Учебный видеокурс английского языка "Family Album, USA"

      Как сейчас помню этот ноябрьский осенний день 1996 года, когда я купил четыре нелицензированные видеокассеты, на которых был записан учебный видеокурс английского языка "Family Album, USA".

      Сам видеокурс состоял из 26 эпизодов по 23 минуты в каждом. Мой изголодавшийся мозг с жадностью стал впитывать все используемые там выражения современного американского английского языка, например, "Take it easy", т.е. то, что мы говорим у себя "Да, не напрягайся", "Расслабься", "Не обращай на это внимание"; и таких выражений было тьма тьмущая. 

      Как я радовался встрече новому выражению, если бы вы знали! Что ни выражение, так - узор! 

      Так вот, будучи в состоянии completely excited, т.е. полного возбуждения, я решил поделиться всеми своими приобретениями со своими учениками. И что оказалось!? Они тоже были в восторге, т.к. этот курс демонстрировал живой английский язык в ситуациях и контексте, так же можно отметить сами упражнения, которые помогали автоматизировать такие языковые навыки, как: произносительные, грамматические и лексические.
     Все действия или, вернее сказать, эпизоды из американской жизни разворачиваются внутри и вокруг довольно таки традиционной американской семьи Стюартов (the Stewart family) в начале 9-х гг. прошлого века (чтобы быть точным, в 1991 году), которая живет в Нью-Йорк Сити, т.е. а городе Нью-Йорке, штата Нью-Йорк. Кстати, вы можете для общего развития скачать в интернете что-нибудь об этом городе на английском языке. Я могу дать вам ссылочку на впечатления от этого города одной приинтереснейшей путешественницы из Бангладеша http://wondersonder.wordpress.com/2013/10/08/101-reasons-why-you-have-not-truly-lived-until-youve-lived-in-nyc/. 

      Ну, да ладно, зачем мне много об этом говорить, я лучше дам вам ссылочку на видеофайлы, а также на сайт, дам скрипты и некоторые свои комментарии, а также рассказик собственного сочинения, посвященного первому эпизоду под названием "The Lost Bag" (Потерянная сумка).

Episode 1 “46 Linden Street”

ACT I

On a ferryboat in New York Harbor. We can see the Statue of Liberty. Richard Stewart, 30, is taking pictures.
Richard:	Excuse me. My name is Richard Stewart. I'm a photographer. May I take a picture of you and your little boy?	to take a picture (of) sn = to photograph
Mrs. Vann:	What's it for?
Richard:	It's for a book.
Mrs. Vann:	You're writing a book?
Richard:	It's a book of pictures. I call it Family Album, U.S.A.	to call – называть
Mrs. Vann:	Oh, that's a nice idea. Well, it's fine if you take our picture. I'm Martha Vann. [She offers her hand.]	to appreciate –
Richard:	Thank you. I appreciate your help. [to the little boy] I'm Richard. What's your name?	быть признательным, благодарным
Gerald:	Gerald.
Richard:	How old are you, Gerald?
Gerald:	Five.
Richard:	And where do you live?
Mrs. Vann:	We live in California.
Richard:	Well, welcome to New York. OK, just a second. [He takes out a reflector to have more light for his photographs.] I'm almost ready here.
	Alexandra, a sixteen-year-old girl, is watching.
Alexandra:	Can I help you?
Richard:	Oh, please. [He gives her the reflector to hold. Then he speaks to Mrs. Vann and her son.] Hold Gerald's hand, please. Great! Now point to the buildings. Terrific! Give Mommy a kiss, Gerald. Nice! Thank you, Gerald. And thank you Mrs. Vann.
Mrs. Vann:	Oh, my pleasure. We'll be looking for your book.
Richard:	Thank you. Good-bye. Bye, Gerald. [to Alexandra] Thanks again.
Alexandra:	Oh, you're welcome.
Richard:	Hey, let me take your picture!
Alexandra:	Wonderful. Please.
Richard:	Are you from New York?
Alexandra:	No, I'm from Greece. I'm an exchange student.
Richard:	When did you come here?
Alexandra:	Three months ago.
Richard:	Your English is very good.
Alexandra:	Thanks. I studied English in school.
	They sit on a bench.
Richard:	Would you like some coffee?
Alexandra:	No, thank you. Tell me about your book.
Richard:	Oh, it's not finished yet, but I have some of the pictures. Would you like to see them?
Alexandra:	Yes. I'd like that.
Richard:	Here they are. [He opens his bag and takes out a photo album.] Family Album, U.S.A. It's an album of pictures of United States: the cities, the special places, and the people. [He shows her the photos.] And these are pictures of people working: steelworkers, bankers, police, street vendors, ambulance drivers, doctors. ... Oh, this is my father. He's a doctor. This is my mother.
Alexandra:	What's her name?
Richard:	Ellen. My younger brother, Robbie. He goes to high school. This is my sister Susan. She works for a toy company. Here's my grandfather. He lives in Florida. And this is my wife Marilyn.
Alexandra:	Oh, she's very pretty.
Richard:	Thanks. And what about your family?
Alexandra:	They are in Thessaloniki. That's a large city in northern Greece. But now I'm living in the Bronx.
Richard:	With a Greek-American family?
Alexandra:	No. Hispanic.
Richard:	[He hears a foghorn.] Oh no! It's five thirty. Will you excuse me? I have to meet my wife.
Alexandra:	It's nice meeting you.
Richard:	It was a pleasure meeting you, too. Thanks for your help. And good luck! I've got to go. By the way, I'm Richard. What's your name?
Alexandra:	Alexandra.
Richard:	Bye-bye, Alexandra. Thanks.
Alexandra:	Bye-bye. [Richard hurries off the boat. Alexandra sees that he forgot one of his bags. She takes it and begins to follow him.] Richard! Richard! You left your bag!

