Learn with humour – Train Privatisation
Play the video and listen carefully two or three times. Try to repeat the words and phrases that you are able to identify. Then, read the lyrics and see if you can identify the missing words.
Transcript
Eagle Representative: And that’s what’s so marvellous about this proposal. I do believe, Minister, that the Eagle Line Supertrain will revolutionise train travel in the new century. London to Edinburgh in superfast time.
Transport Minister: That’s great. If it can get from London to Edinburgh as fast as that! I mean, what is it? It’s just a _______ of a second!
Eagle Rep: No. No that… The actual train wouldn’t be quite as fast as that. I think London to Edinburgh is about three and a half hours.
Transport Minister: Right. Yes, of course!…Sorry, I should say that _______ there, though, there’s no way we could give you the franchise if your trains are goin’ to be that small…
Eagle Rep: No. That’s a… This is a ______ of, of the train. The actual train would be about, well would be the size of a normal train.
Transport Minister: Of course, yes of course. The actual train would be bigger. And if it’s bigger, then it can get from here to here much quicker because that really isn’t such a big distance. Is it?
Eagle Rep: No. No. Sorry, I see. I see. No this isn’t Britain. This is a map of Britain. And Britain’s a lot… is bigger than this.
Transport Minister: Yes, obviously. These are all obviously smaller versions of everything, but, and doesn’t that stand to reason that… This may sound like a stupid question…
Eagle Rep: No. Please.
Transport Minister: Well if the trains are going to be bigger and the country is bigger, then won’t we need a…a giant to push the train?
Eagle Rep: (Calmly looks in disbelief)… No
Transport Minister: Yes. That’s _____ isn’t it?
Eagle Rep: The, the trains aren’t… they’re not pushed by people.
Transport Minister: Yes! Yes. Yes. I’ve got it now. I don’t know what I was thinking. AH!
Eagle Rep: Ooops. Sorry…are you alright?
Transport Minister: Yeah. Just for a second I thought I might be, might be a giant, but I’m not. I’m not a ______.
Eagle Rep: No, Minister. There are no giants.
Language notes
Actual
Remember that “actual” in English is different from* “actual” in Spanish! If you don’t remember the difference, here is a little help: “actual” in English refers to real things or real conditions and has NO connection with time or the words now and currently.
“The actual train wouldn’t be quite as fast that.”
*different from – when you use the word “different” to distinguish one thing from other things, the associated preposition is always “from”. You will frequently hear native speakers say “different than” or “different to”. This is a very common mistake.
“There is no way…”
This is a frequently used expression which can often be translated by phrases such as: “bajo ninguna circunstancia” or “de ninguna manera” or “bajo ningún concepto”
“… there’s no way we could give you the franchise.”
“There is no way I am going to spend such a beautiful day sitting at home!”
“There is no way they will refuse our request.”
Take care: “No way!” = “En absoluto!” “Absolutely!” = “Totalemente de acuerdo!”
Vocabulary
G.B. revolutionise – U.S. revolutionize
silly = tonto, bobo
Missing words
fraction – train – model – silly – giant
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