https://www.scmp.com/rss/5561/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com John Millen John Millen Click on the video below for the audio. Play a Kahoot! game about this podcast as a class or with your friends by clicking on the link here. Or play on your own below to test your understanding: Questions 1. What does a “narrator” do? A. solves crimes B. interviews famous people C. tells the story in a film or novel D. serves as a doctor for an army 2. According to the podcast, what role did Watson play in the criminal cases Holmes was working on? A. He helped to examine dead bodies. B. He... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3176463/5-minute-listening-interview-dr-john-watson?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3176463/5-minute-listening-interview-dr-john-watson?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 May 2022 22:30:14 +0000 John Millen John Millen Click on the video below for the audio. Play a Kahoot! game about this podcast as a class or with your friends by clicking on the link here. Or play on your own below to test your understanding: Questions 1. Why did Spiers decide to return to Australia? A. His wife asked him to do so. B. He had run out of money. C. His daughter was sick. D. He did so for family reasons.2. How did he initially earn the money he needed for a plane ticket? A. by working temporarily at London airport B. by... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3173055/5-minute-listening-very-unusual-delivery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3173055/5-minute-listening-very-unusual-delivery?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Apr 2022 22:30:18 +0000 John Millen John Millen Click on the video below for the audio. Play a Kahoot! game about this podcast as a class or with your friends by clicking on the link here. Or play on your own below to test your understanding: Questions 1. What did the twins do when they were at their grandad’s place? A. helped to tidy up his comic books B. drew comic strips based on popular classic tales C. put some of his books up for sale D. went through his comic book collection2. What was Avery’s initial reaction when she learned... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3168763/5-minute-listening-real-hunchback-notre-dame?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3168763/5-minute-listening-real-hunchback-notre-dame?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Mar 2022 22:30:17 +0000 John Millen John Millen Click on the video below for the audio. Play a Kahoot! game about this podcast as a class or with your friends by clicking on the link here. Or play on your own below to test your understanding: Questions 1. What are Aisha and Vicky trying to figure out in this conversation? A. how Aisha is feeling post surgery B. how Vicky is doing at her new job C. when they can meet each other D. when they both can take time off from work2. What does Vicky do? A. She performs operations on injured... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3167804/5-minute-listening-day-life-vet-nurse?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3167804/5-minute-listening-day-life-vet-nurse?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Feb 2022 22:30:18 +0000 John Millen John Millen Click on the video below for the audio. Play a Kahoot! game about this podcast as a class or with your friends by clicking on the link here. Or play on your own below to test your understanding: Questions 1. What do participants need to do at a Mystery Murder event? A. escape from a crime scene B. solve a crime C. plan a murder D. prove murder suspects are innocent2. In what time period do Mystery Murder Evenings take place? A. Victorian era B. French Revolution C. Great Depression D. during... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3166979/5-minute-listening-who-killed-lord-black?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3166979/5-minute-listening-who-killed-lord-black?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Feb 2022 22:30:10 +0000 John Millen John Millen Click on the video below for the audio. Play a Kahoot! game about this podcast as a class or with your friends by clicking on the link here. Or play on your own below to test your understanding: Questions 1. If you “savour” something, you … A. eat it eagerly and in large amounts B. eat it quickly and with a lot of noise C. eat it slowly in order to enjoy it as much as possible D. eat it carefully and take a lot of small bites 2. What does the “irresistible combination of cream, cold and... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3165404/5-minute-listening-healthy-delicious?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3165404/5-minute-listening-healthy-delicious?