This Is Your Captain Speaking

Marco: Hello English learners! Welcome back to EnglishPod! My name is Marco.

Erica: And I’m Erica.

Marco: And today we have a great lesson for all our upper intermediate students.

Erica: That’s right. We’re talking about airplane travel today.

Marco: Airplane travel.

Erica: Uhu.

Marco: Right. So, we’re gonna be in an airplane, basically.

Erica: Yes, and we’re gonna be listening, um, to some of the common things you might hear on, ah, an announcement in the airplane.

Marco: Yeah, usually the flight attendant or the captain will come on and say something and, well, usually it’s in English, so we gotta understand what they’re saying.

Erica: That’s right, and we’ll also learn some great phrases that you can use when you wanna describe flights to your friends…

Marco: Right.

Erica: When you’re talking to them.

Marco: Yeah, that always happens you arrive somewhere and people are like, hey, how was your flight? Now you know how to answer it, right?

Erica: Exactly.

Marco: Okay. So, why don’t we take a look at our “vocabulary preview”?

Voice: Vocabulary preview.

Erica: We’ve got three words for you here in vocabulary preview all about flying.

Marco: Okay, so what’s our first one?

Erica: Turbulence.

Marco: Turbulence.

Erica: Turbulence.

Marco: Turbulence.

Erica: So, turbulence. How can we describe this?

Marco: Well, turbulence, when you’re in an airplane, basically is air that is moving in all directions really fast.

Erica: Okay, so what happens?

Marco: So, the airplane will start to shake.

Erica: Okay.

Marco: Right?

Erica: Yep.

Marco: It’s the same thing if you’re flying a kite and maybe some turbulence is in the air your kite will maybe fall to the ground.

Erica: Ouh, ex…

Marco: Yeah. So it’s… air that’s moving in all directions that’s really turbulent.

Erica: Alright, well, we’ll hear how this word is used in the dialogue, um…

Marco: Uhu.

Erica: But another airplane word we hear a lot, um, crew.

Marco: Crew.

Erica: Crew.

Marco: Flight crew.

Erica: Yes. C-R-E-W, crew.

Marco: Uhu. So, the flight crew is basically the team.

Erica: Yes.

Marco: Right?

Erica: Yep.

Marco: It’s, ah, all the people that are in the airplane. So, it’s basically the captain or in… the co-pilot and all the flight attendants, right?

Erica: Exactly, yeah.

Marco: That’s the flight crew.

Erica: Yes.

Marco: Okay, and what about out last word?

Erica: Bumpy ride.

Marco: Bumpy ride.

Erica: A bumpy ride.

Marco: Bumpy.

Erica: Not smooth.

Marco: Not smooth.

Erica: Yeah.

Marco: So, what would be an example of a bumpy ride?

Erica: Okay, imagine if you’re driving in your car, um…

Marco: Uhu.

Erica: And you you’re driving on a dirt road…

Marco: Uhu.

Erica: Like with many holes in it and everything.

Marco: And rocks and everything.

Erica: Yes, you’re driving on that route and that would be really really bumpy.

Marco: Right, so your car will be moving a lot.

Erica: And shaking, yeah…

Marco: Exactly.

Erica: Yeah. So a bumpy ride is, um, a trip where you move and shake a lot, so… kind of uncomfortable.

Marco: So you can say, that is a bumpy road.

Erica: Aha.

Marco: Okay.

Erica: Or it was a bumpy ride.

Marco: Or it was a bumpy ride.

Erica: Yeah.

Marco: Okay, so now let’s listen to our dialogue, we’re gonna be listening to these people on an airplane and the captain is gonna give some instructions.

Captain: Good afternoon passengers. This is your captain speaking. First I’d like to welcome everyone on Flight 808 bound for Chicago. We’re currently flying at an altitude of 30,000 feet at an airspeed of 400 miles per hour. The time is 1:25 pm. The weather looks good and with the tailwind on our side we are expecting to land in Chicago approximately fifteen minutes ahead of schedule. The weather in Chicago is clear and sunny, with a high of 25 degrees. Right now, the seat belt sign is off, then you’re free to move about the cabin. However, for your own safety and for the safety of those around you, please fasten your seatbelts while seated. In a few moments, the flight attendants will be coming through the cabin to serve hot drinks and a light meal. We’ll also be showing a movie. I’ll talk to you again before we reach our destination. Until then, sit back, relax, and enjoy the rest of the flight.

