Do you have a really amazing friend?
In this B1/B2 English listening lesson, you will listen to Mike, who is talking about his best (and oldest) friend. Mike speaks English with a soft, south-eastern British accent.
Complete the listening exercises, then read the transcript at the end to check what you heard is correct.
Contents
Listen in full
Watch the video and listen to Mike’s story. Try to understand as much as you can. Then, answer the questions and start the exercises.
Gist questions
Answer these general questions about Mike’s talk:
1. What is the main reason Mike values Adam as a friend?
a) Adam is great at football b) Adam always supports him and listens c) Adam helps with homework2. How would Mike describe Adam’s personality overall?
a) Shy but creative b) Boring but kind c) Fun and reliable3. What kind of friendship does Mike say he has with Adam now?
a) One where they stay close even without seeing each other often b) They talk every day c) It has become less importantDetail questions
Here are some more detailed questions about Mike’s talk. See how many you can answer:
4. Why was Mike surprised during their first football game?
a) Adam helped him instead of laughing b) Adam was worse than him c) They both scored a goal5. Which of these is true about their midnight cycling trip?
a) They made it to the next town easily b) They had to call Mike’s dad to pick them up c) They rode home before midnight6. What does Mike say Adam does when he talks about problems?
a) Listens carefully and gives good advice b) Changes the subject c) Talks about his own problems7. Which quality does Mike most admire about Adam’s personality?
a) He is always funny b) He never gets into trouble c) He is reliable and gives support8. What kind of friendship does Mike believe is the best?
a) The one where you stay close even with time apart b) The one where you share everything c) The one where you never changeTrain your ear
Listen for words
Listen 1
Listen and write the words you hear.
And we on the same football team.
Listen 2
Listen and write the words you hear.
He and gave me a few tips.
Listen 3
Listen and write the words you hear.
He’s people.
Listen 4
Listen and write the words you hear.
He’s always an adventure.
Listen 5
Listen and write the words you hear.
, we’ve been through loads together.
Dictation
Listen to Mike and write down what he says in the box below. Then, check what you wrote. Any mistakes you make will be in blue.
Listen and read!
Read Mike’s talk and listen to it at the same time. Click on any part of the text to listen again.
Words and phrases
Here are some useful words and expressions from the text about friendship that you might want to learn and use.
Words
reliable (adj) – someone you can trust to do what they say
P.E. - Physical Education (sports class)
advice (n) – ideas or suggestions to help someone decide what to do
to pay attention (v) – to listen carefully and notice what someone says
a friendship (n) – a relationship between people who are friends
an adventure (n) – an exciting or unusual experience
a team (n) – a group of people working or playing together
a tip (n) – a helpful piece of advice
a buddy (n) – a close friend (informal)
rubbish (adj) – very bad at doing something (informal)
Phrases
take the mickey (out of someone) – make fun of someone in a friendly way
help someone out – give support or assistance
up for an adventure – ready to do something exciting
make anything fun – turn a boring situation into something enjoyable
ended up (doing something) – finally did something, often by accident
call someone to pick us up – phone someone to come and get you
nodding along – pretending to listen
been through loads together – shared many experiences, good and bad
(not) as much as ... used to – less often than before
pick up where you left off – continue something as if no time has passed
no matter how long it’s been – even if a lot of time has passed
the best kind of friendship – the most valuable type of relationship
Grammar from the transcript
In Mike's story about Adam, there are several useful grammar patterns you can learn from:
Present perfect simple (experiences over time)
We use the Present Perfect Simple tense to talk about life experiences that started in the past and which have relevance to now.
- Over the years we've been through loads together
- The ones where you can pick up exactly where you left off, no matter how long it's been
Relative clauses with who / that / where
Mike uses relative clauses to add extra information about a person, thing, or type of thing.
- He’s one of those people who can make anything fun
- That’s not something that everyone does
- The ones where you can pick up exactly where you left off
Verb patterns: verb + -ing
Some verbs are followed by an -ing form to describe ongoing or repeated actions.
- I kept missing the ball
- We ended up getting lost and having to call my dad to pick us up
- he actually listens, not just nodding along, but properly paying attention
Comparing past and present
Mike uses a useful comparative pattern to compare past and present situations:
- These days though, we don’t see each other as much as we used to.
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