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Feb 2022 22:30:21 +0000 John Millen John Millen Click on the video below for the audio. Play a Kahoot! game about this podcast as a class or with your friends by clicking on the link here. Or play on your own below to test your understanding: Questions 1. What is 3Ps? A. an animal training academy B. a pet hotel C. an animal clinic D. a pet shop that offers grooming services 2. What three words is “3Ps” short for? A. perfect, passionate, pets B. proper, pets, proficient C. pets, pampering, professional D. professional, pristine, pets 3.... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3164489/5-minute-listening-five-star-staycation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3164489/5-minute-listening-five-star-staycation?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Jan 2022 22:45:20 +0000 John Millen John Millen Click on the video below for the audio. Play a Kahoot! game about this podcast as a class or with your friends by clicking on the link here. Or play on your own below to test your understanding: Questions 1. What does Cindy Wong do? A. She buys homes and sells them for a profit. B. She coordinates the renovation of flats. C. She helps people buy, sell and rent homes. D. none of the above2. Why is Cindy calling Eun-bin? A. to tell Eun-bin about a flat that is for sale B. to get Eun-bin’s... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3163680/5-minute-listening-search-perfect-flat-hong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3163680/5-minute-listening-search-perfect-flat-hong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Jan 2022 22:30:20 +0000 John Millen John Millen Click on the video below for the audio. Play a Kahoot! game about this podcast as a class or with your friends by clicking on the link here. Or play on your own below to test your understanding: Questions 1. What is Victor Lustig commonly known as? A. prince of trickery B. king of all con men C. original owner of the Eiffel Tower D. master of languages 2. How many identities did Lustig take on during his career as a con artist? A. about 15 B. less than 40 C. no less than 45 D. at least 60 3.... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3162825/5-minute-listening-victor-lustig-con-man-who?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3162825/5-minute-listening-victor-lustig-con-man-who?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Jan 2022 23:00:18 +0000 John Millen John Millen Click on the video below for the audio. Play a Kahoot! game about this podcast as a class or with your friends by clicking on the link here. Or play on your own below to test your understanding: Questions 1. What sign of athlete’s foot is mentioned in the podcast? A. dry skin on the sides of the feet B. blisters on the toes C. cracking of the skin on the feet D. itching between the toes 2. According to the podcast, what can be used to treat athlete’s foot? A. aromatherapy oil B. injections C.... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3162168/5-minute-listening-itchy-feet-study-explores?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3162168/5-minute-listening-itchy-feet-study-explores?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Jan 2022 22:30:27 +0000 John Millen John Millen Click on the video below for the audio. Play a Kahoot! game about this podcast as a class or with your friends by clicking on the link here. Or play on your own below to test your understanding: Questions 1. Which of the following best describes Room Below Zero? A. It is a game show. B. It is a reality television show. C. It is a documentary. D. It is a soap opera. 2. What is Room Below Zero based on? A. a film B. a book C. a comedy act D. a true story 3. What does it mean to “banish”... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3158879/5-minute-listening-what-environmentally?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3158879/5-minute-listening-what-environmentally?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Dec 2021 23:30:28 +0000 John Millen John Millen Click on the video below for the audio. Play a Kahoot! game about this podcast as a class or with your friends by clicking on the link here. Or play on your own below to test your understanding: Questions 1. What is the main ingredient in most tropical juices, according to the podcast? A. mango B. apple juice C. exotic fruit D. cane sugar 2. Which word can replace “conned” in the podcast? A. victimised B. trapped C. deceived D. bullied 3. Why do juice manufacturers use so much apple juice in... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3157866/5-minute-listening-fruit-juice-con-how-drink?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3157866/5-minute-listening-fruit-juice-con-how-drink?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Dec 2021 22:30:22 +0000 John Millen John Millen Click on the video below for the audio. Play a Kahoot! game about this podcast as a class or with your friends by clicking on the link here. Or play on your own below to test your understanding: Questions 1. What does the phrase “to die for” mean? A. that a type of food is dangerous to eat B. that something tastes wonderful C. that eating something can make you ill D. that a food is rather tasteless 2. Which of the following best describes a “figurative” phrase? A. It means exactly what it... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3157074/5-minute-listening-deadly-food-die?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3157074/5-minute-listening-deadly-food-die?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Nov 2021 22:30:22 +0000 John Millen John Millen Click on the video below for the audio. Play a Kahoot! game about this podcast as a class or with your friends by clicking on the link here. Or play on your own below to test your understanding: Questions 1. What sort of services does Taylor’s company offer? A. house moving B. plumbing repairs C. decluttering D. home renovation 2. If you “took it upon yourself” to do something, you did it … A. even though you disliked it B. after avoiding it for some time C. without anyone asking D. after... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3156199/5-minute-listening-decluttering-expert?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3156199/5-minute-listening-decluttering-expert?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Nov 2021 22:30:24 +0000 John Millen John Millen Click on the video below for the audio. Play a Kahoot! game about this podcast as a class or with your friends by clicking on the link here. Or play on your own below to test your understanding: Questions Anson Lo Number of bookings last month: Number of bookings for this month: Main type of events booked for: How long they have been hired: Positive feedback: Issues to sort out: Lisa Number of bookings last month: Number of bookings for this month: Main type of events booked for: How long... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3155421/5-minute-listening-celebrity-agency?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3155421/5-minute-listening-celebrity-agency?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Nov 2021 22:30:09 +0000 John Millen John Millen Click on the video below for the audio. Play a Kahoot! game about this podcast as a class or with your friends by clicking on the link here. Or play on your own below to test your understanding: Questions 1. According to the podcast, when do we usually doodle? A. when we are feeling bored B. when we are giving a presentation C. when we are focused on doing something D. when we are busy 2. Which of these are considered doodles? A. scribbles B. patterns C. shapes D. all of the above 3. “An... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3154556/5-minute-listening-doodle-your-inner-artist?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3154556/5-minute-listening-doodle-your-inner-artist?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Nov 2021 22:30:15 +0000 John Millen John Millen Click here for the audio file. Play a Kahoot! game about this story as a class or with your friends by clicking on the link here. Or play on your own below to test your understanding: Questions 1. Who is Taylor upset with? 2. How do you feel about someone if they are “getting on your nerves”? A. dissatisfied B. discouraged C. irritated D. uncomfortable 3. What did Taylor’s brother get on his birthday? A. $200 B. $2,000 C. two $50 notes D. an undisclosed sum of money 4. Which word has the... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3153676/5-minute-listening-its-just-not-fair?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3153676/5-minute-listening-its-just-not-fair?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 31 Oct 2021 22:30:16 +0000 John Millen John Millen Click here for the audio file. Play a Kahoot! game about this story as a class or with your friends by clicking on the link here. Or play on your own below to test your understanding: Questions 1. What is Two Street’s latest album called? A. “New Voices” B. “I can take it” C. “YP 852.8 FM” D. none of the above 2. How did Two Street become famous? A. One of the songs went viral on social media B. The band won a talent show C. They were featured in a documentary D. information not given 3. How... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3152995/5-minute-listening-exclusive-interview?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3152995/5-minute-listening-exclusive-interview?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Oct 2021 22:30:20 +0000 John Millen John Millen Click here for the audio file. Play a Kahoot! game about this story as a class or with your friends by clicking on the link here. Or play on your own below to test your understanding: Questions Name: Bobby Gender: Age: Colour: Unique feature(s): Personality: Background story: Kind of home needed: Name: Petal Gender: Age: Colour: Unique feature(s): Personality: Background story: Kind of home needed: Name: George Gender: Age: Colour: Unique feature(s): Personality: Background story: Kind of home... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3152082/5-minute-listening-cats-adoption?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3152082/5-minute-listening-cats-adoption?