机长：下午好，各位乘客。我是本次航班的机长。首先，我代表全班人马欢迎大家搭乘飞往芝加哥的 808 航班。我们目前飞行高度为 30,000 英尺，空速为每小时 400 英里。现在时间是下午 1 点 25 分。天气状况良好，在顺风助推下，我们预计将比预定时间提前约 15 分钟降落芝加哥。芝加哥天气晴朗，最高气温 25 度。目前系好安全灯已熄灭，您可以自由在客舱内活动。不过，为了您及周边乘客的安全，坐着时请系好安全带。过一会儿，空乘人员将穿过客舱为大家提供热饮和简餐。我们还将播放一部电影。在到达目的地前我会再次与大家通话。在此之前，请放松身心，享受接下来的飞行之旅。

Captain: Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking again. We have run into a bit of severe turbulence, so please remain in your seats with your seatbelts securely fastened. At this time, we request that you refrain from using the lavatory and all in-flight service will be suspended until further notice. Flight crew, please ensure that all passengers are seated and all overhead compartments are closed. It looks like we're in for a bumpy ride!

机长：女士们先生们，我是机长再次讲话。我们遭遇了严重的强颠簸，请大家坐在座位上并系紧安全带。此时，请暂停使用洗手间，所有机上服务将暂停，直至另行通知。机组人员，请确保所有乘客均已就座，所有头顶行李架均已关闭。看来我们要经历一段颠簸的飞行了！

Co-pilot: Uh, captain, engine number one just failed!

副驾驶：额，机长，一号发动机刚刚故障失效了！

Captain: Mayday! Mayday! Air traffic control, this is Flight 808, we lost engine number one, requesting emergency landing!

机长：呼救！呼救！航空管制中心，这里是 808 航班，我们丢失了一号发动机，请求紧急迫降！

Erica: Well, here we are with another dramatic dialogue, another explosion in EnglishPod. What’s happening?

Marco: Um, I don’t know, a lot of adventure’s going on.

Erica: Yeah.

Marco: So, we will see what happens, um, but I’m sure they’re alright. Don’t worry everyone, I’m sure…

Erica: Well, I hope so. It’s kind of making me nervous for my next flight.

Marco: Hehe. Alright, so let’s take a look at some of the words that the captain used in “language takeaway”.

Voice: Language takeaway.

Erica: Alright, all of these words you’ll hear really really often when you’re flying, um, and the first one we have for you is fasten.

Marco: Fasten.

Erica: Fasten.

Marco: Fasten your seatbelt.

Erica: Uhu.

Marco: Now, this is a great word, fasten means to…

Erica: Do up.

Marco: Do up or put on or…

Erica: Connect.

Marco: Connect, right?

Erica: Yeah.

Marco: So, usually it’ll be with a seatbelt or a belt or something like that.

Erica: Yeah. Now, the pronunciation here is interesting.

Marco: Yes.

Erica: It’s spelled F-A-S-T-E-N.

Marco: Right, so it would be FAST EN.

Erica: No.

Marco: No, right? Hehe.

Erica: Fasen.

Marco: Fasen. The T…

Erica: Fasen.

Marco: Kind of become silent.

Erica: Uhu.

Marco: So, it’s fasen.

Erica: Yep.

Marco: Okay, let’s look at our next word, lavatory.

Erica: Lavatory.

Marco: Lavatory.

Erica: Lavatory.

Marco: Okay, so what is a lavatory exactly? Cause I’m always confused what’s the difference between bathroom, restroom, washroom, WC, lavatory.

Erica: I know, so many words for bathroom, um, a lavatory is a room with a toilet and sink only.

Marco: Only a toilet and sink.

Erica: Yes.

Marco: So no bath-tub.

Erica: No.

Marco: No shower either.

Erica: No shower. So it’s very very common to find a lavatory in boats…

Marco: Aha.

Erica: Airplanes.

Marco: Or in trains.

Erica: Yeah, but never in your house.

Marco: Never in your house, right.

Erica: Even if your room in your house is only a sink and a toilet it’s don’t let a lavatory.