EXPRESSIONS

If you take our picture	– если вы нас сфотографируете
I appreciate your help	– Я высоко ценю вашу помощь
Give Mommy a kiss	– поцелуй-ка маму
My pleasure	– мне было приятно
An exchange student	– студент по обмену
steelworkers	– сталевары
street vendors	уличные торговцы
ambulance drivers	– водители скорой помощи
high school	– средняя школа (США)
a toy company	компания по изготовлению игрушек
It was nice meeting you	– Приятно с вами познакомиться
It was a pleasure meeting you	– Удовольствие с вами познакомиться
By the way	– между прочим

FOCUS IN

Family Album, U.S.A.

It's an album of pictures of the United States. Richard takes many pictures for his album. He photographs the cities like New York... and other special places.

He photographs people working: police, ambulance drivers, steel workers, doctors.

Philip Stewart, Richard's father, is a doctor. He's a pediatrician, a children's doctor.

And Richard's mother, Ellen Stewart, is a home maker.

His brother, Robbie, is a student of Riverdale High School. He's 17.

Richard has one sister. Her name is Susan. She works for a toy company in New York City.

Malcolm Stewart is Richard's grandfather. He's 72 years old and lives in Florida.

And this is Richard's wife, Marilyn Stewart. She is a fashion designer and a sales clerk in a boutique in New York City.

You'll meet Marilyn Stewart and all of the other Stewarts in Family Album, U.S.A.

ACT II

Outside the ferry building. Alexandra sees Richard leave in a taxicab. She asks a policeman for directions.
Alexandra	Excuse me, officer. Can you help me?
Policeman:	Sure.
Alexandra:	Can you tell me how to get to Linden Street, in Riverdale?
Policeman:	[He reads the name tag on Richard's bag.] "Richard Stewart, 46 Linden Street, Riverdale, New York." You should take the number 1 subway.
Alexandra:	Is there a station near here?
Policeman:	Yes. The station's that way. You should take the number 1 train to Van Cortlandt Park.
Alexandra:	Number 1 train to Van Cortlandt Park. Thank you.
Policeman:	Anytime. Good luck. Remember, the number 1 train. The uptown platform.
Alexandra:	Thank you.
Policeman:	You're welcome. [Alexandra walks toward the subway entrance. She passes the "uptown" sign.]
	In a boutique, Marilyn Stewart, Richard's wife, is helping a customer.
Customer:	Is this pink too bright for me?
Marilyn:	Mmm-hmm. It is a very bright pink. Try this. [She takes a red sweater from a table.] It's size eight.
Customer:	But I wear size ten.
Marilyn:	How about green? It's size ten.
Customer:	Let me try it on. [Marilyn looks at her watch.]
Customer:	I'm taking too much of your time.
Marilyn:	It's six o'clock. Where's my husband? I was expecting him here at five forty-five.
Customer:	Don't worry. The traffic is very heavy at this hour.
Marilyn:	I know. But we're going to be late for dinner.
Customer:	I'll take this green sweater. I like the color on me, don't you?
Marilyn:	I think it looks terrific on you.
	A little later, Richard rushes into the boutique.
Richard:	I'm sorry I'm so late. I had a really bad day.
Marilyn:	It's ten after six. We're late. Robbie's cooking tonight, and dinner's at six thirty.
Richard:	I know. I know. I'm really sorry. I left my bag of film on the ferry. I went back for it, but the ferry was gone. I lost a whole day's work.
Marilyn:	I'll call the Staten Island Ferry lost-and-found office.
Richard:	I didn't think of that. Thanks.
Marilyn:	[She picks up the telephone and dials the number for information.] Hello. Yes. The numbers, please, of the Staten Island Ferry lost-and-found office. 555-0808. Thank you. [She hangs up and dials the number.]
Richard:	I really appreciate it, Marilyn.
Marilyn:	Hello. Did anyone find a camera bag this afternoon, a small canvas bag, on the J. F. Kennedy Ferry? ... No? Maybe someone will find it. The name is Stewart, Richard Stewart. And the telephone number is 555-3090. Thank you. [She hangs up.] Sorry, Richard. They don't have it.
Richard:	Thanks, anyway. [thinking] There was a girl on the ferry. Now maybe ...
Marilyn:	Tell me about it on the way home.

