A wake-up call: The English We Speak

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.