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Oct 2021 22:30:24 +0000 John Millen John Millen Click here for the audio file. Play a Kahoot! game about this story as a class or with your friends by clicking on the link here. Or play on your own below to test your understanding: Questions Blake Cheung 1. How much of her business is Blake willing to exchange in return for an investment? A. half B. one-fifth C. one-tenth D. two-thirds 2. What is her business about? A. shooting videos of celebrities B. making music videos C. filming documentaries D. taking videos of special events 3. When... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3151324/5-minute-listening-exercise-money-pot?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3151324/5-minute-listening-exercise-money-pot?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Oct 2021 22:30:16 +0000 John Millen John Millen Click here for the audio file. Play a Kahoot! game about this story as a class or with your friends by clicking on the link here. Or play on your own below to test your understanding: Questions 1. Where did this conversation most likely take place? A. in a pharmacy B. at the dentist C. at school D. in a hospital 2. If someone’s “pretty chilled”, they are NOT feeling … A. laid-back. B. relaxed. C. worried. D. composed. 3. What was Jenny’s reaction when she was told she needed to have her... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3150380/5-minute-listening-exercise-perfect-patient?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3150380/5-minute-listening-exercise-perfect-patient?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Oct 2021 22:30:14 +0000 John Millen John Millen Click here for the audio file. Play a Kahoot! game about this story as a class or with your friends by clicking on the link here. Or play on your own below to test your understanding: Questions Job 1 Job description: Name: Address: Phone number: How long job will take: Approximate cost: Additional details: Job 2 Job description: Name: Address: Phone number: How long job will take: Approximate cost: Additional details: Answers Job 1 Job description: repair two windows Name: Charles Ho Address:... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3148778/5-minute-listening-exercise-miss-fix-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening/article/3148778/5-minute-listening-exercise-miss-fix-it?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Sep 2021 22:30:13 +0000 John Millen,Doris Wai John Millen,Doris Wai Click here for the audio file. Play a Kahoot! game about this story as a class or with your friends by clicking on the link here. Or play on your own below to test your understanding: Questions 1 What is the purpose of a good rant? A. to convince someone to do something B. to trick another person C. to annoy somebody as a joke D. to help yourself feel better2 When you need to “get things off your chest”, you … A. feel a tightness in the top part of your body. B. try and understand someone... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/english-exercises/article/3147881/5-minute-listening-exercise-good-rant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/english-exercises/article/3147881/5-minute-listening-exercise-good-rant?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Sep 2021 22:30:17 +0000 John Millen John Millen Infinity Son By Adam Silvera Published by Simon & Schuster ISBN‎978 1 4711 9156 5 One brother develops the power to save a city. The other will stop at nothing in his pursuit of excitement. Will one of them perish or will they both survive? Infinity Son is an exciting urban fantasy from The New York Times bestselling author Adam Silvera. He intriguingly sets the action in a present-day alternative New York City where magic and superpowers exist alongside the everyday grind of human life. It’s a... https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3139598/infinity-son-review-exciting-fantasy-novel-magical?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3139598/infinity-son-review-exciting-fantasy-novel-magical?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jul 2021 01:00:25 +0000 John Millen John Millen D: A Tale of Two Worlds By Michel Faber Published by Doubleday ISBN 978 0 8575 2510 9 Originally from Somaliland which is located on the Horn of Africa, secondary school student Dhikilo Saxardiid Samawada Bentley now lives with her adoptive parents, Mr and Mrs Bentley, in a small coastal town in the south of England. One morning, Dhikilo wakes up at her usual time, but as the day progresses, a very strange situation unfolds. The letter D has vanished. It is missing from everything Dhikilo reads,... https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3138790/d-tale-two-worlds-review-stunning-fantasy-novel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3138790/d-tale-two-worlds-review-stunning-fantasy-novel?