FOCUS IN

Thank you, I appreciate your help.

Thank you. You're welcome.

Thank you. You're welcome.

Thank you for your help.

Thanks a lot.

I want to thank you for your help.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Glad that I could help.

Don't mention it.

I'm glad that I could help.

Thanks. You're welcome.

Thanks, Gerald.

And thank you, Mrs. Vann.

Oh, my pleasure.

Thank you. You're welcome.

Thank you very much.

It was very nice of you.

I appreciate it.

Thanks a lot.

Thank you. You're welcome.

Don't mention it.

I'm glad that I could help.

My pleasure.

It was nothing.

You're welcome.

The number one train to Van Cortlandt Park.

Thank you.

Anytime. Good luck.

Thank you very much.

It was very nice of you.

I appreciate it.

Thanks a lot. Thank you.

You're welcome.

Don't mention it.

I'm glad that I could help.

My pleasure.

It was nothing.

You're welcome.

Thank you for your help.

Thanks a lot.

I want to thank you for your help.

Thank you.

Glad that I could help.

Don't mention it.

I'm glad that I could help.

Thanks. You're welcome.

Thank you.

I'm sorry, Richard. They don't have it.

Thanks, anyway.

Thanks, anyway.

It was nice of you to try.

I appreciate it.

Thanks a lot.

Thank you.

Anytime.

Don't mention it.

I'd really like to help.

You're welcome.

My pleasure.

