Beginner
A: do you like Barry?
B: no, not very much. Hes too ambitious1 and dishonest.
A: I agree. I like his brother, Paul. They are not alike2.
B: yes. They are completely3 different. Paul is very sociable4 and much more honest than his brother.
A: what kind of person do you consider yourself to be?
B: I think Im polite, careful, relaxed and shy.
A: oh, I dont think youre shy! You are always chatting with new people when we go to a party.
B: well, yes, but those people always start talking to me. I never talk to them first. Perhaps Im not as shy as I think. Anyway, youre certainly not shy!
A: Youre right. I love going out and making new friends.
B: so, youll be at my birthday party on Friday?
A: Of course!
Intermediate5
A: How do you think people get their personalities6?
B: I think its mainly from the environment a person lives it.
A: Dont you think people get their personalities from their parents?
B: no, but parents control a lot of the environment that kids grow up in, so they certainly influence their kids personalities a lot.
A: So why do you think many kids have personalities that are so different to their parents.
B: maybe when they become teenagers, they want to be completely different to their parents.
A: You might be right. I guess most parents want their kids to be like them, but kids today grow up in a different environment. You know, they know much more about the world from the internet, newspapers, and tv.
B: do you think that teenagers get a lot of their bad behaviour from tv and movies?
A: Maybe some of it. I think a lot of people blame TV and movies when the real problem is that the parents arent bringing their child up correctly.
B: Parents have a difficult job. They have to bring up their children and usually have to work too.
A: Yes, thats fine. Your son is doing well at school, isnt he?
B: yes, he is. Hes very hardworking when hes at school. Then he comes home from school and does homework before dinner. After dinner, he goes out with his friends.
A: So, hes not a bookworm? Its good that he has an outgoing personality7. Some kids are very quiet and introverted. You wonder theyll survive in the real world without their parents to support them.
words
Polite extrovert careless innocent impolite aggressive friendly frank kind ambitious unfriendly honest energetic serious relaxed shy quiet noisy outgoing careful thoughtful curious funny stubborn arrogant reliable jealous sociable
