...is (really) terrific/great/lovely.

It's too lovely for words.

I haven't seen ... for years I have liked so much.

II

(I'm afraid) I don't like ...

I've never liked ..., (I'm afraid).

... is not one of my favourite ... I (really) hate ...

I think ... is pretty awful/really unpleasant.

I'm not (really) keen on ...

. . . i s . . . ghastly/rubbish ...

I can't say ... appeals to me very much.

I must say I'm not too fond o f . . .

What a dull/boring ... Why, there's no ... in it.

Dealing with moods and feelings

J o y a n d e n t h u s i a s m : Great/That's great/Terrific. Good! Marvellous! Fantastic! How wonderful! How exciting!

How thrilling!

A n n o y a n c e :

How annoying! What a nuisance! What a bore!

That's just what I needed!

I've just about had enough of...

I just can't stand ...

... is driving me crazy (mad).

D i s t r e s s :

I'm worried I just don't know what to do ... I feel terrible. I've got a lot on my mind. I don't feel at all happy.

I'm fed up. I can't take much more of this.

I n d i f f e r e n c e :

I can't say I'm interested.

I couldn't care less.

Please yourself.

I don't mind what you do.

The whole thing bores me to death.

R e a s s u r a n c e :

Cheer up. Take .it easy.

Don't you think you're over-reacting a bit?

There's no need to get so upset.

Don't let it get you down.

It's not as bad as all that, surely?

Oh, come on, it's actually quite interesting.

I see what you mean, but on the other hand ...

EXPRESSING OPINION

I think I'd much prefer to ... ; nothing like as good (bad) as ... ; that's what I thought... ; and that's another thing; there's much va-

riety in ... ; to be similar in ... ; there's a tremendous number of differences in ... ; to have much (little) in common ...

CHECKING UNDERSTANDING

Alright so far! Are you with me? Is that clear? Do you see what I mean? That's right. Now..., got that? Good! Now.... Fine! Now

Sorry, but I don't quite see why you have to ... . Sorry, can you say that again, please? Sorry, but I'm not quite clear on ...

C O N T E N T S

ESSENTIAL COURSE

Unit One....................................................................................................

6

Text: "Three Men in a Boat" by Jerome K. Jerome...................................

9

Conversation and Discussion:

Changing Patterns of Leisure.................................................................... 24

Unit Two.................................................................................................... 36

Text: "Encountering Directors" by Ch. Samuels....................................... 39

Conversation and Discussion:

Man and the Movies.................................................................................. 57

Unit Three.................................................................................................. 69

Text: "To Sir, with Love" by E.R. Braithwaite.......................................... 71

Conversation and Discussion:

English Schooling...................................................................................... 90

Unit Four.....................................................................................................107