Unit 41: What do you do?

1. There's a little problem.

(It's in a shoe shop. A girl assistant is at work. She would like to do many different things.)

Woman	You were here last time I came.
Assistant	Was I? Yes, I've been here for two years.
Woman	But you're looking for a new job now?
Assistant	Yes. I'd like to work in a hospital. They're not very good, are they? Yes, I'd like to be a nurse.
Woman	A nurse? I'm a nurse—sometimes.
Assistant	Are you? They're quite nice.
Woman	Have you got a brown pair?
Assistant	Yes, I think so. Or I'd like to work in an office.
Woman	As a secretary?
Assistant	Yes.
Woman	I'm a secretary, too—sometimes.
Assistant	I'd like to be a teacher. They have nice long holidays.
Woman	I'm a kind of teacher—sometimes. But I don't get long holidays.
Assistant	Ah, here we are. Here's a brown pair.
Woman	Yes. I like them.
Assistant	Or do you think it's good to work in a restaurant?
Woman	A waitress?
Assistant	Yes, I think I'd like to be a waitress.
Woman	I'll have these. I'm a waitress myself sometimes.
Assistant	Do you like it?
Woman	Not really.
Assistant	You're a waitress—sometimes?
Woman	Yes.
Assistant	And a nurse, secretary and teacher— sometimes?
Woman	A kind of nurse, and secretary, and teacher, and cook, and waitress and cleaning woman. I'm all those things.
Assistant	All those jobs at the same time? Where do you work?
Woman	At home—as a wife and mother.
Assistant	Oh, I see.
Woman	But there's one little problem. You don't get paid.

2. He's got his comfortable "sports" shoes.

(Who talk more about sports, sport fans or sportsmen? This gentleman here will give you the answer.)

Customer	Are you interested in football?
Assistant	Well—yes.
Customer	I am. Wonderful game, football.
Assistant	Yes. Now, what shoes can I show you, sir?
Customer	I like all sports and games.
Assistant	Oh, yes.
Customer	Yes. Football, cricket, swimming. Can you swim?
Assistant	I'm not a good swimmer, but I go swimming sometimes.
Customer	Tennis. That's a good game.
Assistant	Yes.
Customer	I'm very interested in tennis. I never miss Wimbledon, you know. I see it every year.
Assistant	Oh?
Customer	And what about running? The oldest sport in the world. Wonderful. One man trying to run faster than other men. Do you run?
Assistant	No. I just play table-tennis, and swim, and I walk quite a lot. Now, what kind of shoes do you want, sir?
Customer	You don't play golf, then?
Assistant	No.
Customer	I really like golf. Mind you. I like all sports. Games as well.
Assistant	You're a real sportsman, sir. Perhaps you want some tennis shoes or running shoes?
Customer	Er—no.
Assistant	Football boots?
Customer	No. I want some carpet slippers—like those.
Assistant	Carpet slippers!
Customer	Yes. I want to be comfortable when I'm watching television. Do you watch television?
Assistant	No, not much.
Customer	I watch it a lot. You can see football, and cricket, tennis, swimming, running, golf ... I like watching television.
Assistant	Oh, I see. You watch sport on television.
Customer	Of course, wonderful thing, television. Yes, I'll have these—they're very comfortable. You know, my old school teacher was right. Sport is good for you. That's what he used to say. Remember that.
Assistant	I will, sir. Sport is good for you, sir. Your "sports" shoes, sir.
Customer	My "sport shoes". Very comfortable.

3. I like going to the cinema.

(Two assistants in the shoe shop are talking to each other.)

Male Assistant	Are you busy?
Girl Assistant	Not really.
Male Assistant	What are you reading?
Girl Assistant	It's called The Red Arrow.
Male Assistant	Ah, they've made a film of it.
Girl Assistant	Yes. It's on at the Rex this week.
Male Assistant	I'll see that, then. You like reading, but I like going to the cinema.
Girl Assistant	I like going to the cinema, too.
Male Assistant	All right. Let's see the film together.