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Jun 2021 01:00:25 +0000 John Millen John Millen City of Rust By Gemma Fowler Published by Chicken House ISBN 978 1 9106 5543 6 Gemma Fowler’s new sci-fi novel, City of Rust, is set in a dystopian world where Earth is overrun with junk and waste. Rich countries have paid underdeveloped ones to take their rubbish away, to dismantle vehicles and machines, to deal with tonnes of plastic waste, and bury it all in great holes in the ground. Out of sight, out of mind. But when the planet ran out of places to dig holes for all their rubbish, mankind... https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3136612/city-rust-review-dystopian-steampunk-novel-touch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3136612/city-rust-review-dystopian-steampunk-novel-touch?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Jun 2021 04:00:00 +0000 John Millen John Millen Click here for the audio: Interviewer: What motivated you to become a paramedic, Sam? Sam Wong: I'm often asked that question but my friends, and people I meet because they think that it's a very stressful and emotional job, and they can't see themselves doing it. I sometimes ask myself why I do it when I am more mentally and physically exhausted than you ever think possible. But I know the answer. Being a paramedic is exciting, rewarding, emotional, and never dull, and you will always have to... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening-scripts/article/3136466/5-minute-listening-interview?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening-scripts/article/3136466/5-minute-listening-interview?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Jun 2021 23:00:00 +0000 John Millen John Millen Click here for the audio: Ho-ling: It’s great you’re interested in joining Best Thesps, Amisha. Can you tell me why you want to be a member of a theatre group? Amisha: When I was at secondary school, I acted in three school productions and I loved it. We had a brilliant drama teacher who inspired quite a few of us to get involved in acting. It was great fun taking part in the school play every year, but it was hard work as well. I miss it a lot. Ho-ling: Right, what sort of roles did you perform... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening-scripts/article/3135586/5-minute-listening-best-thesps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening-scripts/article/3135586/5-minute-listening-best-thesps?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Jun 2021 23:00:17 +0000 John Millen John Millen The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy By Douglas Adams Illustrated by Chris Riddell Published by Macmillan ISBN 978 1 5290 46 13 7 We all know when, say, Halloween and Valentine’s Day are celebrated, but what about Towel Day? Have you even heard of it before? Towel Day is celebrated on May 25 each year in honour of English writer Douglas Adams and his masterpiece The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Since it was published in 1979, Adams’ weird and wonderful galactic novel has captured the... https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3134204/hitchhikers-guide-galaxy-book-review-42nd?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3134204/hitchhikers-guide-galaxy-book-review-42nd?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 May 2021 14:00:20 +0000 John Millen John Millen VEGA JANE AND THE SECRETS OF SORCERY aka THE FINISHER By David Baldacci Published by Macmillan ISBN 978 1 5290 3791 3 Bestselling American crime writer David Baldacci takes a sideways step away from adult thrillers into teenage fantasy with this imaginative tale of dark secrets, dangerous creatures, and bravery. The field of young-adult fantasy fiction is still bursting at the seams after The Hunger Games and Harry Potter, so it will take an imaginative writer to get a series up and running that... https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3133915/vega-jane-and-secrets-sorcery-review-david-baldacci?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3133915/vega-jane-and-secrets-sorcery-review-david-baldacci?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 May 2021 04:00:09 +0000 John Millen John Millen THE SHADOW ARTS By Damien Love Published by Rock the Boat ISBN 978 1 7860 7938 1 Damien Love’s widely acclaimed Monstrous Devices (2020) was a highly original series opener that featured top-speed adventure, dry humour, and interesting characters. Its plot raced breathlessly across Europe before reaching its cliffhanger conclusion in the historic city of Prague. The follow-up, The Shadow Arts, features the same duo who propelled the first book: Alex, and his mysterious granddad, who play off... https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3133202/shadow-arts-book-review-walk-dark-side-adventure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3133202/shadow-arts-book-review-walk-dark-side-adventure?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 May 2021 04:00:08 +0000 John Millen John Millen Listen to the audio Script Kate: I’ve been thinking, I really do want to change the cover for our next issue. The photo of the school that we used for the last few years is so dull and old. It doesn’t encourage anyone to pick up the magazine and look inside. Hina: Is that a good idea? I know Mr Ma took that photograph himself and he might not be too pleased if we stop using it. We don’t want to annoy the principal when it comes to the magazine. Kate: Don’t be such a worrier! We have to make... