مکالمه انگلیسی بین دو نفر درباره امید و رویاها

Lindsay: Hey, Warren.

Warren: Hey, how’s it going?

Lindsay: Good. I thought today we could talk about childhood dreams. When you were ten years old, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Warren: Right. Well actually it’s a little embarrassing. I wanted to be a truck driver. I thought it would be really neat because you can just travel around everywhere and see different places all the time and you’re always on the move. But you know I didn’t become a truck driver.

Lindsay: No, you didn’t become a truck driver. Why is that? When did your dream change?

Warren: Well probably when I was around fifteen I thought it would be a lot cooler to be a rock star.

Lindsay: Rock star?

Warren: Yeah, a rock star. I really liked electric guitar at the time and a lot of friends were into music as well so I didn’t actually start a band but I played with a lot of different people and sometimes I would play with some bands but I never really stuck to it. But I did keep playing guitar and I ended up getting pretty good.

Lindsay: What kind of rock star did you want to be? Did you want to be like a heavy metal rock star or a grunge rock star?

Warren: I guess versatile would be the word. I liked playing a lot of heavy stuff and maybe some folk music as well, so kind of eclectic.

Lindsay: So maybe a hippie rock star?

Warren: Yeah, maybe a hippie.

Lindsay: So then when you were twenty, did you still want to be a rock star?

Warren: No I didn’t but I still played guitar then. I actually wanted to be a classical guitarist by then.

Lindsay: OK. What is classical guitar?

Warren: Well it’s funny you say that because it’s not just classical music. Classical guitar is, for one thing it’s the type of guitar. It has nylon strings, not the steel strings like you see on a folk guitar.

Lindsay: OK.

Warren: And there’s different styles you can play on it like Spanish music, or flamenco, or South American music, some classical music like Beethoven and things like that, or baroque music like Bach.

Lindsay: Does it have a singer with it?

Warren: Sometimes there are singers. Usually it’s solo but you can play some chamber music with other instruments as well and yes I played some pieces with vocalists but it wouldn’t be pop music.

Lindsay: And so now you’re older, did your dream come true? Did you become a classical guitarist?

Warren: I did but I actually decided to change my dream after I become a classical guitarist.

Lindsay: So what’s your dream now?

Warren: Well my dream now is to become a university professor.

Lindsay: Oh, and are you making steps to achieve that dream?

Warren: I am actually. I’m working at a university now, not as a professor, as a part time lecturer but I’m taking some courses and studying hard and hoping that my future will allow me to become a professor.

Lindsay: OK, well unless you change your dream again, I bet you’ll achieve your dream so good luck.

Warren: Great. Thank you.

Answer the following questions about the conversation.

1) Why did Warren want to become a truck driver?

1. a) He wanted to move around a lot.
2. b) He thought traveling would be fun.
3. c) He likes driving.
4. d) His father is a truck driver.

2) What did Warren do to become a rock star?

1. a) He started a popular band.
2. b) He played the guitar.
3. c) He wrote songs.
4. d) He played music with many friends.

3) What kind of rock star did Warren want to be?

1. a) Only heavy metal.
2. b) One that played many types of music.
3. c) A hippie rock star.
4. d) A rap star.

4) What can you play on classical guitar?

1. a) Pop music.
2. b) Steel strings.
3. c) Flamenco.
4. d) Music for vocalists

5) What is Warren doing to become a professor?

1. a) He is teaching.
2. b) He is taking classes.
3. c) He is teaching free English lessons.
4. d) He’s studying for an exam.

Answers

• 1=a,b
• 2=b.d
• 3=b,c
• 4=c,d
• 5=a,b

on the move

You’re always on the move.

When we are on the move, that means we do not stay in one place for a long time.  Notice the following:

1. As an outside salesperson, I’m always on the move.
2. He’s getting tired of always being on the move.

stuck to it

I would play with some bands but I never really stuck to it.

To stick to something means to do it for a long time, even if it becomes difficult and our progress is slow.  Notice the following:

1. I studied piano as a kid, but never stuck to it.
2. He never sticks to anything long enough to improve.

versatile

I guess versatile would be the word.

Someone who is versatile can do many things.  Notice the following:

1. He’s a versatile musician.
2. I’m not very versatile.

eclectic

I liked playing heavy stuff and some folk music as well, so my music is kind of eclectic.

An eclectic musician plays and mixes many different styles of music.  Notice the following:

1. He has an eclectic playing style.
2. It’s a bit of an eclectic CD.

chamber music

You can play some chamber music with other instruments as well

Chamber music is a type of classical music to be played by a small group of musicians.  Notice the following:

1. Mom loves chamber music.
2. Chamber music make me think of old European royalty.

• on the move
• stuck to
• versatile
• eclectic
• chamber music

1. Years of experience have made him a ………. performer.
2. Not too many young people enjoy……….  .
3. She’s always………….  but never seems to get tired.
4. I have an………..  taste in music.
5. He’s…………….his profession more out of necessity rather than