Optional Listening 1

A.

Interviewer: And welcome back to the KPLX radio in Los Angeles. We’re talking this morning with Europe’s hottest singer, Yeliz. Thanks for joining us.

Yeliz: Sure! Hello Los Angeles!

Interviewer: So, tell us a little about yourself, Yeliz. Where are you from exactly?

Yeliz: I was born in Istanbul, but I live in Scotland now. My dad’s Scottish. My mom’s Turkish.

Interviewer: You’re only seventeen. What’s it like being successful at your age?

Yeliz: It’s pretty exciting. I get to travel, and meet some interesting people.

(B. )

Interviewer: You’re touring now, but what are your plans for the future?

Yeliz: After the tour, I want to take a break. Then, later this year, I plan to make a new CD.

Interviewer: Do you have any advice for other young artists?

Yeliz: Well, I’d say follow your dreams. Work hard, and you can be successful.

Optional Listening 2

If you want to become a successful businessman, you should do three things. First, you should think about your goals every day. Make plans for today, tomorrow, and next year. Second, you should join a business club. You can learn a lot from the other members, and they can give you good advice. Third, you shouldn’t work every night and every weekend. Sometimes you should take a break. You get more energy and ideas when you relax. And you need a lot of energy and ideas to make money!

Optional Listening 3

Find your dream

We all have dreams, but some people actually take their dreams come true. Their secret? They quit dreaming. And they start doing. Even a very big dream starts with small steps, and small goals. Maybe your dream is to become a doctor. Start by thinking about small goals for yourself. Ask, “What can I do today?” You can’t start medical school today, but you can send e-mails and make phone calls to get information about medical schools. Make a list of schools to call, and then call a few of them every day. What do you need for your dream? Tell friends and family members—many of them can help you. For example, you want to become an artist. You need a lot of cheap paper for drawing. Maybe your friend’s brother throws away a lot of big paper at his office. So, share your dream with the world! Another good idea is talking to people who are doing your dream job. Do you dream about having your own restaurant? Go to your favorite restaurant and ask the owner lots of questions. Most people like to talk about their work.

Optional Listening 4

A lifetime dream

Everyone has his or her own dream jobs. Let’s listen to Yi Wang, a 29-year-old young teacher, and Hicham Nassir, who are going to talk about their dream jobs.

“At the moment, I’m teaching chemistry at a university in Beijing. It’s a good job, but my dream is to make films. In China, young artists move to Beijing from all over the country. Many of them are painters, writers, and actors. I’d like to make a film about their lives and their work.” Wang is writing the film now with help from her friends. But it isn’t easy. “At the moment, the biggest problem is money,” explains Wang. “We don’t have much.”  But this isn’t going to stop Wang and her partners. She says, “First, we are going to make this movie. Then, we’d like to show it in China and, maybe someday, at film festivals around the world. ”

16-year-old Hicham Nassir is a soccer player. He’s getting ready for a soccer match with his teammates. Hicham, the team’s star player, is a native of Morocco. He now lives in London with his family. “My parents want me to go to college, and major in business or law,” he explains. “They want me to become a lawyer or a successful businessman. I understand them, but I want to change their minds,” says Hicham, “I want to play soccer professionally. It’s my dream”

Key

OL1: A. 1. singer; 2. Turkish (Scottish is also an acceptable answer.); 3. 17; 4. travels a lot.

OL2: 1. think about your goals every day; 2. join a business club; 3. work every night and every weekend.

OL3: B. 1. doing; 2. information; 3. help; 4. Talking.

OL4: B. 1. Chemistry; 2. films; 3. money; 4. China, around the world; 5. play soccer; 6. business, law; 7. change their minds.

OL5: 1. style; 2. haircut; 3. quit; 4. travel; 5. famous; 6. movie; 7. write; 8. million; 9. book; 10. starts.