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening-scripts/article/3133026/5-minute-listening-meet-editor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening-scripts/article/3133026/5-minute-listening-meet-editor?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 May 2021 23:00:15 +0000 John Millen John Millen Spin the Dawn By Elizabeth Lim Published by Hodder ISBN 978 1 5293 6290 9 Elizabeth Lim’s sweeping fantasy Spin the Dawn plays out in a mythical place called A’landi that is not quite Ancient China, but could well be. It is a realm steeped in deep mythology and well-rooted traditions. Lim grew up in America, where her parents raised her on a diet of fairy tales and myths, and she expertly weaves strands of Chinese mythology and landscape into this epic adventure. Even fantasy fans who think... https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3132369/spin-dawn-review-pairing-chinese-fairy-tales-story?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3132369/spin-dawn-review-pairing-chinese-fairy-tales-story?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 May 2021 04:00:16 +0000 John Millen John Millen Click here for the audio Script Tina: Hi, I’m Tina Barriston. Let me spell my surname because it’s a bit unusual. B-A-R-R-I-S-T-O-N. I’m Australian. I live in the town of Parramatta near Sydney in New South Wales. I’m fifteen years old and my birthday’s November 12, if any of you want to send me a card. I was born in 2006. I have two younger brothers, Morris and Clive. I’m very sporty and I’m in the New South Wales Girls’ Under 18s football team. I live to play football and my favourite subject... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening-scripts/article/3132190/5-minute-listening-meet-your-schools?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening-scripts/article/3132190/5-minute-listening-meet-your-schools?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 May 2021 23:00:13 +0000 John Millen John Millen The Detective's Guide to Ocean Travel By Nicki Greenberg Published by Affirm Press ISBN 978 1 92324 0067 3 The queen of crime fiction, Agatha Christie (1890-1976), wrote 66 mystery novels featuring iconic detectives such as Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Her whodunnits are as popular today as they were decades ago when they were first published. Christie is credited with laying down story rules that modern writers of detective fiction still follow today. And while she set her Death on the Nile... https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3131796/detectivess-guide-ocean-travel-book-review-its?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3131796/detectivess-guide-ocean-travel-book-review-its?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 May 2021 12:00:09 +0000 John Millen John Millen Firekeeper’s Daughter By Angeline Boulley Published by Rock the Boat ISBN 978 1 7860 7904 6 Angeline Boulley’s remarkable debut young adult novel is an edge-of-the-seat crime thriller that will leave young and not-so-young readers in awe of the power of modern storytelling. Boulley says in her author’s note at the end of the book that she wrote this story because there are so few published stories about Native Americans from a contemporary point of view. The story plays out against the setting... https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3130771/firekeepers-daughter-review-crime-thriller-will?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3130771/firekeepers-daughter-review-crime-thriller-will?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Apr 2021 01:00:11 +0000 John Millen John Millen Click here for the audio Script: Krish: I lost my job three weeks ago, but I’m not worried because I know I’ll get another job soon. I’m very optimistic about my chances for finding work again quickly. I work in retail, and there are lots of opportunities in this work sector at the moment. I’ve already had three interviews and was offered the position after each interview. However, the working hours were not what I wanted so I didn’t take the jobs. I’ve got three more interviews scheduled for... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening-scripts/article/3130131/5-minute-listening-out-jobtemporaily?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening-scripts/article/3130131/5-minute-listening-out-jobtemporaily?