This ad for Worcester boilers features some useful language and cultural points and an incredibly cute girl.
TRANSCRIPT
GIRL: Dad says some things are guaranteed to let you down.
DAD: Let's go. Come on slowcoach.
GIRL: He says, 'You can't rely on that team!'
GIRL: You can't rely on boyfriends - ever!
MUM: We're just running a little bit late, now the train's delayed, you know.
GIRL: You can't rely on public transport.
GIRL: I know exactly what they mean. But Dad does say there are some things that you can rely on. You can rely on a Worcester.
LESSON IDEA
Show the video to the class and stop at 53s. Get them to guess what the ad is for, i.e., what can you rely on? (it's actually for Worcester boilers, and you can see one at the very end of the ad).
LANGUAGE NOTES
1. Note the prepositions in the phrasal verbs 'to let someone down' and 'to rely on something'.
2. Let's is a contraction of 'Let us', although you would never actually say 'Let us go'.
3. In the phrase 'Dad does say' the auxiliary 'does' used for emphasis.
4. Worcester is also the name of an English town. It's one of many English towns whose name is not pronounced the way it's spelt. Click here to hear Worcester pronounced. Leicester is another one (= 'Lester').
5. A boiler is a household device providing a hot-water supply or serving a central heating system.
TRIVIA
I think the football team they support is probably Shrewsbury Town F.C., who play in League One, the third tier of the English football league system. They lost 0-3 at home in the FA Cup to Man Utd last night, so Dad seems to be right!
ALSO SEE
• How to pronounce Worcestershire (Rachel's English)
