Beginner Listening Series 5 Lesson 18- Dialogue about Commuting in Bangkok- Part 1
In this lesson, you listen to an English conversation between two people talk about commuting in Bangkok in English.
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English Listening Lesson Audio with Script
Lesson Audio
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Lesson Script
Jim: Another famous thing about Bangkok is the motorcycle taxis, which really freak a lot of the tourists out.
Jerri: I’m sure, I’m sure.
Jim: Like, they’re afraid to get on one. Can you explain the motorcycle taxis, which are incredibly common?
Jerri: Absolutely, so, it can get quite – it’s quite scary but it’s probably the fastest and most cost-effective way to get around Bangkok, especially during the rush hour. Motorbike – you know, there’s like a lot of motorbike taxis in Bangkok and they’re at different stations, so you can get them at the – at – right below the Sky Train station, mostly. And, yeah, they know the streets very well. They know the – the – the fastest routes to get to your destination. And once you get familiar with it, it’s actually not too bad as long as you ask for a helmet. I always think that that’s – that is – ’cause it does get quite scary on the main roads with, like, a lot of…
Jim: Yeah, women, a lot of times, sit in a very dangerous position…
Jerri: Yeah, yeah.
Jim: …because of their skirt. They’ll sit sideways…
Jerri: Yeah.
Jim: …they don’t sit with both legs on – with one leg on each side of the motorcycle, which I always find incredibly dangerous.
Jerri: Yeah.
Jim: Do you ever sit that way?
Jerri: I have to admit, yeah, most of the time I sit that way. And it’s quite, like – you don’t realize it yourself but when people see it they’re quite fascinated by it…
Jim: Yeah.
Jerri: …like, how we can balance ourself…
Jim: Yeah.
Jerri: …and then the motorbike is like swerving its way around.
Jim: Right, exactly.
Jerri: Yeah. Yeah.
Jim: Another thing about the – maybe just explaining about the motorcycle taxis – is, so, Bangkok has really long streets. It’s not a grid system.
Jerri: No.
Jim: It’s kind of like the roots of a tree. Like, the roads will just go forever…
Jerri: Right. Yes.
Jim: …in one direction. So, basically, people take the main lines, like the subway or overhead train, to their stop and then they take the motorcycle taxi to their home, correct?
Jim: Yes, yes, correct. That’s the most common way, yeah, to do it.
Jim: Yeah. And in the mornings and in the evenings it’s amazing ’cause it’s, like, this fleet of motorcycle.
Jerri: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Jim: Like, the whole street is just humming with motorcycles.
Jerri: And then you realize how popular they are when you’re standing at the station and there’s no motorbikes left ’cause, you know, they’re all being, yeah, being used.
Jim: Yeah. So, like, in your – where you live, do you see the same motorcycle taxis every day?
Jerri: Yes, yes.
Jim: Do you know them by name?
Jerri: Yes. So, like, even the one in front of where I work – they’re, like, familiar face. They know where I live, and…
Jim: Yeah.
Jerri: …they take me home every day. Yeah.
Jim: Oh my God, that’s so awesome. So, what about new things like Uber and Grab?
Jerri: So, it’s causing quite a bit of tension in Bangkok. As expected, you know the motorcycle taxis and the normal taxis are not so happy about the – this. But, yeah, I think with the election coming up, a lot of parties are trying to regulate it a little better because, currently, the main problem is that the Ubers and the Grab drivers are not legal to have passengers. They don’t have the license. So, that’s the main issue where – why the motorbike taxis are – and the – the normal taxi drivers are quite fed up about.
Jim: Wow. Well, one thing’s for sure: it’s very easy to get around this city.
Jerri: Yes, definitely.
English Listening Lesson Quizzes
Answer the following questions about the conversation.
1) What does he say freaks the tourists out?
- a) Skytrain
- b) Motorcycle taxi
- c) Subway
2) Why are motorbike taxis so popular in Bangkok?
- a) They are the fastest.
- b) They are very safe
- c) They are cost-effective
3) What does he say is dangerous?
- a) The way the motorbike swerves
- b) The speed of the motorbike taxi
- c) The way women sit on the motorbike taxi
4) What does he say is like the roots of a tree?
- a) The subway system of Bangkok
- b) The streets of Bangkok
- c) The overheard train rails of Bangkok
5) Who doesn’t have license to operate in Bangkok?
- a) Grab drivers
- b) Normal taxi drivers
- c) Motorcycle taxis
Answers
- 1=b
- 2=a,c
- 3=c
- 4=b
- 5=a
English Grammar Tips
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English Listening Lesson Phrases
freak out
Which really freak a lot of the tourists out.
To freak out means to be shocked. Notice the following:
- He freaked out when the cat jumped down.
- The magic show freaked the kids out.
to get around
It’s probably the fastest and most cost-effective way to get around Bangkok.
To get around means to travel from one place to another. Notice the following:
- They always use my car to get around town.
- You can get around the neighborhood in five minutes.
as long as
As long as you ask for a helmet.
As long as means if. Notice the following:
- The duck will follow you as long as you feed it.
- He could go to the party as long as he got good grades.
rush hour
Especially during the rush hour.
Rush hours are the hours in the morning and evening when traffic is high. Notice the following:
- It took them twice as long during rush hours.
- The rush hour delayed the food delivery.
A grid system
It’s not a grid system.
In a grid system, roads and streets are at right angles so they are easy to locate. Notice the following:
- The roads in New York are on a grid system.
- Creating a grid system needs a lot of planning.
fed up
The normal taxi drivers are quite fed up about it.
Fed up means upset or annoyed. Notice the following:
- She was fed up of his constant complaints.
- He was fed up of his boss’s attitude.
Quizzes for Lesson Phrases
- freak out
- get around
- as long as
- rush hour
- grid system
- fed up
- Towns with a……….. are easy to get around.
- I am getting………. with poor costumer service.
- She tends to……….. when she is stressed.
- My town is easy to………. because it is small.
- You can borrow money…………. you pay me back.
- Let’s leave early to beat the………….. traffic.
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