Anytime.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

ACT III

	At the Stewarts' home in Riverdale that evening. Philip is on the phone with one of his patients.
Philip:	And give her a teaspoon of the medicine after every meal. Don't worry. She'll be fine. You're welcome. Goodbye.
Ellen:	[She enters.] How are you?
Philip:	I'm tired and hungry.
Ellen:	Well, Marilyn and Richard called. They'll be here soon, and then we'll eat.
Philip:	All right. Is ... is Susan coming?
Ellen:	Well, she'll be here later. She has to work late tonight.
Philip:	And what's Robbie cooking for dinner?
Ellen:	It's a surprise.
Philip:	I hope it's pasta.
	Late that evening. Philip, Ellen, Richard, Marilyn, Susan, and Robbie, are in the Stewarts' kitchen.
Philip:	Robbie, the dinner was terrific.
Susan:	Yes, it was delicious.
Marilyn:	What's for dessert?
Robbie:	Oh, I forgot dessert.
Philip:	Robbie!
Ellen:	Don't worry. We've got lots of ice cream. [She goes to the refrigerator.]
Richard:	Oh, I'd love some ice cream.
Ellen:	Well, there's chocolate and coffee and a little vanilla.
Robbie:	I'll have vanilla. Is that all right with everyone?
Philip:	I'll have chocolate.
Marilyn:	Me, too.
Richard:	Uh, one scoop of coffee and one scoop of chocolate for me.
Ellen:	Robbie, will you help me serve? [Robbie gets up to help. Richard brings the ice cream dishes to Ellen.]
Richard:	I keep thinking about that bag of film. Eight rolls. A whole day's work. And good stuff, too.
Ellen:	Don't worry, Richard. Someone will find it. [The doorbell rings.]
Robbie:	I'll get it. [He opens the door. Alexandra is standing there. She is holding Richard's bag of film.] Hello.
Alexandra:	Hello. Does Richard Stewart live here?
Robbie:	Yes, he's my brother. I'm Robbie. ... Robbie Stewart.
Alexandra:	I'm Alexandra Pappas. How do you do? Your brother left his bag of film on the ferryboat. I found it.
Robbie:	I'm really glad to see you. I mean ... my brother'll be really glad to see you!
Ellen:	[calling] Robbie! Who is it?
Robbie:	It's Richard's film! I mean, Alexandra Pappas. [to Alexandra] Come in, please.
Richard:	Alexandra!
Alexandra:	Hello, Richard. I found your bag!
Richard:	Oh, thank you! Thank you! Um ... Alexandra, let me introduce you. This is my wife Marilyn.
Alexandra:	Richard showed me your photo. How do you do?
Marilyn:	Oh yes. Richard told us all about you. It's nice to meet you.
Richard:	And this is my mother, Ellen Stewart.
Alexandra:	How do you do?
Richard:	And my father, Dr. Philip Stewart.
Philip:	Nice to meet you, Alexandra.
Richard:	And ... ah ... you met Robbie.
Alexandra:	Yes. And you must be Susan. Hi.
Susan:	Hi. Welcome.
Richard:	I'm so glad you found the bag and took the time and trouble to return it.
Alexandra:	Oh, it was no trouble. I just took the wrong train.
Ellen:	Would you like something to eat?
Alexandra:	Thank you, no. I'm late for dinner at my house. I really have to go.
Richard:	Would you like to call home?
Alexandra:	I'd appreciate that.
Ellen:	Please, use the phone.
Alexandra:	Thanks. Excuse me.
Richard:	[To Robbie] Alexandra's a high-school exchange student from Greece.
Robbie:	Where does she live?
Richard:	With a family in the Bronx.
Robbie:	Oh, that's not too far from here!
Richard:	Take it easy, Robbie.
Alexandra:	Thank you. I can only stay a few minutes.
Ellen:	Have some iced tea.
Alexandra:	Thanks, Mrs. Stewart.
Richard:	Please sit down, Alexandra.
Philip:	So, you're an exchange student. Where do you go to school?
Alexandra:	At the Bronx High School of Science.
Philip:	Oh, that's a very good school. What are your favorite subjects?
Alexandra:	Biology and mathematics. Richard tells me you're a doctor.
Philip:	Yes, a pediatrician. And what does your father do?
Alexandra:	He's a lawyer, in Thessaloniki.
Robbie:	Would you like some pasta? I made it myself. It might be a little cold.
Alexandra:	Thanks, no. I do have to go. It was nice meeting you all.
Marilyn:	Well, maybe you'll come for lunch some Sunday, so we can really thank you for bringing Richard's bag back.
Alexandra:	Maybe.
Ellen:	You're welcome anytime. [She and Richard walk with Alexandra to the front door.]
Philip:	Good-bye.
Richard:	Can I drive you home?
Alexandra:	No, thanks. The train is just up the street. It won't take me long at all.
Richard:	Well, you really saved the day for me, Alexandra.
Alexandra:	Bye.
Richard:	Bye-bye.
Ellen:	Good night. [Alexandra leaves.]
Philip:	She's a smart young lady, and very nice.
Robbie:	Very! [He sees Alexandra's bag on the chair.] Hey, she forgot her bag!
Ellen:	I guess we'll be seeing Alexandra again. Right, Robbie?

FOCUS IN

My name is Richard Stewart.

I'm a photographer.

I'm Martha Vann.

I'm Richard. What's your name?

Gerald.

By the way, I'm Richard.

What's your name?

Alexandra.

We live in California.

Are you from New York?

No, I'm from Greece.

I'm Robbie, Robbie Stewart.

I'm Alexandra Pappas.

How do you do?

Alexandra, let me introduce you.

This is my wife, Marilyn.

Richard showed me your photo.

How do you do?

Oh yes. Richard told us all about you.

It's nice to meet you.

And this is my mother, Ellen Stewart.

How do you do?

And my father, Dr. Philip Stewart.

Nice to meet you, Alexandra.

And you've met Robbie.

Yes. And you must be Susan. Hi. Hi.

It was nice meeting you all.

             

The Lost Camera Bag

(From “46 Linden Street”)

