Hello everyone. This is The English We Speak
with me, Feifei… and… oh no,
Rob is late again!
…. Sorry I’m late, I missed my train and
I had to wait for the next one…
Are you OK, Rob? You’re very breathless.
Well, you would be if you had run to the station
and from the station to the office.
Hmmm, it’s not that far, Rob! I think this
a wake-up call.
A wake-up call? No, I set my alarm – I got
out of bed – it just seems to take longer
to walk to the station these days.
I didn’t mean your alarm, Rob. ‘A wake-up
call’ is a warning that you need to change
your current situation before it gets any
worse.
And what is my ‘current situation’?
You’re unfit – you need to do some more
exercise! Let’s hear some examples of
‘a wake-up call’ shall we?
Martha’s bad test results were a wake-up
call for her to work harder before
her final exams.
The store’s poor sales results are a wake-up
call for the business to move with times and
sell more fashionable clothes.
The recent extreme weather is a wake-up call
for us all to do something about climate change.
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning
English, and in this programme we’re learning
about the phrase ‘a wake-up call’, which
means a warning to change your current situation
and stop things from getting any worse. It’s
time to change - like Rob’s fitness! So
Rob, how are you going to change your current
situation?
Well, that’s easy – I’m going to get
a later train. More time in bed!
I wouldn’t, Rob – otherwise you’ll get
another ‘wake-up call’.
Who from?
The boss – he hates people being late all
the time. So if you’re not punctual, you
might get the sack!
Oh right, I’m off!
Where are you going?
To do some exercise. Like you said, I need
to get fit – quickly! Bye.
Good luck, Rob.