Script

Recording 5

Conversation 1

A: So here we are in Greenwich Village.

B: It looks very different from the rest of New York.

A: Yeah, the streets are quite narrow and the buildings aren’t as high.

B: It does look quite village-like.

A: Yeah, but it’s quite big. It extends out west that way to the Hudson River,

north above Washington Square. We’ll go up there in a bit.

B: And you lived here?

A: When I first came to New York, yeah. In an apartment just around the

corner, on West Third Street. Actually, you can see the building over

there.

B: Near The Blue Note Jazz Club?

A: Yeah.

B: I’ve heard of The Blue Note.

A: It’s pretty famous. There are some great jazz clubs around the

neighbourhood, and that’s one of the best. We can see a show there one

night if you want.

B: That’d be great.

A: Now up here on the left is the Café Reggio. It’s where I used to hang out

and read when I wasn’t working.

B: Looks good.

A: Their cappuccino is great. The story goes that the original owner brought

cappuccino to America. You can see the original cappuccino machine

inside.

B: Cool. We could stop and have a coffee.

A: Maybe a bit later? Let’s head over to Washington Square Park and then

circle back.

B: OK – lead the way!

A: A lot of these clubs we’re walking by have a real history. As I’m sure you

know, Greenwich Village has always been a centre of artistic life – very

bohemian. It’s always attracted famous writers, dancers and poets. And

in the sixties, it was a big part of the folk music scene: Simon and

Garfunkel, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, you know.

B: Before my time! Now what’s this?

A: This is Washington Square Park. We’ll walk into the park on this side.

Can you play chess?

B: A bit, yeah.

A: Any of these guys here would be happy to challenge you to a game of

chess. They’re here all day, every day.

B: Maybe next time – I’m not that good! What’s the arch over there? It looks

like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

A: Well, it should, that’s the Washington Square arch. It was modelled on

the Arc de Triomphe and built in 1889 to celebrate the hundredth

anniversary of the inauguration of George Washington as president.

B: Could we sit down a second? I need a break.

A: Why don’t we retrace our steps and go back to the Café Reggio?

B: Sounds good. I could really do with a coffee.

Conversation 2

M1 = Man 1 W = Woman M2 = Man 2

M1: So, this is Radcliffe Square.

W: Wow! Is this right in the centre, then?

M1: Pretty much.

M2: What’s that?

M1: Hold on. Let’s just get off our bikes … Right, so that building in front of

us is the Bodleian, named after the founder – Thomas Bodley. Believe it

or not, despite the fact that it’s circular, it’s actually a library.

W: Cool!

M1: Yeah, it gets a copy of every book published in the UK.

M2: Who can use it?

M1: Any student at the university. Of course, each college also has its own

library – you know the university’s divided into colleges, right?

M2: Right. How many colleges are there?

M1: Just under forty. Well, thirty-eight to be exact.

W: So that means thirty-eight libraries?!

M1: Mm, but they’re not all as big as the Bodleian. Anyway, we’ll need to get

back on our bikes for the next bit …

M1: Can you hear me if I talk as we cycle along?

M2: Yeah.

W: OK, but don’t go too fast. I’m not very steady on this thing!

M1: So, here’s the famous Bridge of Sighs, connecting two sides of Hertford

College.

M2: I’ve seen the original.

M1: What, of the bridge? In Italy, you mean?

M2: Ja, it’s in Venice. Beautiful.

M1: OK. We’ll go past New College and then onto the High Street.

M2: Is that New College there?

M1: Yep.

W: How ‘new’ is new?

M1: Roughly 1370.

W: You’re kidding!

M1: No, really! Interestingly, the oldest college was actually only founded a

hundred or so years earlier! Uh-oh, watch out on this corner …

M1: That’s the ‘Schools’. It’s where the students take their exams.

Apparently, the biggest room can seat somewhere in the region of five

hundred students although I haven’t seen it myself. Anyway, we’re

turning right here. The street’s cobbled, so be careful.

M2: How many students are there at the university in total?

M1: To be honest, it depends. In term time, you’d probably get upwards of

twenty thousand.

M2: Many international students?

M1: Some, but most are from the UK. We’ll finish by cycling down this way to

Christ Church. We can actually go inside if we’re quick. It’s well worth a

visit.

M2: Christ Church is another college?

M1: Yeah, the biggest and probably the most famous. Have you seen any of

the Harry Potter films?

M2: No …

W: I have!

M1: Oh, well, you’ll recognise the Great Hall. It’s where they have the feasts

in Hogwarts School. You know that bit when Harry …