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Apr 2021 11:02:42 +0000 John Millen John Millen CONCRETE ROSE By Angie Thomas Published by Walker Books ISBN 978 1 4063 8444 4 Angie Thomas changed the face of YA fiction with The Hate U Give in 2018. This stunning account of how a Black teenager’s life is shattered when she witnesses the fatal shooting of her unarmed best friend by a police officer held the top spot on The New York Times bestseller list for weeks. The Hate U Give said more about the experiences of teenage Blacks in America than the countless hours of TV coverage during the... https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3129652/concrete-rose-book-review-hate-u-give-prequel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3129652/concrete-rose-book-review-hate-u-give-prequel?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Apr 2021 04:00:13 +0000 John Millen John Millen Power tools 1. b 2. a 3. a 4. b 5. b Power phrases 1. f 2. b 3. g 4. d 5. e More power to you 1. b 2. a 3. b 4. a 5. a The power is on 1. b 2. b 3. a 4. b 5. a https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/english-exercises/article/3128882/vocab-answers-april-12-2021?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/english-exercises/article/3128882/vocab-answers-april-12-2021?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Apr 2021 23:00:15 +0000 John Millen John Millen The Lifters By Dave Eggers Published by Scholastic ISBN 978 14071 8546 0 Authors of adult fiction often mistakenly think that writing a novel for younger readers requires the same storytelling skills that have brought them success with adults. But it’s obvious when a writer simply adapts or dumbs down what works for adults into a novel for the youth market. Dave Eggers, an award-winning American author whose novels for adults regularly appear on the bestseller charts in the US, is an imaginative... https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3128805/lifters-book-review-dave-eggers-proves-he-can-write?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3128805/lifters-book-review-dave-eggers-proves-he-can-write?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Apr 2021 04:00:10 +0000 John Millen John Millen Heartstream By Tom Pollock Published by Walker Books ISBN 978 1 4063 7818 4 Tom Pollock’s Heartstream is a chilling yet riveting Young Adult tale of how connections in a social media-obsessed world can go frighteningly wrong. The two 17-year-old girls at the centre of the story live a large portion of their lives online. Each strives to be accepted and understood in a digital world where feelings and events are easily misinterpreted and have the power to destroy people. Both discover to their... https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3127951/heartstream-review-chilling-tale-about-how-social?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3127951/heartstream-review-chilling-tale-about-how-social?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Apr 2021 04:00:08 +0000 John Millen John Millen Click here for the audio Script Customer one Female customer: I wonder if you could help me. I don’t really know which book to buy and I need a bit of advice. Eun-woo: No problem at all. I’m happy to help. Are you looking for any particular sort of book? Female customer: Well, yes and no! I want to buy something for my nephew’s birthday. He isn’t an avid reader, so I want to get something that will grab his attention. I don’t want to buy something that he will just put on a shelf. He has enough... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening-scripts/article/3127567/5-minute-listening-bookshop-advice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening-scripts/article/3127567/5-minute-listening-bookshop-advice?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Mar 2021 23:00:17 +0000 John Millen John Millen SKYCIRCUS By Peter Bunzl Published by Usborne ISBN 978 1 4749 4065 8 Skycircus is the welcome third story in Peter Bunzl’s wonderful Cogheart series of fantasy adventures for thrill-seeking readers. It is surprising that this highly inventive series is not better known among young fantasy fans. There are few post-Potter series that show the originality and storytelling confidence of Bunzl’s imaginative forays into the world of clockwork steampunk. The series is set in a Victorian-influenced era... https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3127131/skycircus-book-review-third-instalment-cogheart?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3127131/skycircus-book-review-third-instalment-cogheart?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Mar 2021 10:00:15 +0000 John Millen John Millen Click here for the audio Voice 1: You are on your way home one evening and you suddenly remember you haven’t got any milk in the fridge. The nearby convenience store has sold out of fresh milk and there won’t be another delivery until tomorrow morning. They haven’t got any long-life milk left either. It looks like you’ll be drinking your coffee black and skipping your breakfast cereal in the morning. Voice 2: Now, if you lived in the small German town of Neunkirchen - seelscheid near the city of... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening-scripts/article/3126591/5-minute-listening-milk-tap?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening-scripts/article/3126591/5-minute-listening-milk-tap?