Marco: Yeah, it’s, ah, a bathroom.

Erica: Yeah.

Marco: I don’t know why, that’s just the way it is in English.

Erica: Aha.

Marco: And something interesting that you told me today… WC.

Erica: Aha.

Marco: Right? That’s a common thing that you’ll see on a bathroom.

Erica: Yep.

Marco: What does that stand for?

Erica: Water closet.

Marco: Water closet.

Erica: Yep.

Marco: Wow, I didn’t know that.

Erica: Yeah.

Marco: Water closet. Okay, anyways. Let’s take a look at our next word, stow.

Erica: Stow.

Marco: To stow.

Erica: Yes, stow your luggage.

Marco: Stow your luggage.

Erica: Uhu.

Marco: So if I stow my luggage it means…

Erica: You put it in a place where you can get it easily, but it is very safe.

Marco: Maybe it’s not even visible, right?

Erica: Yeah, so you put it away in a safe spot.

Marco: Okay, so usually in airplanes they will tell you to stow your luggage under your seat…

Erica: Yes, or stow your luggage in the overhead bin.

Marco: Overhead bin or overhead compartment.

Erica: Yes.

Marco: Okay, and our last word.

Erica: Refrain.

Marco: Refrain.

Erica: Refrain.

Marco: Refrain from doing something.

Erica: Uhu, so this is a verb, um, meaning avoid doing.

Marco: Avoid doing.

Erica: Yeah.

Marco: Do not do.

Erica: Exactly.

Marco: Something interesting about this grammar wise is… it’s usually followed by from.

Erica: Yep.

Marco: Refrain from, and the verb that follows is always gerund, right?

Erica: Yeah, so refrain from –ing.

Marco: Right, refrain from using the lavatory.

Erica: Yes, refrain from smoking.

Marco: Refrain from smoking, okay.

Erica: Uhu.

Marco: So, refrain from.

Erica: Yep.

Marco: Alright, so some really great examples in language takeaway.

Erica: Yep.

Marco: And, ah, well, now let’s take a look at “fluency builder” and see some of these great phrases.

Voice: Fluency builder.

Erica: Alright, three phrases we have for you here, um, the first one, remain seated.

Marco: Remain seated.

Erica: Remain seated.

Marco: Remain seated. So, to remain seated.

Erica: Really simple, to stay sitting.

Marco: To stay on your seat, don’t stand up.

Erica: Yes.

Marco: This is really important in airplanes, right?

Erica: Yeah, because otherwise if there’s turbulence you could, you know, end up flying around the airplane.

Marco: Hehe. Or fall, exactly…

Erica: Yeah.

Marco: And hurt yourself.

Erica: Uhu.

Marco: Remain seated.

Erica: Now, one of the reasons they had to remain seated was because they were going to go through a patch of rough air.

Marco: Patch of rough air.

Erica: Uhu, so patch.

Marco: No, interesting, okay, so patch is a small area, right?

Erica: Yeah, yeah, so a small area of turbulence.

Marco: A small area of turbulence, now…

Erica: Yeah.

Marco: What would be another example of patch?

Erica: Um, maybe, ah, patch of strawberries.

Marco: So, it’s like a little strawberry garden, right?

Erica: Yes, or a patch of grass.

Marco: Patch of grass.

Erica: Uhu.

Marco: Usually in front of your house you have a little patch of grass.

Erica: Yep.

Marco: Okay, so patch of and now our last phrase, suspend.

Erica: Suspend.

Marco: Suspend in flight service.

Erica: Yeah, so stop for a short time.

Marco: Stop for a short time. So you could suspend your work.

Erica: Yeah, and if you’re going on vacation you could suspend your subscription to the newspaper.

Marco: Uhu. Okay, so suspend, to temporarily stop.

Erica: Yes.

Marco: Okay, so we’ve covered a lot of vocabulary and some great phrases.

Erica: Uhu.

Marco: So, why don’t we listen to our dialogue one more time and we’ll come back and talk about flying.

