Lily asks
Tell me about a book or film you would recommend to a friend.
How to build your answer
Tell a story: four moves, about a minute.
- 1Set the sceneWhen and where. “A few months ago, I…”
- 2What happenedTwo or three moments, in order.
- 3How it feltYour reaction. “I was mortified.”
- 4How it endedThe ending, or what you'd do now.
Lily's answer, three ways
The same story, from easy to advanced. Tap a highlighted phrase to learn it.
Easy
Lily's voice note
Ha, Paddington 2. I know it sounds like a kids' film, but trust me. It's funny, it's kind, and it's really well made. Paddington goes to prison by mistake, and he makes all the prisoners love him with his marmalade sandwiches. I watched it with my little brother at Christmas, and we were both a bit teary at the end. If you've had a bad week, just put it on. It'll cheer you up, I promise. And if it doesn't, I'll buy you a coffee.
Phrases to borrow
really well made
/ˈrɪəli ˈwel ˈmeɪd/
made with a lot of care and skill
The show's really well made, every episode looks amazing.
have a bad week
/hæv ə ˈbæd ˈwiːk/
go through a week where things go wrong
I've had a bad week, so I'm staying in tonight.
cheer someone up
/tʃɪə ˈsʌmwʌn ʌp/
make someone feel happier
A hot chocolate always cheers me up.
Natural
Lily's voice note
I'd say Paddington 2. I know it sounds like a kids' film, but it's not really about kids at all. Paddington goes to prison by mistake, and slowly the prison turns into a much happier place because of him and his marmalade sandwiches. It's funny and really kind. I watched it with my little brother at Christmas, and by the end I'd cried my eyes out. He pretended he hadn't, but he had. If you've had a bad week, just put it on. Honestly, it works.
Phrases to borrow
not really about something
/nɒt ˈrɪəli əˈbaʊt ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
its main subject is something different
The book isn't really about football, it's about friendship.
turn into something
/tɜːn ˈɪntə ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
slowly change and become something else
The chat turned into a two-hour phone call.
cry your eyes out
/kraɪ jɔː ˈaɪz aʊt/
cry a lot and very hard
I cried my eyes out at the end of that film.
Advanced
Lily's voice note
Okay, this'll sound daft, but Paddington 2. It sounds like a kids' film, but don't let that put you off. Paddington gets sent to prison by mistake and wins everyone over with his marmalade sandwiches, even the terrifying cook. I watched it with my little brother at Christmas, wrapped in blankets, and we were both a bit teary by the end, though he'll deny it. It makes you think about how far a bit of kindness goes. And it'll pick you up after a bad week, I promise.
Phrases to borrow
don't let something put you off
/dəʊnt let ˈsʌmθɪŋ pʊt jə ɒf/
don't decide against something because of one small problem
The first week's hard, but don't let that put you off.
win someone over
/wɪn ˈsʌmwʌn ˈəʊvə/
make people like you or agree with you, even if they didn't at first
She was nervous about meeting his parents, but she won them over.
make you think
/meɪk jə ˈθɪŋk/
makes you consider something seriously
That documentary really makes you think.
pick someone up
/pɪk ˈsʌmwʌn ʌp/
make someone feel happier or more energetic
A strong coffee always picks me up in the afternoon.
Your turn: answer Lily
Tell me about a book or film you would recommend to a friend.
Answer out loud, in your own words. Try one phrase you just borrowed.
Hobbies & free time
not really about something
its main subject is something different
“The book isn't really about football, it's about friendship.”
heytardy