

Answers: a,b,e (set up, met, were, changed): past c,d (travel, deals with): present f (is travelling): around the time of speaking

Now match the verbs with the correct verb tense:

Present Simple Present Continuous (or Progressive) Past Simple

Present Simple & ContinuousMatch the sentences in A with the categories in B: A1. We usually meet at least once a day2. She’s leaving the office now3. NMP is getting bigger and bigger4. She knows the market very well5. She’s working on two big launches at the moment6. He deals with all the financial aspects of the business Ba) An action happening at the moment of speakingb) A regular or habitual activityc) A temporary activity happening around now, but perhaps not at

the time of speakingd) A changing situatione) A long-term activityf) A long-term state

Answers:

1 – b 2 – a 3 – d 4 – f 5 – c 6 – e

Action vs. State verbsRead the sentences and decide whether the underlined verbs express an action/activity (A) or a state (S).

Louise works on promotions. Rosa understands what the customers want. Rosa and Piet travel a lot. Piet often has business lunches. Louise has a lot of work at the moment. She knows the market very well. At the moment, we want to look at Spain and Italy. The project consists of ten programmes. Their secretary has arranged for Eric to meet Piet and

Rosa.

Answers: Louise works on promotions. A Rosa understands what the customers want. S, S Rosa and Piet travel a lot. A Piet often has business lunches. A Louise has a lot of work at the moment. S She knows the market very well. S At the moment, we want to look at Spain and Italy. S The project consists of ten programmes. S Their secretary has arranged for Eric to meet Piet and

Rosa. A

Match the sentences in column A with a possible follow-up/alternative in column B. When the matching is not possible, write NO and explain why:1. Louise works on promotions.

2. The project consists of ten programmes.

3. She knows the market very well.

4. Rosa understands what the customers want.

5. Rosa and Piet meet customers every day.

6. Rosa and Piet travel a lot.

7. Louise has a lot of work at the moment.

8. At the moment, we want to look at Spain and Italy.

9. Piet often has business lunches.

a) At present, Rosa is travelling more than usual.

b) Louise is having a lot of work at the moment.

c) At the moment, we are looking at Spain and Italy.

d) Piet is having lunch with Eric now.

e) She’s working on two big launches.

f) The project is consisting of 10 programmes.

g) She’s knowing the market very well.

h) Rosa is understanding what the customers are wanting.

i) Rosa and Piet are meeting a major customer now.

Answers: 1 – E 2 – NO 3 – NO 4 – NO 5 – I 6 – A 7 – NO 8 – C 9 – D

Now complete the rules by writing simple or continuous, action or state : Verbs which express an action or activity, e.g. work,

meet, arrive, travel, manage are used in both _________ and ________ tenses. They are called _______ VERBS.

Verbs which express a state, e.g. understand, know, want, be, like are not normally used in _______ tenses. They are called _______ VERBS.

Some verbs, e.g. have, see, taste, think are used in both _______ and ______ tenses. They express either an _______ or a _______.

Language practiceComplete the sentences. Use the Pr. Simple or Pr. Continuous form of the verb in brackets:

1. I ______ to work by train this week – my car’s broken down (travel)

2. He’s Swedish. He ______ from a town just outside Stockholm. (come)

3. They ________ German, but they ______ actually French. (look, be)

4. This wine _______ awful. Let’s speak to the waiter. (taste)

5. Sorry, I ______ a customer right now. Can we talk later? (see)

6. I _______ a word of Japanese–it’s so embarrassing! (not understand)

7. She _______ of changing cities because she _______ happy here. (think, not be)

8. Why ________ the sauce? Is it too spicy? (you, taste)

9. He ______ eight weeks’ holiday a year. Lucky him! (have)

10. I ________ his point, but I don’t agree. (see)

11. _________ for the newspaper? I ________ it’s in the kitchen. (you, look for, think)

12. I ______ abroad quite a lot. Almost every month, in fact. (travel)

13. I’m afraid they _________ a meeting. Can I take a message? (have)

14. ________ lunch to work on Fridays too? (you, bring)

Answers:1. I’m travelling to work by train this week – my car’s broken down.

2. He’s Swedish. He comes from a town just outside Stockholm.

3. They look German, but they are actually French.

4. This wine tastes awful. Let’s speak to the waiter.

5. Sorry, I’m seeing a customer right now. Can we talk later?

6. I don’t understand a word of Japanese – it’s so embarrassing!

7. She’s thinking of changing cities because she isn’t happy here.

8. Why are you tasting the sauce? Is it too spicy?

9. He has eight weeks’ holiday a year. Lucky him!

10. I see his point, but I don’t agree.

11. Are you looking for the newspaper? I think it’s in the kitchen.

12. I travel abroad quite a lot. Almost every month, actually.

13. I’m afraid they’re having a meeting. Can I take a message?

14. Do you bring lunch to work on Fridays too?

Giving an interviewRead the answers the chef Eric Carlin gave in an interview with Louise, the Promotions Manager for NMP. What questions do you think Louise asked?

Aswers to the interview:1. I was born in Cornwall, in a small seaside town, but my parents

moved to London when I was four.2. Yes, I grew up in London and went to school there.3. I went to college to study for a diploma in Cookery, Catering and

Hospitality Management. 4. After the course, I started working as a chef in London. I worked

at two restaurants, the Hilton and the Buckingham, where I was Head Chef.

5. After the Buckingham, I went to France and then to Italy. Partly to learn more about cooking and partly to learn the language.

6. I speak English, French and Italian. I really enjoy speaking other languages.

7. I opened my restaurant in 1999. It’s hard work, but I love it.8. Apart from cookery, I enjoy playing tennis in the summer and

skiing in winter.9. Yes, I do. My ambition is to open my own cookery school.

Questions:

1. Where were you born?

2. Did you grow up in London?

3. What did you do after school?

4. What did you do when you finished the cookery course?

5. Where did you work after that?

6. What languages do you speak?

7. When did you open your own restaurant?

8. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

9. Do you have any plans for the future?

Further reflection on language: You can find explanations and further practice on Present Simple &

Present Continuous in “Working with Grammar Gold” (Longman) - Unit 7 ‘The present’ (from page 142 to 152) and section 7.7 (from page 153 to 155).

You can also find lots of info & practice on the following websites: www.englishclub.com/grammar/verb-tenses_present.htm www.englishclub.com/grammar/verb-tenses_present-continuous.ht

m www.learnenglish.de http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/l

earnitv120.shtml http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/18

37_aae/page5.shtmlYou can find vocabulary on food, cooking & restaurants in units 63, 64 of ENGLISH VOCABULARY IN USE, Pre-Intermediate & Intermediate (Cambridge University Press)