Captain: Good afternoon passengers. This is your captain speaking. First I’d like to welcome everyone on Flight 808 bound for Chicago. We’re currently flying at an altitude of 30,000 feet at an airspeed of 400 miles per hour. The time is 1:25 pm. The weather looks good and with the tailwind on our side we are expecting to land in Chicago approximately fifteen minutes ahead of schedule. The weather in Chicago is clear and sunny, with a high of 25 degrees. Right now, the seat belt sign is off, then you’re free to move about the cabin. However, for your own safety and for the safety of those around you, please fasten your seatbelts while seated. In a few moments, the flight attendants will be coming through the cabin to serve hot drinks and a light meal. We’ll also be showing a movie. I’ll talk to you again before we reach our destination. Until then, sit back, relax, and enjoy the rest of the flight.

机长：下午好，各位乘客。我是本次航班的机长。首先，我代表全班人马欢迎大家搭乘飞往芝加哥的 808 航班。我们目前飞行高度为 30,000 英尺，空速为每小时 400 英里。现在时间是下午 1 点 25 分。天气状况良好，在顺风助推下，我们预计将比预定时间提前约 15 分钟降落芝加哥。芝加哥天气晴朗，最高气温 25 度。目前系好安全灯已熄灭，您可以自由在客舱内活动。不过，为了您及周边乘客的安全，坐着时请系好安全带。过一会儿，空乘人员将穿过客舱为大家提供热饮和简餐。我们还将播放一部电影。在到达目的地前我会再次与大家通话。在此之前，请放松身心，享受接下来的飞行之旅。

Captain: Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking again. We have run into a bit of severe turbulence, so please remain in your seats with your seatbelts securely fastened. At this time, we request that you refrain from using the lavatory and all in-flight service will be suspended until further notice. Flight crew, please ensure that all passengers are seated and all overhead compartments are closed. It looks like we're in for a bumpy ride!

机长：女士们先生们，我是机长再次讲话。我们遭遇了严重的强颠簸，请大家坐在座位上并系紧安全带。此时，请暂停使用洗手间，所有机上服务将暂停，直至另行通知。机组人员，请确保所有乘客均已就座，所有头顶行李架均已关闭。看来我们要经历一段颠簸的飞行了！

Co-pilot: Uh, captain, engine number one just failed!

副驾驶：额，机长，一号发动机刚刚故障失效了！

Captain: Mayday! Mayday! Air traffic control, this is Flight 808, we lost engine number one, requesting emergency landing!

机长：呼救！呼救！航空管制中心，这里是 808 航班，我们丢失了一号发动机，请求紧急迫降！

Marco: Erica, have you ever had a turbulent flight like this?

Erica: No… no never this bad, a little bit of turbulence, actually I kind of like turbulent flights.

Marco: Why?

Erica: It’s sort of like… I don’t know it’s kind of fun, you get shaken around, you… like stomach moves up and down and it’s like…

Marco: You don’t get nervous?

Erica: No, I get… I get a little excited.

Marco: Well, it is true that flying is actually very very safe, right?

Erica: Yeah, um, I know we all hear that like more people are killed in car accidents, than, ah, flight accidents.

Marco: Uhu.

Erica: So, it’s very very safe. So, yeah, I don’t worry about the turbulence.

Marco: Yeah, yeah.

Erica: Knock on wood.

Marco: Hehe. Yeah, so flying is really safe and, you know, as long as you… remain seated, you fasten you seatbelt and you, you know, you follow the instructions you shouldn’t have any problems, right?

Erica: Yeah, yeah, actually that’s a really good point cause actually when I was reading about flight turbulence for this dialogue…

Marco: Uhu.

Erica: I kept reading all these stories about these people who, you know, when they got into some turbulent air were, you know, knocked over or they ended up like actually literally flying through the cabin and getting really badly hurt, so…

Marco: Yeah, yeah.

Erica: Everyone, you gotta fasten you seatbelt.

Marco: Yes, remain seated.

Erica: Yeah, flying tips here at EnglishPod.

Marco: Flying tips at EnglishPod, we don’t want you to get hurt and we know that you travel a lot, so be safe, right?

Erica: Yeah, and use this language to describe your flights.

Marco: Okay, so come to our website englishpod.com, where you can leave questions, you can also leave your comments.

Erica: Yeah, Marco and I are always there and actually, in fact, we have to go check the site now, so…

Marco: Yeah, we’re out of time, so we’ll see you guys next time.

Erica: Thanks for listening… good bye!

Marco: Bye!