Personal information:
1. Where are you from? Which part of China are you from? Tell us something about your hometown.
What do you like about your hometown?
2. Could you say sth about your family? What do you like to do together with your family? What are
your expectations for your child?
3. What do you do? What are your job duties? What do you like about your job? As both a teacher
and a researcher, do you find it difficult to keep a balance between your teaching and research work? Why?
4. Can you tell me sth about your research? 5. What do you plan to do when you go abroad?
6. What do you think you will be doing when you come back?
7. What hobbies do you have? What do you usually do on weekends? what do you usually do in your
spare time? What do you usually do during your holidays?
8. Which country are you planning to go to? What difficulties do you think you might encounter
when you get there?
9. Which university are you going to visit? Why?
10. What are the most difficult things for you when you learn English?
11. What do you think of learning English? In your opinion, have you made any progress in your
English skills? If so, in what aspects can you find your progress?
12. Is it important for Chinese university teachers to have a chance to visit universities in other
countries? Why do you think this is important? 13. How do you balance your job and your family life?
14. How do you plan to deal with loneliness and homesickness when you go abroad?
Asking for information:
1 You have just arrived at the University of Colorado. You have heard about a free oral English class run by the Language & Technology Center. Call the center to ask about: 1. number of students 2. level of the students 3. class meeting time 4. teaching materials
5. qualifications of teachers 6. teaching approach
Hello, I have heard about a free English class run by the Language & Technology Center. Can you please give me some details about the class?
2 You are invited by Professor Smith of the Asian Studies Center to give a lecture on Chinese culture. Call Professor Smith to ask about: 1. target audience 2. number of audience
3. audience’s knowledge of China 4. audience’s interests 5. length of the lecture 6. facilities available
Good morning, Professor Smith. This is xx speaking. I feel very honored to be invited to give a lecture on Chinese culture, but could you please give me some information about my audience so that I can prepare a lecture that will meet their expectations?
3 You are now visiting the UK. You plan to drive to Scotland during the holidays. Go to a car rental agency and ask about: 1. types of cars available 2. prices 3. deposit 4. fuel policy
5. acceptable credit cards 6. insurance included in rental
Good afternoon, I'd like to rent a car at your agency. Can you help me?
4 You are now in the UK. You plan to go to the reading rooms of the British library. Before going ,call the library to ask about: 1. necessary registration documents 2. opening hours on Saturday 3. photocopying
4. remote e-resources
5. number of items to be ordered 6. internet access
Good afternoon, I'm planning to go to the reading room of your library. Can you please give me some information about your library services?
5 You are now an academic visitor in a UK university. You plan to go to Geneva, Switzerland for a meeting next month. A colleague of yours happens to be from Geneva. Ask him about the city
concerning:
1. official language 2. population 3. time zone
4. public transportation 5. places of interest 6. climate
Hi, Jim. I'm planning to go to Geneva next month. Can you give me some information about the city?
6 You would like to go to a theatre in London. Call the box office to ask about: 1. location of the theatre 2. parking
3. booking fee 4. refund 5. dress code
6. use of recording devices
Good evening, I'm calling to enquire about some information about your theatre. Can you help me?
7 You are a visiting scholar at Stanford University in the US. You would like to join an academic association. Call the secretary of the association to ask about: 1. membership types 2. number of members 3. application procedures 4. membership fees 5. upcoming events 6. membership benefits
Good morning, I'm a visiting scholar from China and I'm interested in joining the Economics Association of the university. Could you please give me some information about it?
8 You are now studying at the University of California, Los Angeles. You would like to attend an international conference to be held in Seattle. Call the organizer to ask about: 1. letter of invitation
2. paper submission deadline 3. conference fee
4. access to conference papers 5. hotel accommodation 6. conference schedule
Hello, I am a PhD student studying at the University of California. I would like to attend the international conference to be held in Seattle next month. Will you please give me some details about the conference?
9 You are an academic visitor in a UK university. You have heard about a Lunchtime Talk at a local museum. Call the museum and ask about: 1. speaker 2. topic 3. time
4. address of the museum 5. best way to get there 6. admission charge
Hello, I am an academic visitor at London University. I have heard about a Lunchtime Talk at the British Museum. Could you please give me some details about the talk?
10 You are visiting the University of California, Berkelay. One of your friends is planning to be a visiting scholar to the Department of Physics in the same university. Call the department on behalf of your friend to ask about: 1. availability of positions 2. application requirements 3. supporting documents 4. application deadline
5. availability of campus accommodation 6. office or laboratory space
Hello, I am a visiting scholar from China. I am calling on behalf of my friend who is planning to be a visiting scholar to your department. Will you please give me some information about the application procedures?
11 You have just arrived in Edinburgh University. You are required to register at the local police station. You call the police station to ask about the following information: 1. documents needed
2. copies of photos required 3. office hours
4. registration procedure 5. cost of registration 6. office location
Hello, I am a visiting scholar from China and have just arrived at Edinburgh University. I am calling to ask about the registration procedures. Can you help me?
12 You are now studying in a British university. There is going to be an end-of-term party. You must ask questions to find about as much as you can about the party: 1. location 2. time 3. duration 4. guests
5. expenses to guests 6. entertainment
Hi, Tom. I know you are one of the organizers of the end-of-term party. I'm quite interested in joining the party. Can you give me some details of it?
13 You have just come to live in your district, and you want to know where to go shopping. The interviewer is your neighbor who has lived in the district for a long time. You must ask questions to find out as much as you can about the best places to shop: 1. Best shop
2. Types of food available in the shops 3. Opening hours
4. Transport availability
5. Cheapest shopping days 6. Video rental shop
Hi, Judy. Can you spare me a few minutes? Well, I need to do some shopping, but you know I have just moved in this area. Will you give me some information about nearby shopping facilities?
14 You are in Canada. The interviewer is arranging a computer course for students. Find out all you can about the course: 1. Age requirement
2. Academic qualification 3. Special equipment 4. Location and time 5. Duration 6. Examination
Hello, I have heard that you are arranging a computer course for students. Can you please give me some details about it?
15 Your tutor is a member of an environmental volunteer group. You think you would like to join. Ask your tutor questions to find out as much as you can: 1. Number of members 2. Membership cost 3. Joining procedure 4. Frequency of meeting 5. Location of meetings 6. Activities of group
Hi, Jack. I would like to join your environmental volunteer group. Can you give me some information about it?
16 You are in Sheffield. You want to travel by train to Manchester to catch a plane. Your interviewer, who is also a visiting scholar, has information about trains to Manchester. Ask your interviewer questions to find out the details: 1. Train times(departure and arrival) 2. Cost(single and return) 3. Reduction
4. Refreshment facilities 5. Buses to airport
Hello, Zhang. I am going to Manchester to catch a plane tomorrow. Can you give me some information about trains to Manchester?
17 You are studying in a Canadian University, and you want to buy a train ticket to Vancouver. You are at the railway station enquiring about the following information: 1. Price of a return ticket 2. Discount
3. Departure time of a train 4. Length of the journey 5. Refreshments on the train 6. Smoking on the train
Hi, I'd like to buy a train ticket to Vancouver. Can you help me?