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Mar 2021 23:00:21 +0000 John Millen John Millen The Day I was Erased By Lisa Thompson Published by Scholastic ISBN 978 1 4071 8512 5 Eleven-year-old Maxwell Beckett is one of those boys who seldom gets anything right, so he always gets into trouble. Sometimes, it’s his own fault, and sometimes it isn’t. Either way, he’s sick and tired of trying, failing, and landing in hot water. He often thinks that it would be better for everyone if he had never existed. Be careful what you wish for. The Goldfish Boy is a thriller reminiscent of the great... https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3126082/day-i-was-erased-review-author-lisa-thompson?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3126082/day-i-was-erased-review-author-lisa-thompson?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Mar 2021 04:00:09 +0000 John Millen John Millen Click here for the audio Script Dewi: Item 1 Dewi: Lot 443. We have here an exceptional pearl bracelet from Japan. Look at the exquisite quality of the pearls. It dates back to 1933. The bracelet is still in its original leather case and the dated jeweller receipt is even in the case. A lot of ladies were admiring this item during viewing. I will start the bidding at five thousand dollars. I see five. Five. Six? Thank you sir. Six and a half thousand. Seven from the lady in red. Eight, eight and... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening-scripts/article/3125618/5-minute-listening-whats-your-bid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening-scripts/article/3125618/5-minute-listening-whats-your-bid?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Mar 2021 23:00:26 +0000 John Millen John Millen The Short Knife By Elen Caldecott Published by Andersen Press ISBN 978 1 7834 4979 8 The Romans ruled Britain for almost 400 years, making them part of the mighty Roman Empire that stretched from Syria to Scotland. But in AD410, they abandoned Britain to return en masse to Rome to defend the city against Visigoths from northern Europe. Without the Romans, Britain descended into chaos. Towns and villages fell apart because the native Britons had relied for so long on their rulers to keep things... https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3125213/short-knife-review-thrilling-fight-survival-chaotic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3125213/short-knife-review-thrilling-fight-survival-chaotic?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Mar 2021 04:00:20 +0000 John Millen John Millen Lampie and the Children of the Sea By Annet Schaap Published by Pushkin Children’s ISBN 978 1 7826 9218 8 Ignore the bland title of Annet Schaap’s YA debut: it’s one of the most original and thrilling novels likely to appear this year. A book title usually signposts what’s between the covers, but the words Lampie and the Children of the Sea do nothing to alert the reader to the extraordinary story Schaap relates in her wonderful first book. Schaap is a well-loved children’s illustrator in the... https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3124057/lampie-and-children-sea-book-review-dutch-authors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3124057/lampie-and-children-sea-book-review-dutch-authors?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Mar 2021 04:00:17 +0000 John Millen John Millen Script: Call 1: Click here for the audio Ginny: Could I speak to Sam Wu, please? Sam: Sam speaking. Ginny: Good morning. This is Brite Lens opticians. I believe you have an appointment with us tomorrow morning? Sam: That’s right. For eleven thirty. Ginny: Eleven thirty? Oh, I’ve got you down for eleven. Sam: Let me check on the calendar. Oh, sorry. Yes. Eleven. Ginny: I’m afraid we're going to have to cancel. Mr Cheung has flu and won’t be back at work for a few days. And all the other opticians... https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening-scripts/article/3122753/5-minute-listening-opticians?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/learn/learning-resources/listening-scripts/article/3122753/5-minute-listening-opticians?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Feb 2021 23:00:27 +0000 John Millen John Millen Orphans of the Tide By Struan Murray Published by Puffin ISBN 978 0 2413 8443 5 A writer who creates a plausible imaginary world and keeps a tight rein on the place so readers don't get lost as the story proceeds is always very welcome. The action of Struan Murray’s Orphans of the Tide plays out in one place, and stays there. We are in the last city left in civilisation. Its name is, simply, The City. In the old world, the gods were tricked by one of their own kind who wanted supreme power. The... https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3122363/orphans-tide-review-exceptional-read-bursting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/entertainment/books/article/3122363/orphans-tide-review-exceptional-read-bursting?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Feb 2021 04:00:15 +0000