Lesson 8 – Tuesday 13^th October

sarah.muhlenbock@folkuniversitetet.se

English Conversation B2/C1 – Folkuniversitetet

 

How can you cross the road safely if you are on foot?  use a pedestrian crossing for example: a zebra crossing, , a subway, a footbridge, a towpath (canal), a pelican crossing

EPA/A-traktor – explain!  minimum age is 16

Waymo – self-driving cars

Chris McCausland “Seeing into the future”

teething problems need to be ironed out

Check the rearview mirror before pulling out

Wet leaves in the autumn make the roads slippery

The car skidded on the ice, the bike skidded on the slippery leaves

Put your foot on the clutch and change into second, third gear

the gear stick, (the stick shift US)

the indicators, turning lights (US)

the accelarator

to kangaroo

the steering wheel

the handlebars (bike)

Everyone has to drive on a skid pan in the second part of the Swedish driving test.

It is a legal requirement to wear a seatbelt.

My mother and my nephew both had to go on a speed awareness course. Why?  They were caught speeding.

Tailgating is a very aggressive form of driving.  (= driving far too close)

To switch on the high beam and blind people coming towards you

3^rd September 1967 – H dagen  Sweden started driving on the right

I’m a terrible backseat driver

‘The violence is off the scale’: staff and passengers at risk as assaults on trains in Great Britain soar to record high | Public transport | The Guardian

After you have read the article, please check you understand the meaning of the vocabulary below and consider the questions that follow. You can relate this to Stockholm and/or other cities:

• harassment –
• dwindle –
• body cam –
• intervene –
• bystander –
• packed / crammed –
• shaken –
• offender / assailant –

 

What are your impressions?

football supporters,

spit kit

People have a lot of pent-up aggression

The Transport Police

There was a ticket control on the train

a baby on my lap

I didn’t want to make a fuss in front of the children

 

1. What are your general reactions to the article, and what does it suggest about everyday life in public spaces?
2. What would make people feel more comfortable and confident using public transport?
3. What small changes could make trains and stations feel friendlier, safer, and more welcoming?
4. What can passengers, staff, and the community do together to create a safer atmosphere?
5. Have you had any positive experiences on public transport that show people can also be helpful and considerate?
6. What does a really good public transport system look like to you—not just in terms of safety, but also comfort and efficiency?
7. If you were to write a code of conduct for using public transport, what would you include?

 

paraphrasing

Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill = Don’t exaggerate!

There were bystanders watching the police at the scene of the accident.   standing by

Drain the pasta in a  colander or a sieve

How long does it take to commute to work?

you negotiate a salary, but haggle over a price  –  to bargain

a shopaholic

consumerism