The story I’d like to tell you is about a canvas camera bag lost by my friend Richard Stewart, a photographer, in New York harbor. So the lost bag became the cause of starting the friendship between the Stewarts and Alexandra Pappas, an exchange student from Greece.	Историю, которую я хотел бы вам поведать – о брезентовой фотографической сумке, потерянной моим другом Ричардом Стюартом, фотографом, на нью-йоркской гавани. Таким образом, потерянная сумка стала причиной начала дружбы между Стюартами и Александрой Паппас, студенткой по об-мену из Греции.
Once, by the will of fate, Richard and Alexandra were found themselves on a ferryboat in New York harbor. Richard, as usual, was taking pictures of people. Being on the ferry, he was taking a picture of a black woman with her child aged five. While he was doing that, a young girl named Alexandra, came up to him, offering her help to hold a reflector. You know, a reflector is a kind of photographic device made of white canvas of a round shape intended to direct a reflected sunlight to an object being photographed. After that, Richard appreciated her for help and took a picture of her with her own “soap-basin” camera. Then Richard offered Alexandra a cup of coffee. Alexandra refused it, but she asked him to show her his photo album called “Family Album, USA”.	Однажды, волею судьбы, Ричард и Александра оказались на пароме на нью-йоркской гавани. Ричард, как обычно, фотографировал людей. Находясь на пароме, он фотографировал негритянку с ее ребенком в возрасте пяти лет. Пока он это делал, молодая девушка по имени Александра, подошла к нему, предлагая свою помощь подержать рефлектор. Знаете, рефлектор — это фотографическое приспособление сделанное из белого полотна круглой фор-мы предназначенное для того, чтобы направлять отраженный солнечный свет на объект, который фотографируется. После этого, Ричард поблагодарил ее за помощь и сфотографировал ее ее  же собственной «мыльницей». После, Ричард предложил  Александре чашку кофе. Александра отказалась от него, но попросила его показать ей его фотоальбом под названием «Семейный альбом, США».
Alexandra liked the photographs by Richard and she was particularly excited about his wife’s image Marilyn; she said that she was very pretty. While the pictures were being shown to Alexandra, there was a sound of a ship horn that made Richard remember that he had to meet his wife Marilyn at the fashion boutique where she works as salesclerk.	Александре понравились фотографии Ричарда, а особенно ей понравился образ его жены Мэрилин; она сказала, что она очень симпатичная. Пока Александре показывали фотографии, раздался звук трубы корабля, который напомнил Ричарду, что он должен встретиться со своей женой в бутике, где она работает продавщицей.
Having said good-bye to Alexandra, Richard left the ferry very fast. Having left the ferry in hastening, Richard had left there his canvas camera bag noticed by chance by Alexandra a minute later. Alexandra, having noticed Richard’s bag, tried to catch him up but she failed, as Richard was a long distance from her and he couldn’t hear her when he got in a taxicab.	Попрощавшись с Александрой, Ричард покинул паром очень быстро. Покинув паром в спешке, Ричард забыл там свою брезентовую фотографическую сумку, замеченную случайно Александрой минутой позже.  Александра, заметив сумку Ричарда, попыталась догнать его, но ей не удалось, так как Ричард был от нее уже на приличном расстоянии и он не мог слышать ее, когда он садился в такси.
Not having caught up Richard, Alexandra made up her mind to find Richard’s address and return his back to him.
Alexandra didn’t know New York City very well since she had been there for only three months as an exchange student. So she came up to a policeman to ask for the direction. She was explained how to get to “46 Linden Street”. She had to take number 1 subway to Van Courtland Park at the uptown platform.
While Alexandra was looking Richard’s address, Richard came back to the harbor, but the ferry was gone. Having lost the hope to find his bag and having been disappointed with it, he rushed into the boutique where his wife Marilyn worked. He told her what had happened to him. He told her that he had lost his canvas camera bag. No sooner Marilyn heard (=was told) about the loss than she called the information office to find out the telephone number of the J. F. Kennedy Lost and Found Office. Having called the Lost and Found Office, she was told that the bag hadn’t been found yet. Both of them headed off to home to have a family dinner.
The entire family got together at the oval table to have the dinner cooked by Robbie. Robbie is the younger brother of Richard. He is seventeen years old and he goes to a high school. That day it was his turn to cook dinner for the entire family. He cooked pasta. Robbie’s father, Phillip, was excited about the dinner and he praised Robbie for the dinner.
Richard kept thinking about his loss, the loss of his bag, eight roles of films and a good stuff too. Ellen, Richard’s mother, seeing her son’s being worried, was trying to calm him down, saying that someone would find it and bring it back to him. But, anyway, Richard had felt unhappy until his bag was brought back. Do you guess by whom? Yes, it was Alexandra Pappas who took the time and trouble to bring his bag back.
Alexandra wasn’t able to find Richard’s address at once. She was even lost, having taken the wrong train. But, anyway, she had found his address and brought his bag back to him. Alexandra was a very honest and considerate young girl and she couldn’t help returning the loss. Richard was happy. So was Robbie as it was clear that he was fallen in love with Alexandra no sooner than she appeared on the porch of their house.
Richard introduced Alexandra to his family with pleasure. The family was happy to meet her.
It is delightful to see the happy end. Alexandra got friends with the Stewarts and, of course, with Robbie who liked her very much.