English USA will help you understand common (basic) English used in everyday (ordinary, normal, frequent) situations. It will help you brush up (revise, review) the English you have studied, or the English you hear on the radio and television or at the movies.

In the first lesson, you will learn how to greet other persons and tell them your name in English.

You will hear Martin Learner, a Voice of America radio reporter, greeted as he visits a new airport. You will hear Mr. Learner again in many of the lessons as he travels around the United States meeting interesting people and learning new things.

1.

Let's listen to a few people at the new airport. The man, Charles, is an official at the airport and is meeting our reporter, Martin Learner. First he sees his friend Mary inside the airport terminal and greets her.

This is English USA on the Voice of America. Now Lesson 1, Part 1.

Charles:

Mary! Mary Scott!

Mary: 

Charles? Hello Charles.

Charles:

Good morning. How are you?

Mary:

Fine thanks. How are you?

Charles:

Fine thanks.

Mary: 

What are you doing here?

Charles:

I'm meeting Martin Learner.

Mary:

Who is Martin Learner?

Charles:    

He's a reporter with the Voice of America.

Mary:

A reporter?

Charles:

Yes. He's visiting our new airport.

2.

Let's listen to part of this conversation again.

Mary: 

Hello Charles.

Charles:

Good morning. How are you?

Mary: 

Fine thanks. How are you?

3.

Common greetings in English include "Hello." "Good morning." "How are you?"

Mary:

Hello Charles.

Charles:

Good morning. How are you?

Mary:

Fine thanks. How are you?

Charles:

Fine thanks.

4.

You say Good morning during morning, Good afternoon after 12:00 noon, and can say Hello anytime. Good night is used to say good bye for the day and can be used any time of the day when you are leaving for the day.

Charles:

Hello, Mary.

Mary:

Good morning. How are you?

Charles:

Fine thanks. How are you?

Mary:

Fine thanks.

5.

Please hear the conversation of Charles and Mary again.

Charles:

Mary Scott!

Mary:

Charles? Hello, Charles.

Charles:

Good morning. How are you?

Mary:

Fine thanks. How are you?

Charles:

Fine thanks.

Mary:

What are you doing here?

Charles:

I'm meeting Martin Learner.

Mary:

Who is Martin Learner?

Charles:

He's a reporter with the Voice of America.

Mary:

A reporter?

Charles:

Yes. He's visiting our new airport.

6.

Learn greeting again.

Mary:

Hello.

Charles:

Good morning.

Mary:

How are you?

Charles:

Fine thanks.

7.

Please answer Mary's greeting in place of Charles.

Mary:

Hello.

You:

Mary:

How are you?

You:

PA Voice: 

Mr. Martin Learner. Martin Learner. Please come to the information desk.

PA Voice:

Mr. Martin Learner. Please come to the information desk.

Martin:

Good morning. I'm Martin Learner.

Info Clerk:

Good morning Mr. Learner. That man is waiting for you.

Martin:

Thank you.

Info Clerk:

You're welcome.

Martin:

Hello. I'm Martin Learner.

Charles:

Good morning Mr. Learner. I'm Charles Bishop.

Martin:

Hello. How are you?

Charles:

Fine thanks.

Mary:

I'm Mary Scott. How are you?

Martin:

Fine thanks.

8.

Learn greeting and how to introduce yourself.

Martin:

Good morning I'm Martin Learner.

9.

In English, one way to identify yourself is to say your full name.

Martin:

Martin Learner. Good morning I'm Martin Learner.

Mary:

Mary Scott. I'm Mary Scott.

Charles:

Charles Bishop. I'm Charles Bishop.