IELTS Expert User b1 Term 11 subject 2 lesson 7
PART 1
Passagino
What do you do when you’re out in a city?
Read Monroe’s social media post. What is he working on? Why is he asking his friends for advice?
Hey friends! I’ve been making good progress on a personal project, but I need some help. Every day.
I take a short video on my smartphone of something. funny, strange, or beautiful in my city. I’ve been posting my videos on YouTube, mostly, and I’ve shared a few on this site, too. A lot of you have said really nice things about them-thanks!
Now, I think it’s time for the next step… my own show! Really! I want to make the first episode of a show about city life. It will concentrate on the parts of the city most people don’t see. But I haven’t saved enough money to get a real video camera yet. I need people to write scripts and edit the videos, too. I’ve been spending a lot of time asking people for help, but no one has said “yes” yet.
Am I wasting my time, you guys? What should I do?
Read again. What jobs does Monrce need help with?
PART 2
Voicino 1
Listen and repeat.
PAIR WORK Look at the pairs of sentences. Which pairs have a similar meaning? Which have an opposite or different meaning? You can use a dictionary or phone to help with words you don’t know.
Then listen and check.
1
A I’ve been making good progress.
B I’ve been getting nowhere.
2
A I’ve been having problems with that
B I’ve been having trouble with that.
3
A I haven’t had time to do that.
B I haven’t had a chance to do that.
4
A I’ve been doing my best.
B I’ve been taking it easy.
5
A I’ve been spending a lot of time doing that.
B I’ve been concentrating on that.
6
A I’ve wasted a lot of time.
B I’ve saved a lot of time.
PART 3
It's your turn
It’s your turn
A Think about something you’ve been working on lately, but haven’t finished.
Use one of the topics below or your own ideas.
art
school
clubs
volunteering
family
work
hobbies
B PAIR WORK Talk about the things you’ve been working on. What have you been doing? What have you done so far? What haven’t you done yet?
PART 4
Practicino 1
Write each phrase in the correct place.
concentrating on
having problems
didn’t have a chance
having trouble
doing my best
making good progress
getting nowhere
taking it easy
Fast or focused progress:
Slow or no progress:
Practicino 2
Complete the conversation with the correct forms of following verbs.
have
save
spend
waste
A You’ve been 1 ………. a lot of time working on your new website lately, haven’t you?
B Yeah, I learned how to code, so I can 2………. time and work more quickly.
A That’s great. Do you think you’ll 3………. time to help me with my website?
B Well, not today. My computer crashed! I’ve 4………. a lot of time trying to fix it.
I can’t figure it out.
Practicino 3
Choose the correct verb form to complete each sentence.
1 I’ve looked /been looking for a new job for the past month.
2 I’ve had /been having three job interviews so far.
3 I’ve worked ٫ been working part-time during my job search.
4 She’s gone /been going to the supermarket five times this week.
5 She’s tried / been trying new recipes since she started her cooking classes.
6 She’s taken ٫ / been taking cooking classes for a few months.
Practicino 4
Find and correct mistakes in four of the sentences. If a sentence is correct, write correct.
1 I’ve read three books this month. correct
2 She been spending a lot of time with her family lately.
3 We’ve clean the whole house.
4 I’ve been worked all day.
5 He have gone to Hong Kong twice.
6 We’ve been traveling for a week.
GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY
A Complete each sentence with the present perfect or present perfect continuous form of the verb in parentheses () and a word or phrase in the box.
a chance
a lot of time
it easy
my best
nowhere
1 I decided that I need a break, so I
2 lately. (take) ,but I still can’t work as quickly as you can. I’ll keep trying. (do)
3 Oh no! This is the wrong paint! I again. (waste) . Now I have to paint all the walls
4 a different one. (get) on this project after three days of work, so I’m moving onto
5 (not٫have) to read this book yet, but I’m going to start reading it tonight.
B Answer the questions.
1 When you’re having trouble at work or school, who do you talk to about it? Why?
2 Do you know a way to save a lot of time at work, at home, or on the way to work? Describe one way.
3 Where do you go when you have to concentrate on work or schoolwork and you don’t want anyone to bother you?