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Video Activity #7

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​https://youtu.be/PCoGfyHN4wM

The transcript is below. It may be easier to watch if you print it out and read while you watch.

00:53 Aneta: So you have everything here, it's • So many people and so many skyscrapers • and it's yeah, unbelievable

01:08 Burham: It was amazing • It was spectacular • For example the big buildings • I think in U.S.A. everything is, hah, ah... big 01:25 Maria: I like everything of New York • Eh, lot of people in the street • The buildings, they are very very big • and it's so different to Spain • at least from the place where I live

01:52 Aneta: I can tell you that in the beginning • I hated New York • Really • It was terrible for me because... • It really, really ... • it's a loneliness place

03:09 Lee: I came to New York 2-3 months • to improve my English • because, em next month I will start to study • psychology in the university in Israel • and it's really important to • to know English • And English is the • I think • the most important language • in all the world so • you must know it

03:32 Aneta: I'm here in New York for learning English • and also for doing yoga teacher training • so I have a break here for 4 weeks

03:40 Arum: I came to here to study English • Coz I wanna feel closely • with the native speakers • and I think if I stay in America I can... • I can meet a lot of American • or a lot of people who speak English

03:58 Adrian: Mainly my aim here is to study English • in a setting where • everything is English, so um, ... • I think it's the best way for me • to improve my English

04:45 Question: Why do learners visiting New York think English is important?

04:52 Maria: Well, I study translation • so it's the most important thing • in my, in my studies • but it's also very useful for me • and I think for everybody • at least where I live because • there are a lot of tourists and it's easier • to have a job if you learn English • than if you don't

05:18 Carolina: I think that it's very important because • now, if you want to get a job • the first question is • 'Do you know English?' • now everybody has to know English

05:28 Burham: I am studying at computer engineering • and this is my last year • in Istanbul University • and you know in computer science • or computer engineering • the English is very important • Every software • the program languages are in English • You know • and I think you must • or you should err ... • you should • research from the English books • the English sources

06:09 Adrian: The way I'm going to improve • my work and my prospective ... • and everything will be connected with English • because I'm focussed • in making business with • international companies and that's the way • that we should communicate • I think English is the international language • that's why I need to be able to • understand, to be understood

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06:45 Arum: When we apply our jobs • we need an English score • like a TOEFL or TOEIC or yeah •some certification of the • I have ability to speak English • or I have, I can speak English • We need it because these days • it's a global world • so we need English, yeah

07:55 Question: What problems do people have when learning English?

08:02 Aneta: The most difficult point for me • is to speak because it's much • easier to read or to listen, but um ... • to express yourself in a foreign language • is difficult because um... • sometimes you have to find the right • expressions or words ... because • I think you, um, think in the native language • and you want to speak in the foreign language

09:13 Carolina: I think that the grammar is not so difficult • not the vocabulary • but listening and speaking ... • It's a bit hard because • ahh, in Spain we don't improve that • we don't practise • and I think that in most of the countries • so if we come here we can • improve a lot ... have a change

09:45 Lee: For me, most difficult is the grammar • because it's so different • from Hebrew grammar • from my language • and in the beginning I thought • in Hebrew and talk in English • so it was like a sentence that • it's not correctly • But I don't know about now but I think it's • improved because I think I speak in English • and think in English now ... I hope so

10:36 Question: How does being in New York help with these problems?

10:43 Lee: I think that outside of the class • I learn a lot of new vocabulary • that I didn't know before I came here • And I improved my listening because • I ... I heard a lot of people in different accents • And, mm, I saw a lot of um ... • TV here in, just in English • and it's really help

11:05 Maria: I'm living with my friend, ahh ... • we are living in her uncle's house • and he's American • He and we speak • to, with him every day a lot • 1 or 2 hours • And also in the street • when you go to the shop • or you ask to a policeman who • where is a place • The most important thing • I think is that I am speaking • a lot with the partners and hearing the • American accent of the teachers • and people in the street • so I am very happy here

11:49 Adrian: At first when I first came to U.S. • it was very difficult ... • because I had a little English, so umm... • But then, there is a point when you... • it's like you open your eye... your um, ears • It's something that happening when ... emm • I think it's more related • with to be afraid of not, not understand

• what they're saying • So when you overcome • that fear • it becomes easier to understand • and to be able to communicate • Um ... I think that's why, um ... • to be in a place where you have to deal • ah, ah... with everything in English • is the best way to do it faster

12:34 Arum: Almost people who are not speak English • worried about when they speaking • when they speak • they think their grammar is right • or vocabulary is right • They always worried about that • so they have no confidence when • they have ... when they speak • Actually after I came here I have confidence • about speaking English actually • so maybe, and I will get a TOEFL score later • so maybe help for getting my job • and when I travel maybe I have confidence

13:37 Question: What tips do learners visiting New York have for other learners of English?

13:49 Aneta: I think the best way is to go in a country • where it's the native language • because there you • start thinking in that language • and that makes it easier and you are ... • You hear it all the time • you read it all the time • And for me it's the best way to learn

14:07 Lee: And I think to be in a city with everybody • talking in English, and I have to talk in English • to eat, to drink, to place ... • to find a place to sleep • to connect with people • You have to talk the language • so you learn it

14:25 Carolina: I advise them to • try to practise more their speaking • their accent, reading • and if they can get grants • from the government and can travel • around the world it's the best thing • because here we can learn the best English • and not as we learn it in our country • that is not the same

14:55 Adrian: If they don't have the possibility to travel • I think the only way to ... • ahh, to do it is to take it seriously • I mean, umm, you need to practise • I think every day at least 2 hours • 1 or 2 hours per day, to um ... • to, to see yourself improving in the language • Um ... I think an intensive course • will be the best um ... • way to ... to learn the language • because if you, for instance • what I did in the past was to take • maybe 2 hours per week • and it wasn't enough • I can say that I could learn just a few things • But when I started doing um ... • intensively, I realised that I, I ... • I saw myself improve in English

15:58 Arum: Talk a lot with native speakers, yeah • Even though the grammar is wrong • or vocabulary is wrong • just to talk a lot • and watch the drama or watch TV

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